Speculum
A witch ball or speculum was a device used for scrying or divining things. Sometimes the speculum was a magic mirror, a polished stone, or a crystal ball. Some witches fashioned specula from black bowls filled with water. By gazing into the reflective depths, a witch could answers to urgent questions, predict future events, or see faraway places. In maritime villages, witches sent out the glass globes fishermen use to hold their nets afloat. The globes were usually made of dark blue or green glass and appeared quite innocuous. Biddy Early, and well-known Irish witch, had a favourite blue glass bottle.
Witch balls measure up to seven inches in diameter, and are occasionally decorated in enameled stripes and swirls or varying colours. Some are mirrored for use as convex mirrors. According to Albertus Magnus, a famous medieval magician, a speculum could be created in the following manner:
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Before they were put to use, specula had to be consecrated by exposure to the light of a full moon. When not in use, they were usually kept under a black velvet cloth or in a closed box. They were never to be touched by sunlight.
Nevertheless, candlelight exposure was not harmful, and was sometimes recommended. Some witches used a candle to provide a solitary pinpoint of light in the speculum. Others preferred dimly diffused light. Incense burning in the background added a nice touch.
If all went as planned, the witch ball would eventually cloud over and the scryer would see emerging misty pictures. If she looked even more carefully, the pictures would gain clarity and show the witch what she wanted to know. Sometimes the image was a figurative, or a symbol or sign that had to be interpreted. Other times the message was quite literal, as in the case of the witch queen of Snow White; the face of the fairest in the land appeared on her speculum.