Ask the crystal ball

A short history of crystal gazing

People have looked for answers in shiny surfaces for a very long time: polished stones, bowls of water, mirrors and crystals. The practice is called scrying. In the 1580s John Dee, a mathematician and adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, held long sessions with a "shew stone" and a black obsidian mirror from Mexico. Objects said to be his, including the mirror, are in the British Museum today.

The round crystal ball on a stand became the fortune teller's trademark in Victorian times, along with the tent and the headscarf. Ours is made of pixels and random numbers, which is cheaper and much easier to carry.

Questions about the crystal ball

How does the online crystal ball work?

Ask a question, touch the ball, and it answers with one of 20 replies: 10 leaning yes, 5 unclear and 5 leaning no, the same balance as the classic toy. The choice is truly random.

What is crystal ball scrying?

Scrying means gazing into a reflective or clear surface, such as a crystal, a mirror or water, to see visions. It is thousands of years old. Psychologists explain the visions as the brain finding patterns in blur and light, the same way we see faces in clouds.

Who used crystal balls?

John Dee, the 16th-century adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, used a crystal and a polished obsidian mirror for scrying; a crystal and a mirror said to be his are in the British Museum. The crystal ball became the fortune teller's symbol in the 19th century.

Is the crystal ball accurate?

Only by chance. It is a game. Use it for fun and for small decisions, never for health, money or legal questions.

More readings