Crystal gazing was once thought to be a branch of magic but now is generally accepted as an important phase of experimental psychology. History and romance, ancient and modern, contains many interesting legends and stories about magic mirrors and magic crystals. Some date back to the Greece of the 4^th century B.C.

The practice was traced among the natives of North and South America, Asia, Australia and Africa. In all countries, the crystal was used for the purpose of divination and the process usually explained as the result of Spirit, Angel or Devil. Those who visited India know of the use made of the round mass of rough hewn, polished glass and the superstitious awe with which it is regarded.

In former days, the High Priest of the Buddhist or Hindu temples, when attired in the consecrated robes for festive ceremonies, wore one or more small crystals of dazzling brilliancy suspended from his neck on a chain of great value. It was believed that through their power he was able to commune with the Spirit or Spirits to whom he and his followers showed great reverence and to whom they interceded for solutions to their problems. The crystal served much as the famous oracle of Apollo at Delphi, which is said to have given responses in answer to inquiries of worshippers.

Among the Ancients, the Seer muttered certain prayers over the crystal and then gave it into the hands of a youth or virgin. They taught the importance of purity. When crystal gazing or any occult ceremony was performed, young boys and girls were employed in divination, as no others were deemed pure enough for spiritual revelations. In instances of crystal gazing, particularly, it was they who read in the brilliant ball of glass the answers to questions asked, usually conveyed by means of written characters on the crystal. Sometimes, the Spirits called upon were supposed to appear in the crystal and respond to questions put to them. Many savage races gazed into the water’s depth or any clear depth to foresee distant events for enlightenment on immediate problems.

In bygone days the ceremony of crystal gazing for divination purposes was elaborate and spectacular, including Lamen or Holy Table, the use of swords, wax candles in highly polished gilt or brass candle sticks, compasses, and many other accompaniments identified with magical functions. These rites were performed by priests or other personally trained by those who understood the invisible forces of the world unseen.  They resorted to frequent washing and prayers three to four days prior to consulting the crystal.

They sought its help, counsel or advice most generally when the Moon was in increase going toward full. Every preparation for gazing was made when the Moon was increasing. The room and everything pertaining to the ceremony was immaculately clean and void of anything likely to disturb or detract attention. The object then was to bring the actual presence in the crystal of certain Spirits and to evoke from them answers to questions presented to them. Nowadays, we use the crystal, or any other medium for that matter to develop the clairvoyant power of the individual gazer. Through it he is brought into the world of the unseen.

The word crystal is derived from the Greek meaning “clear ice” or “frozen water.” As early as the 4^th century B.C., the Greeks supposed it to be a hard substance from frozen water. This belief persisted until the end of the sixteenth century, when the name crystal was applied only to ordinary quartz or rock crystal. Later, it was more generally applied to “any symmetrically formed mineral, solid, transparent or opaque, contained or bounded by plane surfaces.” Its smooth , even surfaces were noted by the ancients but were regarded  as accidents or as “pleasing to the gods.”

Crystals are distinguished from other bodies by the sameness of internal structure. Their physical properties are the same in parallel directions and are generally different in direction not parallel. Globes or eggs for crystal gazing purposes can be made of beryl, rock crystal or glass. There is no such thing as genuine “rock crystal” although quartz glass is frequently referred to as “rock crystal.” The few specimens  of real rock crystal in the world are priceless. An irregular mass of some three inches in diameter is valued upwards of twenty five thousand dollars, and the only piece in existence of that size is in a museum. Real rock crystal means a piece of glass formed by volcanic action. Commercially there is a term “rock crystal” applied to exceptionally clear glass – but it is still artificial glass, no more or less.

The Nimrod Lens, a 3,000 year old rock crystal piece found at the Assyrian palace of Nimrod. It may have been used as a magnifying glass. (British Museum)

The Ancients sought to use crystal only when the Moon was on its increase, so it seems logical to conclude that a strong link between the crystal and the spirit world is magnetism. This magnetism is attracted to and is in the crystal because of its iron properties. Many authorities advanced the theory that the greater the increase of the Moon, the greater the supply of the Moon’s magnetism in the crystal. In Astrology, crystals are said to be influenced by the Moon as are the intuitive powers of mind and brain.

Visions in crystals may be classified as follows:

1. Images of something unconsciously observed. New reproduction, voluntary or spontaneous, and bringing no fresh knowledge to the mind.

2. Images of ideas unconsciously acquired from others by telepathy or otherwise. Some memory or imaginative effect which does not come from the gazer’s ordinary self. Revivals of memory. Illustrations of thought.

3. Images, clairvoyant or prophetic. Pictures bringing information as to something past, present or future which the gazer has no other chance of knowing.

Resource: The Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Knowledge – pgs. 301-304; 311-312