Crystal Ball Gazing

If you are going to be scrying, looking into a crystal ball, you need to find a quiet and peaceful corner where you can be mentally balanced and calm. The choice of crystal ball used is up to you, they vary from quality balls made from clear crystal, to cheaper glass versions; the best thing to do is go for the most expensive you can afford, the clearer the ball the better. You may as well get the best you can because it is an object you'll keep for a very long time. You can sometimes achieve fairly good results with an ordinary hand mirror, or you can try filling a glass bottle with water and adding some Indian ink. A magick mirror, or scrying glass, can be made by painting the raised side of a concaved piece of glass, like that found in an old clock, matt black and peering into the indented side like a dark bowl, using bowl-type objects in this way is a very old method for scrying. When it comes down to it, it's all about the right ambience and what puts you in the right frame of mind for scrying which, in most cases, would be a good crystal ball.

Scrying with your Crystal Ball

Place your ball in front of you with some dark cloth behind and underneath it to minimize reflections and create a plain background. Dim the lights, but not too much because you still need to be able to see; just enough to create the right ambience and reduce any reflected light on your crystal ball, while being able to clearly see the ball at the same time.

Fix your gaze upon the surface of your crystal ball for a few minutes, meditate upon it until you feel at ease, try to see through the crystal ball to a point about ten or twelve inches beyond. Try and keep your eyes open without blinking, but don't worry about it if you do blink, just keep staring deep into your crystal ball.

If you are not used to concentrating or meditating in this way, you may find that your thoughts begin to wander; if you notice this happening bring your mind back to the task at hand, firmly but gently. What you are trying to achieve is a blank screen / mind on which to display symbols and visions. There is nothing exactly magical about a crystal ball; it is merely an ideal vessel for focusing your own innate psychic powers to produce a seeing faculty in your mind.

If you are one of the lucky ones you will get results quickly, for most perseverance is the key; you will need to find which time of day suits you the best, perhaps music will help, or perhaps it will just distract you? The same goes for having other people present, they may help you concentrate, or they may irritate you and cause problems. Psychic vision is a talent whereby you open yourself to the awareness of extra perceived qualities around the crystal ball. Many notice a mist or smoke-like cloud developing over the crystal ball after a few minutes of intense gazing; others see sparkles of white or multi hued light. This is the primary stage of scrying and can last for quite some time; many beginners will give up after seeing nothing more than the smoke-like haze for prolonged periods, those that carry on with their attempts, persevering till they get results, become successful crystal ball gazers.

Sometimes a colour will be seen reflected in the ball; although this is not an actual image of successful scrying, the colour perceived may have some significance as follows:

Red: An energetic or violent action being taken in the near future. Usually an omen of something good and bad.

Orange: Spiritual powers are working on improving the existing situation.

Yellow: A message can be expected soon that will bring about a positive change.

Green: An improvement in health and physical well being.

Blue: Love, friendship or romance will be affected in a positive way.

Indigo: You will feel peaceful vibrations.

Violet: Spiritual and material good fortune.

Before long, after you reach the cloud stage with ease, you will begin to perceive images, shapes and symbols inside the crystal ball; see The Arcane Significance of Shapes for some examples and their meanings, but try to build up your own ideas and perceptions at the same time. With constant use your crystal ball gazing will progress beyond the stage of simple symbols into the realm of actual images, though be careful not to take even the clearest of images too literally, they may well have a deeper meaning.

Scryers who believe that spiritual beings interact with the crystal ball to pass on significant messages often build up a strong rapport with their crystal ball; often to such an extent that they will speak, either silently or out loud, to the entity within the crystal ball as they would converse with another person in the room.

Caring for your Crystal Ball

Your crystal ball should be kept covered in some nice material, like silk for instance, when not in use; this helps keep in the energies you have collected by using it and keeps it clean. You should not allow anyone else to touch your crystal ball, unless you are attempting a reading on their behalf, in which case you should allow them to touch it briefly prior to scrying to make a connection between them and the crystal ball.

Pretty much anyone can become proficient at crystal ball gazing, so long as they remember that for most it can take time to develop; for some the skills are already present, but they are rare. The biggest reason for failure in this field is impatience, not getting results quickly enough and giving up.

Useful Information:

Quality Crystal Ball

Affordable Crystal Ball

Further Reading

Crystal Ball Gazing by Uma Silbey