Scrying has been used for centuries to communicate with spirits and tell the future. Times have changed and scrying has, too. Learn to use crystal balls, mirrors and water to communicate with ghosts after the jump.

What is scrying?

Scrying is another word for gazing into crystal balls, mirrors, still water and other reflective surfaces. When you look into them, images will form and, if you practice, they’ll play like a movie and tell a story.

In the past, many clairvoyants would use scrying for divination, but it’s really to use your imagination and intuition in the present. You can’t see the past or future when you scry. It’s used in the moment.

How Does Scrying Work

To scry, you need to go into a meditative state, like a trance. As you look into the crystal ball, mirror or other reflective surface, your subconscious will begin to show you images in the reflective surface.

If you use a crystal ball, it may be a glowing mist, colors or shapes formed by a nearby candle. If you use a mirror, it may be shadows in the corners or shifting light patterns. Shapes may form in the ripples of a reflecting pool. Your mind will receive the stimuli and assemble an image.

When you start to receive images, just say them out loud. Someone should record the scrying activity on a digital audio recorder or write it down. It’s okay if it sounds like you’re rambling. With enough practice, the images should tell a story everyone can understand.

How to Use Scrying to Communicate with Ghosts

Scrying takes a lot of practice to get right. I would say this is an advanced practice. It took me a few months of practicing every day to finally get meaningful messages.

When I get ready to run a scrying session, I set the mood like I do with Tarot cards. I use low lighting and set out a few candles (remember – never use 3 candles in a room! Use more or less, but never 3).

Next, I like to put my crystal ball on a table with a nice velvet cloth. You don’t have to; it’s just my preference.

Then, I use a protection technique like I would for Tarot cards or Ouija boards (see below). At this point, I ask the spirits to connect with me and project their story into my mind.

Finally, you start to enter your meditative trance. This can be difficult because most people have a hard time clearing their mind. You can read our post about using psychic abilities to help with that. If you can’t enter a trance with a clear mind, then scrying isn’t going to work for you. That’s okay because there are other ways to communicate with ghosts.

I’ll be frank about scrying: It can take some time for the images to come, even if you’re in your trance. Just relax and let your mind flow while you look into the reflective surface.

You should always say what comes to your mind because it could be the spirit making a psychic connection to you. The images you receive may not make sense, but they might when you review them later. Remember to say them aloud: The recorder needs to hear your voice for it to count!

Most sessions only last 15 minutes. It’s hard work for a ghost to continue the connection. Don’t worry if you can only see the images for a few minutes. As you practice, the images will become stronger and the sessions will get longer.

Always go into a scrying session with no knowledge of the haunted site or suspected ghost. You want to do a cold reading because it will make the data more credible. Even a little information could change how you interpret the messages. This is critical and I can’t say it enough, “No prior knowledge allowed!”

When you finish the session, thank the spirit and ask it to break off its connection. Then, clean up your settings and gracefully put the crystal ball back into its case. You may want to say a cleansing prayer or use the white light technique to clear any ghostly energy that remains.

How to Protect Yourself While Scrying

The best ways to protect yourself include the white light protection technique, pouring a salt circle around the scrying table, and wearing a tiger’s eye, obsidian or hematite bracelet or pendant. You can always say a protection prayer at any time during the session if you need to.