Melong Mirror Divination
I have done a little research and some practice with the Melong.
A useful pdf: http://www.nicholaswood.net/Articles/Sh ... irrors.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Melong or Toli mirror is used for divination but also in diagnosis and treatment of illness. I have only used it for divination but there is no DW forum for Shamanism per se.
The Mongolian mirrors can be flat, as are many Japanese and Chinese variants, and may representative of equanimity, as opposed to the dished design. Mirror divination used within Buddhism and also in other religions and cultures. Sometimes a bowl of water acts as the mirror, and somethimes a pre-pubescent child is asked to describe what they see, which is then interpreted by the Master.
The Tibetan Melong is convex. The concave side faces the body and focuses positive energy into the body and can 'house' the spirits and deities the practitioner uses, again acting as a focus.
The convex external side reflects bad energy and bad spirits away and the reflection of the sick person is used in diagnosis. Water may be poured over the reflection of the person or object in the mirror as a blessing, and water may be placed within it for blessing.
It is a fascinating study.
I keep just falling over things I have wished for. Just browsing in a market in Bath this afternoon I came across an old Melong divination mirror brought back from the Himalayas by a couple who were travelling there. If I'd had the mirror beforehand I would have been able to divine where to find it! LOL :) It is part of shamanistic tradition that a shaman will find his Melong if one is not passed down to him. I was on a bit of a quest but hadn't thought it would be so easy! Here it is. It is now a little shinier but still has a nice old patina:
