Scrying
Scrying is a method of divination whereby the practitioner stares into a reflective object or container of liquid, both of which are called a speculum, until a vision appears. The most common speculums in modern times are black bowls filled with water; glass or crystal balls in colors such as dark blue, dark green, or deep lavender; mirrors whose backs have been painted black; and polished stones or gems. The visions a practitioner perceives are usually said to appear within the speculum’s reflective surface, or within a mist that forms there, but sometimes the vision forms directly within the practitioner’s mind. These visions are typically employed to help the practitioner find the location of a lost object, give advice on difficult decisions, or foretell the future. The vision might be a realistic representation of the desired information, or it might be a symbolic one. For example, a woman scrying to find a lost key that accidentally fell beside a pine tree might see the exact location of the key, or she might instead see something that symbolizes its location, such as a triangle. People who believe in scrying warn that it takes time to develop the mental ability to see anything at all within a speculum, suggesting that unless a person is particularly gifted, the skill will not develop quickly if at all.