Lesson Three: Crystal Gazing and Fire Omens
While crystal gazing is another well-known method of divination. It is probably makes one of the first few methods that comes to mind when one thinks of divination. Fortune tellers have always been thought of having crystal gazing as one of their tricks. Fire omens, though, is not as popular. It might actually sound a little scary, considering the meaning of omens. By the end of the lesson, you will learn the basics of both crystal gazing and fire omens.
What is Crystal Gazing?
Crystal gazing involves looking into a ball of crystal and trying to gain some sort of insight into the future by gazing into it. It is also known as scrying. Scrying is the practice of looking into translucent materials (like our ball) while believing that once can see a vision or tell a fortune. Ancient Egyptians were recorded in scrying between 200 BC and 500 AD. The scryer gazed into a vessel filled with either water or oil. While there is no specific proof that Ancient Greece and Rome practiced crystal gazing, they also had other noted ways of scrying, particularly using mirrors and water. During the Inquisition in the twelfth century, people who scryed into bowls of water or into glass vessels were considered of the devil and guilty of heresy. There were known cases of crystal gazing in medieval Europe, though. Once account tells of a crystal wrapped in cloth and used it to help people find lost articles. He claimed that it never failed. Apparently this same crystal was eventually broken and disposed of. In the early sixteenth century, Nostradamus, a French seer infamous for his predictions, used a bowl of water to gaze into in order to see his visions. Crystal gazing continued throughout the Middle Ages, popular in Italy especially, despite the very non-secular beliefs of Europe.
In England, most medieval English authors did not write on matters of divination much, especially that of crystal gazing, although there are a few references to it. It seems that an interest in crystal gazing arose in the 1850s in England; so much so that someone was sued for libel due to remarks on the man's crystal visions. This same man who made these visions, Zadkiel, seemed to make outlandish predictions, such as Sir Isaac Newton appearing to tell him electricity was partially caused by the moon's motion, Washington was hiding in the moon but was happy, and Judas and Alexander the Great were being punished and were greatly unhappy. At least this fad in the 1850s was entertaining, even if hard to believe!
Crystal gazing was also found in other cultures and civilizations around the world, including several North and South American native tribes (the Yucatans used a quartz crystal or something similar) and the Chinese (their name for it translates to "The magic of the round glittering").
In England, most medieval English authors did not write on matters of divination much, especially that of crystal gazing, although there are a few references to it. It seems that an interest in crystal gazing arose in the 1850s in England; so much so that someone was sued for libel due to remarks on the man's crystal visions. This same man who made these visions, Zadkiel, seemed to make outlandish predictions, such as Sir Isaac Newton appearing to tell him electricity was partially caused by the moon's motion, Washington was hiding in the moon but was happy, and Judas and Alexander the Great were being punished and were greatly unhappy. At least this fad in the 1850s was entertaining, even if hard to believe!
Crystal gazing was also found in other cultures and civilizations around the world, including several North and South American native tribes (the Yucatans used a quartz crystal or something similar) and the Chinese (their name for it translates to "The magic of the round glittering").
Crystal Gazing in the Wizarding World
Centaurs do not believe in using crystal gazing as a method of divination. However, it is a big part of wizarding divination, and scrying was a major focus of Professor Trelawney's beginner class. Professor Trelawney taught crystal gazing to third year students at Hogwarts towards the end of the year. The first lesson taught in Harry's time is well-known due to the fact that it is what snapped Hermione's last bit of patience for divination and she walked out on it, never returning.
Professor Trelawney tells her students that crystal gazing is difficult and that usually people are unsuccessful their first try. She would tell them to relax their minds and allowed their Inner Eye to clear so that they could see the images in the crystal ball instead of the white fog normally seen in the crystal ball.
At the end of the school year, students of Divination were expected to have a one-on-one crystal gazing session with Professor Trelawney. In order to pass, they had to give an accurate prediction by peering into the crystal ball.
Professor Trelawney tells her students that crystal gazing is difficult and that usually people are unsuccessful their first try. She would tell them to relax their minds and allowed their Inner Eye to clear so that they could see the images in the crystal ball instead of the white fog normally seen in the crystal ball.
At the end of the school year, students of Divination were expected to have a one-on-one crystal gazing session with Professor Trelawney. In order to pass, they had to give an accurate prediction by peering into the crystal ball.
How Do We Crystal Gaze?
Before sitting down for a crystal gazing session, it is recommended that you set up in a dark room lit by candlelight. This helps the glow within the crystal to created web-like shapes. You should stare into the crystal ball until you find yourself in a trance. Clear your mind so that you may concentrate on what the crystal ball is trying to tell you. After you reach a trance, the web-like shapes should begin to take form into clear images for you to see. Speak aloud the images you see. After this, a clear image should take place that you can use to see the important images the crystal ball reveals.
What are Fire Omens?
Fire omens, also known as pyromancy, is similar to crystal gazing. However, instead of using a crystal ball as a medium, one uses a flame. Pyromancy is divination by use of fire. It was quite possible that it is one of the earliest forms of divinations. In Ancient Greece, The Temple of Athena in Athens practiced pyromancy. Historians suspect that Hephaestus's followers also used it as well.
During the Renaissance, it was one of the seven forbidden arts, as decided by Johannes Hartlieb in 1456.
During the Renaissance, it was one of the seven forbidden arts, as decided by Johannes Hartlieb in 1456.
Fire Omens in the Wizarding World
Professor Trelawney taught fire omens right before teaching crystal gazing in Divination students' first year in the class. Firenze also taught fifth years to burn herbs and spaces in order to see symbols in the smoke produced from burning them. He especially used sage.
Other than the divination class, fire omens never seem to be mentioned in the wizarding world. It is certainly not one of the most popular ways to practice divination. Still, it is considered important enough to mention to Hogwarts students as a method of predicting the future.
Other than the divination class, fire omens never seem to be mentioned in the wizarding world. It is certainly not one of the most popular ways to practice divination. Still, it is considered important enough to mention to Hogwarts students as a method of predicting the future.
How Do We Practice Fire Omens?
The most popular way for someone to find fire omens is to observe a flame. Normally, it is done from a sacrificial fire or a candle. Then, one would look for shapes seen in the fire to interpret them into the omens the flame is trying to share. There are many different approaches to reading fire omens. One might throw salt into the fire in order to see special shapes. One might burn plants, similar to Firenze. The trick is similar to crystal gazing; find yourself in a trance once you begin gazing into the flame. Watch for shapes and begin to see them as they form. Then, your mind should be cleared for you to interpret the flames into your message.