Witchcraft 101: Mirror Scrying

Magic mirror on the wall…

There’s something deeply symbolic about mirrors.

They’re ubiquitous these days–a staple of every bathroom and most bedrooms. Interior design theory even tells us that a mirror will create the illusion of more space in a small room. They’ve moved beyond utility into the realm of pure decoration.

But there’s still something magical about the self-recognition that a mirror allows. In front of a mirror, we can manifest who we are.

On the surface, what we see in a mirror is a reflection of the material world in front of it. But there’s no denying that, within a reflection, an entire other world seems to exist. Therein lies the potential to use mirrors to uncover hidden truths.

This quick introduction to mirror scrying will lay out the basics of the practice so you can incorporate the practice into your witchy repertoire.

What is a scrying mirror?

A scrying mirror is any surface that’s been polished or is naturally smooth enough that you can see a reflection in it–this means that scrying can even be done by looking into the water.

But in intentional witchcraft, scrying is typically done using a crystal ball or a black mirror. These objects tend to align with energies beyond reality, making excellent conduits to help us see things at home outside of physical, material existence.

A Brief History of Scrying

Scrying is broadly defined as a kind of divination that does not rely on the observable behavior of a physical object. Casting runes is a kind of divination–even if a person can’t interpret runes, they can see them and understand that some meaning is read from them.

Scrying, on the other hand, happens entirely in the practitioner’s mind as they try to make sense of what they see. Crystal balls are perhaps the most well-known scrying tools, but a black mirror can be just as effective and way more aesthetically pleasing for some people.

While divination, in general, stretches back through all of human history, scrying is explicitly mentioned as early as the 10th century in a Persian epic poem where it’s described as a practice of the ancient mythological kings. They used a sacred cup to see into and through all seven layers of the universe so that they could make well-informed decisions.

In the 16th century, the famous French seer Nostradamus used a “magic mirror” or sometimes a simple bowl of water to see into the future.

How does a scrying mirror work?

A scrying mirror works in one of two ways, depending on your intentions and goals. These methods are differentiated by the way that the energy flows.

Transparent

This is the kind of scrying that shows you something outside of yourself. Here, the mirror acts like a window, showing you something at a different time or place. The most common goal for this method of scrying is seeing into the future. But it can also show you the answer to a question.

Folktales and fairytales love to incorporate this motif. In Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Evil Queen calls upon a spirit encased in her magic mirror to answer the question, “Who’s the fairest of them all.”

In Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, two characters use a small, handheld mirror to see where a particular person is located and what they’re doing.

In both iterations, the mirror is reminiscent (to our 21st-century selves) of a video screen, showing us a feed of images. But imagine how utterly magical that kind of vision would have seemed a few hundred years ago.

That’s why seers and prophets were primarily dependent upon mirror scrying. But how did they see something in the mirror that wasn’t there?

Setting intentions and meditating or entering a trance is highly important. The physical object of the mirror is a point on which you can focus intently and open your conscious mind to the spirit world and those realities that the universal unconscious is already in touch with.

Looking through the mirror to the other side of reality can help you gain spiritual knowledge and hone your divining skills as a practitioner.

Reflective

Of course, the scrying process can also be purely reflective. Sometimes divination is all about seeing something outside of yourself. But often, the answers we seek come from within us.

Remember the magic mirror in Harry Potter? The one you stand before to see your happiest future reflected at you?

That’s a decent–albeit fictional–example of reflective scrying. In many ways, it’s a more challenging practice that requires a certain amount of comfort with yourself. You must be willing to see yourself reflected and look into your own eyes for the answers to your questions. After all, you are the acting agent in your life’s story.

What lies in store for you? Take a moment to look at yourself and stare until your spirit speaks to you.

How to make your scrying mirror

A scrying mirror can be made from any flat object with a smooth, reflective surface. Any mirror can technically be used for scrying, but as is the case in all matters of witchcraft, the more time and attention you put into your tools, the more powerful they’ll be.

Among the most powerful tools for scrying is the dark mirror. If you have the funds and resources, polished obsidian makes for a compelling black mirror. Obsidian has strong banishing properties, so using it as a mirror guarantees that your casting and divination will be free from negative energy.

But instead of a massive piece of obsidian, you can make your equipment for black mirror scrying.

Materials:

First, you’ll need a large round plate made of glass. The quality here doesn’t need to be marvelous–you can probably find what you’re looking for at a dollar or thrift store. Serving plates are best for this or something that’s meant to be decorative. You’ll also need some matte black spray paint and a contrasting paint color if you’d like to add embellishments. (White’s a classic, but I like gold.) We do not recommend painting with a brush–it’ll leave behind stroke marks that will mar a clean reflection.

Instructions:

Once you’ve got your plate, be sure to clean it thoroughly–both the material of it and its energy. A simple diluted vinegar solution is an eco-friendly way to wipe down the plate, but a glass cleaner also works.

After that, I like to set an energy-cleansing intention: “May the knowledge I take from this tool be as transparent as it appears now.” Of course, this isn’t what the mirror will look like in its final form, but it’s good to appreciate the whole process of making what you need.

Flip the plate over so that the underside of it is facing upwards. Hold the black spray paint about a foot from the plate’s surface and apply a thin coat. Be sure not to hold the can too close to the plate. Otherwise, the paint will ripple and pool. Let the skin dry, then repeat for as many coats as it takes to no longer be able to see through the plate when you hold it up to the light.

Once the black mirror has been made, you can decorate it any way you like. Of course, you don’t want to obscure that central bulk of the viewing surface, but intentions or runes painted around the edge of the dark mirror are great for adding purpose and power.

How to charge your scrying mirror

Like any magical tool, a black mirror should be charged before use to ensure the most potent divination possible. My favorite method is filling the shallow plate with water and placing it beneath the light of a full moon overnight. This imbues the mirror with lunar energy and makes a bit of moon water at the same time.

Candle charging, incense or herbs, and crystal charging effectively consecrate and energize your dark mirror. What’s most important is that you spend some time exuding your energy and allowing its energy to make connections between yourself and the magic around you.

The Scrying Ritual

The ritual of black mirror scrying can take varied forms. At its core, scrying is a method of divination, so you can approach mirror gazing in much the same way. So much of the efficacy of scrying comes from centering the self and cleansing the mind before it occurs.

So with a clear and focused mind and as few distractions as possible, gaze into the mirror. You can ask it a pointed question: “What does my future with a certain person look like?” Or you can let it show you whatever it thinks is most relevant. A simple “enlighten me” intention can go a long way, even if it requires more interpretation afterward.

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How to Be a Witch: A Beginner’s Guide

Witchcraft 101: Candle Magick