Odds and Ends about
Scrying
Random Tips, Experiments,
and Techniques...
Have you felt the need to peer
into the future lately? Want a more direct method that the Tarot
Cards or Runes or watching for signs? Try some of these scrying techniques
on for size.
DEFINITION:
Scrying: A method of perceiving events
and answers by way of the unconscious.
INTRODUCTION:
Scrying is often considered the most difficult method of divination
for several reasons. Unlike the Ruins or the Tarot, scrying demands
that you have a working knowledge of your subconscious's symbolism and
the ability to interpret those symbols reliably. Though most methods
of divination lead you to look outside of yourself, scrying requires that
you look within yourself to find the answers you are seeking.
There are almost as many methods of scrying as there are scryers.
Some of the most famous scryers throughout history (Nostradomus, Levi)
used complex methods to awaken their psychic abilities. However,
the complexities are not required to get reliable results -- the only requirements
are dedication, patience, and some psychic ability.
If you have not had any indication of psychic abilities, do not despair.
You simply might not have discovered them as yet. Scrying can awaken
them if they are present. However, if you are convinced that you
have no psychic abilities whatsoever, scrying is probably not the method
you should use for divination.
Above all, scrying requires patience. At the beginning, visions
will come sporadically and they will be very vague. Only practice
and time well spent will enhance your abilities and enable you to rely
on your talents.
METHODS OF SCRYING:
Here is a short summary of some of the most common
techniques that can be used for scrying.
-
Crystal gazing -- This is the method that first
come to mind when the word "scrying" is mentioned. The crystal does
not have to be large. The only requirement is that the stone that
is being used must be very clear and as flawless as possible. It
helps if you use a crystal associated with the Moon.
-
Water gazing -- This method requires a large black
or silver bowl. The bowl is filled with pure water (rain water or
water from a natural source if at all possible). The bowl is then
used in the same way as a crystal. If you are lucky enough to live
near a pond, lake or ocean, you can dispense with the bowl and just use
the whole body of water as a huge scrying tool.
-
Fire gazing -- This method often provides startling
results. The energy of the fire really lends something to the visions
it produces. Anything from a candle flame to a bonfire can be used.
All the usual precautions should be taken, of course.
-
Mirror gazing -- A regular hand or wall mirror can
be used. It helps if the mirror is round or oval in keeping with
the lunar motif.
BASIC PREPARATION:
It is always best to scry at night, because this
method of divination is closely related to the Moon and all other Lunar
correspondences. If you are indoors, you should extinguish all of
the lights except for one candle. The candle should be out of your
line of sight when you are looking at your scrying tool. Above and
behind you is a good placement. Some people prefer that the candle
flame flickers, others like the flame to remain still. Experiment
and see what you like.
The room should be as quiet as you can make it.
If you live in an apartment or with someone else, some quiet instrumental
music can be used to drown out any unwanted sounds. Don't use music
with lyrics, because at the least, the lyrics might influence your visions.
At the most, they might prevent you from concentrating enough to see anything.
Make sure that you will not be disturbed, and
figure out a comfortable way to sit either holding your scrying tool or
with it resting before you on the floor or a table.
If you are scrying on a particular subject, you
might get better results if you schedule your scrying time for when the
Moon is aspected favorably to the corresponding planet. Visions are
always stronger around the time of the full Moon.
TIPS AND TECHNIQUES:
-
A short meditation session before you begin to scry
often helps to get you into the mood and release some of your tension.
You must be feeling as relaxed and receptive as possible. Make sure
that you are sitting as comfortably as possible. It is quite frustrating
to be on the verge of perceiving something when a leg or arm falling asleep
breaks your concentration.
-
When you look into your scrying tool, try to look
past the surface and into the center of it.Try to keep your eyes fixed
on one spot, but don't prevent yourself from blinking. Since you
are in a dark room, the need to blink might lessen as your body relaxed,
but don't try to force yourself not to. That will only cause discomfort
and distraction.
-
Limit your sessions to a set period of time.
Don't be discouraged if you can not remain focused during the entire session
or if you feel the need to stop before the session is over. If you
are not used to meditating, try to start out with a 15 minute session.
You will be surprised to experience how long 15 minutes will see as you
try to keep your mind from wandering. Ultimately, scrying sessions
should last up to an hour in length. Don't set a timer or try to
keep track of time. This will create a distraction and you don't
want to be in the middle of a particularly vivid image when the timer goes
off!
-
Keep in mind that though the words "vision" and "scry"
almost always call to mind information that is perceived with the eyes,
that this is not necessarily the case. While scrying, information
can come to you via all five of the senses and also as intuitive flashes.
When reviewing the information that you have perceived, take all you senses
into account.
-
Start a scrying journal if you intend to scry on
a regular basis. Date each entry, and make sure that it is close
by during each scrying session. Note down all your perceptions after
your session, sleep on them, and then work on interpreting them the next
day. Though it is true that some visions come through so clearly
that they need little interpretation, most of the time you need to
meditate on your visions for a while to absorb their true meanings.
-
If you are familiar with another method of divination
(Ruins, Tarot, Pendulum, etc.) you can use their help with interpreting
the information you get from scrying. Simple one card/one ruin spreads
are the best to give you an overview of your vision's meaning. Or
if you are familiar with a dream interpretation spread, you can use that
to help you figure it out.
-
Often at the beginning of a scrying session, you
will start to see clouds of colors in your scrying tool. Some scryers
never get past this stage. If you find this to be the case, you can
interpret the colors using traditional color symbolism.
CONCLUSION:
There are many, many methods of scrying in addition
to the ones that I listed at the start of this page. Experiment and
find the one that is most comfortable for you to use. Ultimately,
you know yourself best and you will know the method that works best for
you when you find it. Have faith in your abilities and keep trying.
If you have questions, comments, or just want to share your scrying
experiences with me, please email
me.
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This page last updated on May 6,1998.
