Necromancy is an ancient divination art which intends to establish contact with Spirits of the Dead. It comes from the Greek words Νέκυς/Νεκρός = Dead and Μαντεία = Divination. The Greeks considered Necromancy the sacred duty of the Priests and Priestesses of the Lord and Lady of the Underworld – the Mighty Hades (brother of Zeus and Poseidon) and the Enchanting Persephone. Necromancy was performed under the guidance of the Priesthood and many people took part in those kinds of ceremonies.
A Guide to Necromancy
Below you will find the Guide of how Greeks performed Necromancy. Yet, although the definition of this significant Craft is Greek, the Craft itself was established in many other civilisations such as the Egyptians, Romans, Druids, Shamans and Voodoo priests and priestesses.
What is Necromancy?
But before we proceed with Necromancy we have to clarify some things first. Modern translation and use of Necromancy, as you may have encountered it, is usually associated with a Black Magic process, unfortunately, in which a soul is forced (by many ways) to do the Magicians” biddings. In some texts acts of desecrating sacred grounds – as cemeteries are – and invoke dark powers are not uncommon. Please be aware that if you are involved in such practices, this will ultimately harm you and affect your physical life and karma.
Is Necromancy Good or Bad?
Regardless if this process is true or the biddings are finally done by other dark spirits and not the souls of the Dead (as the Souls do not belong to anyone), the point is that messing with this Kind of Magic is truly dangerous and poisoning in so many ways. Even when we engage with pure forms of Necromancy, we have to be extra careful and make additional preparations as the energy of the Dead are not compatible with the ones of the Living, thus obsession with the Dead (as with Elementals and other entities) may affect your aura as we discussed in the Initiation to Fairy Witchcraft.
The Real Necromancy
Necromancy, the Real one, is an Art which few possess and all would agree that it is a very advanced form of Divination & Magic, as it requires persistent cleansing rituals – before and after the spell and contact with the dead – to avoid any harm of the Aura. Let”s take a look on how Greek did it…
The Ancient Cult of the Dead
The Necromanteion is located on the banks of the Acheron river in Epirus – Greece, near the ancient city of Ephyra. Acheron was a sacred River believed to begin from the Depths of the Realm of the Dead, the Kingdom of Mighty Hades. This was the most significant Necromanteion of all as it was believed to be the Palace of Hades and Persephone. Mysteries and whispers of paranormal activity surround this Temple.
What is surprisingly interesting is that the main Hall of the Palace is built in such a way that no sound can travel once you are there. That’s because the limestone of the walls absorbs any kind of external sound thus creating a monumental acoustic effect. What is even more interesting, the acoustic of the place is such that all internal sounds are maximised! Possibly to aid the devotee to communicate with the SpiritWorld. Rumour has it that Nazis have tried several times to manifest Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld. They believed that it could aid Adolf Hitler conquer the World. Of course it was unsuccessful.
What where the steps the devotees followed to contact the Dead?
The one who wished to participate in a Necromantic ceremony was made aware that s/he will have to face some challenges as the process would not be easy:
- S/he would contact the Priest and explain in detail why s/he wants to contact the spirit of the dead- what was his/her intention.
- Then S/he would begin a cleansing process by both praying and following a strict lifestyle at least for a certain amount of time, so that s/he would become ready to contact the Underworld.
- S/he would have to drink special herbal blends in order to attune with the Spirit World.
- Furthermore, S/he should make a sacrifice as the energy of the animal would be used to catalyse the procedure.
- Then, S/he should be ready to wonder in the Labyrinth of the Palace in order to find the Gate of the Underworld – which symbolically is translated with our inner search for what we want.
- Moreover, S/he would find the entrance to the Underworld as a large hole in the Ground. Then climb down to find the Palace of Hades, King of the Underworld and Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. Please note that unlike modern belief, both Gods were considered benevolent. By that time people could pray to them for several blessings in their lives. Underworld was considered just another Kingdom (as the Sea and the Earth).
- Inside the Palace of the Underworld the devotee would contact the Spirit – which was seen as a shadow – and interact with him/her.
- The Devotee should never talk about his/her experience. S/he should keep the conversation and the whole process as a sacred secret!
Ancestral Magic: A basic Necromantic spell
How to Ask for Guidance from your Ancestors
- Why are the souls of the Dead so eager to speak to us?
They are not (at least not always)! Actually in order to contact a Departed Soul, the ancient Greeks believed that this human should not have died long before the ceremony. The closer to the departed’s actual death, the more inclined the spirit was to contact with the World of the Living. Probably that”s because the Soul of the Dead “flies” over different planes or maybe reincarnates…
Which Soul should we try to contact?
Once you”ve defined what your question is bear in mind two things:
- A soul of a Dead may be eager to help if for some reason is “bound” with us with Love and Devotion. For example you can ask from your beloved Grandmother to guide you through that tough time you are facing.
- A soul of a Dead may be eager to help you if for some reason is “bound” with the subject of the question. For example if you want to know all about this book you are seeking, you can contact this devoted Librarian who spent his life trying to help people seek what they ask in the local Library.
When & how to invoke the Dead?
During the New Moon (aka Dark Moon symbolising what is not seen, what has already happened and what is still in the SpirtWorld waiting to manifest) or even better Halloween (where the Realm of the Dead and the Realm of the Living co-exist at some part) light a small fire of Privet & Acacia wood.
- Privet, since the ancient times, was used as part of Funeral Pyres. It was associated with the Realm of the Dead. Those kind of Pyres were raised to summon the Dead.
- Acacia, has always been considered sacred tree. Ancients used it to create several significant artefacts. Legend has it that the ancient Jews built the Ark of the Covenant from Acacia wood. Whilst Acacia was also sacred to God Osiris, the Egyptian Lord of the Dead.
Leave a picture of the Dead on your altar and cleanse it with a “Cleansing oil”. Leave an offering of something that”s his/hers or something, s/he would like for example “a dish of sushi!!”
Before you go to sleep throw some bay-laurel leaves in the Privet-Acacia fire. Furthermore, ask for his/her help to guide you. Pour a glass of Red Wine (which symbolises blood and the energy of the Living). Now leave it on the altar offering it to him/her. Invite him/her with love. Speak from your heart and be honest. Then extinguish the fire and go to sleep leaving the offering behind undisturbed. Whatever has been offered belongs to the Dead to do as they please with it. Thus, it should not be removed until the following day.
The next day bury the offerings. Write down your experiences.
