Finding time for this challenge has been, well, a challenge! Things have been super busy for me the last couple of weeks because we recently got two puppies and puppies are also a challenge but Iām sitting here with a black bowl of water and my windows open with the sunshine coming through trying to see if I can get anything.
I took several deep breaths and asked for a message or what I needed to see ā and then I unfocused my eyes, softened my gazeā¦and waited. Nothing happened! I think I may need to try again in the evening or when I donāt have two puppies around me causing a ruckus.
I did notice that while I could unfocus my eyes, I found it very difficult to sort of just let any images come to me. I was analyzing everything I saw (which was honestly just the reflection of my ceiling) and sort ofā¦I donāt know. Itās hard to explain, but Iāll give it another shot this evening if I can find the time!
I agree with Mary25 AND Nixi, because Christianity is such a diverse group. Many who claim to refuse all divination acknowledge Ezekialās and Danielās testimony, while otherās hold to very specific or targeted beliefs, and even more would read a horoscope or interpret the changing wind as an omen of bad weather to come without realizing that they were ādiviningā.
Scrying is something i have bever tried before. Its not something i know a lot about but it intrigues me. I have read that the first time (or first few times) it is likely that you will see little if anything at all. I decided to use the oppurtuntiy this week to do a bit of background reading to see how the process can be linked to my practice as i do know that it was the primary method of divination used by the Ancient Egyptians.
They made use of smoke, water and oil for scrying. The purpose was to obtain information about the present, to obtain useful information to change a situation and to reach out for assistance from the gods and goddesses. Water and oil scrying would make use of a bronze bowl while fire scrying used a white alabaster lamp. It was also common that the bowl/lamp and the seer should be off the ground and therefore, the bowl was placed on top of a brick sprinkled with sand while the seer would also use a brick as a seat (the reasons for this are not fully understood).
The Egyptians found that use of oil for scrying was better than just water as the surface distorted less easily and therefore caused less distraction to the seer. These included vegetable oils and cedar oil.
This was a method extracted from ancient papyri that I found interesting and may have a go at. My workload this week has unfortunately not allowed for it or for me to try any other methods:
Locate a dark and clean place Take 7 bricks and place them in a line Take 3 and use them as a platform for your vessel of water or oil Use the other 4 to form a square to stand or sit on so that you are not touching the ground Place 7 pieces of bread and 7 lumps of salt around the oil vessel in a circle Pour oil into the vessel Light a candle to allow a dim light to reflect upon the oil Gaze into the oil and begin divining.
Alternatively, an oil lamp was used to fire scry. Placing black eye makeup on while doing this was said to bring the image of the god you were invoking into the flame. I even came across instructions for how to make this at home too. Fascinating stuff and something I am intrigued to try out when I feel the time is right.
**Challenge Entry - The Art of Scrying" - Wow, oh, wow! Thereās some good stuff here!
As a child, I watched movies depicting witches gazing into crystal balls, rattling bones (runes), calling mirrors, or in a semi-trance with curling smoke - literally, for me it was entertainment without any education of history. For me personally, I will never touch a Quija board again ever in my lifetime (bad experience), I believe spirits (or energies) can inhabit inanimate objects including dolls (true experience that I will never be willing to repeat), people can have premonitions or deja vus (definitely had several), and that āgut feelingā or intuition should be listened too.
Out of all the divination methods, the candles called to me and I loved this read by Francisco in āFlickering Magic: How to Read Candle Flames, Meaning and Interpretationsā:
I also loved the Divination Oil and made myself some to use while practicing meditation or while scrying with candles, tarot or oracle cards:
Given thereās so many methods, I always thought that scrying held just the crystal ball, mirror or smoke. I had no idea that scrying was āmaking the use of any suitable mediaā in making your connections with the realms. I was surprised to find out that reading tarot or oracle cards, runes, palms, tea leaves is also considered an act of scrying. This has been a valuable lesson for me, and a great challenge for this week! Blessed Be!
This is such CRAZY timing , Iāve been receiving so many signs about scrying! Whether itās a simple quiz online, to some of my soul sisters mentioning it to me and saying they think it may be a good practice for me! Plus I have been lacking on our contests and this happens to be the one so Iām finally listening
I donāt have any black mirrors and I have a couple of balls but there smaller. So I have been working with scrying with the candle flame and it does seem to put me into a different head space. And Iām always looking for new and different things I can try.
You guys are amazing with all this information so I am going down the scrying rabbit hole and Iām going to continue trying all the different ways to work with it!
Itās been a busy week for me working on organizing several projects for the house (2 of the 3 passed HoA approval so far!!), continuing to work on ways to honor Donutās memory (finished his paw print in silver
(Violet - Black leopard. The photo was taken safely from outside her habitat and zoomed in)
and made huge progress on making my own raised garden!
I went back and forth about whether to try my crackle glass ball or my black mirror and truth be told, I canāt bring myself to use the black mirror Maybe I need to charge/cleanse it next full moon or baby step try in during the day? I dunnoā¦ I feel silly about it since Iām the one who made it. I didnāt let that stop me from completing the challenge so crackle glass it was!
I rolled it around a while in my hands trying to find a good angle and wasnāt getting anywhere so I set it down and took a break. I reset my energy levels, meditated asking for guidance and when I looked at the ball - there it was. My answer. I wonāt tell you what I saw but I will share and see if anyone else sees it (or anything else!).
This was a fun and surprising challenge, I may have to try my crackle ball more often and maaaaaaybe see if I can get that black mirror out of the cloth itās in to try. Someday.
A round of applause to the scryers who shared their skills and wisdom this week! Before the challenge launched I was really excited to see how everyone would tackle scrying, and the coven never disappoints- it has been really interesting to see everyoneās scrying methods of choice and read about your experiences!
Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to jump in and explore the theme this week
A Props and Presents post will soon appear with shout-outs and prize details for everyone who submitted an entry. Please keep an eye on the main page of the forums.
Note : To avoid confusion, this discussion will be locked until the Props and Presents post appears. At that time, this thread will reopen for discussion for a few more days- comments are welcome during this time, but please note that no additional prizes will be given.
This topic is reopening for any continued discussion and comments (feel free to respond to entries that were shared, chat about the challenge theme, etc!)
Thank you once again to all those who joined the challenge! I hope you enjoy your new badge
This thread has been reopened for discussion- feel free to comment on the theme, ask questions or reply to entries! However, please remember that no additional badges will be given out now that the challenge has officially closed. Thank you!
This challenge and its discussion period have closed- but no worries! You can visit the Activities Category to find and join the current challenge (If youād like to respond to any posts shared here, please feel free to do so in a new discussion or via Private Message Thank you!)