Samhain Sabbat Magic: Scrying Tools and Methods

While some people are snuggling up on the sofa with a horror movie and leftover trick-or-treat candy on October 31st, many Wiccans, Witches and Pagans are seeking answers to the burning questions about the future. At this time of the year it's long been believed in folklore that the veil between the worlds is at it's thinnest. It's a prime time to take the opportunity to divine what may be in store.

Scrying is a popular method of divination. The object of the practice is to gaze at a tool, induce a trance state and see what impressions come to you. If you have ever seen an image of a fortune teller peering into a crystal ball, then you have a sense of what scrying is. The word "scry" is believed to come from the 14th century, from the word "descry" which means, "to discern."

You don't have to have any special gifts or blessings to scry. It's something anyone can learn how to do with practice. Samhain is as good a time to start as any, as you will get some of your most potent results at this time of year.

Scrying Tools

While crystal balls may be the popular image, they are quite an investment. Even a small sphere of real crystal can be hundreds of dollars. But don't worry, there are other tools that work the same way as a crystal. All you really need is a somewhat shiny or cloudy surface that you can peer into- or, more accurately, peer through. The surface only serves to focus your gaze as you get in touch with your intuition; it's not a movie screen.

A black mirror is a much more economically alternative, and just as effective as a crystal ball. You can make your own black mirror by taking a picture frame and painting the inside surface of the glass with black glossy paint, then put it back into it's frame.

Ice makes a fine scrying tool, though it doesn't last. Boil distilled water and pour it into a stainless steel round bowl. Freeze it for a few days. When you're ready to use it, set the bowl in a sink full of warm water to loosen it, overturn it into a shallow tray to and use it for gazing as you would a crystal.

A dark pot, such as a cast iron kettle (cauldron) is also a good alternative. Fill it with water and put a piece of silver into it to glint on the surface of the water. If you don't use the pot for cooking, you can also squirt some black ink on the water to create a shiny scrying surface.

Scrying can also be done in flames. A fireplace or even a simple lit candle can serve as an adequate tool. Some people prefer to scry in the rising smoke of a fireplace or campfire. Others
prefer mist to smoke, and might scry over a pot of boiling water.

Other tools aren't necessary, but can add a nice touch to create an atmosphere conducive to scrying. Candles provide warm, dim lighting. Scents, such as sandalwood incense or orange oil can help awaken your psychic senses, as can the colors blue or purple, if you have a table cloth you can use. Crystals, such as small rock quarts or amethyst, lend their power and act as conduits for the energy between you and the universe. Soft instrumental music can help relax you and block out minor distracting sounds.

Methods

The key to scrying is in achieving a meditative state. Becoming adept at meditation is a great way to prepare yourself for learning to scry and also will help you improve your skills more rapidly.

When ready to scry, dim the lights and prepare your atmosphere with whatever music, decorations, religious symbols, candles, etc. help put you in a spiritual mood. Pray to your God or Goddess, guardian spirit, totem animal or spirit guide if you so desire, for assistance in your endeavor. Settle down with your scrying tool before you. If using a shiny surface, make sure you cannot see your reflection in it.

Relax yourself by breathing in and out a few times. Clear your mind. If you have trouble doing this just focus on your breathing or count down slowly from 10 to 1. Gaze at your scrying tool. Soften your gaze to a light blur. Don't just look at the tool, try to look through it, past it. You know how when you are daydreaming, or your mind is wandering, you can be looking at something but not really seeing it? That's exactly what you want to achieve with your scrying tool.

Let your mind simply follow a slipstream of the subconscious. You can't not think- as long as your brain is working, you're going to be thinking. Rather, just focus on being receptive rather than active, again like when daydreaming. Believe it or not, when you are daydreaming, you are in the same state of consciousness as you want to be in when using your intuitive abilities. Let your subconsious flow, bringing disjointed images, thoughts, memories, sounds, etc., without specifically trying to think of anything.

If any conscious thoughts come to your mind about bills you need to pay or chores you need to do later, things that happened at work yesterday, etc., just acknowledge and release them. Don't let them distract you by tensing up when they come. Thinking, "Darnit ! I don't want to think a bout the laundry right now!" is even more distracting than momentarily recalling the laundry piling up. Instead, simply release the thought calmly, telling your brain, "yes, that's nice... we'll think about that later," and continue.

Do this for as long as you can hold the trance state. The more often you practice scrying, the longer and deeper your trance states will become.

Follow Up

After the trance is over, write down all the impressions that you got. Remember, it's not a movie theater... you are not going to see a film of your future unfold before you. The impressions you get will be much more subtle. Brief images or pictures may come to mind, but the information may also come as a voice in your head, an emotion or strong gut feeling, or a simple thought or realization. Don't judge it. Just jot it down and ponder what it might mean. Wait and see how events unfold, and trust your intuition when it comes to making plans or choices in the near future.

Keep practicing regularly and you will learn to differentiate between true psychic revelations and random ideas that pop into your mind. Intruitive impressions will usually be accompanied by a certain feeling, such as a twisting of the stomach or warmth, or might come with a sense of certainty. The week of Halloween, or the full and new moon closest to October, will bring about the most potent results yet.

References: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=descry