| ng is an old word for the practice of crystal-gazing or | | | | valuable crystals -- usually round but sometimes |
| using some similar means to obtain clairvoyance used | | | | egg-shaped or pear-shaped -- became precious |
| in Witchcraft. It is akin to the word "descry" which | | | | heirlooms handed down for generations and beyond |
| originally meant to reveal, as well as to discover by | | | | the means of the poorer witch. |
| seeing.Scrying is a more general term than | | | | Second, a crystal ball was not only expensive and |
| crystal-gazing, because it embraces all forms of | | | | valuable, it was dangerous to own. To have one |
| developing clairvoyance by gazing at or into some | | | | found in one's house, immediately convicted the |
| object. Witches use this in conjunction with their | | | | owner of magickal practices. In the days when |
| spells and rituals. | | | | witchcraft was a hanging matter, witches found it |
| The object used in scrying is called a "speculum." | | | | wise to improvise their speculum out of things which |
| Throughout the ages, a great many different objects | | | | could be found innocently in any cottage -- a rule |
| have been used for this purpose. The transparent | | | | which they followed with many of their other tools |
| crystal globe, with the use of which most people are | | | | as well. |
| familiar, is only one of a great variety of such | | | | Consequently, a black bowl filled with water is quite |
| specula. | | | | popular as a speculum. So also are the old-fashioned |
| The practice of scrying is common to witches of all | | | | glass globes used by fishermen as floats for their |
| ages and countries. Like magick in general, it is as old | | | | nets. These often come in beautiful dark green or |
| as man himself; and it is still as popular with | | | | blue glass, and make fine specula. |
| contemporary witches as it was long ago. | | | | Today, antique dealers sometimes sell these old |
| Witches of the past didn't often possess a crystal | | | | fishing floats as "witch balls." They are not, although |
| ball for two reasons. First, a genuine crystal ball is a | | | | witches did use them. |
| valuable and expensive object. Most so-called | | | | Some witches use a blue glass bottle as a speculum, |
| "crystals" are actually simply glass. The very latest | | | | filling the bottle with water. A ball of black glass was |
| development in this field is that of transparent globes | | | | particularly prized, some thinking it superior even to a |
| of acrylic plastic. These are nevertheless described as | | | | genuine crystal ball. Others considered that the best |
| "crystal balls" in the advertisements for them in | | | | speculum was a ball of pale greenish-colored beryl |
| magazines. Real rock crystal is a semi-precious stone; | | | | crystal. |
| a ball made from it is heavy, and icy cold. It takes an | | | | In the future, I will describe how do crystal gazing. |
| expert to distinguish the real thing from imitations. So | | | | |