Scrying, also known by the names of hydromancy, crystal gazing and oculomancy, is the ancient art of revelation.
Traditionally, scrying has been portrayed through the popular image of the psychic gazing over her crystal ball. But scrying, like all esoteric practices, is not about “seeing the future.” The future can’t be seen, it can only be speculated based on present moment information.
The word “scrying” actually comes from the Old English word descry which means “to make out dimly” or “to reveal.” Therefore, scrying is about revealing the unseen through the use of our in-born second sight. Second sight is our capacity to see things that can’t usually be perceived through our five senses.
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Scrying was first mentioned in the 10th Century in an Ancient Persian text called the “Shahnameh.” Later, as Christianity rose to power, scrying was outlawed as a work of the “devil.” And yet almost every culture has used some form of scrying: from the Native American’s observation of smoke, to the Egyptians use of oil gazing to gain wisdom. These days, scrying has largely evolved into a pagan practice. But you don’t have to be pagan to experiment with it.
Scrying helps us to get in touch with our unconscious minds: the realm of the soul. As such, it can be used as a powerful form of self-understanding and psychoanalysis. If you’re struggling to find direction, meaning or purpose in life, scrying could be a wonderful way to get in touch with your core needs, dreams and goals.
Usually, scrying is performed with the use of a reflective surface, such as a mirror, water or crystal globe. However, there are many other forms. Here are nine common types:
Wax – This is done by dripping wax onto a water surface. The scryer then interprets the images or words formed from the dried wax.
Cloud – Also called cloud gazing, this form of scrying involves observing clouds and the shapes they form. This is used to gather special information or knowledge.
Mirror – This is perhaps the most popular form of scrying. Also called catoptromancy, this involves relaxing your vision and staring into a mirror. After a while, images and scenes will begin to emerge.
Water – Staring into water, images can be perceived after a time. Objects such as pebbles can also be dropped into the water to create ripples. These ripples are then interpreted.
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Oil – This form of scrying can involve pouring oil into a dish, rubbing it on the body, or coating a cup/plate. The scryer then observes the light reflected off the oil for information.
Fire – Possibly the most ancient form of scrying, this type of scrying involves gazing into fiery flames for visions. This can be done through the use of a simple candle or oil lamp. Bonus points if it’s a bonfire!
Smoke – As smoke rises from fire, its ethereal shapes present spiritual messages.
Crystal – This is the stereotypical form of scrying, but nonetheless very effective. It involves the use of a crystal object (usually a ball or globe) to gather special meaning.
Eye – This is unusual! Also called soul gazing, this form of scrying involves looking deep within a person’s eyes and observing the reflections.
As we can see, we’ve practiced unknowingly many types of scrying in childhood and throughout our adult lives!
How to Practice Scrying
For this demonstration, I’ve chosen water scrying, also known as hydromancy. I particularly like water because it is symbolic of consciousness, so it seems very fitting to use it for the purpose of conscious revelation.
You’re welcome to copy my method or create one of your own. Also, don’t feel restricted by water, especially if it doesn’t “call” to you. Experiment with many of the other scrying techniques I described above.
What you will need:
- A bowl (preferably black or natural)
- Water (preferably natural)
- 1 or 2 candles
- Lighter/matches
- Crystal/small object
- Table
- Darkness (e.g. a room at night)
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- Energy cleansing item (like incense)
1. Fill your bowl with water
I bought this wooden bowl at the thrift store for $1. I prefer wood, but you can also use a dark (navy or black) plastic, marble or glass bowl. Dark bowls are recommended because they allow you to concentrate better.
You can put your bowl out in the rain to collect natural rainwater (like I did above). Or you can fill your bowl with mineral water. If all else fails, tap water should be fine.
2. Put your crystal in the bowl
Prepare your space. You can water scry indoors or outdoors. Just ensure you have a clear space to put your bowl and a candle or two. I chose this crystal quartz as the focal point for my water scrying. Quartz is said to have balancing, amplifying and focusing properties. You can choose any object you like (it doesn’t have to be a crystal). Ensure that the object is right in the center of the bowl: it will serve as a point on which your eyes can focus.
3. Energetically cleanse the area
There are many ways of clearing the energy in your scrying space. Some options include: burning herbs or incense, using sound (like a singing bowl or tuning fork), clapping your hands, visualizing white light, sprinkling salt, or using (organic and authentic) essential oils. Why cleanse your space? It helps you to remove stagnant energy that may impede your scrying.
4. Light the candle/s
Light your candles and place them either side of your bowl. The light of the candles must be able to reflect off the surface of the water.
5. Enter a trance-like state
Trance is an altered state of consciousness. Almost every culture known to man has had its own trance rituals. These may include chanting, drum beating, dancing, singing, fasting, the use of psychoactive plants and visualization. In your case, simply meditating may help you quickly enter into a trance-like state. I like to focus on my breath while listening to tribal music.
Remember, all of this needs to be done in a darkened room preferably at night. You could also try scrying outside as the sense of expansion could contribute favorably to your experience.
6. Stare into the water
After you have achieved an altered state of consciousness, you can then gaze into the bowl. You’ll be able to tell when you’ve reached an altered state when you feel peaceful, expanded, alert, focused and connected.
In order to scry, your eyes need to be relaxed. The crystal (or other object) in the center of the bowl will help to focus your eyes. You might also like to seat yourself in a comfortable position, as sometimes scrying can take a while. Be patient. Often it takes many tries to master scrying.
Next, hold your intention in mind. For example, your intention may be to uncover a hidden gift of yours, or perhaps to discover what is holding you back from achieving a dream. As you gaze into the water, let your eyes soften. Relax your entire face, from your mouth to your ears. Breathe deeply from your stomach. At times images may come and go briefly. Don’t try to hold on to them – this will make it much harder to scry. Instead, allow all images and sensations to come and go freely. The goal is to become a passive observer rather than an active participant. Once again, this can take practice.
After a while, your mind may start to wander. Allow it to. However, ensure that your eyes stay focused within the bowl. Eventually a word, image or even entire scene may play out before you. This is normal. Once you “feel” that your scrying session is over, you may like to ruminate on the words, images or scenes that were presented to you. What were they trying to reveal? Sometimes you’ll be able to immediately understand the nature of the visions presented to you, but not always. Look out for symbolism, analogy and metaphor.
Tips: I like to put a cushion on the floor and sit on it, so that the bowl on the table is at chest height. Before scrying experiment with a comfortable seating position. For example, you may prefer to have the bowl very close to your face or very far away. This all depends on personal preference.
***
Scrying is the ancient practice of accessing the unconscious mind. While some forms of scrying may appeal to you, others may be incompatible. Finally, always ensure that you scry with an intention in mind, otherwise, you’ll walk away disappointed.
I hope you benefited from this article. Tell me, have you tried scrying? What was your experience like and what did you discover?
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Thanks for the article! I recently bought a glass (I know is better to have crystal but they are quite expensive and I just wanted to start and see how is my developement in scrying) and I tried it only once. It was very helpful from your article to read about “having something in mind”. I guess you can also stare and see what comes out but I will think what my inner feelings are and why do I want to be in the spiritual path. Maybe with that questions in mind I will have better results.
Cheers and good luck to you!
Scrying. My favorite. I love crystals. all types of them. balls. meth. pee pees. Def recommend boys. helped me become the man i am today.
dude you have never been so right! love the comment. #positivity am i right!
why the fuck are you so positive fucking kill yourself bitch
why are you such a fagot
You mentioned eye-scrying in your list of methods, but the description of that type of scrying is not the same as the eye-scrying I have heard about (and was doing for decades before I even heard the words eye-scrying or knew anything about the subject at all). I have heard it explained as looking at images on the inside of your own closed eyelids, not into the eyes of someone else. This is how I do it and have done it since I was a child (I am now 63 years old). It is a natural (to me anyway) method of seeing that is physically comfortable (you can lie down on your bed–no awkward positions hunched over a bowl for long minutes or even hours at a time) and it produces interesting–sometimes mysterious or even shocking–results.
For me, it usually starts as a kind of mistiness or fog that gradually dissipates and begins to form shapes–usually faces at first, but later it will frequently become something like a personal movie going on behind my lids.
One particular “vision” I had several months ago involved an entire town filled with people marching down the main street shouting and gesticulating to one another about something over which they were clearly excited. They were dressed in clothing from the late 1800s–Edwardian, I suppose, and whatever had them going seemed to be a happy, rather than emergency-type of event. The crowd seemed festive (there was even a small boy in knickers hawking papers on one corner as the crowd rushed by, and I got the distinct impression that the headline had something to do with the excitement of the crowd). I clearly saw details of dress, storefronts and even horses’ livery as I gazed at the scene. As so often happens, however, the second that I felt myself asking where this was and what was happening or tried to look more closely at a street sign or an ad on a storefront, the vision began to fade and break up. This particular dissolution of vision was hard for me as I had watched the scene for upwards of 10 minutes and felt I was very near to seeing the thing that the crowd was heading for. I do find that it is sometimes hard to remain neutral or to keep my thoughts as calm as necessary for that ‘observer’ stance needed for these visions to manifest themselves. My Achilles heel is that, more often than not, I ruin it by not keeping a proper distance. I find myself searching consciously for clues instead of allowing my unconscious to observe them as they come.
Of course, sometimes what I see is so shocking that I really can’t keep my distance. One particular example …
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE IS GRAPHIC AND MAY DISTURB SENSITIVE INDIVIDUALS. IT IS ALSO NOT FOR CHILDREN TO READ!
… is the vision I had one evening of a man dragging a nearly naked woman headfirst down a flight of curved stairs by her long brown hair. She was obviously dead (her eyes were open and staring and she did not react as she was thumped down stair after stair). She left a trail of blood behind on the pale beige carpet as she was dragged over it. I realized that I had somehow stumbled upon a scene of murder. I only had time to notice that the location was a wealthy home. The overall color was pale creamy beige–walls, stairs, carpet all had that color–so that the central figures were clearly defined. The man had dark, almost black, hair and was wearing a suit. (It may have been a tuxedo, but I’m not sure.) As I mentioned, the woman wore almost nothing–her one garment was a pair of light pink bikini-style panties. As the man neared the bottom of the staircase, he suddenly looked up and seemed to be staring straight at me. I was so startled by the scene and especially by that quick, intense look, that the vision stopped instantly. No fading or gradual dissolution–just bam, it was gone. I’ve often wondered who they were. It grieves me that I could do nothing to help. Learning to stay in the vision until I can get helpful details is something I am really working at now so that if I see something like this again, I may be able to do something about it.
Well, I just wanted to explain my style of eye-scyring. I didn’t mean to write a book! ;) I have wondered whether this is more akin to remote viewing than anything else. The end results seem to be similar, but I have not been trained as a remote viewer and know enough about the subject to realize there is a lengthy training process and rigorous protocols for that. My version is innate. I don’t even remember a time when I couldn’t do this. Anyone else do something similar?
Deborah, I do the same. I have just joined because I took interest in scrying when I came across the site and saw the word pop up. and I do believe what you are doing or have been doing goes far beyond scrying. I am on my journey and have been blessed as with gifts sense childhood and thought the article was interesting. When I read your post I was intrigued we are similar in our ways.
hi there I went to a medium and I asked her what it means too see pictures of animals and people that come from things that I look at. I can stare at a quartz sphere or a photo on the computer and the images start to appear and she told me I’ve got a gift called scrying. I’ve never had too learn it it just came naturally apparently. I just need to nurture my gift now just thought id share this with you
I also naturally came about the “closed eye gazing” form of scrying. Though I had done it since childhood in various forms (I only recently realized it had a name) from clouds to the texture of my bedroom wall, to scribbles on paper- The most intense form of vision I have ever encountered was of the “closed-eye” gazing variety. Embarassingly enough, it was at the height of a heroin addiction which I found a knack for controlling what I saw. I believe it was because the ritual like environment of ensuring I was alone, would not be interrupted, had non distracting audio on, a dimly lit room and would be positioned to immediately recline my body to a lying position and close my eyes focusing only on the feeling that would travel through my body and having no inner dialogue or distracting thoughts, just noticing the way the dim light hit my eyelids and the shapes they would make…eventually I’d be “somewhere else” no longer present in my body but more like existing entirely in my mind. The scenes would start out as very close up images in black and neon green (like night vision lol) I distinctly remember the first highly vivid one beginning as an up close image of thick grass, like a wawn then it began to move and I was seeing cement, then a curb with a gutter and a stream of water flowing through it and some debris like leaves, a cigarette butt, pebbles, etc. It was like I was about 6″-10″ above what I was looking at, sometimes as close as an inch or two away. When I became aware of what was going on I wondered “where am I?” and tried to look around but it was like trying to look around in a video game when you don’t understand the controls, and I stayed a few inches off the surface of things and then ran into the stucco wall of a house and then into a bush and some landscaping bark. Since it reminded me of a video game I thought to myself “pan out” and felt myself mentally ‘pull back’ on an internal joystick of sorts and suddenly ZOOM! Whoomp! I went backwards faster than anything Ive felt before. Next thing I knew I was looking down at the earth from just past the moon (I could see the moon close by to my left side). “Not THAT far!” I thought to myself and zoomed back in hoping I’d get to go to the same place I just was. I remember seeing a Lawn and a young tree in a 90s-esque cookie cutter California style preplanned neighborhood. I think they call it Tract housing. I recall moving about the scene as if I were flying, zooming here and there, to and fro. One thing that always sticks out to me is that I have no body when I become aware of myself in the visions. Its like I exist without form. Imaging if you were just a head, how it would feel looking around for the rest of yourself but seeing nothing yet still knowing you exist-thats kinda how it felt. Like observing and moving about solely from a point of awareness. Well, I’m rambling on and have forgotten what point I had intended on making when I started this, or if I have made it yet or not. LOL. Sorry if this is uninteresting, I just felt moved to write it, like there is one person in the world who will read it and get what they need at that very moment from it, and who am I to deprive someone from that!
I can totally relate to your experience. I’m shocked that you wrote about it. I’ve had plenty of such experiences and dreams. It’s just hard to tell anyone without sounding crazy. Thank you for sharing. I’m sure that this means alot to many of us.
This was an awesome read. But when I got to the comment section, I saw where someone shuts their eyes and sees things. I do this all the time. Most of the images makes me smile. I was wondering if something was wrong with me, like a mental thing. I was scrolling through Pinterest and saw the word scry and scrying and the word drew me to want to know more…now I know! Thank you.
I forgot to say that I asked any kind loving spirits who were present if they would like to show themselves in the bowl using my food coloring, mirror, lights and camera to do so. Then I swirled the water and you could see all these little white lights jump into the water and the pics are so cute they are spirit animals you can see them! Little white deer, fish, alligators whatever even elemental spirits. . .sounds crazy but these are the spirits that hang with me all the time. . . . .
I tried scrying (kind of an accident) but when I did it the results were amazing. I had no intention except to make art so my data was random. I had a great aunt who was a faith healer and I think there is something about our bloodline because when I performed the scrying activity I felt as if I had done it many many times before. I am interested in ITC spirit photography and I saw Steve Huff do a similar thing and he talked about scrying. I used a mirror and a bowl of water and a digital camera. I got amazing stuff. . .animals, fish, sharks, many birds, scenes from history (random like a scene from the Titanic with ship running into iceberg etc) Also saw futuristic “aliens” and space battles in black and white film! I saw an image of an alien family skipping along a beach that looks very similar to beaches I go to. Made me cry!! I didn’t realize what I had done at first but now I understand that scrying is self analytic and I have lot of work to do to interpret some of my images (I can be a little slow on that). My mother told me that if I could not understand the images that I should not be doing it but I disagree. I want to practice so that I can read the messages instantly. I do not feel like an occultist at all but I can feel pretty “Witchy” sometimes. . . hahah
Very good info, thank u much.
Hello Luna!
Wonderful article as always. I have always wondered if these kind of methods were useful in perceiving life better and understanding yourself and the world better. I did have question though, and I was wondering if you could help me:-
So i have approached all your guides with a very open mind. I realize that the need of acceptance is something very important when you are delving into the world of spirits and the mystic. I intended to try out scrying because, after finding out my spirit animal (which was a wolf and a swan), not through some random test but though actual experimenting and observation and interaction too, i wanted an opportunity to communicate. However, whenever I try to engage in a method that involves trying to communicate with the other side, I have visions of this one long, white-haired female and a serious case of caution and wariness sets in, as if something is preventing me from engaging in it; and it keeps happening and makes me very paranoid, until i stop thinking about getting in contact with the spirits. This spirit image has also appeared multiple times in my dreams. is here anything you can tell me about this,and how to go about it from here?
The Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nuthin to f’ wit.
So, this white haired lady could actually be a guardian. Or, she could be something feeding off the negativity that sets in whilst trying to get in contact with your spirit guides. When she appears again, sit with her awhile. See how she reacts to it. Even try to conversate. You may be surprised by what she has too say.
Ask your ancestors.
I tried this method just few minutes ago.
I bought a black marble bowl…i put a small crystal light blue one….
When i was relaxing down i felt pressure on my head and headache started…even tho my focus was within my body at the belly area…and on my breath….i had no expectations but my mind was wondering…after 30 minutes of relaxation….i was relaxed but i sensed tension inside my body….at some areas as i mentioned on my head….and my heart jumping up and down for no reason. After i realxed bit more i started to stare at the object inside the bowl with water…I noticed few images that left as soon as they were created inside the crystal….faces coming and going but not clear. My intention was To receive guidance at this point of my life because all have failed all my efforts to move forward even tho i inuitively know this is OK….and i am calm deep within….then i sow a shape of skull…like the one of death…or sometimes like an alien face…but that dissapeared in two seconds…i also noticed as i stared deeper into the object in the middle of the bowl the object completely dissapeared few times and it was all BLACK and darkness i could see.Then the object after few seconds reappeared again….
I forgot to mention my hands become cold and i feelt a cold breeze inside or around them as i was meditating to relax ….They are still cold….even now…
After i finished the practice i felt hungry :).
This is all
I would appreciate any comment from Luna about all this….your perception…even tho i know this is very personal….
So the common theme is Death and Darkness….this is exactely what has been happening inside and outside of me last three weeks…everything has shifted and i find myself directionless and alone…even tho i deeply know i am not alone.
THank you for offering your ideas on how to connect with the spirit guides.
I will continue to go more in depth in this as i feel highly drawn…and pulled.
Ilda
Great article, Luna! I have the impression I might have scried during meditation once, though it was very slight, since I only saw a symbol. To this day, I don’t know its meaning.
Your method looks very inviting though, I will try it out soon.
Also, I saw that the tarot were mentioned in one of the comments above, would you be interested in giving us your opinion and experiences (if you have any) on the matter some time? :>
I sometimes use Tarot, but I much prefer Oracle cards (and even better if you make your own). To me they are much less rigid and much more open to interpretation. The cards themselves have no power of their own, it is the person who gives them power and meaning. I see the cards as windows into the subconscious. They’re immensely helpful and I use them frequently.
Do try it out. ;)
I love these articles! I never heard the english word Scrying before, I like it.
Although the future can be seen (is a messy topic), this is the best approach.
I like your idea of using rainwater. And definitely a bonfire is a plus! I need one now!
There’s so many ways, like see falling objects (with or without intention).
P.S: It’s true that every culture has its own trance rituals. Modern western society has trance music :P
Ah yes, the fine art of trance dancing, haha
Thanks for this article, Luna. I highlighted, copied and pasted this article into Word and I’ll definitely give this a try.
I do have a couple questions about the images you see when you successfully scry:
I’m assuming these images are symbolic, like what you see in a dream, each thing having its own meaning. Are images from scrying like those in a dream, that require you to interpret them?
And if the images you see in scrying are symbolic like those from a dream, can you interpret them in the same manner, like you mentioned in your No Fluff Guide to Dream Interpretation?
Hi Valas. :)
Yes, often the images are symbolic, each with its own meaning. Sometimes the images are very straightforward. You’ll need to tune in to your intuition to determine what further type of action needs to be taken. As for interpreting them, it’s really important that you pay attention to any physical, mental or emotional reactions you have in response to the images. This will help you to interpret them. As I mentioned in the Dream Interpretation article, there can really be no one “manual” written for inner imagery. It’s a very personal thing (although sometimes we do share similar meanings with others).
I hope this helps!