The images shown here were formed naturally within rising incense smoke and recorded as they appeared during observation. Brightness, contrast, and cropping have been adjusted where needed to help the formations be seen more clearly; the smoke itself has not been altered.
Where present, outlines serve only as a visual reference and do not modify the original formations within the smoke. This archive is offered as documentation of observed forms rather than interpretation.
The Images in This Gallery
Smoke scrying, sometimes called capnomancy, is the practice of observing shapes and formations that appear naturally within rising smoke.
During ritual work, I often capture images of the smoke as it moves. From time to time, distinct forms appear clearly enough to be captured in a still image.
The images in this archive are presented exactly as they appeared in the moment they were recorded. In some cases, additional reference images are included to help viewers locate the formation more easily within the smoke.
Not every viewer will see the same thing immediately — and that is completely normal. Observation develops over time.
These examples are shared simply as a record of what was observed.
Click any image to view it more closely.
Documented Case Study
The smoke formations shown in this case study were photographed on February 11, 2018 during a private working held after business hours in a public building. Jason, the subject, had previously contacted me seeking assistance with what he believed to be a persistent paranormal disturbance connected to a property he had once rented, which he felt had followed him to his new residence.
Jason — the individual depicted in one of the formations — was present in the room at the time these photos were taken and was the focus of the protection work being conducted that afternoon. The shop owner was also present and assisted with the work.
Jason and I had first met only a few weeks earlier, having previously communicated by phone and messages. When the photographs from that day were later reviewed, several distinct formations appeared within the rising incense smoke. One of those formations showed a likeness that was immediately recognizable as Jason.
Jason has given written permission for his photograph, taken March 20, 2017, to be included here for comparison. His last name has been omitted to respect his privacy. The images presented below are part of the documented record from that day’s observations.
Smoke Formation and Subject Comparison
Original Photograph — Incense Smoke During Working
February 11, 2018
Jason (photograph shared with permission)
May 20 2017
Observed Smoke Formation and Subject Drawing
Prior to the working on February 11, 2018, Jason described a creature he believed he had repeatedly encountered during the night while living on the property connected to his earlier experiences. He described it as large and bird-like in appearance, with horns that swept back over its head. To help us better understand what he had been seeing, Jason was asked to sketch the figure as he remembered it.
The drawing shown here was made during that meeting. Later, while reviewing photographs taken of the rising incense smoke from the same session, a formation appeared that closely resembled the features Jason had described and drawn. The two images are presented here together as part of the documented record from that day.
Observed Smoke Formation
February 11, 2018
Jason’s Drawing of the Reported Creature
February 11, 2018
Additional Observed Smoke Formation
The following image was photographed during the same working on February 11, 2018 while incense was being added to the cauldron during my smoke divination session.
The loose incense blend being burned had been prepared by me earlier for the protection work being conducted that day. At the time this photograph was taken, another individual present in the room was assisting by sprinkling the incense onto the charcoal disc in the cauldron so that I could photograph the rising smoke.
In that moment, the conversation in the room was unrelated to the work being done for Jason. The individual assisting with the incense was speaking casually about everyday matters while the photographs were being taken.
The image captured in the smoke appears to show the form of a woman dressed in a long, flowing gown, facing to the right and looking upward. Her dark hair appears to be gathered in an updo, and she seems to hold an object in one hand that hangs from thin strings.
Jason had not described a female presence as being a part of his nightly experiences.
The formation was not noticed at the moment the photograph was taken and was only recognized later while reviewing the images from that afternoon. The photographs shown below include both the original image and a closer crop to help make the observed form easier to see.
Observed Smoke Formation
February 11, 2018
Observed Smoke Formation (Cropped Detail)
February 11, 2018
Closing Note
The events recorded during the working on February 11, 2018 remain one of the most unusual series of observations documented in my smoke scrying practice. While the images presented here were captured in real time and preserved as part of the record from that day, the exact nature of what appeared in the smoke remains open to interpretation.
Readers are invited to examine the images and draw their own conclusions.
Archive of Observed Forms
The following images were captured during different smoke scrying sessions over several years.
Each photograph records a formation that appeared briefly within rising incense smoke and was documented at the time it occurred.
Hummingbird & Trumpet Flower Formation
Hummingbird & Trumpet Flower Formation
October 31, 2019
Photographed during a smoke scrying session conducted outdoors in which incense smoke rose above a cauldron used for observation.
The formation resembles a hummingbird hovering beside the long bell shape of a trumpet flower.
Guided reference images
Adjusted for clarity — hummingbird feeding from trumpet-shaped bloom.
Same formation with outline added for visual reference.
Rabbit Formation
Rabbit Formation
August 15, 2019
Photographed during a smoke scrying session conducted for a client seeking messages connected to a loved one who had passed.
After the image was shared, the client explained that rabbits held personal significance within their family and were strongly associated with that individual.
Dolphin Formation
Dolphin Formation
December 26, 2019
This formation appeared during a smoke scrying ritual in which incense smoke rose in front of candlelight on the evening of a new moon. The curved shape of the smoke closely resembles the body and head of a dolphin emerging from the surrounding wisps.
Wizard-Like Figure
Wizard-Like Figure
June 20, 2020
Photographed during ceremonial work conducted for a client. The ritual smoke formation appears to resemble the profile of a bearded, robed figure wearing a pointed hat — a silhouette commonly associated with traditional depictions of a wizard or male witch.
Additional Observed Forms
The following images represent additional formations observed during smoke scrying sessions. Some require closer observation to identify the shapes that appeared in the smoke.
Perched Bird Formation
July 2019
Observed during an outdoor smoke scrying session conducted in a sheltered valley.
Ghost Pirate Formation
November 26, 2019
Observed during an outdoor smoke scrying session.
The formation resembles a skeletal face wearing what appears to be a dark pirate-style hat.
Reference image included to help viewers locate the features within the smoke.
Witch-Like Figure
June 20, 2019
This formation resembles the silhouette of a figure wearing a dark pointed hat.
Firefighter Figure
October 31, 2019
Observed during an outdoor smoke scrying session conducted in a sheltered valley.
The formation resembles a standing figure wearing protective gear.
Reference image included to assist with identifying the formation.
Witch Hat Formation
March 24, 2020
Smoke formation observed during a New Moon ritual conducted on my property on March 24, 2020. The ceremony was a collective working intended to send strength, protection, and comfort to those navigating the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this image, the rising smoke appears to form the shape of a pointed hat with a dark band around its base and a pentagon-shaped buckle at the front.
In traditional smoke symbolism language, a pointed hat is often associated with the practitioner and the act of magical work itself. The five-sided buckle shape can also be read as a protective seal or house-like form, reflecting themes of shelter, protection, and stability.
As with the other photographs shown in this archive, the image has only been cropped and adjusted slightly for clarity. The smoke itself has not been altered.
As with many forms observed in smoke, what one person sees may differ from another. The images shared here are examples of the kinds of patterns that can emerge during focused observation.
A Note on Observation
Smoke scrying is often misunderstood as a search for shapes within drifting smoke.
In reality, the practice is far more disciplined. It requires focus, patience, the right tools, control of environment, and a trained eye.
The images shown on this page are moments that were captured as they appeared. Some are immediately recognizable, while others are more abstract, requiring closer attention.
They are shared here simply as documentation of what was observed.
Understanding how and why these formations appear is part of the deeper practice.
Copyright & Respectful Use
All images and written content displayed on this page are original works created by Ashley Wong / Made by a Real Witch™ and are protected under Canadian and international copyright law.
These photographs are shared here for viewing purposes only.
They may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, altered, published, taught from, or reused in any form—digital or otherwise—without express written permission.
Smoke scrying is a practice rooted in integrity, respect, and lived experience. This archive is offered in that same spirit.
Copyright © Ashley Wong. All rights reserved.
Looking Ahead
Smoke scrying has been a part of my personal practice for many years. While I have occasionally taught small in-person classes in the past, I have not yet offered a formal online course dedicated to this work.
In time, I hope to develop thoughtful instruction for those who feel genuinely drawn to the practice and wish to study it with patience, focus, and respect for the discipline it requires.
For those located in or around the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, I may occasionally offer small in-person sessions when circumstances allow. If you would like to be notified when future opportunities to study smoke scrying become available — either locally or online — you are welcome to reach out to be added to my list of interested students. Those outside the area may also contact me to be notified if and when online classes are announced. The more public interest there is, the more likely a class will be offered.
This archive is not intended as instruction, nor as a substitute for learning the practice itself.
It is simply a place to pause, observe, and consider what the smoke is capable of revealing.
You are welcome to return whenever curiosity calls.
Media & interview inquiries:
For press, interviews, or feature requests, please contact Ashley via the website contact form.