The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

I'm interested in learning to use a crystal ball, but I don't want to spend too much money if this tool doesn't want to work with me.  Anyone know where I can get a basic ball to try for less than $10?

You might be able to get a glass bauble at a thrift shop or craft store for that cheap, but I doubt it would be very good quality.  There are other methods of scrying that you can do on the cheap.

This.

I'd start with water scrying.  A shallow black bowl (I got one at Ikea years ago for just a few dollars); some water; indirect, dim lighting -- that's pretty much all you need to get started.

 
Or a black mirror - I made one by taking a cheap photo frame, painting the underside of the glass black, then turning the unpainted side to the front and replacing it in the frame. Presto - very cheap scrying 'mirror'.

Or a black mirror - I made one by taking a cheap photo frame, painting the underside of the glass black, then turning the unpainted side to the front and replacing it in the frame. Presto - very cheap scrying 'mirror'.

Yep, that works, too.

For me, though, there's something about water, especially when it ripples under a breath...

I'm interested in learning to use a crystal ball, but I don't want to spend too much money if this tool doesn't want to work with me.  Anyone know where I can get a basic ball to try for less than $10?

 

What the others have said.
Just try with another scrying medium. A crystal ball is fancy and all, but scrying is actually not too dependent on the tool.

(I do it with my eyes shut, because staring at things unblinking is bad, if you were contacts. :p)

I need to try a bit harder with water scrying. It's never worked for me in the past. I wonder if I'd do better out at natural water sources. Worth a try!

 
Some people find it easier to water-scry in a dark liquid (a few drops of food colouring, ink, or using red wine or juice instead of water all can help.) Alternately, clear liquid but a dark bowl and low light.

(Water-scrying: not my thing, apparently, but I can't say I didn't give it a fair try.)

I love the story of Biddy Early and her scrying bottle.

Never heard it.
 Hello there, Google, my friend.  

Actually, I've scryed (what is the proper past-tense of this verb?)

mmmm..... scried?
:cry::cry::cry::cry::cry:

Some people find it easier to water-scry in a dark liquid (a few drops of food colouring, ink, or using red wine or juice instead of water all can help.) Alternately, clear liquid but a dark bowl and low light.

(Water-scrying: not my thing, apparently, but I can't say I didn't give it a fair try.)

 
I've tried with something that was billed as a television stone (but it's not what comes up if you google television stone.)  It was more like a chunk of quartz that was polished smooth and flat on one side, so that side was clear, but the rest of the sides were opaque.  It was cheap, as in under 5 dollars, and interesting to use.  Personally, I use a black obsidian ball.