Introduction
Scrying is an ancient art that allows a person to see into the past, present, or future. It is defined in Donald Tyson’s book Scrying for Beginners as “the deliberate act of perceiving events that lie beyond the range of the physical senses by using the agents of the unconscious mind.” In layman’s terms, it is a psychological technique used to gain information through the mind in the form of “sensory metaphors.” These metaphors are information shaped by the unconscious mind into forms that allow us to understand them. They can come in the form of images, sounds, tactile sensations, smells, tastes, or feelings. In some cases, they can come in the form of involuntary movements.
The act of scrying is considered automism, which is defined as “functions or inhibitions of the body not controlled by the conscious self.” There are two types of automism: sensory and motor. Sensory automism, or passive automism, is the stimulation of the senses by the unconscious mind and is used in types of scrying like crystal gazing, mirror gazing, aura reading, etc. Motor automism, or active automism, is where the body moves of its own free will and is used in types of scrying like ouija boards, dowsing rods, pendulums, etc.
Method
The method for scrying is the same among all types – that is, the same general steps are taken. To scry, awareness is concentrated on a physical object in order to open the mind to receive information. The focus can be on anything, from the location of a lost object to the history of a specific person. It’s best to concentrate on what information you’re looking for before beginning, otherwise any information could be received and could therefore be more difficult to interpret. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t control what you see at first, don’t see anything, or if you find it difficult to enter the receptive, open-minded state. It becomes easier over time and with practice. Scrying is a lot like any other talent; anyone can do it, some people are naturally better at it, and with practice, the skill can be developed. When scrying, if nothing is happening, stop after 10 minutes and try again the next day.
To begin, a sacred space is needed. This can be an entire room devoted solely to the paranormal or even a small corner. It is important that you are not disturbed when scrying, so turn off all distractions and ensure no one will interrupt you. Scrying is an art that is done alone. Depending on your beliefs, you may want to bathe beforehand to cleanse and relax yourself. At the very least, wash your hands and face. You may say a cleansing prayer at this point. Some choose to wear a special article, such as a headband, necklace, ring, etc., when scrying as a sort of ritual item. This, again, depends on your belief and is entirely optional.
To set up, the room should be lit with only a single, small light source such as a candle. Make sure the candle is located in a place that won’t distract you. The background should be basic, with nothing to distract you from your scrying tool. A blank wall would do well, or a simple, black cloth. It is common to burn incense. Quiet, simple music can be played in the background if you so desire.
The first step to begin scrying is to establish your sacred space or cast your circle. There are many ways to do this and the process depends on your beliefs. The most basic method, however, is to imagine yourself surrounded by a white light that extends around the space you are working in. Often, a protective prayer is said and the appropriate deities are invoked. You may begin.
Once you are finished scrying, you must absorb your sacred space or close your circle. Again, the method depends on your beliefs, but the most basic is to imagine the light that surrounds you shrinking down until it disappears. If invoked, deities are thanked at this point and often a closing prayer is said. The candle and incense are extinguished, any music turned off, and scrying materials returned to storage.
It is important to record everything after each scrying session so you can interpret what you saw and identify any patterns over time. You can also start to see what the best conditions for scrying are, such as time of day, day of the month, weather, etc. All scrying materials should be kept in a special place when not in use, such as a chest or box. This should be kept in a place where it won’t be disrupted and should be kept clean and orderly.
Next week I’ll start talking about the specific forms of scrying.
Sources
Buckland, Raymond. Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft. St. Paul, Minn., U.S.A: Llewellyn Publications, 1986. Print.
Tyson, Donald. Scrying for Beginners. Woodbury, Minn., U.S.A: Llewellyn Publications, 1997. Print.
Northern Lights Wicca 