Since the Ancient Times,
divination in the form of scrying has been the manner in which
Witches step through the veil to the Otherworld, to see what
cannot be seen.
Scrying is an ancient act of divination
for the purpose of attaining clairvoyance. It is one of the
earliest forms of divination in recorded history, appearing
in China in 3000 BC, Egypt in 2500 BC, and Ancient Greece
around 2000BC. Clairvoyance is achieved through this form
of divination by focusing, gazing, staring or concentrating
on an object until a vision appears.
Scrying comes from the english word
"descry" which means "to make out dimly"
or "to reveal." Throughout history there have been
many purposes for scrying. Listed below are some examples
of the knowledge that can be obtained through this activity;
Great prophets and seers, with most
all using some form of scrying have come and gone throughout
history. In Greek, Roman and Celtic eras prophesies were made
by oracles while scrying into lakes, pools, or large bowls
of water or ink. The Egyptians studied and practiced dream
scrying and the Druids were renowned for and practiced cloud
scrying. Native Americans practice a special type of smoke
scrying and Gypsies and fortune tellers use mirrors or crystal
balls to scry and glimpse into the future. .
Arguably
the most well known and famous prophet, Nostradamus, is said
to have used a black obsidian mirror as well as a dish filled
with ink to make his famed predictions. During his lifetime
Nostradamus recorded hundreds of “quatrains” about
future events. In 1555 “Les Propheties de M. Michel
Nostradamus” was published. Some of the historical events
Nostradamus predicted were the war with Napoleon, the American
Revolution, the Civil War, the rise and the fall of Hitler,
events in the British monarchy such as the abdication of Edward
VIII, and the assassinations of Lincoln and John and Robert
Kennedy. He also predicted three reigns of terror by persons
he named as “antichrists”. Nostradamus quatrains
did not go beyond the year 3797. According to a letter written
to one of his sons, the seer claimed this is the year the
world will end.
Other well known prophets include, the
Mormon prophet Joseph Smith who is said to have contacted
angels using a 'seer stone' and also the infamous magician
John Dee and his partner Edward Kelley who used an obsidian
crystal for scrying in their experiments
As you can see the objects used for
scrying are innumerable and many means have been employed
to see visions, read mystical signs, symbols and divine the
future.
