How To: Scrying. Part Three

You should have already read and experimented with the techniques in part 1 and part 2.  I'm going to teach two different methods for magical scrying. One is intended more for seeing the future, and one for communicating with spirits.  However, you can use either method for any kind of scrying.

Predictive Scrying

This method was taught to me by Arbatel, angel of the East, angel of Revelation.  You can do it on any kind of surface, but it's traditionally done in a glass of wine on shabbas eve (ie, Friday night).  This predictive method is about looking for "paths of possibility", trying to figure out what happens as a result of our choices.  At each "pivot point" the paths spread out, but they tend to "clump together" as you move out.  Our goal is to survey the branches, and find those which seem "best", and then try and figure out how to get there.  Do whatever you like to enter trance and get in "the zone" and then sink.  This should be a real physical feeling of going down (ie, with gravity).  If you're not accustomed to underworld journeying, that's ok; this is a very easy place to learn, we won't be going very far down.  Just center yourself, breathe deeply, and pretend you are a tree, with roots winding down, down, down into the center of the earth.  

Once you have sunk, begin reading aloud.  You may want to record yourself while you do this.  When you are first learning, it is hard to remember what you saw/said while entranced once you are "back up".

"A single river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it separated and became four heads. The name of one is Pishon; that is the one that encompasses all the land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; there is the crystal and the onyx stone. The name of the second river is Gichon; that is the one that encompasses all the land of Cush. The name of the third river is Chidekel-Tigris; that is the one that flows to the east of Ashur. And the fourth river, that is Perat-Euphrades." (Gen 2:10-14)

Of the four rivers, two are known, familiar rivers in the world-as-it-is.  The Tigris and Euphrates, the cradle of civilization, the rivers at the center of the world.  The other two rivers are unknown.  I have heard the Nile, the Ganges, and the Indus all floated as suggestions for the Pishon and also the Gichon.  However, I think these attempts to identify them are misguided.  Better, at least for this, to think of the Single Source river as splitting first into two world, this one and the Other Place, and then each of those splitting into two options.  Try, if you can, to follow the paths of all four rivers, in both worlds, while remaining in the Single Source headwater.  If you must, do it as two sets of two, but it's better if you can split into four all at once.  But, if not, that's ok.  Just pretend that you can; it only takes practice.

Look at the candlelight flickering on the surface of the wine (or whatever surface you've chosen to scry on).  Call out to the river Pishon, touch your finger to the surface of the water, and bring it to your lips.  Focus on the leftmost path.  Watch the surface of the wine until an image appears.  Name the image aloud (a cat wearing a crown)  It is possible that, instead of an image appearing, a word will form in your head.  If so, speak the word or phrase aloud.  This is the keyword of what is coming on the deepest spiritual level, the world of Atzilut.

Call out to the river Gichon, and once again bring a drop of wine to your lips.  Focus on the inner left path.  Again, wait for a word or an image.  Name it aloud.  This is the keyword of Beriah, of things that take form in the spirit world but manifest in the physical.

Next is Chidekel-Tirgris.  Here we emerge into the world of physical things which impact the spirit world.  The world of Yetzirah.

Finally, call to the river Perat-Euphrates.  Here is the world of Assiah, the world of the material.

Take a moment to consider your keywords.  These are the forcs that are swirling about now and in the immediate future.  It speaks of tonight's shabbas dinner.  Of the conversation that evening.  Of the day tomorrow, and the dawn of the week.  Here you are talking about things that are already set in motion.

You'll probably need to recenter yourself in the Single Source of the Waters of Paradise.  Here the river of life burble and sing around you.  Smell it's coolness and wetness; feel the way it sparkles and reflects on your skin.  When you are ready, call out to the Pishon again, and go further down the river.  It splits into four streams; follow them all at once.  Call out the images or words that come to you.

Continue with the other three rivers, for a total of 20 (the 4 original, and 16 new ones at this level).

If you feel you can, move on again, this time you will need to find 64 keywords.  I often find that, at this level, I just begin to speak.  DO NOT try to interpret while you scry.  Interpreting comes later and involves a whole other part of your brain.

Tomorrow, I'll teach another scrying method, this one involved channeling the Titaness Phoebe, the Great Illuminator.