Dark Pool: 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.
| Authors Details: Val Thomas - Unknown
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