The black mirror, often used for scrying, plays a central role in the psychomanteum—a practice of spirit contact through reflective surfaces. Now that is not how we use the Black Mirror, but it is good to know about it.

The term psychomanteum originates from Greek, meaning “a place for seeing the soul.” Ancient cultures, such as the Greeks, believed that mirrors could serve as portals to communicate with the dead, often consulting oracles in darkened chambers where they gazed into still water or polished metal mirrors.

This tradition was revived in modern times by Dr. Raymond Moody, a psychologist and near-death researcher, who constructed a so called modern formal psychomanteum chamber for use in controlled visionary experiences. Moody’s experiments involved sitting in a dimly lit room with a black mirror angled to avoid the reflection of the observer, allowing the mind to enter an altered state where spontaneous visions or apparitions could manifest.

Scrying with black mirrors in a psychomanteum setting often leads to profound personal insights, healing encounters with deceased loved ones, or experiences of expanded consciousness. Many practitioners report a sense of presence within the mirror, auditory phenomena, or changes in temperature as part of the visionary process. Unlike standard mirror gazing, the black mirror does not reflect a fixed image but rather absorbs perception, and thus it might allow for an interaction with subconscious material or non-physical entities.

Dr. Raymond Moody was a pioneering researcher in near-death experiences, and he dared to extend his studies into the realm of mirror-gazing and psychomanteum practices. Through his work, he revived and modernized ancient techniques that have been used for centuries to facilitate encounters with the deceased. His experiments with the psychomanteum—a specially designed room featuring a black mirror to induce visions—were inspired by historical practices such as the Greek Oracles of the Dead and similar institutions worldwide.

Independently, throughout history and across cultures, people discovered that gazing into an optical depth—whether it be a reflective pond, a polished metal bowl filled with olive oil, or a mirror—could reveal more than their own reflection. With prolonged focus, they reported seeing spirits, particularly those of deceased loved ones, and even engaging in interactions with them.

This phenomenon gave rise to Oracles of the Dead in ancient Greece. One of the most famous of these was described by Homer in The Odyssey, where people embarked on long pilgrimages to seek communication with the dead. They would gaze into the depths of an enormous bronze cauldron, its interior polished and filled with olive oil, illuminated only by indirect torchlight. Similar institutions existed in Japan, where high-arched bridges were constructed over clear ponds. Visitors would gather at the shores to reflect and converse about their deceased loved ones before walking across these bridges. As they gazed into the water, they reported seeing the spirits of their departed relatives rising from the depths.

Inspired by these traditions, Moody developed a controlled setting for modern psychomanteum experiences. His setup involved a darkened room with a single flickering light source and a black mirror placed at an angle so that the viewer would not see their own reflection directly. This setup allowed individuals to enter an altered state of consciousness, facilitating visionary experiences. Many participants described seeing deceased loved ones, feeling their presence, or even receiving messages from them. The experiences often induced a deep emotional and psychological impact, providing a sense of closure, healing, and insight.

Moody’s research suggested that the psychomanteum process worked similarly to near-death experiences, in that it enabled individuals to transcend ordinary consciousness and access a liminal space where the boundaries between life and death seemed to dissolve. His findings reinforced the idea that structured mirror-gazing could serve as a therapeutic tool, particularly for those grieving or seeking a deeper understanding of the afterlife. Shunyam Adhibhu

Moody, R. (1993). Reunions: Visionary Encounters with Departed Loved Ones.

Homer. (8th century BCE). The Odyssey.

Waite, A. E. (1896). The Doctrine and Ritual of High Magic.

Levi, E. (1860). Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual.