In ancient times, mystics gazed into still water, polished obsidian or crystal spheres to divine insight from the unseen. Today, we stare into glowing rectangles: our phones, tablets and laptops, seeking connection, validation, entertainment or answers.
Technology and magick have always shared a common thread. Both are concerned with the manipulation of unseen forces to shape reality. Whether through the flick of a wand or the swipe of a screen, both are tools of manifestation. The key lies in intention. Our modern devices are made of the very materials alchemists and mystics once revered: quartz, gold, glass and silicon. These are not merely physical tools. They are energetic conduits. And like any magical artefact, how we use them determines whether they empower us or entrap us.
A black mirror, traditionally made from obsidian or blackened glass, was used in scrying to enter altered states of awareness. It allowed the practitioner to bypass the conscious mind and receive messages from the subconscious, the spirit realms or archetypal landscapes. Now look at your smartphone screen. When it's off, it's a literal black mirror. When it's on, it becomes a window into infinite worlds, each one vying for your energy. We scroll, swipe and gaze, not unlike the mystic staring into obsidian, hoping to see beyond.
Your device is more than a screen. It's an intricate alchemical object composed of elements drawn from deep within the Earth. Each of these materials not only serves a functional, technological purpose but also carries centuries of symbolic and esoteric significance.
Or silicon dioxide, is foundational in modern electronics. Silicon derived from quartz forms the basis of microchips and semiconductors, allowing your phone to process data and operate as a miniature computer. Silicon crystals help regulate frequency and maintain stability within the device, much like how clear quartz is believed in magick to bring clarity, focus and amplify energy. The same material used to encode digital thought has long been revered for enhancing spiritual insight.
Is used in the internal wiring and connectors of your phone because it conducts electricity exceptionally well and resists corrosion. It's found in the circuit boards, SIM card connectors and sometimes in the plating of internal components. Magically, gold has always symbolised illumination, divine power and incorruptibility. Alchemists viewed it as the physical embodiment of perfection. In your phone, gold acts as a conductor of energetic potential, linking ideas, data and human intent in a vast web of information.
The screen itself is made from highly engineered glass, often strengthened chemically to resist damage. Glass has long been a mystical medium. Used in crystal balls, magical lenses and sacred mirrors, its transparency and reflectivity make it a bridge between worlds, both literal and metaphorical.
Rare Earth elements such as neodymium and lanthanum are used in phone speakers, vibration units and screens. Though less visible, these exotic metals are crucial for sound quality, magnetic sensors and touchscreen responsiveness. In a mystical context, these rare elements could be seen as hidden forces. They are subtle yet vital, working beneath the surface, much like planetary energies in astrology.
Used in wiring and internal heat dissipation, has long been associated with energy flow, love and creativity. In magical traditions, it is linked to Venus. In both magick and electronics, it serves as an ideal conduit.
Powers your phone's battery. It is highly reactive and holds energy until it is needed. Energetically, lithium can symbolise transformation and potential, representing the tension between containment and release. In crystal healing, lithium-based stones like lepidolite are used to promote emotional balance and clarity.
They work together not only to send messages or stream content, but to form a modern talisman. This is a digital artefact that can be used to connect, to create and, when used consciously, to conjure.
Social media, games and apps are crafted to hijack attention, trigger dopamine and pull us into loops of craving. The algorithms know what colours, sounds and rhythms will light up the reward centres of the brain.
When we engage unconsciously, we become passive vessels. We are entranced, enchanted and at times enchained. But when we approach with intention, we become modern magicians, wielding tools of immense power with awareness.
Just as ancient magicians protected themselves with circles, rituals and talismans, we too need boundaries and practices to remain empowered in the digital age. Dopamine detoxing helps us break the cycle of instant gratification and reignites our creative fire. Phone fasting offers space to step away from the mirror and rediscover what is real and nourishing.
Bless your device. Speak an intention such as, "May this mirror reflect only truth and amplify my light." Create a digital altar. Curate your home screen with symbols, apps and images that support your higher self. Try black screen scrying. Gaze into a blank screen with a question in mind. Let your awareness drift, then journal any symbols, words or impressions that arise.
We are always in contact, always gazing into the mirror. But when we look with open eyes and a clear heart, we can begin to see more than algorithms and avatars. We can see possibility, power and potential.