In ancient history, fortune-telling using crystal balls was a common practice in the Roman Empire but was also condemned by the Christian church as heretical. From its gloomy origin and “supernatural” uses, here are five interesting facts about Crystal Balls. Many fishermen wish they could look into a crystal ball to find fish.
The Ancient Druids
Scrying is an act of looking into a smooth reflective surface to predict the future. According to Pliny the Elder, this was the practice of the ancient Druids from Britain and France during the Bronze period as one of their roles is to serve as the mediator between the people and the gods.
Worldwide Influence
According to the author Lang, crystal gazing was also a practice in China. Yuang-Kuang-fuchou was a practice used to identify the face of robbers. In the same book, the “viewing of the unjun” was also a practice used by the Muslims in India. Historically in Medina and Saudi Arabia, sick people look at shiny pots of water to be healed.
Forbidden Custom
In the Old Testament Scriptures, scrying is divination forbidden as stated in Deuteronomy 18:14 and Ezekiel 21:21. The Koran also forbids such practice as shuffling arrows by El Meysar.
Queen Elizabeth I
John Dee, a scientist, served as an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. He shifted to crystal ball gazing after failing to produce satisfactory answers from science. He was convinced that divination was the way to understand the “universal language of creation”.
Well-Known Crystal Balls
Crystal Balls come in different sizes, with the largest one being housed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D. C. with 12.9 inches diameter. One famous crystal ball is the Wicked Witch’s from “Wizard of Oz” which was sold at an auction for a big price.
We don’t expect crystal ball gazing to be practiced much in modern societies, but it is possible to be a continued practice in the peripheries of some historically practicing countries.