Quick Specs
- Material: natural black obsidian (volcanic glass)
- Diameter: 8 inches
- Thickness: 1/4 inch
- Finish: polished mirror surface, one side
The mirror that earned a place on the altar
Obsidian isn’t a crystal. It’s volcanic glass, formed when lava cools fast enough to skip the crystalline structure entirely. The result is one of the densest, most reflective natural surfaces on earth. That’s not an accident of geology that practitioners discovered by chance. The Aztecs were working with polished obsidian mirrors, called tezcatl, centuries before European contact. Tezcatlipoca, one of the central deities of the Aztec pantheon, takes his name directly from the object: the word translates roughly as “smoking mirror.” Priests gazed into these discs to divine, to commune, and to see what ordinary sight couldn’t reach.
The tradition didn’t stay in Mesoamerica. John Dee, mathematician and advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, used an obsidian mirror for his scrying work in the late 16th century. That mirror is now in the British Museum’s collection, confirmed by geochemical analysis to be Aztec obsidian from the Pachuca region of Mexico. Dee wasn’t the originator of the practice. He was a practitioner who recognized the tool. That lineage matters when you’re choosing what to bring to your altar.
I carry this mirror in four sizes. The 8-inch disc is the largest, and it’s the one I’d point a serious practitioner toward. More surface area means more to gaze into, and a mirror this size commands presence. It isn’t a casual tool. It’s the piece you set up deliberately, work with in full session, and return to over time. The polish is on one side only, creating a deep, dark reflection that reads as both surface and depth. Natural obsidian will have small inclusions or subtle variations in the stone. That’s the material being itself. No two are identical.
How to use a scrying mirror
Three steps to begin working with an obsidian scrying mirror.
- Prepare your space
Dim the lights and sit comfortably in front of the mirror. Give yourself a few minutes of quiet breathing before you begin. The goal is a relaxed, soft gaze rather than a focused stare. Let your eyes settle.
- Soften your gaze into the mirror
Rest your gaze on the mirror's surface without straining. You're not looking at it so much as through it. Let your eyes go slightly unfocused. Thoughts and images that arise in your peripheral awareness are the point.
- Close the session and record
After ten to twenty minutes, look away and record any impressions in a journal. Scrying deepens with repeated practice. Don't judge a session by how vivid the results are. Consistency matters more than any single sitting.
The Tarot Fellow Standard
I stock obsidian mirrors because the material is consistent and the sizing is honest. The supplier I work with cuts and polishes these to a uniform spec, and I check every order that comes in. Obsidian is not a forgiving material to work with at this scale. An 8-inch disc at 1/4 inch thick requires a clean, even polish to read correctly as a mirror surface. What I receive reflects that care.
One honest note: natural obsidian will have inclusions. You might see a small bubble frozen in the glass, a hairline of banding, or a subtle shift in how the polish catches the light. These are not cracks or damage. They’re the signature of a natural volcanic material. If you’re expecting a flawless synthetic surface, this isn’t that. If you’re expecting a real piece of volcanic glass with its own character, this is exactly that.
Pair this mirror with my scrying and divination tools to build out a dedicated practice, or browse my altar supplies for what else belongs on the surface around it.
Frequently asked questions
This is the 8-inch version, the largest in my obsidian scrying mirror line. I also carry 5-inch, 3-inch, and 2-inch sizes. The 8-inch disc gives you significantly more surface area to work with in a dedicated session.
Natural obsidian is volcanic glass, and no two pieces are identical. You may see small inclusions, subtle banding, or slight variations in the polish. These are characteristics of the stone, not defects. Each mirror is unique.
Only one side is polished to the mirror finish. The other side retains a more natural matte texture. Place the mirror polished side up or facing you during practice. The disc measures 8 inches in diameter and one quarter inch thick.
Most practitioners find that it takes weeks or months of regular sitting before impressions become consistent. Some people see movement or imagery in early sessions; others take longer. Scrying is a skill that builds over time with patience.
1 review for 8″ Black Obsidian Scrying Mirror — Natural Volcanic Glass Divination