Black Mirror Magic: A Sampling of Practical Techniques - Neuromagick (2024)

Spirit Communication

The black mirror technique related in theblack mirror scryinginstruction was initially developed as an aid for Goetic evocation by Carroll “Poke” Runyon and Nelson White. That particular form of magic is too intricate and expansive to address here, but the reader is encouraged to research it in service of a well-rounded education. That as it may be, the basic black mirror technique generalizes well to spirit communication of any sort. The following procedure is readily adapted to more specific aims as inspiration dictates.

On the Nature of Spirits

Just as the past life work described above can be valuable no matter what one believed about reincarnation, so too can spirit work be of good use regardless of specific beliefs. Even full disbelief that spirit beings even exist doesn’t preclude a valuable experience from the effort. The simple fact of the matter is, like past life experiences, spirit phenomenon is within the normal human perceptual range. It therefore stands to reason that anyone can have experiences of that type under certain circ*mstances. What’s more, that we can have it doesn’t explain why or what it means. We each have to decide that for ourselves.

One thing the following procedures do is to promote circ*mstances that can facilitate the experience of interactive spirit beings. They can say and do unexpected and surprising things.The general procedures below are applicable to most any type of spirit work. A couple of specific variations are noted at the end of the article.

A General Spirit Communication Procedure

Preliminary Work

1. At least a few days prior to a planned working, create a Seal to represent the targeted spirit, using one of the Zodiacal method described in the Sigils and Seals instruction, or other preferred method. If a name is known, use the name as the basis of the Seal. If no name is known, devise the most concise statement of function you can (try to limit it to no more than two or three words at most) and use that as the basis of the seal.
2. Spend the days running up to the operation contemplating the Seal and thinking about the nature of the spirit, as much as you understand it. If you know nothing of the nature of the spirit, instead contemplate what you hope to gain by the communion. Use thefocal meditation or a comparable method for these contemplations.

On the Day of the Operation

1. Avoiding eating and drinking for about 6 hours prior to the operations, within your normal health limits.
2. Set up your equipment as usual. Include a grease pencil or small painbrush and some oil to apply the Seal to surface of the black mirror.
3. Establish magical space using the Spell Casting procedure or other customary method.
4. Apply the seal onto the mirror surface.
5. Begin your gazing session as usual.
6. Once the morphing starts, bring the seal to mind and focus on it to the exclusion of all else (i.e.focal meditation).
7. Once you feel contact has been made, what you do is largely a matter of inspiration or intent. You may formulate questions in your mind. Answers may come in the form of verbal-like communication or images in the mirror, etc. While some people report hearing an audible voice during this kind of procedure, many if not most report that verbal-like communication is primarily an “inner-voice” phenomenon. Your mileage may vary.
8. Alternatively or in addition, you may direct the spirit to aid you with your magical goals, etc. Any number of other things are possible, so keep an open mind, and if inspired during the session, the best thing to do is to go with it.
9. When satisfied that you have accomplished as much as you can, it’s customary to thank the spirit and bid it farewell. Intentionally sharpen your the focus of your vision and you will once again see a clearer reflection of your own face
10. Carry out your usual closing procedure to end the working.

Immediately After the Working

1. Write down everything you can remember from the working as soon as possible. Use theDevelopmental Journaling method. In any event, simply describe what you experienced in factual terms, without interpretation or inferences about what any of it means.
2. Have a little something to eat, then engage yourself in something else. Avoid ruminating over the events of the operation as best you can.

Select Variations

Animal and Other Nature Spirits

One application of this technique is to contact a personal animal spirit, a Totem Animal, etc. Other nature spirits, such as the Spirit of Rain, the Spirit of Oak (or the Spirit of a particular medicinal plant)… even the Spirit of ones own garden may be evoked. A Seal may be made of words like, OAK SPIRIT, or MY GARDEN, etc. Follow the basic procedures described above, but in the days or even weeks prior to the working, spend time thinking about the target object/concept, and if possible, in physical contact with it. Because the target in this case relates to natural phenomena, a good deal of information will be available. So do as much relevant research as possible into the nature of the subject of interest. Finally, spend some meditative time imagining that you are the thing in question, or that you are directly participating in it. Then, when the time comes to do the operation, recall how you feltas the thing in questionwhile developing the summoning attitude.

Ancestral Spirits

Many traditions seek to draw guidance and wisdom from ancestral spirits. To prepare for this sort of operation, contemplate the evolution of your people, and/or your family as is appropriate to your goals. Study relevant histories and folklore, make a genealogy chart, etc…. generally engross yourself in your origins as much as possible. Spend at least a few meditative sessions imagining what life was like for your ancestors, how they lived, the challenges they faced, the obstacles they overcame, and even their failures where they are known. Pay particular attention to the feelings you develop as you imagine yourself as one of your own ancestors. And when the time comes to do the operation, engulf yourself in those feelings as you summon them.

Family and Friends that have Died

There are many reasons that people seek to commune with those who have passed away ahead of us: advice, wisdom, resolution of unfinished business, etc. Whatever the goal, the basic preparation is the same: spend time imagining the person as they were, and as you knew them. Start by recalling their face, then the rest of their body, their posture, their mannerisms. Recall the sound of their voice and common phrases that would say. And most importantly, remember events you shared with the person, and especially remember how you felt, about yourself and about everything else, when you were around them. Be as honest about it as you can be, neither romanticizing nor demonizing them. Don’t shy away from negative memories or feelings if they were part of your experience of the person when they were alive but take care to avoid exaggerating them, etc. Make a Seal using their name as the basis, and do the operation when you feel you’ve sufficiently reviewed their life and how their life related to yours. When it’s time to summon them, focus especially on the feelings that came up during your contemplations.