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JOHN DEE'S CRYSTAL BALL
Cabinet
H30, 5th Floor,
Science
Museum London
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 Diagram/Dr John Dee (Detail)
John Dee's crystal ball is in the collection of the Science Museum London. It was stolen in December 2004 and recovered shortly afterwards. Many imitations are in circulation. 'By the early 1580s, Dee was growing dissatisfied with his progress in learning the secrets of nature and with his own lack of influence and recognition. He began to turn towards the supernatural as a means to acquire knowledge. Specifically, he sought to contact angels through the use of a "scryer" or crystal-gazer, who would act as an intermediary between Dee and the angels. Dee's first attempts were not satisfactory, but in 1582 he met Edward Kelley, who impressed him greatly with his abilities. Dee took Kelley into his service and began to devote all his energies to his supernatural pursuits. These "spiritual conferences" or "actions" were conducted with an air of intense Christian piety, always after periods of purification, prayer and fasting. Dee was convinced of the benefits they could bring to mankind. Dee maintained that the angels laboriously dictated several books to him this way, some in a special angelic or Enochian language.' Scrying: The ancient art of clairvoyance achieved by concentrating on an object - usually one with a reflective or semi-reflective surface (mirror, crystal ball, water, etc.) - until visions appear. Magicians and witches of all ages have practiced scrying. The term scrying comes from the English word descry , which means 'to make out dimly' or 'to reveal.' The services of the scryer typically are sought for predictions of the future, answers to questions and tracking down criminals...' |
