Black Obsidian Scrying Mirror — 6″ Volcanic Glass Divination Tool

Quick Specs

• Material: Natural black obsidian (volcanic glass)
• Diameter: 6 inches
• Shape: Round mirror
• Finish: Polished flat
• Stand: Not included

Black Obsidian and the Long History of the Scrying Mirror

Obsidian isn’t a crystal. It’s volcanic glass, specifically an amorphous silica structure (SiO2) laced with iron and magnesium, formed when lava hits air or water and cools too quickly for crystals to grow. The result is a dense, jet-black material with a natural reflectivity that catches light without giving much back. That quality made it valuable to ancient Mesoamericans long before the word “scrying” existed in English.

The Aztecs called their polished obsidian mirrors tezcatl, “smoking mirror,” and their supreme deity Tezcatlipoca was associated with them as a symbol of premonition and revelation. These weren’t novelties. They were ritual objects reserved for priests and elites, used to see into realms beyond ordinary perception. When Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, a handful of these mirrors made it back to Europe. One ended up with John Dee, the Elizabethan mathematician and court astrologer, who used it in his angel-communication sessions. Dee’s obsidian mirror is still at the British Museum, and geochemical analysis published in the journal Antiquity confirmed it came from the obsidian quarries of Pachuca, Mexico.

The 6 inch size matters more than it might seem. The 4 inch version is a fine starting point, but at 6 inches you’re working with a surface large enough to hold your gaze without your eyes constantly pulling to the edges. That wider field makes it easier to soften your focus and settle into the mild hypnagogic state that scrying depends on. If you’re serious about building a practice, or if you’ve already worked with a smaller mirror and want more room to work, the 6 inch format is the better tool.

How to Use a Black Obsidian Scrying Mirror

The Tarot Fellow Standard

I stock this mirror because the polish is consistent and the obsidian is genuine. With scrying tools, surface quality is everything. A mirror with micro-scratches or an uneven finish will catch your attention in the wrong way, pulling you out of the soft-focus state you’re trying to reach. The pieces I carry have a flat, even polish with real depth to the black. I check them before they go on the shelf.

One honest note: scrying takes practice. You’re not going to sit down for the first time and see a cinematic vision. Most people spend their first several sessions just learning how to hold a soft gaze without blinking compulsively or forcing the experience. That’s normal, and it’s part of the process. The 6 inch format helps because there’s enough surface to relax into without your peripheral vision constantly noticing the edge of the mirror. Handle it with care. Natural obsidian is glass, and it can chip or crack if dropped on a hard surface.

If you’re building out a divination practice, you might also want to browse our full scrying and divination tools collection or explore the broader scrying category for other tools worth pairing with a mirror session.

Frequently Asked Questions