Tag: Glass

Let’s Talk Witch – The Art of Scrying

THE ART OF SCRYING

(L.< scruatari = to look at) is a form of divination which uses crystals, crystal balls, water, fire or other shiny objects of fascination as the focus.

Essentially, the person doing the scrying focuses attention on the tool being used and freeing the mind, allows thoughts, ideas, pictures as a television screen. The size of the picture depended upon the size of the object and like the TV, it had to be tuned in to get the best picture.

Learning to scry can be frightening to the uninitiated. It takes a certain amount of control as well as submission, to get results. What is meant is that when focusing on the tool, you must have your mind free of extraneous things, things that pull your attention away. You must also allow yourself to be open to impressions, and not be distracted with the clouds or vapors that form in the periphery of your vision. Trying to control the situation can interfere with the results, the control should be done before the scrying begins.

There are various tools that can be used. They are as follows:

1- The crystal ball. This is the most popular tool for scrying. The ball can be glass, crystal or plastic. The most common are balls formed from optical quality glass that are ground round and polished to be absolutely clear. The most expensive are those that are ground and polished quartz, amber or other clear material. The third and the least expensive are cast out of acrylic plastic. The plastic one scratches more easily and takes more care, but works non-the-less.

2- The scrying stone. This is a polished crystal that is usually worn around the neck. It is not necessary that the shape be a sphere. Since the shape is less important, a lot of individuality can be shown. The size, shape, color and personal preference produce a large variety of possibilities.

3- The Magic Mirror. This is a sheep of glass that is painted black on the back side. The most common magic mirror is a large clock face that is painted black on the convex side. Scrying is done by using the concave side.

4- The scrying cup. This is an ordinary tea cup that has the inside painted black. For scrying, water is poured into the cup and the person doing the scrying looks into the water.

5- Sometimes an ordinary bowl is used. Water is poured into the bowl and black ink is added to make a black opaque surface.

6- Fire. Some people are drawn into fire, such as a campfire. The red glow of the coals seem to move and dance and play out a fiery scene. The flame of a single candle works really well and can be used for exercise in scrying. More on this later.

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Things To Do Today – Make Your Own Scrying Mirror

Scrying Mirror

Items Needed:

Photo frame with a removable back and removable glass at least 8×10 inches

High gloss, black paint (non aerosol)

Paint thinner (if recommended for clean up on the paint can directions)

Paint brush

Newspaper

Remove the glass from the frame and place it on the newspaper. Using long, smooth strokes, paint one side of the glass. It is imperative that there are no unpainted areas (no matter how small). Wait until the paint is dry, and replace it with the glass-side facing out.

How to use your scrying mirror

Scrying mirrors are used to induce visions, and answer questions. Before starting, make sure the room your in is as dark as possible. Some people like to place a small votive candle behind the mirror in a pitch black room. If you have a specific intention, chant it in your mind, or whisper it out loud over and over until you’re mind is completely focused on nothing else.

The way to use the mirror is to not look at, but through the surface of it. Gaze into its blackness. Images, colors will soon begin to appear. If this method doesn’t feel right for you, I suggest skipping the candle and using a dark cloth to make a kind of tent covering yourself and the mirror.

Some people may experience difficulty getting results at first. It can take some people weeks to get results from scrying, so you may have to practice this a number of times. Be patient with yourself, make sure you are grounded and completely focused. Also, don’t just hope for visions to appear, expect them. Enjoy your journeys in this fascinating form of divination.

 

The Witches’ Library

Daily Feng Shui News for Aug. 6 – 'National Fresh Breath Day'

If you’re certain that your occasional bad breath is not caused by digestive difficulties, gum disease or any other chronic conditions, then take advantage of today’s ‘National Fresh Breath Day’ tips from the world of all-natural medicine. Immerse two sprigs of fresh parsley in white vinegar and chew it in order to sweeten what comes out of your mouth. Or you can mix two drops of peppermint essential oil in a glass of warm water and swish, but never swallow. After you spit out the first mouthful take another one and gargle and then spit it out too. Do this until the glass is empty. With all this beautiful breath going on you might now look at life as half-full — like a glass, that is!

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

The Witches Spell for July 22 – The One Shot Spell

The One Shot Spell

(Note: Do not use rum for this spell. As it is sacred to some of the Afro-Caribbean deities, using it as such may be offensive to Them).

Materials You Will Need:

1 shot of bodka, bourbon, gin or scotch

1 glass to hold the shot of alcohol

1 12oz. glass of water

Pour the shot of alcohol, then swirl it in the glass, saying:

(Name of target) you’ve become
(Name of target) you shall stay
And I’ve become the nemesis
Who will take your power away.

Take a sip from the glass, saying:

One sip and you feel weak,

Take another sip, saying:

Another makes you fall.

Then chug the rest of the shot and say:

As I toss back the rest of this
I own your power: All!

Now chase the shot with the full glass of water, drinking it down as quickly as possible. Then say:

In an hour’s time, I’ll piss you out
And you’ll be laid to waste,
Weak and lowly like the piss
And swimming in disgrace.
 
 
—Dorothy Morrison

T is for Tonic

T

 

Tonic

Tonic waters containing the energies of the Moon embody very powerful healing benefits that bring integral balance and wholeness throughout the body, mind and soul. Clear quartz crystal catalyses the absorption of lunar energies as well as amplifies the healing benefits.

Wait for a clear night, on or right before the Full Moon. Put your crystal in a clear glass and cover with one cup of purified water.

At sundown, place the glass out of doors in a moonlit place (cover the glass with clear plastic wrap). Remove the glass at dawn. The water is now filled with the Moon’s energy. Drink the tonic every morning to prepare for the day.

The Witches Spell for January 5th – Power Removal Spell (The One Shot Spell)

Witchy Comments

 Power Removal Spell

The One Shot Spell

(NOTE: Do not use rum for this spell! As it is sacred to some of the Afro-Caribbean deities, using it as such may be offensive to Them.)

Materials:

1 shot of vodka, bourbon, gin or scotch

1 glass to hold the shot of alcohol

1 12 oz. glass of water

Pour the shot of alcohol, then swirl it in the glass, saying:

“(Name of target) you’ve become

(Name of target) you shall stay

And I’ve become the nemesis

“Who will take your power away.”

Take a sip from the glass, saying:

“One sip and you feel weak.”

Take another sip, saying:

“Another makes you fall.”

Then chug the rest of the shot and say:

“As I toss back the rest of this

I own your power: All!”

Now chase the shot with the full glass of water, drinking it down as quickly as possible. Then say:

“In an hour’s time, I’ll piss you out.

And you’ll be laid to waste,

Weak and lowly like the piss

And swimming in disgrace.”

Reference:
Utterly Wicked
Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions
By Dorothy Morrison

Against an Excess Drink

Against an Excess Drink

 

Components:

A glass of wine

 

Instructions:

Before those serpent alcohols

That tempt the tongue and soothe the brain

Shall rise and wind their glittering coils

About your feverish fears again,

Treat them firmly, do not fail

Before their clear hypnotic eyes;

Confess their power, yet prevail

Before they learn to turn and tease;

Utter this charm, that wit and will

May stare them down and hold them still:

“Knowledge I have
While thou hast none,
I can make songs
Beyond they tongue,
All of thy offerings
First were mine:
I keep my spirit
And need not thine.”
 

Then raise to your lips a glass of wine – spit in it, empty it down the drain.

 

By Migene Gonzales-Wippler

Spell of the Day for Sept. 27: The Gimme Gumption Spell

Witchy Comments The Gimme Gumption Spell

Materials:

1 reversible candle, black on white (Alternatively, color a white candle completely with a black permanent marker.)

1 shot glass filled with rum bourbon, scotch or vodka (Substitute a shot glass of water flavored with rum extract, if you like.)

Since this is a war of sorts–and Mars energy is essential for any type of successful battle–plan to perform this spell on a Tuesday on either the Full or New Moon. Fill the glass and light the candle, then place the glass directly in front of you. Ground and center in your normal fashion; then say something like.

Confrontation is not my foe.

It’s not an opponent; it causes no woe.

It is my friend now and as such.

It straightens out the cause of much

Confused and wrongful accusation.

Misunderstanding and misinformation

It soothes out wrinkles while it mends

Relationships that might otherwise end.

It no longer makes me sick.

For now I’ve finally learned the trick:

That anger plays no part; instead,

Resolution weaves its threads.

That said I now infuse my gutsy gumption

This liquid for my own consumption.

At this point, think about what gumption and courage means to you, then hold the glass aloft, and blow the candle that thought across the liquid  to infuse and charge it. Place the glass in front of the candle and continue, saying something like:

And before this candle, it is placed.

So its energies will interlace

With my infusion to bring it power

As it burns by minute and by hour.

To banish worries, woes and fears,

To banish nervous shakes and tears,

And bring forth the courage that I need

To defend myself with grace and speed.

The gumption asked for now is wonk

As I will, so be it done.

When the candle extinguishes itself, drink the liquid, feel the courage flow through your body and make a firm resolve  never to be stopped on again.

References:

Spell from Excerpt Obtained From:

“Utterly Wicked”

Curses, Hexes & Other Unsavory Notions

By Dorothy Morrison

 ~Magickal Graphics~

Lighten Up With A Little Humor – “But First” Syndrome

“BUT FIRST” Syndrome

“I call it “But First” Syndrome. You know. It’s when you decide to do the laundry. So you start down the stairs with the laundry, but then see the newspapers on the table. OK, you’ll do the laundry.

BUT FIRST you decide to put the newspapers away. So on your way in to put the newspapers away, you notice the mail on the table. OK, you’ll put the newspapers away.

BUT FIRST you’ll pay that bill that needs to be paid. So you look for the checkbook. Oops…there’s the empty glass from yesterday on the coffee table. OK, you’ll pay the bill.

BUT FIRST you need to put the glass in the sink. You head for the kitchen. Darn it, there’s the remote for the TV. What’s it doing here? Okay, you’ll put the glass in the sink.

BUT FIRST you need to put the remote away. Head for the TV room. Aaagh! Stepped on the cat. Cat needs to be fed. Okay, you’ll put the remote away.

BUT FIRST you need to feed the cat… So, here’s what happens at the end of the day: Laundry is not done, newspapers are still on the floor, glass is on the table, bills are unpaid, checkbook is still lost, and the cat ate the remote control …

And, when you try to figure out how come nothing got done all day, you are baffled because …..you KNOW you were BUSY ALL DAY!!

That’s the “BUT FIRST” Syndrome.”

Calendar of the Sun for August 24

Calendar of the Sun

24 Weodmonath

Day of Our Lady of Sanity

Color: White and clear
Element: Air
Altar: Upon a white cloth light a single white candle behind a clear glass madonna figure. Place there also a clear glass bowl of clear glass marbles, a second larger clear glass bowl, and a bell with a high, piercing note.
Offerings: Do work for the mentally ill.
Daily Meal: Water fasting until dinner.

Invocation to Our Lady of Sanity

Our Lady who hath no name,
You whose gentle touch brings clarity
To the mist of a fevered brain,
We call upon you for healing.
(One comes forward, places a marble into the larger dish, rings the bell, and speaks a name.)
Our Lady who needeth no name,
You whose feet are firmly planted
In the realm of what is real,
We call upon you for healing.
(One comes forward, places a marble into the larger dish, rings the bell, and speaks a name.)
Our Lady who hath no name,
You whose words strike to the center,
Clearing the way through chaos and confusion,
We call upon you for healing.
(One comes forward, places a marble into the larger dish, rings the bell, and speaks a name.)
Our Lady who needeth no name,
You who do not judge cause or character,
But who firmly guides one back home,
We call upon you for healing.
(One comes forward, places a marble into the larger dish, rings the bell, and speaks a name.)
Our Lady who hath no name,
You who shepherd the lost,
You who hold your lantern for the wanderers,
We call upon you for healing.
(One comes forward, places a marble into the larger dish, rings the bell, and speaks a name.)
Our Lady of Sanity, teach us patience
And compassion for those who live far from themselves,
And have compassion for all drifting souls.
(Repeat as needed, until all marbles are used up.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Calendar of the Moon for July 16

Calendar of the Moon

16 Duir/Skirophorion

Selene’s Day

Color: White and silver
Element: Water
Altar: Lay with a white cloth, on which is sewn moons of silver in cycle from new to dark. Set out two white candles rubbed with jasmine oil, a silver tray with round white cakes, a glass pitcher of goat’s milk, a glass chalice of white wine, a glass of clear anise liqueur, a round mirror, and a silver bell.
Offerings: White foods. Milk, poured in libation. A promise to aid those suffering from mental illness or emotional confusion.
Daily Meal: Nothing but milk or rice milk to drink. Rice. Custard. Cream soups and sauces.

Invocation to Selene

Lady of the Full Moon
White Lady whose rays shine on us
Lighting our path through the darkness
Round as a full belly
Pregnant with possibilities,
White as mother’s milk
And snow on high mountaintops,
Moon mother who sings to us
Lullabies of imagination,
Cascade through our dreams,
Sail us through the ebb and flow
Of our heart’s tides,
And light our spirits
With your serene love.

Chant: Luna Lucina Lumen Lumen

(The cakes are passed around, saying, “Eat of the Mother’s sweetness.” Then the pitcher of milk is passed around, saying, “Drink of the Mother’s love.” Then the chalice of wine is passed around, saying, “Drink of the Mother’s dreams.” Then the glass of liqueur is passed around, saying, “Drink of the Mother’s song.” Then the remainder are poured out as libations and the silver bell is rung six times.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Honor Loved Ones: Make a Memory Candle

Adapted from By Candlelight, by Diana Rosen (Storey Books, 2002).

If you want to remember a departed human or animal loved one, the simple act of making a Memory Candle can bring great relief and healing. You can also do this to celebrate someone living, or to mark an important event like a graduation. Either way, the Memory Candle is a beautiful way to honor someone important to you.

1. Decide who you would like to honor in this way: it could be a deceased relative, friend, or companion animal, or someone with whom you have lost contact but still want to remember.

2. Choose a clear glass candle holder-a water tumbler or glass works well.

3. Find a photograph of the person you wish to honor in this way and make a photocopy of it, enlarging or reducing it to fit the height of the candle holder. If you don’t have a photo, you could do a simple drawing or make a photocopy of a memento you associate with that person or animal.

4. Wrap the photocopy around the glass and tape it securely. Place a nontoxic beeswax or soy wax candle in the glass. Place the Memory Candle in a special safe place and light the candle.

4. The soft glow of the candlelight will illuminate the photograph in a very beautiful and special way.

5. You can also pay homage to the living by naming this an “Honor Candle” and using a photograph to celebrate a graduation, marriage, birthday, retirement, anniversary, or other accomplishment of note.

The Witch’s Ball

The Witch’s Ball

A witch ball is a very interesting item. Powerful and simple to make.

It requires a glass jar, I use a jar about the size of a baby food jar, with the lid….

 

You fill it halfway with sharp items. Broken glass, needles etc.

 

You then fill it with a liquid. Some use oils some vinegar others use their own urine. That seems to be a personal choice.

 

You then bury it in your yard. It “cut’s” any “evil” or bad, negative things “pointed” at your home. They are good for a year and then it is time to replace them.

 

I have also heard of witch balls being made with glass and then filled with string or yarn. You place them in a window and they “tangle” negative or evil as it comes to your home. For myself, I place mirrored balls in my windows to reflect out any bad energy from the outside. I make a point to sand off the tops of the jars and to remove any labels.

Scrying Board Divination (Storm Moon)

Scrying Board Divination

(Storm Moon)

Scrying boards, such as the popular Quija board, date back at least to the time of the fourth-century Roman emperor Valens. In its first year of full production by Parker Brothers. Quija boards outsold their other favorite game Monopoly.

To perform this ritual, you will need a large piece of construction paper, a magic marker, a small wine glass and at least one other person.

At midnight, draw a small circle the size of the top of the wine glass in the middle of the piece of paper. Draw a line up from the circle to the top of the paper, down from the circle to the bottom of the paper, from the right-side to the edge, and from the left-side to the edge. The paper is now divided into four sections with a circle in the middle. Label the section in the upper right “Yes” the section in the upper left “No,” lower left “Yes,” and lower right “No.”

Place the wine glass upside down in the middle of the paper, covering the circle. With two people on opposite sides or four people on all four sides, each person put one finger on what is now the top of the glass. One of you needs to ask a “yes or no” question out loud. Wait for the glass to move on its own, free from deliberate help. You will know this because its movements will be fluid rather than jerky.

When you perfect this divination board, you can improve upon it by writing a circle of letters on the paper. Do this by writing the letter “A” at the top of the page and then making a circle around the page with the other twenty-five letters. This configuration of the board gives you the option of moving beyond yes and no questions.

SELECTING A CRYSTAL

SELECTING A CRYSTAL

To select a crystal, first put yourself in a calm space. Hold the crystal in your right hand with the point towards you. Feel it physically. Be open to sensations like tingling, or change in temperature. Also feel the crystal emotionally. Think of the purpose you want it for, and see if you feel attracted to it. Be more concerned with how it feels than how it looks.
Allow the crystal to pick you by interacting with it in this way. And remember to go with your initial feeling.

Sun Water

Sun Water

 
Set a glass or crystal container of pure water outside just at dawn, in a place where the Sun’s rays will shine on it all day. At sunset, bottle and cork the water. Keep it in a sunny place. Add to baths for energy, sprinkle around the home to remove evil, anoint yourself for purification and so on.

Recipe for Making a Gem Essence/Elixir

Also know as gem elixirs, essences are the vibration of the crystal reserved in water and brandy. For our purposes, using a gemstone essence involves placing a few drops in a household cleanser or room spray in order to diffuse the vibration of the crystal throughout the room. You can purchase gemstone essences/elixirs already made or make your own. The gemstone essences that can be purchase can also be taken internally, but if you make your own for use in your magickal housekeeping practice. It is not recommended that you take them internally unless you are an expert, or at least until you’ve done some more thorough research of gem essence/elixir preparation.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

How to Create a Gem Essence/Elixir

Items You Will Need:

  • A cleansed crystal (you choose the type according to your needs)
  • Pure water
  • A very clean, clear wine las
  • Brandy
  • A small bottle with a dropper

On a sunny day, when the moon is between New and Full, place the crystal in the glass. Pour the water over the crystal to fill the glass. Place the glass in bright sunlight for at least three hours, making sure that no shade hits it During this time, set the empty dropper bottle next to the glass to purify it with the light of the Sun. After the water and bottle have bathed in the sun for the allotted time, place your hands over the water and visualize very bright, sparkly light filing it. Say a quick prayer, like:

“Great Spirit, please infuse this water with vibrations

of healing and love. Please fully activate the

positive energy of this crystal, and fill the water

with it so that the water is powerful medicine and

a helpful ally to me in my magickal workings.”

Then fill the dropper bottle with half brandy, half water from the wineglass, using the dropper to transfer the water into the bottle. This will preserve the vibration of the crystal in the water.

Once you’ve made the essence, you can put four drops in a room spray or cleaning solution to diffuse the vibrations throughout the room. You can also put a few drops on your wrists, rubbing them together to internalize the magick and for personal healing.

Sea Glass as a Magickal Item?

Sea Glass as a Magickal Item?

Author: Jillian

I have collected sea glass (glass that has been smoothed and etched by the water and sand of the ocean) since I was a child. Each piece seems to call to me, and often great finds wash up at my feet, like gifts from the waves. I have never heard of sea glass holding any magic properties, beyond that of making beauty out of garbage, but it seems that sea glass does have something about it that is otherworldly.

It comes in every color of the rainbow, with white being the most common, then greens and browns from liquor bottles, but I have found yellows, oranges, reds, and blues. These rare colors are a prize to collectors, and walking on the beach, hunting for pieces encourages meditative thought. The colors can be symbolic, as they are in ritual candles, but I don’t know if the same holds true for sea glass.

As a searcher walks, they take notice of all that is around them, as they look for glass, they also see the other flotsam that has washed up. Many see trash that has washed up, and gather it to properly dispose of. Many take a step further, to work with others to keep plastic trash out of the sea and shore, ensuring a cleaner home for the Goddess and God here on earth, as well as a cleaner home for man and animals. Searchers see dead sea creatures, damaged by pollution. They see live animals, hope for the future. They see children, men, and women enjoying the sea, just as humans have done since antiquity. The ocean calls to us, grants gifts to us.

Glass is simply silica sand and other minerals molten together into a liquid, then shaped and cooled back into a solid. This in itself can be a symbol of how a person’s common background can be transformed through the “trials and tribulations” of life into something beautiful and precious.

Sea glass has gone through two more steps. It has been discarded and broken, deemed worthless, and left to the elements. Worn by sand, broken down by the natural chemical reactions of ocean water, it loses it’s hard sheen, and sharp edges. It smoothes down, sometimes into intricate shapes, and washes up. It has become a gemstone of sorts, helped by man, but ultimately affected most by the acts of nature that surround it.

Sea glass has lost some of its minerals and silica, from being physically worn away, or from being leached out by chemical reactions with the seawater. So too do we lose some of our “selves”, when we work through our adversities. We lose our jagged edges, our impurities. As minerals return to the sea and earth, so too should we offer our losses of selfish behavior, prejudices, avarice, and sloth.

Is that not how we are shaped? We are a part of mankind, and we are partly shaped by our relations to our fellow people, but so much more so are we shaped by our interactions with our Gods and Goddesses, with our spiritual experiences. Just like silica and minerals, we are a part of the earth, but through our interactions with people, we grow stronger, more solidified, and become more valuable and useful after being shaped and molded. However, we do need the final finishing through our spiritual experiences.

Interactions with our deities smooth our sharp edges; they teach us that we are not all-knowing. If we remain sharp and smooth, all we have is our outward appearance and our knowledge. We have no deeper wisdom, no real learning. Just as the sand and salt water buff and scour discarded glass, we must allow our faith to shape us. We too must be spiritually buffed and scoured, so that we might become people of inner and outer beauty and strength.

I take out broken glass, marbles, and beads to the sea, and as I offer them to the Goddess, I offer myself to her. As each shard falls to the bottom of the kelp beds, far out enough that it will not have an easy journey back to shore, I reflect that my journey will not be easy either, but that I will improve through my struggles, just as broken glass improves from trash into treasure. I choose colors of glass that are rare, so that I can give to the future. I buy glass from charity thrift stores, so that others might benefit. Collectors of all ages may one day find joy and astonishment finding a rare color of sea glass that came from one of my offerings. I pray they do.

What does sea glass hold in terms of magic? I feel as though it must hold some spark of sacredness, to have changed so very much into a new and beautiful form. I have searched for information, but found none that speaks about sea glass. Is this because it is a relatively “new” occurrence? Sea glass only became common after glass could be mass-produced and easily discarded, and trash collected as a public service, not disposed of in communal trash pits.

For myself, I have made charms to hang from dream catchers, and some pieces reside in my witch bottle. My mate has his own lucky piece that I gifted him, made of glass and wire found in the surf, a small green medallion of glass. Green is his lucky color, as he is a full-fledged Taurus. These pieces might hold the power of good intentions concentrated on them, but do they hold more?

Should I just take sea glass pieces as gifts from the Goddess, or do they have significance? Are they signs of becoming more “beautiful” through surviving adversity, or do they hold any real strength? Can they be used in offerings or spells? What deities might there be that would most appreciate these offerings, aside from the Goddess?

I hope that you, dear readers, can answer some of my questions, and offer ideas and suggestions of your own. I am so new here, and new to my beliefs, that I really would appreciate guidance.

WATER SCRYING

WATER SCRYING

 
 
You will need a large, deep bowl made from glass, brass or silver. It must have a smooth and even rim.
You must set your base on some sort of tripod for best results. A tripod made of laural boughs is the best.
 
You will need to do your own testing to find out which bowl works best for you and how much water you should use. Do not use water from a tap. Get clean, fresh water from a stream.
The ancient Greeks believed that nature spirits dwelled in fresh water. The water may be stored in a vessel and used again.
 
However it is a good idea to replace your water once a month. Never collect the water of a day time. Water should only be collected at night preferably on a full moon.
 
To make your wand use a branch from a bay tree, hazel tree or the laural. The end of the wand should be covered in dry tree sap or resin.
Dip the end of the wand into the water until it becomes wet. Wet the rims of the bowl.
The best time to scy is at night when it is quite. By gently drawing the rim of the wand around the bowl it will cause it to resonate.
 
The action of the resonating basin will cause circular ripples to form in the basin. The water seems to breathe with the sounds.
It is the harmonics that seem to whisper forth predictions of the future. These are interpreted with the help of a gaurdian angel.
 
You may also recieve visual impressions which Nostradamus likened to that of a “burning mirror”.

 

THE ART OF SCRYING

THE ART OF SCRYING

Some people have a natural aptitude for scrying. They only have to walk past a shallow puddle in the road, glance at a piece of black glass, admire the glossy fur of a black cat or look at a wet patch on a black rubbish sack and numerous images flood into their minds. Others have to spend days, weeks, months, even years, mastering this apparently simple technique, staring into elaborate black mirrors and seeing nothing but their own dark reflection – frustrating indeed – and of course, that very frustration makes things more difficult. As with all magic, it needs to be taken seriously, but with a playful and curious state of mind. Trying too hard is counterproductive.

One of the things which makes scrying so hard for some people to do is that, like meditation, it requires an altered state of consciousness to be achieved, but with the eyes open. In meditation, pathworking, and in parts of a ritual, most people prefer to work with their eyes closed because this makes an altered state so much easier to reach and to maintain.

Those who can scry in anything are fortunate to have this magical skill so long as they are able to switch it off at will and do not become completely distracted every time they see a shiny black surface. For the rest of us there are many things we can experiment with to make scrying easier – and different things will work for different people.

Dark water is a good way to start, not least because it is easily available and costs nothing. A pool can be lovely to scry in, though I would recommend sitting or kneeling down to do so, since it is very easy to forget what your body is doing once your mind becomes absorbed, and it is somewhat undignified to fall into the (possibly stagnant) water at a moment of great revelation. A black bowl filled with water is another method and has the advantage of being safe and suitable for indoor use. Tap water is fine, but spring water will probably work better. Perhaps the best kind of water to use is Moon water: spring, rain or sea water which has been placed in the Moonlight every night for a whole lunar cycle. The water can be blessed in whatever way you feel is appropriate, possibly dedicated to one of the Moon goddesses who rule such activities as these.

An alternative to using a black bowl is simply to use any dish but to darken the water with black ink. The old witch in her cottage would doubtless have done her scrying in a bubbling cauldron of stew or in the water boiling in an iron pot ready to make up some herbal brews. Red wine (especially elderberry) or dark beer both make good scrying material, though definitely not after drinking any of it! Coca Cola would probably be effective too, though I have never tried it. The possibilities are endless…

Personally I find black mirrors easiest to use because they don’t slop about like water (at least not under normal circumstances!). They are expensive to buy but very easy to make. Spray the back of the glass from a cheap clip frame with a couple of coats of black enamel paint. Make sure the glass is spotlessly clean before you do so as any little marks may spoil your concentration when you come to use it. Once the paint is completely dry, return the glass to the frame. Bless the mirror if you wish to and treat it with the respect due to any magical object. It can be kept hanging on the wall or put away after use, wrapped in a natural material like silk or cotton. If you prefer something a little more fancy, charity shops are excellent hunting grounds for interesting frames. Even better, you could make your own out of wood (carved, if you are skilled in that craft), papier mâché, textiles, or anything else that appeals to you. Indeed the more effort you put into making it, the more personal it will become – imbued with your own energy, in tune with you, and therefore easier for you to use. The size of the mirror is not important, although if you are just learning the technique, a larger surface area will probably prove easier to use. I would also avoid too elaborate a frame on a small mirror as it may prove unhelpful.

Once you have mastered this art, you can do it anywhere and in any light, but at first it is best to be in a dimly lit area, possibly using candles. The bowl or mirror needs to be placed at a height and angle which are comfortable, so that you can sit relaxed and breathe calmly and easily. Candles or other lighting will need to be in a position where their reflection will not bother you. Do not be disheartened if nothing happens for a while. It is a knack and perseverance pays off in the end.

A further use of this art is to communicate with another person, such as a magical partner, especially if they live a long way away and you cannot meet very often. Each person should have their own mirror, dedicated solely to this purpose. Ideally the mirrors should be identical and made by the people involved on an occasion when they are together, to ensure the closeness of the link. When separated both people look into the mirror at an agreed time and a good psychic channel of communication can be set up. With practice, it becomes possible to call the other person to the mirror if you really need to talk to them at a time when you have not agreed to “meet”.

Scrying is a magical art with many possibilities. Exactly what it is and how it works is for each individual practitioner to decide for themselves, but it will certainly enhance and focus both the psychic and creative abilities of the magician who is drawn into dark pools to find the bright treasure of secret knowledge.