Scrying is an ancient and sacred divination art sometimes referred to as "seeing". It's the process of gazing into a crystal or glass ball, or any reflective surface, including the surface of the water in wells or calm pools, and even surfaces such as polished metal, and using the images detected for the purpose of foretelling future events or revealing past ones. It is believed that early man likely used scrying and interpreted the things they saw as communications from the spirit world.
The crystal ball has been shrouded in a veil of occult energy and mystery for centuries. Scrying had become widespread by the 5th century AD, but was condemned by the Medieval Christian church as "the work of the devil". In spite of this, the practice has survived. John Dee, a noted mathematician, astrologer, geographer, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I devoted much of his life to Hermetic philosophy, alchemy, and divination, where the use of crystal balls was included. Even today, one of the most common associations we see with crystal balls is that of a psychic reader gazing into one in order to foretell someone's future or to access past information for them.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, crystal gazing was a popular pastime in the Victorian era, along with Palmistry and Astrology. It was said to have involved elaborate rituals for conducting gazing sessions, which were believed to work best when the Sun was at its northernmost declination.
Today, crystal ball gazing is still used as a form of divination. The practitioner actually enters a meditative state where the gaze is softened and the mind cleared as attention is focused on the globe, allowing the subconscious mind to become receptive to communications from the spirit world and angelic realms. Scrying should not be taken lightly, but it is also nothing to be feared. By setting strong energetic boundaries and intentions before performing such divinatory work, we can control what types of spirits come through to communicate. This method of "seeing" is particularly powerful during Samhain, when the veil between our world and the spirit realm is said to be thinnest.
You will receive an 80mm obsidian glass crystal ball. These globes contain a percentage of natural quartz crystal, which helps to keep the vibrational energy high. Your globe comes with a beautiful stand just as pictured in the photos.
Any magical tools you receive from my shop are cleansed and blessed with Reiki energy, and people often tell me that items they purchase off the shelves of my retail shop have lovely high-vibe energy. That said, it's always a good idea to clear and consecrate any new tools when you receive them. To do this, first use sage smoke to clear away any unwanted energies the items may have picked up in their travels to you. You can then consecrate your tools by focusing energy and intent into them, programming them for whatever purpose you have intended. I then like to display my tools in my altar space alongside the appropriate crystals and herbs to really imbue the desired energy into them.