Water Gazing

One of the most pleasant, relaxing and ancient forms of divination is water-gazing. Though nearly everyone is familiar with the practice of crystal-gazing, few seem to know it's ancestor.

there are 3 basic forms. All use the same technique but different focal points. These are:

1. Gazing into running water, such as that of a stream or brook.

2. Gazing at the shimmering of the Sun on the surface of a lake, or on the ocean.

3. GAzing at the reflections caused by the Sun on water, as on the sides of a boat or ship, a nearby structure, or any close object.

It may take a bit of searching to find an ideal place, and in a pinch a swimming pool will substitute for the last form, but once found, the major dificulty is over.

Find a comfortable spot to sit. Relax, still your mind of the thousand-thousand thoughts that course through it every waking second. Gently, with eyelids relaxed but not quite closed, gaze into the water, or at the shimmerings of the Sun dancing like diamonds, or at the reflections the water casts up by the Sun's light.

Allow your thoughts to vanish. If you need an answer to a specific question, once you have attained this drowsy state formulate the question while still gazing. if no answer immediately comes to mind (and beware the tricks of the conscious mind, which may send wish-fulfilling answers0 stop and try again in a few minutes.

If you are inquiring about an absent friend, or alost article, see that person or object in your mind, let the image dissolve, and see what comes to take it's place within your mind's eye.

If, however, you have no special purpose in water-gazing, sit quietly and wait until feelings, emotions, symbols, or pictures paint themselves before your eyes, aided by the evermoving, mysterious water.

Though a bit of practice is usually necessary before psychic messages or images are percieved, once attained you have the art forever.

I have spent hours sitting on a point that juts out into the Pacific Ocean, gazing at the sun's sparkles on the deep blue expanse.

I have also water-gazed from the end of piers, on the walls near an outdoor swimming pool, in a fountain in a public park, a puddle in the middle of a sidewalk, even in the bathtub while the sun shone through a window and sent reflections splashing crazily on the tiled walls.

One note of caution: very bright reflections can be damaging to your eyes. If you can't look at the sun's shimmerings for more than a few seconds without blinking, do not attempt water-gazing. Wait till the Sun's light is softer.