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85-669: The terminology and methods of scrying are diverse and lack a standardized structure. Practitioners coin terms such as "crystallomancy," "spheromancy," or " catoptromancy ," naming practices based on the medium or technique employed. These practices have been reinvented throughout history, spanning cultures and regions. Scrying media encompass reflective, refractive, or luminescent surfaces like crystals, mirrors, water, fire, or smoke. Some practitioners even close their eyes, engaging in "eyelid scrying." Methods of scrying often induce self-induced trances , using media like crystal balls or even modern technology like smartphones . Practitioners enter

170-504: A magic mirror , which she asks "Magic mirror on the wall / Who is the fairest of them all?", to which the mirror always replies "You, my queen, are fairest of all." But when Snow White reaches the age of seven, she becomes as beautiful as the day, and when the queen asks her mirror, it responds: "Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true, but Snow White is fairer than you." There is no uniformity among believers, in how seriously they prefer to take such tales and superstitions. The Hermetic Order of

255-512: A bowl of water or a magic mirror to see the future while he was in trance. Divination is briefly mentioned in chapter 44 of the Book of Genesis . A silver chalice or cup is deliberately planted in Benjamin's sack when he leaves Egypt, later to be used as evidence of theft. It is revealed the cup belongs to Joseph, the vizier of Egypt, whose steward said it was used for drinking and divination during

340-484: A component of ambient air pollution due to the burning of coal in power plants, forest fires or other sources, although the concentration of pollutants in ambient air is typically much less than that in cigarette smoke. One day of exposure to PM2.5 at a concentration of 880 μg/m , such as occurs in Beijing, China, is the equivalent of smoking one or two cigarettes in terms of particulate inhalation by weight. The analysis

425-438: A conductive layer on the circuits can cause crosstalks and other deteriorations of the operating parameters or even cause short circuits and total failures. Electrical contacts can be affected by corrosion of surfaces, and by deposition of soot and other conductive particles or nonconductive layers on or across the contacts. Deposited particles may adversely affect the performance of optoelectronics by absorbing or scattering

510-460: A filter and weighed. This is the internationally recognized method of measuring smoke from combustion . Electrostatic precipitation. The smoke is passed through an array of metal tubes which contain suspended wires. A (huge) electrical potential is applied across the tubes and wires so that the smoke particles become charged and are attracted to the sides of the tubes. This method can over-read by capturing harmless condensates, or under-read due to

595-482: A focused state that reduces mental clutter, enabling the emergence of visual images. These initial images, however trivial, are amplified during the trance. Some scryers report that they hear their voice affirming what they see, creating a mental feedback loop. Throughout history, various traditions and cultures have practiced scrying as a means of revealing the past, present, or future. The practice involves diverse media, from reflective surfaces to shimmering mirages, and

680-699: A large amount of hydrocarbons , both aliphatic ( methane , ethane , ethylene , acetylene ) and aromatic ( benzene and its derivates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ; e.g. benzo[a]pyrene , studied as a carcinogen, or retene ), terpenes . It also results in the emission of a range of smaller oxygenated volatile organic compounds ( methanol , acetic acid , hydroxy acetone , methyl acetate and ethyl formate ) which are formed as combustion by products as well as less volatile oxygenated organic species such as phenolics, furans and furanones . Heterocyclic compounds may be also present. Heavier hydrocarbons may condense as tar ; smoke with significant tar content

765-409: A lingering odor even long after the fire. Partial oxidation of the released hydrocarbons yields in a wide palette of other compounds: aldehydes (e.g. formaldehyde , acrolein , and furfural ), ketones, alcohols (often aromatic, e.g. phenol , guaiacol , syringol , catechol , and cresols ), carboxylic acids ( formic acid , acetic acid , etc.). The visible particulate matter in such smokes

850-400: A mental feedback loop. Practitioners apply the process until they achieve a satisfactory state of perception in which rich visual images and dramatic stories seem to be projected within the medium itself, or in the mind's eye of the scryer. They report that the technique allows them to see relevant events or images within the chosen medium. Nostradamus practiced scrying; he would stare into

935-440: A mirror could be used by the recently deceased to unite with their mortal soul by looking at their own reflection in the afterlife. Catoptromancy was also practiced in ancient China . The Chinese believed that mirrors could be used to see into the soul and to predict the future . They would often use mirrors to perform rituals to cleanse the soul and to improve one's luck . For example, one popular ritual involved gazing into

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1020-406: A mirror in a dark room and trying to see the reflection of one's future spouse. Catoptromancy was also practiced in ancient India . The Indians believed that mirrors could be used to see into the past, present, and future. They would often use mirrors to perform rituals to gain knowledge and power. The Indian belief that mirrors could be used to see into the past, present, and future is supported by

1105-404: A mirror in a darkened room (often on Halloween ) could catch a glimpse of their future husband's face in the mirror — or a skull personifying Death if their fate was to die before they married. Another form of the tale, involving the same actions of gazing into a mirror in a darkened room, is used as a supernatural dare in the tale of " Bloody Mary ". Here, the motive is usually to test

1190-498: A more remote antiquity. Here is an example: I translate literally : 'the Christian , it is said, who believes that there is a witch (lamia or striga) in a mirror, will be anathema , anyone who launches this insult against a person ; and he cannot be received into the church before having personally retracted the accusation he has made and thus having done penance with all desirable zeal'. The absence of connection, in

1275-490: A potent carcinogen , and other polychlorinated dibenzodioxins . Pyrolysis of fluoropolymers, e.g. teflon , in presence of oxygen yields carbonyl fluoride (which hydrolyzes readily to HF and CO 2 ); other compounds may be formed as well, e.g. carbon tetrafluoride , hexafluoropropylene , and highly toxic perfluoroisobutene (PFIB). Pyrolysis of burning material, especially incomplete combustion or smoldering without adequate oxygen supply, also results in production of

1360-1018: A significantly wider palette of compounds, many of them toxic. Partial oxidation of carbon produces carbon monoxide , while nitrogen-containing materials can yield hydrogen cyanide , ammonia , and nitrogen oxides. Hydrogen gas can be produced instead of water. Contents of halogens such as chlorine (e.g. in polyvinyl chloride or brominated flame retardants ) may lead to the production of hydrogen chloride , phosgene , dioxin , and chloromethane , bromomethane and other halocarbons . Hydrogen fluoride can be formed from fluorocarbons , whether fluoropolymers subjected to fire or halocarbon fire suppression agents . Phosphorus and antimony oxides and their reaction products can be formed from some fire retardant additives, increasing smoke toxicity and corrosivity. Pyrolysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), e.g. from burning older transformer oil , and to lower degree also of other chlorine-containing materials, can produce 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ,

1445-401: A smoky odor. Just as there are contractors that specialize in rebuilding/repairing homes that have been damaged by fire and smoke, fabric restoration companies specialize in restoring fabrics that have been damaged in a fire. Smoke from oxygen-deprived fires contains a significant concentration of compounds that are flammable. A cloud of smoke, in contact with atmospheric oxygen, therefore has

1530-434: Is divination using a mirror . There are many different methods of catoptromancy. Some practitioners use a single mirror, while others use multiple mirrors or even crystal balls. Some people look into the mirror in a dark room, while others prefer to do it in natural light. Some practitioners focus on their own reflection, while others look for visions of other people or events. There is no one definitive interpretation of

1615-431: Is a concern especially for internal combustion engines . Molten sulfate and lead particulates also have such effect. Some components of smoke are characteristic of the combustion source. Guaiacol and its derivatives are products of pyrolysis of lignin and are characteristic of wood smoke; other markers are syringol and derivates, and other methoxy phenols . Retene , a product of pyrolysis of conifer trees,

1700-480: Is a suspension of airborne particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis , together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires (including stoves , candles , internal combustion engines , oil lamps , and fireplaces ), but may also be used for pest control ( fumigation ), communication ( smoke signals ), defensive and offensive capabilities in

1785-765: Is an aerosol (or mist ) of solid particles and liquid droplets that are close to the ideal range of sizes for Mie scattering of visible light . The composition of smoke depends on the nature of the burning fuel and the conditions of combustion. Fires with high availability of oxygen burn at a high temperature and with a small amount of smoke produced; the particles are mostly composed of ash , or with large temperature differences, of condensed aerosol of water. High temperature also leads to production of nitrogen oxides . Sulfur content yields sulfur dioxide , or in case of incomplete combustion, hydrogen sulfide . Carbon and hydrogen are almost completely oxidized to carbon dioxide and water. Fires burning with lack of oxygen produce

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1870-601: Is an indicator of forest fires . Levoglucosan is a pyrolysis product of cellulose . Hardwood vs softwood smokes differ in the ratio of guaiacols/syringols. Markers for vehicle exhaust include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , hopanes , steranes , and specific nitroarenes (e.g. 1-nitropyrene ). The ratio of hopanes and steranes to elemental carbon can be used to distinguish between emissions of gasoline and diesel engines. Many compounds can be associated with particulates; whether by being adsorbed on their surfaces, or by being dissolved in liquid droplets. Hydrogen chloride

1955-527: Is complicated, however, by the fact that the organic compounds present in various ambient particulates may have a higher carcinogenicity than the compounds in cigarette smoke particulates. Secondhand tobacco smoke is the combination of both sidestream and mainstream smoke emissions from a burning tobacco product. These emissions contain more than 50 carcinogenic chemicals. According to the United States Surgeon General 's 2006 report on

2040-597: Is composed mainly of silica and calcium oxide . Cenospheres are present in smoke from liquid hydrocarbon fuels. Minute metal particles produced by abrasion can be present in engine smokes. Amorphous silica particles are present in smokes from burning silicones ; small proportion of silicon nitride particles can be formed in fires with insufficient oxygen. The silica particles have about 10 nm size, clumped to 70–100 nm aggregates and further agglomerated to chains. Radioactive particles may be present due to traces of uranium , thorium , or other radionuclides in

2125-401: Is disputed. Inference from carbon monoxide . Smoke is incompletely burned fuel , carbon monoxide is incompletely burned carbon, therefore it has long been assumed that measurement of CO in flue gas (a cheap, simple and very accurate procedure) will provide a good indication of the levels of smoke. Indeed, several jurisdictions use CO measurement as the basis of smoke control . However it

2210-552: Is far from clear how accurate the correspondence is. Throughout recorded history, humans have used the smoke of medicinal plants to cure illness. A sculpture from Persepolis shows Darius the Great (522–486 BC), the king of Persia , with two censers in front of him for burning Peganum harmala and/or sandalwood Santalum album , which was believed to protect the king from evil and disease. More than 300 plant species in 5 continents are used in smoke form for different diseases. As

2295-449: Is most commonly composed of carbon ( soot ). Other particulates may be composed of drops of condensed tar, or solid particles of ash. The presence of metals in the fuel yields particles of metal oxides . Particles of inorganic salts may also be formed, e.g. ammonium sulfate , ammonium nitrate , or sodium chloride . Inorganic salts present on the surface of the soot particles may make them hydrophilic . Many organic compounds, typically

2380-408: Is no clear limit to the coining and application of such terms and media. Scrying has been practiced in many cultures in the belief that it can reveal the past, present, or future. Some practitioners assert that visions that come when one stares into the media are from the subconscious or imagination , while others say that they come from gods , spirits, devils , or the psychic mind, depending on

2465-498: Is no special limitation on the preferences or prejudices of the scryer; some may stare into pitch dark, clear sky, clouds, shadows, or light patterns against walls, ceilings, or pond beds. Some prefer glowing coals or shimmering mirages . Some simply close their eyes, notionally staring at the insides of their own eyelids, and speak of "eyelid scrying". Scrying media generally either suggest images directly (such as figures in fire, fluid eddies, or clouds), or else they distort or reflect

2550-414: Is not a smoke at all but merely a suspension of harmless water particulates. Smoke from heating appliances is commonly measured in one of the following ways: In-line capture. A smoke sample is simply sucked through a filter which is weighed before and after the test and the mass of smoke found. This is the simplest and probably the most accurate method, but can only be used where the smoke concentration

2635-503: Is not significant for structural materials, but delicate structures, especially microelectronics , are strongly affected. Corrosion of circuit board traces, penetration of aggressive chemicals through the casings of parts, and other effects can cause an immediate or gradual deterioration of parameters or even premature (and often delayed, as the corrosion can progress over long time) failure of equipment subjected to smoke. Many smoke components are also electrically conductive ; deposition of

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2720-419: Is often accompanied by rituals inducing altered states of consciousness . Despite its popularity in occult circles and its portrayal in media, scrying lacks empirical support and is met with skepticism from the scientific community. There is no definitive distinction between scrying and other aids to clairvoyance , augury , or divination , but roughly speaking, scrying depends on impressions of visions in

2805-449: Is present in emissions from oil fired power plants and refineries ; oil plants also emit some nickel . Coal combustion produces emissions containing aluminium , arsenic , chromium , cobalt , copper , iron , mercury , selenium , and uranium . Traces of vanadium in high-temperature combustion products form droplets of molten vanadates . These attack the passivation layers on metals and cause high temperature corrosion , which

2890-536: Is regarded as amounting in essence to extrasensory perception . Scrying is neither a single, clearly defined, nor formal discipline and there is no uniformity in the procedures, which repeatedly and independently have been reinvented or elaborated in many ages and regions. Furthermore, practitioners and writers coin terminology so arbitrarily, and often artificially, that no one system of nomenclature can be taken as authoritative and definitive. Commonly terms in use are Latinisations or Hellenisations of descriptions of

2975-880: Is responsible for nearly half (43%) of annual PAH lung cancer-risk compared to the other sources and that wintertime PAH levels were 7 times higher than in other seasons, presumably due to an increased use of fireplaces and heaters. The largest exposure events are periods during the winter with reduced atmospheric dispersion to dilute the accumulated pollution, in particular due to the low wind speeds. Research conducted about biomass burning in 2015, estimated that 38% of European total particulate pollution emissions are composed of domestic wood burning. Wood smoke (for example from wildfires or wood ovens) can cause lung damage, artery damage and DNA damage leading to cancer, other respiratory and lung disease and cardiovascular disease. Air pollution, particulate matter and wood smoke may also cause brain damage because of particulates breaching

3060-530: Is said to date back to the Ancient Egyptians . They believed that mirrors could be used as portals guiding them into the afterlife, or used as a tool to see into the future. Mirrors have been found inside Egyptian burial tombs, and were used in ceremonial practices attempting to contact the dead. For example, a collection of funerary manuscripts known as the Book of the Dead describes a ritual in which

3145-403: Is situated at an angle to the light source, typically at 90°, so that it receives only light reflected from passing particles. A measurement is made of the light received which will be higher as the concentration of smoke particles becomes higher. Optical obscuration. A light beam is passed through the smoke and a detector opposite measures the light. The more smoke particles are present between

3230-406: Is slight, as the filter can quickly become blocked. The ASTM smoke pump is a simple and widely used method of in-line capture where a measured volume of smoke is pulled through a filter paper and the dark spot so formed is compared with a standard. Filter/dilution tunnel. A smoke sample is drawn through a tube where it is diluted with air, the resulting smoke/air mixture is then pulled through

3315-531: Is the largest single source of PM2.5 annually. In some towns and cities in New South Wales , wood smoke may be responsible for 60% of fine particle air pollution in the winter. A year-long sampling campaign in Athens, Greece found a third (31%) of PAH urban air pollution to be caused by wood-burning, roughly as much as that of diesel and oil (33%) and gasoline (29%). It also found that wood-burning

3400-456: Is well absorbed in the soot particles. Inert particulate matter can be disturbed and entrained into the smoke. Of particular concern are particles of asbestos . Deposited hot particles of radioactive fallout and bioaccumulated radioisotopes can be reintroduced into the atmosphere by wildfires and forest fires ; this is a concern in e.g. the Zone of alienation containing contaminants from

3485-476: Is why clothing, unsealed surfaces, potable water, piping, wood, etc., are replaced in most cases of structural fires. Wood smoke is a major source of air pollution , especially particulate pollution , pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde . In the United Kingdom domestic combustion, especially for industrial uses,

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3570-677: Is yellow to brown. Combustion of solid fuels can result in the emission of many hundreds to thousands of lower volatility organic compounds in the aerosol phase. Presence of such smoke, soot, and/or brown oily deposits during a fire indicates a possible hazardous situation, as the atmosphere may be saturated with combustible pyrolysis products with concentration above the upper flammability limit , and sudden inrush of air can cause flashover or backdraft . Presence of sulfur can lead to formation of gases like hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide , sulfur dioxide, carbon disulfide , and thiols ; especially thiols tend to get adsorbed on surfaces and produce

3655-596: The Chernobyl disaster . Polymers are a significant source of smoke. Aromatic side groups , e.g. in polystyrene , enhance generation of smoke. Aromatic groups integrated in the polymer backbone produce less smoke, likely due to significant charring . Aliphatic polymers tend to generate the least smoke, and are non-self-extinguishing. However presence of additives can significantly increase smoke formation. Phosphorus-based and halogen-based flame retardants decrease production of smoke. Higher degree of cross-linking between

3740-462: The aromatic hydrocarbons , may be also adsorbed on the surface of the solid particles. Metal oxides can be present when metal-containing fuels are burned, e.g. solid rocket fuels containing aluminium . Depleted uranium projectiles after impacting the target ignite, producing particles of uranium oxides . Magnetic particles, spherules of magnetite -like ferrous ferric oxide , are present in coal smoke; their increase in deposits after 1860 marks

3825-623: The Golden Dawn (1888-c.1902 in its original form) taught their own version of scrying that could be done individually or as a group. It emphasized three levels: Scrying is not supported by science as a method of predicting the future or obtaining information unavailable to empirical investigation. Some critics consider it to be a pseudoscience . Skeptics consider scrying to be the result of delusion or wishful thinking . Psychologist Leonard Zusne suggested that scrying images are hallucinations or hypnagogic experiences. A 2010 paper in

3910-464: The additive effects of hydrogen cyanide and phosgene . Smoke inhalation can therefore quickly lead to incapacitation and loss of consciousness. Sulfur oxides, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride in contact with moisture form sulfuric , hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid , which are corrosive to both lungs and materials. Cigarette smoke is a major modifiable risk factor for lung disease , heart disease , and many cancers . Smoke can also be

3995-422: The adolescent gazers' mettle against a malevolent witch or ghost , in a ritual designed to allow the scryers' easy escape if the visions summoned prove too frightening. Folklore superstitions such as those just mentioned, are not to be distinguished clearly from traditional tales, within which the reality of such media are taken for granted. In the fairytale of Snow White for example, the jealous queen consults

4080-499: The beginning of the Industrial Revolution. (Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can be also produced in the smoke from meteorites burning in the atmosphere.) Magnetic remanence , recorded in the iron oxide particles, indicates the strength of Earth's magnetic field when they were cooled beyond their Curie temperature ; this can be used to distinguish magnetic particles of terrestrial and meteoric origin. Fly ash

4165-404: The cardiovascular system and into the brain, which can increase the risk of developmental disorders, neurodegenerative disorders mental disorders, and suicidal behavior, although studies on the link between depression and some air pollutants are not consistent. At least one study has identified "the abundant presence in the human brain of magnetite nanoparticles that match precisely

4250-495: The course of his accusation. This is mentioned to reinforce his disguise as an Egyptian nobleman. Nothing in the book of Genesis indicates that Joseph actually used the cup for divination. The Shahnameh , a 10th-century epic work narrating historical and mythological past of Persia , gives a description of what was called the Cup of Jamshid ( Jaam-e Jam ), which was used by the ancient (mythological) Persian kings for observing all of

4335-518: The culture and practice. There is neither any systematic body of empirical support for any such views in general however, nor for their respective rival merits; individual preferences in such matters are arbitrary. The media most commonly used in scrying are reflective, refractive, translucent, or luminescent surfaces or objects such as crystals , stones , or glass in various shapes such as crystal balls, mirrors , reflective black surfaces such as obsidian, water surfaces, fire , or smoke , but there

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4420-405: The early, low-heat smoldering stage of a fire. Smoke from a typical house fire contains hundreds of different chemicals and fumes. As a result, the damage caused by the smoke can often exceed that caused by the actual heat of the fire. In addition to the physical damage caused by the smoke of a fire – which manifests itself in the form of stains – is the often even harder to eliminate problem of

4505-557: The evil neighbor who bewitched the cattle'. Here we encounter for the first time an example of those combinations of lecanomancy with crystallomancy or catoptromancy to which I alluded previously. The text of the Irish canon therefore seems to me to target a particular use of divination by the mirror, one of those which was considered more dangerous by the Church of the first centuries, because it favored belief in magic. Smoke Smoke

4590-572: The fact that mirrors are often mentioned in Hindu mythology . For example, in the Mahabharata , a Hindu epic poem , the hero Yudhishthira uses a mirror to see into the future and learn about his upcoming battle . A French book named La catoptromancie grecque et ses dérivés (which translates in English to "Greek catoptromancy and its derivatives") by Armand Delatte from 1932 details

4675-427: The fire itself. Cable fires are of special concern; low smoke zero halogen materials are preferable for cable insulation. When smoke comes into contact with the surface of any substance or structure, the chemicals contained in it are transferred to it. The corrosive properties of the chemicals cause the substance or structure to decompose at a rapid rate. Certain materials or structures absorb these chemicals, which

4760-474: The fire occurs is therefore primarily mediated by the smaller particles. Aerosol of particles beyond visible size is an early indicator of materials in a preignition stage of a fire. Burning of hydrogen-rich fuel produces water vapor ; this results in smoke containing droplets of water. In absence of other color sources (nitrogen oxides, particulates...), such smoke is white and cloud -like. Smoke emissions may contain characteristic trace elements. Vanadium

4845-408: The first sentence, between the two relative clauses, as well as the mention of a single measure of reparation and penance, which consists of the retraction of an insult, clearly shows, despite the clumsiness of the editorial, that we cannot dissociate the two faults referred to in this canon: it is the same person who claims to see a witch in a mirror and who, in relation to this first error (as shown by

4930-403: The fuel; hot particles can be present in case of fires during nuclear accidents (e.g. Chernobyl disaster ) or nuclear war . Smoke particulates, like other aerosols, are categorized into three modes based on particle size: Most of the smoke material is primarily in coarse particles. Those undergo rapid dry precipitation , and the smoke damage in more distant areas outside of the room where

5015-437: The high-temperature magnetite nanospheres, formed by combustion and/or friction-derived heating, which are prolific in urban, airborne particulate matter (PM)." Air pollution has also been linked to a range of other psychosocial problems. As early as the 15th century Leonardo da Vinci commented at length on the difficulty of assessing smoke, and distinguished between black smoke (carbonized particles) and white 'smoke' which

5100-496: The highest CI as the corrosive acids are formed directly with water produced by the combustion, polymers containing halogen only (e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene ) have lower CI as the formation of acid is limited to reactions with airborne humidity, and halogen-free materials (polyolefins, wood ) have the lowest CI. However, some halogen-free materials can also release significant amount of corrosive products. Smoke damage to electronic equipment can be significantly more extensive than

5185-504: The history of catoptromancy in the context of early European history. Dellate wrote that, in the Middle Ages , mentions of the divinatory mirror appear, "obscure and also uncertain", in the canon of an Irish council "whose convocation is reported by tradition ". Historical criticism shows that the collection of these texts cannot go back further than the beginning of the 6th [-] 11th century , although certain canons can claim to

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5270-572: The images seen in catoptromancy. Some people believe that they are literal representations of the future, while others believe that they are symbolic or metaphorical. Ultimately, the meaning of the visions is up to the individual practitioner to decide. Catoptromancy continues to be practiced today, although it is not as widespread as it once was. There are a number of websites and books that offer instructions on how to perform catoptromancy, and there are even some practitioners who offer professional readings. Pausanias , an ancient Greek traveler, described

5355-461: The insulating effect of the smoke. However, it is the necessary method for assessing volumes of smoke too great to be forced through a filter, i.e., from bituminous coal . Ringelmann scale . A measure of smoke color. Invented by Professor Maximilian Ringelmann in Paris in 1888, it is essentially a card with squares of black, white and shades of gray which is held up and the comparative grayness of

5440-541: The journal Perception identified one specific method of reliably reproducing a scrying illusion in a mirror and hypothesized that it "might be caused by low level fluctuations in the stability of edges, shading and outlines affecting the perceived definition of the face, which gets over-interpreted as ‘someone else’ by the face recognition system ." Catoptromancy Catoptromancy (from Ancient Greek κάτοπτρον katoptron , "mirror," and μαντεία manteia , "divination"), also known as captromancy or enoptromancy ,

5525-440: The light beams. Corrosivity of smoke produced by materials is characterized by the corrosion index (CI), defined as material loss rate (angstrom/minute) per amount of material gasified products (grams) per volume of air (m ). It is measured by exposing strips of metal to flow of combustion products in a test tunnel. Polymers containing halogen and hydrogen ( polyvinyl chloride , polyolefins with halogenated additives, etc.) have

5610-505: The media or activities. Examples of names coined for crystal gazing include 'crystallomancy', 'spheromancy', and ' catoptromancy '. As an example of the looseness of such terms, catoptromancy should refer more specifically to scrying by use of mirrors or other reflective objects rather than by crystal gazing. Other names that have been coined for the use of various scrying media include anthracomancy for glowing coals, turifumy for scrying into smoke, and hydromancy for scrying into water. There

5695-440: The medium might reduce visual stimuli to thresholds below which any clear impressions could interfere with fancied visions or free association. Examples include darkened reflections of night sky, or plain shadow or darkness. One class of methods of scrying involves a self-induced trance , with or without the aid of a medium such as a crystal ball or, even via modern technology such as a smartphone among other things. Some say that

5780-479: The medium of choice. Ideally in this respect it differs from augury, which relies on interpretations of objectively observable objects or events (such as flight of birds); from divination, which depends on standardized processes or rituals; from oneiromancy , which depends on the interpretation of dreams; from the physiological effects of psychoactive drugs ; and from clairvoyance, which notionally does not depend on objective sensory stimuli. Clairvoyance in other words,

5865-521: The military ( smoke screen ), cooking , or smoking ( tobacco , cannabis , etc.). It is used in rituals where incense , sage , or resin is burned to produce a smell for spiritual or magical purposes. It can also be a flavoring agent and preservative. Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in victims of indoor fires . The smoke kills by a combination of thermal damage, poisoning and pulmonary irritation caused by carbon monoxide , hydrogen cyanide and other combustion products. Smoke

5950-459: The observers' vision confusingly, in the manner to be seen in crystals or transparent balls. Such fancies have long been satirised by sceptics, for example in Hamlet III.ii: Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel? By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed. Methinks it is like a weasel. It is backed like a weasel. Or like a whale? Very like a whale. Alternatively

6035-447: The polymer chains has such effect too. The naked eye detects particle sizes greater than 7 μm ( micrometres ). Visible particles emitted from a fire are referred to as smoke. Invisible particles are generally referred to as gas or fumes. This is best illustrated when toasting bread in a toaster. As the bread heats up, the products of combustion increase in size. The fumes initially produced are invisible but become visible if

6120-1032: The poor visibility due to the smoke that was in the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire in Worcester, Massachusetts was the reason why the trapped rescue firefighters could not evacuate the building in time. Because of the striking similarity that each floor shared, the dense smoke caused the firefighters to become disoriented. Smoke can contain a wide variety of chemicals, many of them aggressive in nature. Examples are hydrochloric acid and hydrobromic acid , produced from halogen -containing plastics and fire retardants , hydrofluoric acid released by pyrolysis of fluorocarbon fire suppression agents , sulfuric acid from burning of sulfur -containing materials, nitric acid from high-temperature fires where nitrous oxide gets formed, phosphoric acid and antimony compounds from P and Sb based fire retardants, and many others. Such corrosion

6205-412: The potential of being ignited – either by another open flame in the area, or by its own temperature. This leads to effects like backdraft and flashover . Smoke inhalation is also a danger of smoke that can cause serious injury and death. Many compounds of smoke from fires are highly toxic and/or irritating. The most dangerous is carbon monoxide leading to carbon monoxide poisoning , sometimes with

6290-464: The power to make witches and evil people appear, either in an ordinary mirror or in a mirror specially consecrated by magical rites, as well as the author of a theft or any other secret thing. Frazer reports, according to Miss Gordon Cumming, that a family of Nairn in Scotland possessed in the last century 'a crystal ball which, immersed in a bucket of water, becomes a magic mirror reflecting the face of

6375-463: The practice as follows: Before the Temple of Ceres at Patras , there was a fountain, separated from the temple by a wall, and there was an oracle, very truthful, not for all events, but for the sick only. The sick person let down a mirror, suspended by a thread till its base touched the surface of the water, having first prayed to the goddess and offered incense. Then; looking into the mirror, he saw

6460-417: The presage of death or recovery, according as the face appeared fresh and healthy, or of a ghastly aspect. In Ancient Rome , the priests who used catoptromancy were called specularii . They would use polished metal mirrors to gaze into the future and seek guidance from the gods. Catoptromancy was also popular in medieval Europe, and was practiced by pagans and Christians alike. The practice of catoptromancy

6545-425: The relaxation response , or possibly by hypnosis . Once this stage is achieved, the scryer may begin free association with the perceived images. The technique of deliberately looking for and declaring these initial images aloud, however trivial or irrelevant they may seem to the conscious mind, attempts to deepen the trance state. In this state some scryers hear their own disassociated voices affirming what they see, in

6630-410: The sensation is drug-like, some that various drugs can potentiate the experience; others categorically exclude any connection with drug usage, believing that it invalidates any images observed. Many practitioners say that the scrying medium initially serves to focus attention, removing unwanted thoughts from the mind in much the same way as repetition of a mantra , concentration on a mandala , inducing

6715-609: The seven layers of the universe. The cup was said to contain an elixir of immortality, but without cogent explanation for any relevance of the elixir to the scrying function. In the late 1820s, Joseph Smith founded the Latter Day Saint movement based in part on insights gained from the reflections of seer stones . Smith had at least three separate stones which he used initially in treasure-hunting expeditions. Subsequently, he took to placing his favorite stone inside his hat to read what he said were miraculous reflections from

6800-472: The smoke judged. Highly dependent on light conditions and the skill of the observer it allocates a grayness number from 0 (white) to 5 (black) which has only a passing relationship to the actual quantity of smoke. Nonetheless, the simplicity of the Ringelmann scale means that it has been adopted as a standard in many countries. Optical scattering. A light beam is passed through the smoke. A light detector

6885-491: The stone. Smith also said he possessed a pair of spectacles manufactured from seer stones, which he called the Urim and Thummim and which he said enabled him to translate the golden plates that are the stated source of the Book of Mormon . Rituals that involve many acts similar to scrying in ceremonial magic are retained in the form of folklore and superstition. A formerly widespread tradition held that young women gazing into

6970-668: The subject, exposures to secondhand tobacco smoke can activate platelets causing increased clotting and increased risk of thrombus and potentially damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability, potentially increasing the risk of a heart attack. The chances of these effects occurring increase with increased exposure and time of exposure. The American Cancer Society lists "heart disease, lung infections, increased asthma attacks, middle ear infections, and low birth weight" as ramifications of smoker's emission. Smoke can obscure visibility, impeding occupant exiting from fire areas. In fact,

7055-440: The toast is burnt. An ionization chamber type smoke detector is technically a product of combustion detector, not a smoke detector. Ionization chamber type smoke detectors detect particles of combustion that are invisible to the naked eye. This explains why they may frequently false alarm from the fumes emitted from the red-hot heating elements of a toaster, before the presence of visible smoke, yet they may fail to activate in

7140-492: The two, the less light will be measured. Combined optical methods. There are various proprietary optical smoke measurement devices such as the ' nephelometer ' or the ' aethalometer ' which use several different optical methods, including more than one wavelength of light, inside a single instrument and apply an algorithm to give a good estimate of smoke. It has been claimed that these devices can differentiate types of smoke and so their probable source can be inferred, though this

7225-459: The words this insult), launches against others an accusation of witchcraft. To express our thoughts clearly, sin consists, according to us, of trying to recognize a witch with the help of a magic mirror. Certain modern superstitions and customs can be cited in support of this interpretation. In Thuringia , in Scotland and in the country of Cornwall , we encountered, not long ago, diviners who had

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