The first instance of mirror gazing that we know of is with the ancient Greeks, who believed that under certain circumstances, they could interact with the spirits of the dead. In order to accomplish this, they constructed psychomanteums, or oracles of the dead, where those seeking to meet with the spirits of the dead could do so.

Homer, provided a detailed example of how this could be done without a psychomanteum or the elaborate rituals that normally accompanied them. In Odysseus, (Oh disuse) the hero ventures out to visit an oracle who is consecrated for that kind of activity. The oracle instructs him to dig a pit and fill it with the blood of sacrificial animals (Don't worry, we won't have you do the same thing) and he uses the reflection in the pool to communicate with the spirits. He encounters many different spirits, and surprisingly, he sees his mother, who had recently died. They are able to speak to one another before she vanishes.

Where was the oracle of the dead?

Both Herodotus and Homer wrote of an oracle of the dead that was located on the river Acheron, near the city of the Cimmerian people. This place was also known as the psychomateum, in the city of Ephyra in Epirus, in western Greece.

In the late1950s Sotiris Dakaris, a Greek archaeologist, rediscovered the site, which turned out to be a subterranean complex, with passageways and chambers that finally led to the place where the apparitions were viewed. Inside, there was an enormous bronze cauldron that could be highly polished, and when filled with water, would be highly reflective.

Individuals, who sought out the oracle, would prepare in the underground complex for a month before entering the chamber with the bronze cauldron. After completing their time inside, they would be taken outside and purified with sulfur, which was commonly used with individuals who had contact with the dead. Then, they received a ritual bath to thoroughly cleanse them.

Unfortunately, there are long gaps in the history of mirror gazing. However, there are numerous vignettes that describe the role that mirror gazing has played in various different cultures throughout the world. These vignettes are taken from literature, mythology, religion, and politics and they will demonstrate that mirror gazing to contact spirits has served an important function for many different people.

For example, there are references to divination in the Old Testament in the first book of Samuel in the Bible. King Saul ordered all mediums and spiritualists expelled from Israel and required the death penalty for anyone who conjured a spirit. However, when this same king found that he needed counsel, he went off in disguise and sought out a medium to help him contact the late King Samuel, who helped him begrudgingly. Although the tool that she used to conjure the spirits is not spelled out in the bible, she may have used a speculum, a shiny object that could project a mirror image for visionary facilitation.

When the late King appeared, Saul asked for his help since the Philistines (Philisteens) were fighting against him and God had turned away from him, no longer answering him through dreams or prophets. The late king answered that God had turned away from him because he had refused to follow God's command and he prophesized that his kingdom would be given to David, that he and Israel's army would be handed over to the Philistines. All of this comes to pass.

Shamanic Tradition

We also find mirror gazing in the shamanic tradition throughout the world. In Siberia, Tungus shamans used copper mirrors to work with spirits. In their language, the word "mirror" is derived from the word for "spirit" or "soul", and so, the mirror was regarded as connected to the soul. In fact, the word Shaman, originated with the Tungus tribe.

The shamans of Madagascar would use mirrors in order to contact spirits during their ceremonies. In this culture, it was appropriate to discuss any visitations with spirits and was usually done communally.

Blood was used as a gazing medium by the Pawnee Indians. Their method of mirror gazing was similar to the Greeks as described by Homer in Odysseus. When a tribal member killed a badger, they would pour the blood into a bowl, and during the evening, the children would look at their reflections. If they saw themselves with gray hair, it meant a long life. If the picture was indistinct, the child would die of sickness, if no picture was seen at all, the child would someday be killed by an enemy.

The Fez and the Zulus of Africa used mirror gazing by filling a vessel with water to see visions. Shamans in northern equatorial Africa made medical diagnoses by gazing into a kettle filled with water.

Celtic Gazing Myth

A Celtic manuscript dating back to the twelfth century shares the adventures of an early king of Britain, named Lludd. He used cauldron gazing as a way to capture dragons.

Presidential Mirror Gazing

One of our Presidents found information through mirror visions. During the evening of the Presidential election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln reclined on a couch, and looked over at a mirror. There he was shocked to see a strange double image of himself. In one image, he looked like he was, and in the other, he looked pale and ghostly. Lincoln shared this experience with his wife who predicted that the first image meant that he would be re-elected to a second term, and that the second meant that he would die in office. As we all know, her interpretation proved to be true.

Hopefully, these examples have provided you with an idea of how mirror gazing has manifested throughout the world and the different ways that it's been utilized.