- Scrying is an art of divination where you use a reflective or illuminated surface to see images from the past, present, or future.
- Common mediums for scrying include mirrors, black mirrors, crystals, glass, water, and fire.
- To scry, stare into your medium with a soft gaze and wait for images to appear.
- Afterward, interpret the images you saw to figure out what message you’ve received.
Scrying Definition
Scrying is a form of divination using a reflective or illuminated surface. Divination is the art of trying to see into the future, and the word “scry” comes from the Old English word “descry,” which means “to see” and “to discover something concealed.” When scrying, you stare into a surface, like a mirror, and wait for images to appear. Afterward, you can interpret these images to get a message. In folk magic, scrying is often used for fortune-telling and prophecy. Some people believe that scrying lets you tap into your unconscious. Because of this, it’s also a way to self-reflect and learn more about yourself.
What mediums can be used for scrying?
Mirror Since they’re reflective, mirrors make an excellent scrying medium. Any size mirror will work, ranging from a handheld mirror up to a floor-to-ceiling mirror. The trick to using a mirror is to sit off to the side so that you’re not staring at your reflection.
Black Mirror Black mirrors, often made from obsidian, have been a tool of divination since the Aztec and Mayan civilizations in ancient Mexico. Black mirrors are reflective, but the color makes them a bit murky, which helps you see images in them. In modern witchcraft, some witches make black mirrors with paint instead of using obsidian. To make a black mirror, get a regular mirror or a pane of glass from a picture frame. Paint the mirror or glass with black matte spray paint. If you use glass, put it back into the frame with the painted side facing the wall.
Crystals You’ve probably seen depictions of a fortune teller staring into a crystal ball. That’s scrying! Crystal balls are a super common medium for scrying, but you can also use regular polished crystals if that’s all you have. Many crystal balls are clear, but you can also use balls of rose quartz, obsidian, amethyst, or any other crystal.
Glass While it’s not as reflective as a mirror, glass will reflect light—so you can use it to scry. Literally any glass will work, whether it’s a window, a cup, or the glass from a picture frame. Since crystals are expensive, some modern “crystal” balls are actually made of glass. Luckily, you can still use glass crystal balls for scrying.
Water Water is a traditional scrying medium that’s widely available and easy to use. At home, simply fill a glass or bowl with water. However, you can also use a body of water for scrying. Look for images in both the reflective surface of the water and ripples in the water. EXPERT TIP Mari Cartagenova Mari Cartagenova Psychic Medium & Animal Communicator Mari Cartagenova is a Psychic Medium & Animal Communicator based in Westford, Massachusetts. Mari has been seeing and speaking to Spirits since she was a child, and she loves to share her psychic gifts and abilities to help others. She specializes in mediumship, intuitive psychic guidance, past life or soul reading, and animal communication. Mari is the 2019 Award-Winning Best American Psychic and a Certified Advanced Spirit Worker. Mari Cartagenova Mari Cartagenova Psychic Medium & Animal Communicator Gazing into water activates inner wisdom and strength. Water scrying activates intuition by gazing into water's depths. It's not water itself that's magical, but its use as a tool to connect with your deeper inner wisdom. Spiritually, water represents resilience and quiet inner strength to overcome barriers and find a way forward.
Fire Although fire isn’t reflective, it is illuminated. The flickering flame and the smoke that wafts up into the air can both be a medium for scrying. A candle works perfectly for this, but you can also use a bonfire or hearth fire. Some people use the smoke from incense for scrying.
How does scrying work?
Wait until nightfall. Scrying is traditionally associated with moonlight, and it’s easier to receive the images in the dark. The best time to scry is after 10:00 p.m. because the moon is high, but anytime after sunset is fine. If you can’t wait, turn off all the lights to get the room dark.
Choose your scrying medium. Use what you have right now, whether it’s a black mirror, a regular mirror, a crystal, a pane of glass, water, or fire. Place your scrying medium on a stable surface or hold it in your hand, depending on what works best for you. If you’re using a reflective surface, like a mirror or crystal, position it so that you can’t see your reflection directly.
Light a candle and set it off to the side of your medium. Any kind of candle will work, but taper candles are more traditional. Place your candle so that it’s not directly reflected in the surface of your medium. The flickering light from the candle will give just enough light for you to see dim images on a reflective surface. If you’re using fire as a medium, you don’t need to use an extra candle. If it’s a full moon, try using moonlight instead of a candle. Some people like to burn incense to help them get in the right mindset for scrying. You can use any incense, but frankincense incense is a great option because it helps with divination.
Meditate to clear your mind. When you meditate, it’s like going into a trance. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Then, focus on your breath. Simply count your breaths as you inhale and exhale, letting your mind go blank. After a few minutes, you’ll be ready to start scrying. If you’re new to meditation, it’s okay to use a guided meditation from YouTube or a free app like Calm, Insight Timer, or Headspace.
Ask a question if you have one. If there’s something specific you want to know about, state it as a question either aloud or in your mind. It’s also okay to just see what images come to you. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to scrying. “What should I do next to reach my goals?” “Should I take an art class or a writing workshop?” “How can I improve my life?” “Who lived here before me?”
Stare into your scrying medium with a soft focus. Rather than staring directly into your medium, shift your gaze a little off-center. Let your vision go blurry so that you’re not seeing defined shapes. Maintain your focus as your vision becomes murky or misty.
Watch for letters, pictures, or symbols. As you stare, images may appear in your scrying medium or in your mind. Let the images pass so they keep coming. Later, you can interpret what they all mean. You might see pictures, words, letters, or entire scenes.
Reflect on what you saw by writing it all down. Grab a notebook or your journal and jot down the images you saw. Then, think about what those images mean to you. Interpret the message using your intuition as your guide. Maybe you saw images of yourself or your friends. Letters might signify a name, place, or alternative option that you’re considering. You might see a place. Perhaps you saw symbols of a hobby you want to try, like paint for art or dishes for culinary arts.
Scrying Lore
Scrying dates back to at least 3000 BCE. Early references to scrying appeared in Chinese history, but the Egyptians also used it. It’s mentioned in Egypt as early as 2500 BCE, while the Greeks were scrying as far back as 2000 BCE. So, there’s a solid basis for scrying in legend.
Mirror-based legends are really a form of scrying. Looking in a mirror for scrying is called “catoptromancy,” and it was really popular in the 1900s. According to folklore, young women and girls loved scrying in a mirror on Halloween. They’d stare into the mirror in a darkened room, hoping to catch a glimpse of what their future husband might look like. Some people believe you can see ghosts while scrying in the mirror. This belief feeds into legends like "Bloody Mary."
Chalice scrying appears in both the Hebrew Bible and Persian myths. In the "Book of Genesis" in the Bible, Joseph is said to have a chalice that he uses for fortune-telling. Similarly, Persian mythology features The Cup of Jamshid, which is considered a “holy grail.” This cup can both reveal the future and provide eternal life.
The French astrologer Nostradamus used scrying in the 1500s. Nostradamus is famous for making a series of prophecies that many people believe came true. According to legend, he made his predictions based on images he saw while scrying in a bowl of water.
Joseph Smith used seeing stones to write the Book of Mormon. According to Smith, he found golden plates engraved by prophets of God, which revealed the sacred text of the Book of Mormon. Smith was able to translate these texts using two seer stones. These stones are said to have revealed divine messages from God.
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