Scrying

Tools for scrying and divination are some of the most popular
gimmicks to today's witches and psychics. From the expensive crystal
ball to elaborately decorated black mirrors these items are often
seen on alters and metaphysical shop shelves all over the enchanted
world.
Scrying differs from divination because as the root word of
divination suggest one is seeking "divine" aid in answering questions
or gaining insight. Whether the information comes from a spirit on a
Ouija board, a fairy in a stone, or from the Gods themselves outside
energies are at play.
Scrying on the other hand is a technique that finds its base in
sensory deprivation. As a form of meditation scrying is a technique
to aid one in tapping into the subconscious by depriving the
conscious of the normal flow of information that normally enters into
the brain through our senses. When the deprivation reaches a certain
point the brain hyper reacts and starts looking beyond the physical
and obvious for more information. The end result of which has been
named "extra sensory perception" or E.S.P.
Mystics and psychologist alike have both experimented with sensory
deprivation on many different levels. Techniques have varied from
having a subject stare at a plain black circle drawn on a piece of
paper for extended periods of time to elaborate sensory deprivation
chambers that not only stops information from flowing into a
conscious mind but also keeps the subject from any kind of physical
movement.
Inside such a chamber one would be bound and suspended in complete
darkness and silence. Unable to hear, see, taste, or touch anything
at all. The technique is strongly warned against because the most
common reactions can be stress, panic, shock, hyperventilation, high
blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, and even death.
Safer techniques can include setting alone in an unfurnished or
completely dark room where sound is kept to an absolute minimum. Or
by using any of the tools previously mentioned.
One of the most popular and affordable to make yourself is a black
mirror. The metaphysical market offers a variety of decorated black
mirrors. The mirrors themselves are a simple sheet of glass with a
coating of high gloss black paint on the backside rather than the
silver of normal mirrors. The difference makes the reflections in the
black mirror shadowy and hard to focus on. Those who gaze into such a
mirror, from the beginner to the adept, would have an easy time
interpreting distortions in their reflection because the visual image
is not as defined.
One of the most affordable was to create your own black mirror is
with a can of high gloss black spray paint and a picture frame.
Decals are optional. You can create the same tool for $2 that some
shops will charge you $150 for.
Scrying also steps into the realm of the elements. There are multiple
techniques and practices for fire scrying, water scrying, sky
scrying, and even crystal scrying. Fire scrying seems to have gained
in popularity, especially with the common candle magic that has
swarmed into the pagan world, mostly through the Wiccan outlets,
which has produced a large amount of books on the subject. Less
common would be water and sky scrying. Crystal scrying seems to be at
a midway point of the metaphysical interest level.
Crystals of all shapes, sizes, colors, and values are adored by the
pagan mind. And there is page after page of attributes that have been
labeled by someone or other to nearly each and every one of them.
Such attributes even fall outside of the metaphysical community and
are accepted by the populous in the form of birthstones.
Crystal scrying is sometimes seen as being more difficult. Crystals
don't always distort in our vision the way that a moving flame or a
night sky might. So one of the ways to make crystal scrying more
productive is to add in an element of distortion, the easiest being a
flame.
By setting a candle or other light source behind the crystal the
facets of the crystal seem to come to life as the light dances off of
each one in turn. The eyes are almost subconsciously attracted to
each change in the light, each movement, resulting in a stimulated
conscious R.E.M. that will make the outcome much more vivid.
A step up from this might be a crystal that can hold a candle
internally, a flame inside the crystal itself offering a more
balanced light to scry into. A decorative glass candle holder makes
the perfect scrying tool and glass is nothing more than a common
crystal. It just happens to be so common that we often take it for
granted. However, value can come with just a bit of imagination.
Offering names to your tools helps to make them more personal to you
and the path you follow. Not to mention from King Authors famous
sword to every great fiction story imaginable the magic thing-a-ma-
jig that held more value than any other object in the land always had
its own name. A name is most likely the very first thing you were
gifted and so it is only natural that we return that gift to the
things we gift ourselves and our stories on this enchanted quest for
knowledge and magic.

Angel Snowden - 2006