Collection: Crystal Balls

What Is a Crystal Ball?

A crystal ball is a crystal or glass sphere used for scrying, also called crystal gazing: you look softly into it until images or impressions come to mind. It has also been called a shew stone, a scrying ball, and an orbuculum. People have used gazing spheres since late antiquity. The fifth-century tomb of the Frankish king Childeric I held a 1½-inch globe of clear beryl.

Are These Real Crystal Balls?

Yes, in the way most crystal balls are: they're crystal glass, made with about 10% quartz, not carved from a single quartz crystal. Natural quartz spheres this clear and this size are rare and cost many times more. Clear, bubble-free glass has long been accepted for crystal gazing. If you'd like a natural stone sphere, see our Highly Polished Selenite Gazing Ball.

How Do You Choose a Crystal Ball?

By size. A 50mm (1.75-inch) ball weighs about 0.7 pounds and fits in your palm, good for travel or a small altar. An 80mm (3-inch) ball, about 2 pounds, is the classic desk size. A 4-inch (100 to 110mm) ball weighs about 4 pounds, and 5-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch balls (6.5, 12.5, and 30 pounds) make a centerpiece for a reading table.

By color. Clear is the traditional choice and shows the most depth. Black gives a dark, mirror-like surface similar to a scrying mirror. Purple, green, red, and aurora rainbow balls are chosen for the color's own associations.

By stand. Some balls come on a themed stand: a pentacle, a pentagram, a witch's broom, a crescent moon and crow, a cloaked witch, or the Maiden, Mother, Crone. Each listing says whether a stand is included. For 4-inch to 8-inch balls, the Dragon Gazing Ball Stand fits.

How Do You Use a Crystal Ball?

Set the ball on its stand in a dim room with a single candle off to the side, not reflected straight back at you. Sit comfortably, breathe slowly, and gaze into the center of the sphere rather than at its surface. Let your eyes relax and notice any colors, shapes, or impressions without forcing them, then write down what you saw. Our guide to using a crystal ball walks through a full session.

How Do You Care for a Crystal Ball?

Keep a clear crystal ball out of direct sunlight. A clear sphere focuses sunlight like a magnifying glass and can scorch a hand or set dark fabric or paper nearby smoldering. Dust it with a soft, lint-free cloth, keep it on its stand so it can't roll, and cover it with a cloth when it's not in use.

Explore Related Collections

For other gazing surfaces, browse Scrying Mirrors and Scrying Bowls. Our Divination & Psychic Tools collection gathers pendulums, rune stones, and spirit boards, and Tarot Cards pair well with a crystal ball on a reading table.

Crystal Ball FAQ

Are your crystal balls real quartz?
They're crystal glass made with about 10% quartz, which is what most crystal balls are. Natural quartz spheres this clear are rare and much more expensive.

What size crystal ball should I get?
An 80mm (3-inch) ball is a good first size: big enough to gaze into comfortably and light enough to move. Choose 50mm to carry or for a small altar, and 4 inches or larger for a reading table centerpiece.

Do your crystal balls come with a stand?
Some do. Balls on a themed stand say so in the title, and the rest are the ball alone. The Dragon Gazing Ball Stand fits balls from 4 to 8 inches.

Can a crystal ball start a fire?
Yes. A clear sphere focuses sunlight like a magnifying glass, so keep it out of direct sun and away from sunny windowsills.

What is the difference between a crystal ball and a scrying mirror?
Both are used for scrying. A crystal ball is a sphere you gaze into, while a scrying mirror is a flat, dark, polished surface you gaze at.