If development work is carried out without this understanding of the importance of the soul connection many problems can follow. We have often come across stories of development groups that have been sitting for years without much real progress on the part of those sitting in them. Frequently they are led by a strong-minded personal who lacks the esoteric training to understand that the soul connection is crucial to the progress of group members including themselves; or who is firmly embedded in old style techniques and training and is unable to let them go.

In the 21st Century we are working within very different energies to those of the 19th and 20th Centuries and we have to leave behind many of the techniques and approaches of those times. They were extremely useful in their time and place but things have definitely moved on and it is time to embrace the new. This does not mean that we should just reject everything that has been taught before, not at all, this would be crazy. But it does mean that we need to revisit and review how we go about our spiritual development work and consider carefully whether the techniques being taught really fit with the present energies.

We have chosen a particular ability in response to a question recently asked by one of our students, which was ‘How do you set about developing the ability to scry using a crystal ball?’
This lady had been trying to do this without any success and remarked that all the books seemed to suggest was that by spending fifteen minutes a day gazing into the crystal ball the ability to scry would just develop. It is our observation that success in most things comes from honest and concentrated effort. However, it can be helpful to have some sort of programme of work to adhere to as you begin this psychic development work.
Remember that some people are just naturally clairvoyant and for them crystal gazing is easy. It may be that you are lucky enough to possess the power of clairvoyancy without yet being aware of it and by following these exercises this will be activated enabling you to find your mission in this lifetime. But there is another possibility – you may not be naturally clairvoyant and however long you gaze into the crystal nothing happens. However, if this is the case, you are not wasting your time because following a programme of work of this nature develops your ability to control the mind and focus your thoughts at will, rather than being distracted by every passing thought or change of mood.
The term clairvoyance originally came from the French meaning ‘clear seeing.’ It is also sometimes referred to as second sight. This form of sight though is little to do with your physical eyes, it is developed through the spiritual eyes. One form of clairvoyance is crystal gazing or scrying. Pictures are seen in the crystal ball, they come and go rather like dream images, that is to say the gazer cannot choose what to see although the scryer can sometimes focus on a particular subject. Ideally you can use a clear quartz crystal, although you can get good results using a clear glass ball as well. You will probably find that a ball of about 3 to 5 inches will be easiest to use as there is a wider range of vision and therefore your eyes will not tire so easily.
It is essential that the ball is absolutely spotless before use. So begin by cleansing your crystal. Traditionally these balls were only exposed to moonlight and not to sunlight as it was thought that there was a magnetic link between the crystal and the Spiritual Realms which was facilitated by the moon’s influence. For this reason the crystal was only used when the moon was waxing and not when waning and it was kept wrapped, usually in velvet and only taken out when it was to be used.
After cleansing, dedicate your crystal to scrying and use it only for that purpose. If you have taken Reiki 2 with us, use the programming technique given in that class. If not, then you will need to tune into the crystal and ask the intelligence which dwells within it to work with you develop the ability to scry through gazing.
You should be the only person to handle this crystal apart from those you read for. Should you want to read for another person then ask them to hold the crystal before you begin. After the reading, cleanse the crystal again.
Now begin to gaze, have the crystal about 20 inches away and find a comfortable position so that there is no strain as you let your gaze just rest on the crystal. It is said that the best times for this work are at sunrise, in the middle of the day or at sunset and whilst the moon is increasing. Do not gaze just after a heavy meal or you may find you just go to sleep. Obviously do not take alcohol or drugs before gazing. Your mental posture is very important during the gazing, you must cultivate three qualities: calmness, patience and persistence. To develop clairvoyance you will need to pay attention to your lifestyle – taking sufficient exercise in the fresh air, eating healthily, sleeping regularly. If you are ill do not attempt to gaze. Choose an airy room where you will not be disturbed, preferably with a restful decor with subdued lighting. It is best to be alone, sitting facing to the North. Start with about 10 minutes per session for the first ten days and realise that developing this power may take some time.

 Lita de Alberdi 2003.