Scrying Mirror Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Black mirror, Witch's mirror, Speculum
A dark mirror for gazing and divination, often used at Samhain and the full moon.
- Intentions
- Divination, Wisdom, Sleep and Dreams
- Element
- Water
- Planet
- The Moon
- Moon phase
- Full Moon
- On the altar
- Back center, propped up, or laid flat
- Made of
- Black glass, polished obsidian or a painted picture frame
How to use it
- Gaze softly
In a dim room lit by one candle placed behind you, relax your eyes and look into the mirror without staring hard. Let shapes, colors or feelings rise, and note them afterward.
- Make your own
Take the glass from a small picture frame, paint the back with black paint in two coats, let it dry and set it back in the frame, painted side in.
- Keep it covered
Wrap the mirror in a dark cloth when you are not using it. This is an old custom that keeps it set apart for divination.
Works well with
Substitutes
History and folklore
The Elizabethan scholar John Dee owned a polished obsidian mirror from Mexico that is now kept in the British Museum. Water, crystal balls and dark mirrors have all been used for scrying, the art of seeing visions in a reflective surface. Samhain is a traditional night for it, when many say the veil between worlds is thin.
A dark mirror for gazing and divination, often used at Samhain and the full moon.
- Intentions: Divination, Wisdom, Sleep and Dreams
- Element: Water
- Planet: The Moon
- Moon phase: Full Moon
- On the altar: Back center, propped up, or laid flat
- Made of: Black glass, polished obsidian or a painted picture frame
Safety: If gazing ever makes you anxious or dizzy, stop, turn on the lights and ground yourself with food or a walk.
How to use it
- Gaze softly. In a dim room lit by one candle placed behind you, relax your eyes and look into the mirror without staring hard. Let shapes, colors or feelings rise, and note them afterward.
- Make your own. Take the glass from a small picture frame, paint the back with black paint in two coats, let it dry and set it back in the frame, painted side in.
- Keep it covered. Wrap the mirror in a dark cloth when you are not using it. This is an old custom that keeps it set apart for divination.
Works well with: Obsidian, Samhain, Mugwort, Black Candle, Full Moon
Folklore
The Elizabethan scholar John Dee owned a polished obsidian mirror from Mexico that is now kept in the British Museum. Water, crystal balls and dark mirrors have all been used for scrying, the art of seeing visions in a reflective surface. Samhain is a traditional night for it, when many say the veil between worlds is thin.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.