Crystal Ball
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Crystal ball, also known as an orbuculum, is a ball made of quartz crystal or glass and commonly used to in personal guidance, prophecy, or inspiration. Known as scrying, this is a prominent means of divination or fortune-telling. The earliest use of a crystal ball is attributed to the Celtic Druids who divined the future and omens with balls made of beryl,  

      In the 1st century AD, Pliny the Elder describes the use of crystal balls("crystallum orbis", later written Medieval Latin as orbuculum).  By the 5th century AD, scrying was widespread within the Roman Empire and was condemned by the Christian Church.

    Dr. John Dee, a noted British scientist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I, devoted much of his life to alchemy and Hermetic philosophy, the investigation of which often included the use of crystal balls. Crystal gazing was a popular pastime in the Victorian era, and was claimed to work best when the Sun is at its northernmost declination. It was claimed that, Immediately before the appearance of a vision, the ball would “mist up” inside.

 

                       How to use the Crystal Ball

     Light one or two candles in a quiet, darkened room. Either hold the crystal or place it on a stand with a blue or black cloth underneath it. Make sure that there are no reflections showing in the ball. Other preparations include finding the right space for a session and setting it up ahead of time with table, chair and accessories. Burn incense if you wish. Patchouli is a popular scent. Candles are set up to burn from behind one and the area should be dimly lit to reduce distracting reflections in the sphere.  Lighting the candles is the first step to opening the meditation session.
     To begin, relax, breathing in and out slowly and deeply.. Gaze into the ball, but do not stare. Try to blink a little as possible.  Just relax and gaze. Enjoy the peacefulness and simply gaze. Ultimately, you will notice a small cloudy area of brightness deep within the crystal. This is the area in which your images will appear. You get results on your first try, while others may have to try several times. Go at your own pace.

      It’s helpful to have a specific topic of focus. Be sure unsure of the information you hope to retrieve, or a mish-mash of unrelated scenes and impressions appears. Some people find that, the left and right side of the ball reveal different aspects of time. Left and back are past, right and forward are future.  Others find it more effective to to just gaze and receive whatever comes.  

    Avoid a cluttered environment. Since the crystal ball is a reflection of information filtering through rhe subconscious mind, distractive elements in the environment may effect  the subconsciousness. To avoid this, the ancients used special room cleansings and elaborate preparation leading up to crystal gazing.  
     There are also different forms that come. You may get actual images of places and people, or you may get symbols. Other forms are clouds of color. Although we cannot say what each color cloud means, the following is popular. 

  • Blue clouds symbolize success of career or business 

  • Gold clouds symbolize prosperity, steady cash flow, and renewed romance to come 

  • Gray/Dark gray symbolize ill fortune 

  • Black clouds symbolize some seriously bad stuff coming one's way 

  • Green clouds symbolize health, happiness of the heart 

  • Orange clouds symbolize hidden aggression and anger, troubled emotions 

  • Red clouds symbolize danger to come. This person must watch themselves 

  • Silver clouds symbolize troublesome times ahead followed by goodness 

  • White clouds symbolize very good fortune to come 

  • Yellow clouds symbolize upcoming obstacles

    There’s an element of affinity between a crystal ball and its owner must be established. That’s why choosing a crystal ball is a most important first step. The sphere that’s right for one person may not be right for someone else. For some it must be very clear. For others, inclusions enhance the ability to meditate and focus.

     Considering the phase of the Moon for crystal gazing is an old practice, with best results expected at the New or Full Moon phase. The sign the Moon is in also affects the ability to get good results in a session. The water signs are often the best though this may not be true for everyone.  

     It’s easier to have successful meditations on a fairly empty stomach and this is especially important in regard to gazing. Especially things like meat. Food is used to ground one afterwards. A comfortable position for gazing is a priority. You must be totally comfortable for several minutes without the need to readjust anything. 

    When the time has come to start the session and there will be no interruptions for several minutes to half an hour, more affinity is created with the sphere. Holding it and making hand passes over it are all part of establishing a link and priming the ball. Spending just a few moments in visualization while holding the ball greatly assists the session to come.

     To begin the session, set the ball on its stand and gaze into the crystal until something catches your eye. Then, focus on that point and the immediate area surrounding it. Avoid completely unrelated topics. That's similar to the trance-like focus the reader is trying to achieve. Once there, images will begin to form, often preceded by clouding within the sphere. Now, just remain relaxed and watch what you see; try not to disturb the flow of information. 

     Now, extinguish the candles to close the session, place the ball away and give yourself a few minutes to “return” to the here and now. Grounding stones such as Smokey Quartz or other black stones are helpful. Later, you can review your notes and often it will be within 24 hours following the session that the answer to your inquiry will come to you. More than one gazing session per day is not recommended and short sessions are best for beginners. 

                   Quartz Spheres for Opening Blocked Chakras

     Spheres are also excellent for opening blocked chakras. Just roll the ball very slowly up the chakra centers, letting it rest for a few moments at each point. Often, by the time it is at the Third Chakra center, the individual may experience "cracking and popping" in the head and neck as pressure is released from the Crown Chakra.