The Museum of Witchcraft

Scrying and Divination

Scrying is the ancient art of clairvoyance or 'clear vision'. Fortune telling is a form of scrying.

By staring into a cauldron of water or a still pond on a moonlit night and focusing the eye through the surface one can enter into a state where apparitions appear. A local tradition is 'calling down the moon' which involves using the reflection of the full moon on water. The Reverend Hawker of Morwenstow is said to have mastered this technique with the aid of a local witch.

Since ancient times mirrors were considered to have magical properties. The dark mirrors are particularly rare examples of their type, they are less reflective than conventional mirrors and are used as one would use a crystal ball. We display the scrying mirror of the late Cecil Williamson, once owner of the Museum. Quietly looking into this mirror puts one in direct contact with the magical forces and spirits that were so important to Cecil. Try it !

Cecil Williamson's crystal ball is displayed but local witches tended to use old glass fishing floats.

The origins of Tarot are traceable to ancient Egypt and the symbolism incorporated within the cards is amongst the oldest known. Several tarot packs are displayed in the Museum. Ordinary playing cards can be used for divination and have the advantage of not being obviously 'occult'

Dowsing with pendulums and rods is a form of divination. In Cornwall dowsing is an accepted means of locating an underground water supply. Some hand-forged Cornish dowsing rods are displayed alongside simple home-made examples.

Two commercially manufactured tea leaf reading cups are displayed along with many other fascinating divination devices