by A Kairi

Created on: April 29, 2008

A scrying mirror is a highly polished, colored mirror used for telling the future. Black is the most popular color for scrying mirrors. Black is used for scrying mirrors the vast majority of the time, however other colors are occasionally used based on preference or need.

A scrying mirror is an evolved, portable and more convenient form of water scrying. In ancient times until the present day people attempting to discover what the future held for them would scry with a pond, creek or other relatively placid body of water.

This was often done on a moonlit night. As our world became more crowded and urbanized fewer implements for natural scrying were available. This lead to a need for an alternative.

Many people are content to scry with a dark colored bowl filled with water. This however can be messy and is not very portable.

The first scrying mirrors, which coincidentally are still the most sought after and prized, were made from semi-precious stones, precious stones or volcanic glass. These stones were cut in large circles and flattened. The tops were buffed and polished to a mirror shine. Obsidian and other kinds of volcanic glass is used for this purpose often.

Mirrors such as these can be difficult to obtain. More often than not scrying mirrors available today are made from a peice of ordinary glass that has been sanded, polished, painted and framed. The majority of them are black and are either round or square. Diehard scryers insist that the round scrying mirrors are more effective at their purpose.

Methods used to paint the glass are: spray painting; painting by hand and air brushing. The mirrors are usually painted and constructed during the full moon.

Frame styles and designs vary widely. However, silver is the traditional frame color used for scrying mirrors because many believe that the color silver is conducive to divination.

Use of scrying mirrors is popular among neo-pagans but holds appeal to those of other religions, particularly those interested in New Age ideas.

Use of colored mirrors (besides black) is sometimes a part of color therapy which proponents claim uses color to heal emotional and physical maladies.

People use scrying mirrors by looking at them in a focused but relaxed way, allowing their thought to wander but not their eyes. This is done until the surface of the mirror appears hazy. Proponents claim that they can then see reflections of future people, objects, events and places.

Scrying mirrors have many similarities to crystal balls used for divination.

Learn more about this author, A Kairi.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.