Mirror Scrying, Cloud Scrying, Fire Scrying & Other Ancient Forms of Divination

Scrying is an ancient form of divination, dating back thousands of years. Different forms of scrying have been present in ancient to modern day civilizations all across the world. Scrying can also be found in many different religious and spiritual beliefs and is often used to tell a person their past, present or future. Many people since the witch-burning ages have called scrying a form of witchcraft; however, this is untrue. Many cultures have used scrying in their spiritual rites and journeys, including the Native Americans and Ancient Celtic Druids. It is quite interesting to find that even some Christian Kings of the past called upon "seers" to use different methods of scrying to aid them in battle or love scenarios.

One of the most well-known forms of scrying is crystal-ball gazing. This type of scrying really became popular in the fifteenth century all throughout Europe. Seers were able to look into the crystal ball and see images that took form within the crystal's many layers. They would then interpret this image and speak that interpretation to the seeking person...who many times was of royal descent. There is also mirror scrying, fire scrying, cloud scrying, pond/lake scrying, and different forms of stone scrying and earth scrying. There is a type of scrying for every person's element...you just have to find the one to suit your soul and third eye.

Check out some or all of the forms of scrying that I have written about below. Maybe you could try each of these forms of scrying for yourself and determine which was your favorite and to which you most felt connected?

What does the mirror represent to you? Most people see it as a symbol of beauty and vanity. Magical people dating back hundreds of years used mirrors for visions and insight into the future, or what is also known as scrying. Black mirrors were used in scrying especially, and the legend says that Hecate the Goddess created the first black mirror. Mirror scrying is a form of water scrying, because when mirrors were first made they were believed to be water that was captured in one spot. Water has been regarded as sacred for thousands if not millions of years in pagan and polytheistic cultures, so you can see why mirrors were held with such caution and reverence. As a matter of fact, where do you think the superstition about 7 years of back luck from breaking a mirror originated?

The use of a magic mirror is even seen in one of today's most famous Disney movies...Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Unfortunately the magic mirror is crudely misrepresented as it is an evil queen who wields the mirror's powers for her own evil-bidding and vanity.

Magic Mirror scrying is best performed in a darker, silent room with one votive candle lit. This room needs to be a place where you are able to focus on your mind's eye and the visions being received by the mirror's aid...not the relentless barking of your dogs or the taunting crying of your children. Wait till the kids are in bed and your dog is taking a nap, if your life is as busy as mine!

Another great place to do a mirror scrying ritual is to do it on a lunar esbat, by light of the full moon...this can be even more mystical and powerful as you are using the moon's light to reveal the images in your magic mirror. If you are unaware as to how the moon's light is powerful and magical, now is the time to do your research. Many ancient cultures and tribes regarded the moon as a goddess in and of itself.

Full Moon Mirror Scrying Ritual by DJ Conway:

Items Needed:
1 bright, shiny silver coin
1 small, black cauldron or scrying bowl filled with water

Perform this ritual outside where the rays of the Moon can fall directly onto the water in the cauldron. If you cannot go outside to perform your scrying, stay in a darkened room near a window that the Moon shines through. Place the coin in the water and take the cauldron in both hands. Gaze up at the Moon and say:

"Lovely Lady of the night,
Mysteries old and futures bright,
Give me a glimpse of that to be
And as I will so mote it be."

Look down at the coin shimmering in the cauldrons water. With your eyes half closed, adjust your vision as if you were looking into and through the coin. Don't try to analyze anything you might see or that might come into your mind. Just accept it. Some people, rathar than seeing actual pictures within the cauldron, will have mental impressions, feelings or pictures. When you have finished, bow to the Moon and say thank you for the assistance with your scrying ritual. Pour the water out on the ground. You're done! Record your scrying experience in your journal or Book of Shadows.

Have you ever laid in the grass and stared up into the sky on a beautiful day? Did you enjoy looking at the clouds and seeing different shapes form? I think many people have done this as a child, and maybe even as an adult without realizing that this is another form of scrying. This particular type of scrying is a part of what is known as "Air Scrying". As most people know, there are four basic elements: earth, air, water and fire. For each of these elements, there is a form of scrying...and logically clouds are connected to air...therefore, they are a part of air scrying.

Cloud scrying was actually used by the ancient Celtic Druids in order to further their intuition. Instead of looking for specific shapes in the clouds, they would allow the clouds to spontaneously form and give spiritual images for insight in battles, spiritual rites, or the harvest.

For instance, maybe you are looking at a cumulonimbus storm cloud and it randomly rotates and forms what appears to be a wolf, howling in the wind. Now, it does not have to look exactly like a wolf but that is what popped into your mind as to what the cloud reminded you of. This is a good example of cloud scrying. At that point in your scrying ritual, you would meditate and try to interpret what the image of the wolf means to you. My interpretation would go something like this - the wolf runs in packs, is swift and cunning. They are nocturnal and are one of the Native Americans' totem animals. They can also show up as animal guides. Maybe I need to get in touch with my animal spirit guide?

Let the scrying interpretation flow through your mind easily...do not force the meaning behind the cloud images and visions. If your psychic abilities are facing a blockage, maybe meditate on the scrying images before going to bed at night and then maybe the scrying interpretation will come to you in a dream!

"Fire cannot in itself exist without consuming something in its path."

Fire Scrying Chant by Scott Cunningham

When you wish to contact your psychic mind by scrying: sit before a fire, well out of range from flying sparks. Close your eyes, relax, still your consciousness, then open your eyes. Look directly into the flames. Don't strain your eyes; blink normally. Breathe deeply. When you're at peace, say these or similar words in a whispered voice:

Blazing Fires

as you dance,

Give me now the secret glance.

Call upon my second sight,

Make me psychic,

with your light.

Blazing fire

shining bright,

give me now the second sight.

Repeat this chant until your eyelids go heavy. Write down whatever images form in the flames and stick in your mind. Your fire scrying ritual is complete.

Ogham is a form of earth scrying and was the Celtic tree alphabet and sustained the secrets of the Celtic people during tumultuous times. "It consisted of angular markings, signed out using the different joints of the fingers, and incorporated a complex grammar for transmitting secret wisdom and lore." (Eason, The Giant Book of Magic).

Ogham alphabet was carved on many different things, but for divinational purposes it was carved onto pieces of wood or stones. If it was carved onto wood, it was known as ogham staves as opposed to being carved on stones which was known as ogham runes. There were 25 markings or symbols that were also connected to sacred trees of the Celtic druids. These staves or runes were then cast onto the ground or table and used for scrying (seeing). At this point, the seer would interpret the symbols or let certain visions appear in his or her mind to aid in the interpretation of these symbols.

Ogham comes from the Warrior God Ogma's name, of whom was also supposedly the creator of the ogham alphabet in the 300s. Today, usually only seven of the original 25 ogham characters are used in divination, as this form of scrying can get quite complex using all 25. You can purchase a set of ogham sticks or ogham runes at many bookstores, including Borders and Barnes and Noble. You can also order some online through amazon, which I have listed below. Or, you can create your own...my sketch to the right gives you the 7 secret symbols in use today. To really add an extra magical charge to your ogham sticks, if you so choose to make ogham sticks, the best thing to do would be to mark the symbols on their correlating sacred trees...but I realize this might be somewhat difficult to do in the long run. Just be sure to put your heart and soul into making the ogham sticks or runes, and they will be ready to aid your psychic sight.

The Ogham Markings in sequential order, as pictured to the upper right:

Birch: Sunday; The Birch is the symbol rebirth and purification.

Willow: Monday; represents intuition, listening to your inner voice and wisdom.

Holly: Tuesday; the Holly tree was regarded as sacred because it symbolized the Waning year in Celtic culture; the holly symbolizes domestic security and concerns.

Hazel: Wednesday; the Hazel tree symbolizes official wisdom and justice, following the law.

Oak: Thursday; The Oak in Celtic culture symbolized the King of the Waxing year - from winter to summer solstice.

Apple: Friday; The apple symbolizes fertility and immortality.

Alder: Saturday; The alder tree was used to build bridges and foundations to buildings. The Saturday tree symbolizes security, firm foundations and a bridge between two lives.