Scrying is the art of staring into something - most often a reflective surface - in order to induce visions of the past, present, or most commonly the future. Other forms of scrying rely on interpreting patterns created with whatever you are scrying with - for example, wax scrying. It has been practiced in one form or another through many different traditions and civilisations.
There are many different types of scrying, and not just one 'tried and true' method of scrying; what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. Below we will take a look at some of the most well known methods of scrying, as well as how to get started.
There are many different types of scrying, and not just one 'tried and true' method of scrying; what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. Below we will take a look at some of the most well known methods of scrying, as well as how to get started.
Types Of Scrying:
Crystal Ball: This is often the first place people's minds travel when they think of scrying. A crystal ball is often made of quartz, or another 'cloudy' crystal, as opposed to one which is completely clear. Dark crystals, such as obsidian, also work well as they create that reflective surface (and I'll explain when we get to the 'how to scry' section why this reflective surface is so important).
Fire Scrying: One of the only types of scrying that doesn't call for a 'reflective' surface, you stare into the flames to scry. One of the oldest forms of scrying. A larger fire, such as that you would find in a fireplace or a bonfire, is best for those just starting out. Whilst you could try scrying with a candle flame, I have personally not had much success with it, as the flame provides too small of an area to focus on, which leads me to over-focus, and ultimately strain and develop a headache! However, that doesn't mean it won't work for you.
Water Scrying: Also known as 'hydromancy', a large bowl of water will suffice for this, or you could even use a body of water such as a lake or a pond. It can be any type of bowl you wish, although I personally find a bowl of a darker colour is best, as it creates an illusion of depth, which can help induce the trance state necessary for scrying.
Crystal Scrying: This involve using a crystal, and staring into the surface of the crystal, to induce visions - very similar to the crystal ball, but you can easily use a smaller crystal. As most tumbled crystals have a shiny, reflective surface, you could use almost any crystal for scrying, but again darker crystals are often preferred. I tend to use a piece of haematite - not a crystal I really get on with any other time, but it is definitely my go-to for crystal scrying.
Mirror Scrying: The ultimate reflective surface, mirror scrying pretty much does what it says on the tin. Many practitioners like to paint the backs of their scrying mirrors black, to again help create that sense of depth which can help when scrying. These are often referred to as 'black mirrors'.
Wax Scrying: This involves melting some wax, and interpreting the shapes and patterns in which is falls and forms. Often the wax is dripped into a bowl of water, where it will solidify, which makes it easier to read.
Smoke Scrying: The art of staring into smoke to help find the answers you seek. Even incense smoke can be used for this, so again it is very accessible. Like fire scrying though, I would recommend trying it with more of a fire, especially if you are new to it.
Oil Scrying: There are two different ways you can try oil scrying. The first is similar to wax scrying; you pour oil into water, and then using the patterns and such that it forms to provide you with the answers that you seek. The second is to pour oil directly onto a surface, and then use this as a reflective surface for your scrying.
Cloud Scrying: Watching the clouds and interpreting their shapes, patterns, and movements.
Crystal Ball: This is often the first place people's minds travel when they think of scrying. A crystal ball is often made of quartz, or another 'cloudy' crystal, as opposed to one which is completely clear. Dark crystals, such as obsidian, also work well as they create that reflective surface (and I'll explain when we get to the 'how to scry' section why this reflective surface is so important).
Fire Scrying: One of the only types of scrying that doesn't call for a 'reflective' surface, you stare into the flames to scry. One of the oldest forms of scrying. A larger fire, such as that you would find in a fireplace or a bonfire, is best for those just starting out. Whilst you could try scrying with a candle flame, I have personally not had much success with it, as the flame provides too small of an area to focus on, which leads me to over-focus, and ultimately strain and develop a headache! However, that doesn't mean it won't work for you.
Water Scrying: Also known as 'hydromancy', a large bowl of water will suffice for this, or you could even use a body of water such as a lake or a pond. It can be any type of bowl you wish, although I personally find a bowl of a darker colour is best, as it creates an illusion of depth, which can help induce the trance state necessary for scrying.
Crystal Scrying: This involve using a crystal, and staring into the surface of the crystal, to induce visions - very similar to the crystal ball, but you can easily use a smaller crystal. As most tumbled crystals have a shiny, reflective surface, you could use almost any crystal for scrying, but again darker crystals are often preferred. I tend to use a piece of haematite - not a crystal I really get on with any other time, but it is definitely my go-to for crystal scrying.
Mirror Scrying: The ultimate reflective surface, mirror scrying pretty much does what it says on the tin. Many practitioners like to paint the backs of their scrying mirrors black, to again help create that sense of depth which can help when scrying. These are often referred to as 'black mirrors'.
Wax Scrying: This involves melting some wax, and interpreting the shapes and patterns in which is falls and forms. Often the wax is dripped into a bowl of water, where it will solidify, which makes it easier to read.
Smoke Scrying: The art of staring into smoke to help find the answers you seek. Even incense smoke can be used for this, so again it is very accessible. Like fire scrying though, I would recommend trying it with more of a fire, especially if you are new to it.
Oil Scrying: There are two different ways you can try oil scrying. The first is similar to wax scrying; you pour oil into water, and then using the patterns and such that it forms to provide you with the answers that you seek. The second is to pour oil directly onto a surface, and then use this as a reflective surface for your scrying.
Cloud Scrying: Watching the clouds and interpreting their shapes, patterns, and movements.
How To Scry:
! As with most things, practice makes perfect, and this definitely is true of scrying. Plus, there are so many different methods out there, just because you struggle with one doesn't mean that you will struggle with all of them! Below we will take a look at some key steps which will help you get to grips with scrying, and some 'tricks and tips'.
1. Find Your Tool:
Decide on what type of scrying you wish to try, and make sure you have the necessary tools. Crystal balls are a lot more expensive than a bowl of water for example! Or perhaps you live in student accommodation, which typically don't allow you to burn candles or incense (which means smoke, fire, and wax scrying are potentially out of the window).
2. Cleanse Your Tool:
Once you have decided what you are using, make sure you cleanse it of all negative energies. You can find out more about how to do this on my page here.
3. Consider Your Environment:
Ideally you want to be somewhere comfortable where you won't be disturbed. A scrying session can take a while; I would say try to block out anywhere between 30 mins and an hour for prep, your actual scrying, and wind down.
We have mentioned a lot about reflective surfaces when it comes to scrying; this only works if you have a light source to shine off of that surface! I recommend dim lighting, maybe using a candle or a battery powered tea-light if necessary to provide the light you need to be able to scry by. It shouldn't be over-powering, just a little bit of light will do.
You may wish to cleanse your space as well as your tool. I personally don't always do this, mostly because I tend to keep on top of cleansing my house on a regular basis. However, if it isn't something you do regularly, or if your space has been subject to any sort of potential negative energies recently (such as fighting siblings, argumentative partners, or pushy salesmen), then you may want to cleanse your space before you scry. A
You may also wish to burn some incense, or place some other crystals around you associated with divination to help strengthen your abilities.
4. Make sure you are protected:
Honestly, this one kind of depends on your beliefs. Some believe that scrying allows a way for our subconscious to send us messages, whilst others believe that we receive these messages through divine means, or from the otherworld. If you believe that latter, then you will definitely want to make sure you practice some sort of protection before you start scrying. To be honest, you might as well practice the protection anyway, just in case! Visualising yourself in a protective white light is one tried and true method, but it isn't the only one; for more information, see my page here.
5. Perform your divination:
As I've mentioned, scrying can be quite difficult for some, and it takes practice. You may not see anything at all at first, or during the first few times, and that is OK! One of the most difficult things can be to just let go and let our subconscious guide us. Often times, as we are reaching the state necessary for scrying, or images start coming through, our conscious minds can fight to regain control. This is perfectly natural, and one of the reasons that scrying can take some practice.
Clear your mind; if thoughts start popping up, acknowledge them, and let them go. Stare into whichever medium you are using, and let your eyes relax. Allow yourself to slip into a trance-like state as you stare, and wait for any images to come to you. I find that imaginging myself 'going into' the tool I am using helps, as if I am opening a door and stepping into the crystal (for example) itself.
If you are scrying to receive answers or information about a specific situation, keep that in mind as you start, but feel free to let it go as you progress. If you try to keep this in mind for the whole session, your mind will be too occupied to slip into the trance-like state necessary for scrying.
If you do see anything, it likely won't be straight away; be patient, and keep going. I find that it usually takes anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes for images to start appearing.
6. Interpret and record you results:
Remember, it is very unlikely that you will have a 'vision' as it is portrayed in films and TV - a sequential, life like rendition of the outcome of the situation you are scrying about. You will most likely see images, symbols, etc., that you will need to interpret.
A lot of symbolism is personal; for example, one person may associated roses with love, but another may associate them with grief. So think about what symbols and images you saw mean to you on a personal level. If you get stuck, google the symbology of whatever you saw, and check a few resources to cross-analyse them, rather than just taking the first meaning from the first resource you find.
Make sure you record everything, even the images that don't make sense. They may make sense in hindsight. This can help in future scrying sessions, and help you build up a personalised dictionary of symbolic meanings.
7. Closing down
I would recommend grounding and centering after any working, including divination. If you are new to this idea, then you can check out the page here for more information.
Turns the lights on slowly, giving yourself time to adjust, and make sure you extinguish any candles, incense, etc.
! As with most things, practice makes perfect, and this definitely is true of scrying. Plus, there are so many different methods out there, just because you struggle with one doesn't mean that you will struggle with all of them! Below we will take a look at some key steps which will help you get to grips with scrying, and some 'tricks and tips'.
1. Find Your Tool:
Decide on what type of scrying you wish to try, and make sure you have the necessary tools. Crystal balls are a lot more expensive than a bowl of water for example! Or perhaps you live in student accommodation, which typically don't allow you to burn candles or incense (which means smoke, fire, and wax scrying are potentially out of the window).
2. Cleanse Your Tool:
Once you have decided what you are using, make sure you cleanse it of all negative energies. You can find out more about how to do this on my page here.
3. Consider Your Environment:
Ideally you want to be somewhere comfortable where you won't be disturbed. A scrying session can take a while; I would say try to block out anywhere between 30 mins and an hour for prep, your actual scrying, and wind down.
We have mentioned a lot about reflective surfaces when it comes to scrying; this only works if you have a light source to shine off of that surface! I recommend dim lighting, maybe using a candle or a battery powered tea-light if necessary to provide the light you need to be able to scry by. It shouldn't be over-powering, just a little bit of light will do.
You may wish to cleanse your space as well as your tool. I personally don't always do this, mostly because I tend to keep on top of cleansing my house on a regular basis. However, if it isn't something you do regularly, or if your space has been subject to any sort of potential negative energies recently (such as fighting siblings, argumentative partners, or pushy salesmen), then you may want to cleanse your space before you scry. A
You may also wish to burn some incense, or place some other crystals around you associated with divination to help strengthen your abilities.
4. Make sure you are protected:
Honestly, this one kind of depends on your beliefs. Some believe that scrying allows a way for our subconscious to send us messages, whilst others believe that we receive these messages through divine means, or from the otherworld. If you believe that latter, then you will definitely want to make sure you practice some sort of protection before you start scrying. To be honest, you might as well practice the protection anyway, just in case! Visualising yourself in a protective white light is one tried and true method, but it isn't the only one; for more information, see my page here.
5. Perform your divination:
As I've mentioned, scrying can be quite difficult for some, and it takes practice. You may not see anything at all at first, or during the first few times, and that is OK! One of the most difficult things can be to just let go and let our subconscious guide us. Often times, as we are reaching the state necessary for scrying, or images start coming through, our conscious minds can fight to regain control. This is perfectly natural, and one of the reasons that scrying can take some practice.
Clear your mind; if thoughts start popping up, acknowledge them, and let them go. Stare into whichever medium you are using, and let your eyes relax. Allow yourself to slip into a trance-like state as you stare, and wait for any images to come to you. I find that imaginging myself 'going into' the tool I am using helps, as if I am opening a door and stepping into the crystal (for example) itself.
If you are scrying to receive answers or information about a specific situation, keep that in mind as you start, but feel free to let it go as you progress. If you try to keep this in mind for the whole session, your mind will be too occupied to slip into the trance-like state necessary for scrying.
If you do see anything, it likely won't be straight away; be patient, and keep going. I find that it usually takes anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes for images to start appearing.
6. Interpret and record you results:
Remember, it is very unlikely that you will have a 'vision' as it is portrayed in films and TV - a sequential, life like rendition of the outcome of the situation you are scrying about. You will most likely see images, symbols, etc., that you will need to interpret.
A lot of symbolism is personal; for example, one person may associated roses with love, but another may associate them with grief. So think about what symbols and images you saw mean to you on a personal level. If you get stuck, google the symbology of whatever you saw, and check a few resources to cross-analyse them, rather than just taking the first meaning from the first resource you find.
Make sure you record everything, even the images that don't make sense. They may make sense in hindsight. This can help in future scrying sessions, and help you build up a personalised dictionary of symbolic meanings.
7. Closing down
I would recommend grounding and centering after any working, including divination. If you are new to this idea, then you can check out the page here for more information.
Turns the lights on slowly, giving yourself time to adjust, and make sure you extinguish any candles, incense, etc.
Scrying Tips And Tricks:
1. Practice meditation regularly. As I've said above, sometimes it can take between 10 and 20 minutes just for images to start to appear, so you need to make sure that your mind is able to 'let go' for this amount of time at least. Regular meditation will help you achieve this
2. Try different methods. You may prefer one method over the other (for example, I have much better results with water scrying compared with fire scrying)
3. Develop a routine to act as a trigger. For example, always burning a certain type of incense before you scry, or saying a certain mantra. Over time, your mind will associate this with the scrying process, which will then act as a trigger and make it easier for your mind to settle into the process
4. Keep your scrying tools specifically for scrying. I tend to use non-magickal tools for magickal purposes, and vice-versa. My mortar and pestle is used for grinding up herbs when I'm cooking, as well as when I'm making loose incense for example, and if I even need to ritually cut something (like a cord), I will just use a knife from the kitchen. However, when it comes to divination tools of all sorts (especially scrying tools), I recommend keeping them for that specific purpose.
5. In a similar vein, don't let anybody else touch or use your scrying tools. I recommend to keep them covered at all times when not using them, in a dark pouch or something similar
6. Build up a connection with your scrying tool. If it is something you use permanently (such as a crystal or a mirror as opposed to bird or cloud divination), then carry it with you, meditate with it, even talk to it! Building up this bond with your tool will help strengthen your scrying.
1. Practice meditation regularly. As I've said above, sometimes it can take between 10 and 20 minutes just for images to start to appear, so you need to make sure that your mind is able to 'let go' for this amount of time at least. Regular meditation will help you achieve this
2. Try different methods. You may prefer one method over the other (for example, I have much better results with water scrying compared with fire scrying)
3. Develop a routine to act as a trigger. For example, always burning a certain type of incense before you scry, or saying a certain mantra. Over time, your mind will associate this with the scrying process, which will then act as a trigger and make it easier for your mind to settle into the process
4. Keep your scrying tools specifically for scrying. I tend to use non-magickal tools for magickal purposes, and vice-versa. My mortar and pestle is used for grinding up herbs when I'm cooking, as well as when I'm making loose incense for example, and if I even need to ritually cut something (like a cord), I will just use a knife from the kitchen. However, when it comes to divination tools of all sorts (especially scrying tools), I recommend keeping them for that specific purpose.
5. In a similar vein, don't let anybody else touch or use your scrying tools. I recommend to keep them covered at all times when not using them, in a dark pouch or something similar
6. Build up a connection with your scrying tool. If it is something you use permanently (such as a crystal or a mirror as opposed to bird or cloud divination), then carry it with you, meditate with it, even talk to it! Building up this bond with your tool will help strengthen your scrying.
