The Ancient Art of Scrying: Egypt's Window to Divine Wisdom
Scrying, a mystical divinatory practice of gazing into reflective surfaces to receive visions and divine guidance, has deep roots in ancient Egypt. The act of scrying involves reading messages in water, smoke, fire, or other reflective surfaces such as a crystal sphere or a smooth piece of black obsidian. You pose a question to the fire, for example, and then patiently wait to receive the fire's response. You may see symbols or signs emerge in the flame, "hear" something in the crackling of the fire, or receive impressions in the form of colors or sensations.
While not called "scrying" by the Egyptians themselves, this powerful form of divination was practiced by priests and seers who used bowls of oil, water, or ink to create sacred mirrors into the otherworld. In the Temple of Isis at Philae, the great Temple of Hathor at Dendera, and the sacred complex of Karnak where Thoth was honored, ritualists would prepare these reflective surfaces with precise ceremonies, burning sacred incense and reciting specific invocations to create a gateway between worlds. These ancient practitioners understood what modern science now confirms—that altered states of consciousness can access different modes of perception and intuition.
Where and When Scrying Occurred
Scrying rituals in ancient Egypt took place in various settings, based on ritual calendars and celestial alignments. Often these rituals occurred inside the temples—usually within the innermost sanctuaries reserved for priests and initiates. In temples like Dendera, these practices took place in underground crypts within the temple complex.
Sometimes, these rituals occurred outside in daylight, especially for solar-aligned divinations connected to deities like Ra (the sun god) and Horus (the sky god). Scrying could also take place near sacred lakes, at specific locations in the desert, or along particular points of the Nile during significant astronomical events. The timing and location of these rituals were typically determined by the nature of the question being asked, the deity being consulted, and relevant astronomical alignments.
Ancient Egyptian Scrying Techniques
The most well-documented ancient Egyptian scrying ritual, "Bowl Divination" or "Lekanomancy," appears in the Greco-Egyptian magical papyri from the 4th century CE. In this ritual, a young boy (chosen because of his "purity") would serve as the seer in a darkened room purified with kyphi incense (it had a sweet scent and was known to relax individuals). Before him sat a clay bowl painted black on the inside, filled with a mixture of pure olive oil and water (sometimes with added ink as the darkened water represented the primordial waters or the void from which visions could emerge) to create a reflective surface.
Under the glow of a specialized oil lamp, a priest would burn specific incense (including myrrh, and frankincense) while reciting invocations to deities like Anubis, Thoth, and Isis. The priest would verbally guide the boy by describing what should appear (divine beings, specific symbols) to help guide the seer's visions. The boy, in a semi-trance state, would stare into the bowl to receive visions of divine figures answering the questions posed by the priest.
Interpreting the Visions
Egyptian scrying symbols were documented in the Greek Magical Papyri and Demotic magical texts. Deities seen during visions carried specific meanings. For example, falcon-headed beings represented Horus or Ra (indicating success), ibis-headed figures signified Thoth (wisdom), jackal-headed appearances suggested Anubis (transition or hidden knowledge), and crowned figures generally represented positive omens.
When objects appeared to the seer, they had their own meanings—boats indicated journeys, ankhs represented life, scarabs symbolized transformation, etc. Colors and movements provided additional context. Together, the deities, symbols, colors and movements created a full story or message. In addition, the papyri included specific interpretive instructions, such as "If the god raises his hand, the answer is yes; if he lowers it, the answer is no."
These interpretations varied across Egypt's history and weren't necessarily universal across the board. Different temples and traditions maintained their own frameworks, with priests often relying on intuitive interpretation alongside these symbols.
Scrying Across Cultures and Time
Scrying has appeared across many major civilizations throughout history. Mesopotamians, Chinese, Mayans, and Aztecs all practiced versions of scrying. The Mesopotamian priests practiced oil divination as early as 3000 BCE, while Mayan and Aztec priests used obsidian mirrors for divination, with the god Tezcatlipoca ("Smoking Mirror") specifically associated with these practices.
Today, many modern practitioners continue these ancient traditions—shamanic practitioners, tarot readers, psychic mediums, pagans, and wiccans all may incorporate forms of scrying into their spiritual practice.
Why Practice Scrying Today?
There are many reasons people use scrying in modern times. Many seekers are looking for clarity about major life decisions or trying to access higher guidance about challenges they face. Whether you're attempting to access altered states of consciousness or receive messages and guidance from the spirit realm, this ancient method offers a bridge between worlds that has stood the test of time.
As we journey together through the sacred lands of Egypt, we'll explore these ancient techniques that connected human consciousness with divine wisdom, experiencing firsthand the temples and sacred spaces where these practices flourished for thousands of years.
A Modern Scrying Ritual for Contemporary Priestesses
Here's a very simple scrying ritual I offer to those of you who are interested in experiencing this ancient practice.
Scrying with Water Ritual
Preparation
Create Sacred Space
Choose a quiet space where you won't be disturbed
Cleanse the space with sage, incense or sound (singing bowls or chanting)
Set up your altar with crystals, candles, oracle cards, flowers, or other items that have meaning for you.
Create your Scrying Container
A dark ceramic bowl (preferably black or deep blue inside)
Purified water (spring or filtered)
A small amount of olive oil (creates a highly reflective surface, plus the boundary between oil and water created a symbolic threshold between worlds, representing the veil between ordinary and divine reality.)
A single beeswax or soy candle
Frankincense or myrrh incense
Journal and pen
The Ritual
Personal Purification (15 minutes before)
Take a ritual bath with sea salt
Wear comfortable, preferably natural fiber clothing
Remove jewelry that might distract
Enter a meditative state through breath work or meditation
Activation Process
Fill the bowl with water
Add 3-7 drops of ink to create a reflective surface
Light the candle and place it where it will reflect in the bowl
Light incense
Recite an invocation to wisdom-associated deities or your own higher consciousness
Scrying Practice
Sit comfortably on your meditation cushion or chair, facing the bowl
Allow your gaze to soften while gazing into the water
Breathe deeply and easily, keeping your body loose
Pose your question (An example could be, Why am I being guided to go to Egypt? What is my higher path at this stage in my life? How can I best serve through my unique gifts?) Or anything else you wish to know
Remain receptive to images, feelings, or impressions that arise
Stay with the process for at least 15 minutes and record anything you receive, even if it doesn’t make sense
Completion
Journal your experiences immediately
Thank the energies or deities you've worked with
Return the water to the earth (pour it at the base of a tree)
Cleanse your tools
Scrying is a practice that opens you up to receiving the subtle messages of Spirit and your Higher Self. You likely won't receive 'loud' messages, at least not in the beginning, so try not to expect that. Pay close attention to colors, symbols, signs, impressions, and words you receive, and then let your higher self fill in the gaps. With patience and practice, this ancient art can become a valuable tool in your spiritual journey. Happy scrying!
