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A crystal ball is a crystal or glass ball believed to aid clairvoyance. It is sometimes known as a shew stone. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... A crystal ball is a scrying or fortune telling instrument. ... For other uses, see Crystal (disambiguation). ... This article is about the material. ... For other uses, see Ball (disambiguation). ... Clairvoyance, from 17th century French Clair meaning clear and voyant meaning seeing, is a term used to describe the transference of information about an object, location or physical event through means other than the 5 traditional senses (See Psi). ...

Photograph of a quartz crystal ball commonly used for divination or scrying

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1920x2560, 585 KB) Description: Source: private Author: EvaK Date: 2006-07-24 Permission: GNU-FDL / CC-BY-SA 2. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1920x2560, 585 KB) Description: Source: private Author: EvaK Date: 2006-07-24 Permission: GNU-FDL / CC-BY-SA 2. ... For other uses, see Quartz (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Divination (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Crystal ball be merged into this article or section. ...

History

Celtic tribes, known to exist in Britain as early as 2,000 B.C., were unified by a priesthood known as Druids. Druids are one of the earliest known peoples to have used crystals in divination. It's interesting to note that Druid religion had similarities to megalithic religion of an "earlier" Britain, thus it is possible the first use of crystal divination might have come from them. This article is about the European people. ... For other uses, see Druid (disambiguation). ... Megalithic tomb, Mane Braz, Brittany A megalith is a large stone which has been used to construct a structure or monument either alone or with other stones. ...

Later, during central Europe's Medieval Period (500 – 1500 AD), seers, wizards, sorcerers, psychics, gypsies, fortune tellers, and all other types of diviners also used crystals to "see" into the past, present, or future. This article is about the year. ... 1500 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up magician in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Roma (singular Rom; sometimes Rroma, Rrom) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ...

A 3D computer generated image of a crystal ball

Due to its transparent nature, a natural gemstone called Beryllium Aluminum Silicate (Beryl), was often used in the divination process. Scottish Highlanders termed these objects "stones of power." Though early crystal balls were made from Beryl, they were later replaced by rock crystal, an even more transparent rock. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Three varieties of beryl: Morganite, Aquamarine, and Heliodor The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6. ...

Art of scrying

Main article: Scrying

Main article: Crystal gazing

"The Crystal Ball" by John William Waterhouse: scrying in crystal

The art or process of "seeing" is known as "scrying," whereby images are seen in crystals, or other mediums such as water, and are interpreted as meaningful information. The "information" gleaned then is used to make important decisions in one's life (i.e. love, marriage, finances, travel, business, etc). It has been suggested that Crystal ball be merged into this article or section. ... Crystallomancy, or crystal gazing, is a method of divination of distant or future events by gazing into a crystal. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (540x836, 83 KB) John William Waterhouse - The Crystal Ball (1902, oil on canvas) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Scrying Magic (fantasy) Magician (fantasy) ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (540x836, 83 KB) John William Waterhouse - The Crystal Ball (1902, oil on canvas) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Scrying Magic (fantasy) Magician (fantasy) ... John William Waterhouse. ... It has been suggested that Crystal ball be merged into this article or section. ...

When the technique of scrying is used with crystals, or any transparent body, it is known as crystallomancy or crystal gazing. Crystallomancy, or crystal gazing, is a method of divination of distant or future events by gazing into a crystal. ...

Crystal balls in protoscience

Dr John Dee (July 13, 1527 – 1608 or 1609) was a noted British mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He also devoted much of his life to alchemy, divination, and Hermetic philosophy. He was known for his use of crystal balls in his work. For the American college basketball coach, see John Dee (basketball coach). ... is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 5 - Felix Manz, co-founder of the Swiss Anabaptists, was drowned in the Limmat in Zürich by the Zürich Reformed state church. ... Events March 18 - Sissinios formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia May 14 - Protestant Union founded in Auhausen. ... // Events April 4 – King of Spain signs an edit of expulsion of all moriscos from Spain April 9 – Spain recognizes Dutch independence May 23 - Official ratification of the Second Charter of Virginia. ... Elizabeth I Queen of England and Ireland Queen of France, nominal title Elizabeth I (September 7, 1533–March 24, 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from November 17, 1558 until her death. ...

Crystal balls in stage magic

Crystal balls are popular props used in mentalism acts by stage magicians. Such routines, in which the performer answers audience questions by means of various ruses, are known as "C. G." (Crystal Gazing) acts. One of the most famous C. G. performers of the 20th century, Claude Alexander, was often billed as "Alexander the Crystal Seer." This article is about the performing art. ... “Illusionist” redirects here. ... Claude Alexander Conlin (1880 - 1954), also known as Alexander, C. Alexander, Alexander the Crystal Seer, and Alexander the Man Who Knows, was a stage magician who specialized in mentalism and psychic reading acts, often using a crystal ball as a prop. ...

External links

• Andrew Lang, Crystal visions, savage and civilised, The Making of Religion, Chapter V, Longmans, Green, and C°, London, New York and Bombay, 1900, pp. 83-104.

See also

• Seer stone
• Crystal gazing
• The Cup of Jamshid
• Palantíri