A closer look
Druids and ancient mystics practiced the art of scrying by staring into shallow pools of still water to induce a trance state and receive visions of the future, a practice that eventually evolved into the classic crystal ball. The physiological reality behind this mystical divination is something called the Troxler effect, an optical illusion where staring at a fixed point causes peripheral details to fade away and your brain to invent new, often bizarre images to fill the visual void. Basically, if you stare at a shiny surface in a dimly lit room for long enough, your bored visual cortex will eventually start hallucinating wildly just to keep things interesting. This means that generations of esteemed seers, royal advisors, and mystical prophets were essentially just utilizing sensory deprivation to trigger a waking dream, getting paid handsomely to report whatever random shapes their tired eyeballs decided to generate
