Verre d’eau (water glass) divination refers to scrying or crystal gazing techniques practiced in Europe and the Middle East, involving the use of a glass of water or other liquids to predict the future. This method became especially popular in France during the Regency era. Related practices include ink scrying in Egypt, and hydromancy recorded … Read more
Mirrors have held symbolic significance in various cultures throughout history, often associated with divination, vanity, and the reflection of the soul. The text mentions a legend about a magician during the reign of Francis I of France who supposedly used a mirror to display news from Milan by reflecting moonlight. This story connects to the … Read more
Lecanomancy is a form of divination using a basin of water. Practiced in ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East, it involved observing reflections or objects in water. Methods varied: Some practitioners inscribed magical words on metal sheets placed in water, while others used basins of water under moonlight or candlelight, interpreting the reflections. Another … Read more
Harvis is the term used to denote sorcerers in modern Egypt. According to Théodore Pavie, a 19th-century French explorer and writer, Egypt has a long tradition of magic, dating back to the biblical sorcerers who challenged Moses. He suggests that the importation of occult sciences by Arabs into Spain and then Europe was an attempt … Read more