How to Divine with Scrying
Authorβs Note: The materials shared on this blog are based on the authorβs own research and interpretation. They are intended as resources for students of Hagstone Witchery and for practitioners exploring traditional, folkloric, and folk magic. All posts are offered in the spirit of shared knowledge and inspiration, not as prescriptions or declarations of the βrightβ way to practice.
Scrying is the practice of gazing into a reflective or shifting surface in order to divine through visions, intuitive messages, or spirit communication. It is a powerful and accessible form of divination, which uses few expensive tools and relies primarily on the witchβs inner senses as the vehicle for receiving and interpreting symbols and messages. That said, it is one of the methods of divination that I get asked abut most frequently and that new witches seem to have the most trouble finding resources on.
What is Scrying?
To scry is to look into a surface (whether reflective, translucent, or in motion) until ordinary perception gives way to psychic impressions. These may come as shapes, symbols, scenes, shadows or simply as sudden βbursts of knowingβ. Sometimes they appear directly in the surface itself; other times they appear in the negative space just beyond the tool. The βvisionβ can also be less visual than intuitive, appearing in the Inner Eye rather than the outer one.
Scrying is not about seeing with the eyes alone but about opening the mind and spirit to receive messages, communications, visions, omens and knowledge.
Choosing a Tool
Nearly any reflective surface or shifting substance can be used for scrying. Common tools include:
Mirrors (Black or Polished): A darkened glass, obsidian disc, or even a household mirror. Mirrors are excellent for both symbolic visions and spirit communication and fulfill a double function as a symbolic threshold into the spirit world.
Crystal Balls or Stones: Clear quartz, amethyst, or obsidian spheres are commonly used.
Water and Ink: A bowl of water, darkened with ink or wine, has been used for centuries.
Smoke or Flame: Watching a candle flame flicker or smoke coil upward can be easy methods performed with commonplace items.
Other Reflective or Shifting Surfaces: Polished metal, oil poured into water, or a blank space in a dark room can provide an appropriate backdrop for scrying.
The tool does not need to be blessed, charged or innately magical (though some me prefer it). It primarily serves as a focal point for facilitating a light trance state.
Preparing to Scry
Preparation for scrying isnβt strictly necessary. But it can be helpful, especially for a beginner.
Ground and Center: Quiet your mind. (Remember, this means as much as is possible and reasonable for you. Magic doesnβt demand perfect focus. Just βfocused enoughβ.) Slow your breathing. Center your thoughts on what youβre scrying for.
Set the Atmosphere: Dim the lights, light a candle, or create an environment conducive to quiet focus or light trance. Experiment here. Try different combinations of prep work until you find the sweet spot that helps you feel comfortable and relaxed.
Ready the Tool: Hold your tool in your hands if desired and βwakeβ it for the work. You might cleanse it with smoke, sprinkle it with water, or say a charm over it. Try things out to find what works for you.
The Act of Gazing
Hold your gaze gently upon the scrying medium. Itβs important not to strain or force your focus. You are not trying to force images to appear, and you wonβt summon them by staring with fire without blinking! Allow the tool to be a focal point for relaxation. Let your eyes slip in and out of focus naturally. Donβt sweat it if you blink or start to feel antsy. Just let focus and mind wander.
Bonus Tip: If you are scrying with fire or smoke and are having trouble, try gazing into the dark room beyond the flame/smoke, allowing your tool to shift almost into the periphery of your focus. If you are scrying with a mirror, try looking directly into your own eyes and watch for shifts in both your own reflection and in the reflection of the room behind you.
Images in the Tool: Shapes may form within the surface itself. You may see faces, landscapes, symbols, or moving scenes. These may be fleeting and vague, so make note of them quickly. (A voice recording device or your phone can be helpful here.)
Images Beyond the Tool: Sometimes the vision may seem to appear in the space above or behind the surface. Placing a very small candle near your working area can help encourage these, as this creates the illusion of dense shadows collecting in the corners of your field of vision.
Inner Impressions: Many scryers find that the tool acts as a trigger, and the actual βvisionβ takes place in the mindβs eye. Do not dismiss these impressions. Divination of the inner senses is just as valid and important a skill as divination of the outer senses.
Interpreting Visions
Scrying rarely provides answers in plain speech. Rather, answers appear in the form of symbols similar to those you might encounter in a dream or interpret in the form of omens. Really on your own symbolic language or your chosen body of folkloric associations when making any interpretations. Keep a journal to record what you see, and reflect later on how these omens unfold in your life. Over time, you will develop and strengthen your own symbolic lexicon.
Tips for Success
Scrying is as much about openness as concentration. Too much effort can block the process.
Begin with short sessions (five to ten minutes) and build as your endurance grows.
Try not to demand fireworks. Subtle impressions often grow more meaningful than vivid visions.
Many practitioners invite guides, ancestors, or deities to aid them in seeing more clearly.
As with any skill, scrying strengthens with repetition.
Closing the Session
You may want to close your session by thanking your tool and any spirits present. Ground yourself by eating, going outside, taking a shower, or shaking out your limbs. Record your impressions while they are still fresh. Cover or store your tool until next time.
