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Episode 176: Necromancy
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Welcome back, Witches! This week, we’re delving into one of the most mysterious and misunderstood practices in magical history—Necromancy. From its ancient origins and cultural roots to its evolution in modern magic, we’re uncovering what it truly means to work with the dead. So get in, Loser, we’re crossing the veil and exploring the magic that lies beyond.
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Music by Darren Curtis- My Dark Passenger
References:
- The Mystica (n.d.). Necromancy- Definition, Rituals and What is a Necromancer. The Mystica. https://www.themystica.com/necromancy/
- Occultist (2024). Necromancy 101: The Art of Communicating with the Dead. Occultist.net. https://occultist.net/necromancy-101-the-art-of-communing-with-the-dead/
- Arcane Legend (2024). Necromancy in Ancient Greece: Unveiling Rituals and Beliefs. Arcane Horizons. https://arcanehorizons.com/necromancy-in-ancient-greece-unveiling-rituals-and-beliefs/
- Communing with the Spirits by Martin Coleman https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578630193/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1578630193&linkCode=as2&tag=infidrecovins-20&linkId=URVARV7TEIM74M7H
- Necromancy: Conjuring the Spirits of the Dead by Neres Wane- https://magickmatters.xyz/magickmatters/2738-necromancy-conjuring-the-spirits-of-the-dead-by-neres-wane/
- The Witches’ Book of the Dead by Christian Day
- Babylonian Myths (2025). The Practice of Necromancy in Ancient Mesopotamia. Babylonian Mythology Worldwide.
- Egypt Mythology (2024). The Whispers of the Dead: Exploring Egyptian Divination and Necromancy.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Witchcraft and Necromancy
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you feel drawn to learn more about witchcraft and the occult but feel lost on where to start? Then welcome to Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft, a podcast all about what it means to be a witch and where to get started on your journey. Join us as we navigate through various witchy topics and share what we've learned about the craft.
00:00:15
Speaker
So get in witches as we look at the complex and often misunderstood topic of necromancy.
Personal Updates and Listener Engagement
00:00:58
Speaker
All right, guys, welcome back to the podcast. so this podcast episode, if you were if you listen to the intro, you'll notice that it is just me on the intro because this is one of our solo episodes. so I will be the one taking you through necromancy.
00:01:17
Speaker
i just want to say before I kick off the actual episode, i want to thank you guys so much for being patient with us. um By the time that this episode comes out,
00:01:27
Speaker
um I will still be here in Japan and Tiffany and I are recording episodes together at this point by the time this episode comes out. But here shortly, i will be moving back to the States. We are moving to Washington state. So if we have any listeners or witches in Washington state, let me know. We are going to be in the Tacoma area. And if you have any recommendations for any occult shops or um different cafes or anything to check out, please let me know because we have been to Washington State one time and it was to travel through Washington to come to Okinawa. So we are not very familiar with the area and so any help is greatly appreciated.
00:02:14
Speaker
Additionally, I did want to give a shout out. So as you know, if you listen to our intro outros, we reference the ah monthly newsletter that has been on hiatus since June, but we will be picking up the newsletter.
00:02:28
Speaker
It's just been a little bit of a hectic few months um in my life, especially because of my illness and then with work and family obligations and now the move. so That is why it's taken a little bit of a backseat, but it is coming back, I promise.
00:02:47
Speaker
And I'm going to try and make the next newsletter even more amazing than all of the other
Understanding Necromancy: Definitions and Misconceptions
00:02:54
Speaker
ones are. So thank you so much for everybody who has been very patient with us. We really appreciate it And then Additionally, we've received emails recently from a few listeners showing us their kitchen altars and then also their pagan hand fasting. And I just want to say thank you so much, everybody who sends us pictures of your altars or interacts with us, shows us pictures of...
00:03:18
Speaker
the like any rituals you do or ceremonies that you have especially with a pagan wedding like that just makes our day so much and being able to interact with you guys and building this community is one of the best parts of having this podcast so just thank you so much but without further ado I'm gonna kick it off with a little bit of background when it comes to necromancy but before I do begin i just want to say this is definitely wavetops I feel like ah this episode is probably going to be a little bit long.
00:03:50
Speaker
I know we, I think we said it one of the last episodes and it didn't end up being very long at all. But necromancy, there's so much to it. This is such a complex topic and there was no way that I could cover it all on just one episode. So this may be an episode that we dive deeper into on another episode, maybe a little bit later on.
00:04:13
Speaker
um next year but it is very interesting very intriguing and welcome basically the first spooky episode of our halloween season so let's kick it off with a little bit of background so the definition according to the mystica necromancy is the art of conjuring the dead for divination it's an occult practice that involves communicating with and raising the dead as a ghost with a spell or a ritual It is the seeking of the spirits of the dead as they are no longer limited by the earthly plane and have access to information from the past and the future that is not available to the living.
00:04:51
Speaker
There are a lot of misconceptions regarding necromancy online, and I found this a lot just trying to do my research for this episode. A lot of what is online is through the lens of Christian moral frameworks, which treat any sort of contact with the dead as dangerous or evil.
00:05:07
Speaker
So just be mindful if you are interested in this topic. There's a lot of information on necromancy online and in books. You just have to find the right source that delivers more of an unbiased look at the practice.
00:05:18
Speaker
So let's look at necromancy versus ancestor veneration versus spirit work. This topic can be confusing because there is a perceived overlap between these three topics, but when you actually take a look at it closer, there's a clear distinction between the three.
00:05:34
Speaker
when we think about ancestral veneration, the goal here is to honor and maintain a relationship with a deceased family member or a cultural ancestors. The nature of the practice is very devotional and reciprocal.
00:05:46
Speaker
So you give offerings, prayers, remembrance, and in return, you receive protection, blessings, and guidance. The key trait here is that the dead are respected and not compelled.
00:05:57
Speaker
When it comes to spirit work, this is like mediumship and other necromantic adjacent practices. The goal is to communicate or collaborate with spirits, not limited to ancestors.
00:06:09
Speaker
So the nature of the practice is neutral, whether that be using guides, allies, or teachers, or more business-like, like in the form of asking for favors or making packs.
History and Cultural Context of Necromancy
00:06:20
Speaker
But the key trait here for spirit work is there is consent and mutual benefit. Now, look at necromancy, the goal is to gain information, power, or assistance from the dead, especially from the restless or unknown dead.
00:06:35
Speaker
The nature of the practice can be coercive or ritualized to summon spirits, question them, or to bind them to do tasks. And the key trait is that it's not limited to family ancestors, and it may involve graveyard rites, invocation, or divination with the dead.
00:06:53
Speaker
So looking at some of the origins and historical context, there are many ancient civilizations who believed in and practiced necromancy. First and foremost, let's look at Mesopotamia.
00:07:04
Speaker
Necromancy held a significant place within the culture and can be traced to the Sumerian and Akkadian cultures going back to around 3500 BC. The afterlife was viewed with reverence and fear, and it was believed that the dead weren't actually gone, but that they lived in a shadowy realm, often referred to as the underworld of Kerr.
00:07:25
Speaker
Ancient Mesopotamians believed that necromancy was a valuable way to seek guidance and knowledge from those who passed, and it played such a role within the culture that it even influenced political state affairs.
00:07:37
Speaker
and Babylon, as Mesopotamia evolved throughout many different empires, so did necromancy, and we see this throughout Babylonian and Assyrian cultures as well. So the Babylonians believed in the importance of the spiritual world and conducted elaborate ceremonies to communicate with the dead.
00:07:54
Speaker
These rituals have been recorded in their texts and include their methods of invoking the deceased to gain knowledge or predict the future. so looking at ancient Greece, Necromancy was more than just a practice. It was part of society, and it was woven into their beliefs of the afterlife.
00:08:11
Speaker
Necromancers during this time were feared and revered as they claimed to be able to bridge the worlds of the living and the dead. The heart of Greek necromancy was to gain wisdom.
00:08:22
Speaker
In ancient Greece, necromancy was referenced a lot in literature and in myths, which showed just how important necromancy was to the culture itself. For instance, Pythagoras and Orpheus were associated with communicating with the dead, and Pythagoras, although known for his contributions to mathematics and philosophy, was also known to include discussions of spirit communication, and it was widely believed that he would summon and interact with spirits to obtain wisdom or guidance.
00:08:51
Speaker
So looking at ancient Egypt, the ancient Egyptians' belief in necromancy has origins dating back thousands of years intertwined with the development of their religion. There have even been texts that have been found that believe to suggest that the Egyptian gods communicated through various signs with necromancy being one of them.
00:09:10
Speaker
An interpretation of necromancy was tied to state ceremonies. An ancient text like the Book of the Dead referenced necromantic rituals, which often involved prayers, offerings, and the use of specific incantations to invoke the spirits of the dead. So when we look at necromancy, there are a lot of common misconceptions.
00:09:31
Speaker
The first one is that necromancy involves raising zombies or a physical resurrection of some kind, and that is not always the case. So in ancient and medieval sources, necromancy was spiritual communication, not physical resurrection.
00:09:46
Speaker
And summoning the dead meant calling their spirit, not actually digging up their bodies. There's also this misconception that it's always evil or demonic. This comes from Christian beliefs, hands down. In many traditions, necromancy was a form of divination and it was not inherently evil.
00:10:05
Speaker
And then lastly, another misconception is that necromancers always control or enslave the dead. And while there are are some practices that include coercive summoning, there are many other traditions that respectfully ask for information, guidance, or blessings when it comes to necromancy.
Practices and Tools in Necromancy
00:10:24
Speaker
So when we think about necromancy, we think about spirits being summoned, right? And there are many different types of spirits that can be summoned during necromancy. The first is ancestral spirits. So these include deceased family members or ancestors to seek guidance, wisdom, or assistance in resolving issues affecting the family.
00:10:43
Speaker
Additionally, this can include spirits of recently deceased, believed to possess knowledge of the material world and can provide insights into specific matters from their lifetime. could also include historical figures to gain wisdom and learn about the past or uncover lost knowledge.
00:10:59
Speaker
It could include spirits of martyrs or saints that can be summoned for protection, blessings, or for moral guides. And then additionally, it could also include malevolent spirits.
00:11:10
Speaker
So these are spirits that are that are considered dangerous and are summoned to cause harm or some other malevolent purpose. When it comes to spirits associated with necromantic rites, there are certain spirits that can act as guides, protectors, or mediators in necromantic rites.
00:11:26
Speaker
First of which is called psychopomps. These are spirits or deities whose role is to escort the newly deceased from the earth into the afterlife. Using them can help safely guide the spirits summoned during the necromantic rituals, ensuring that they do not stray or turn malevolent.
00:11:43
Speaker
This includes Hermes from Greek mythology, Anubis from Egyptian mythology, and Haran, the ferryman who guides souls across the river Styx.
00:11:53
Speaker
This could also include guardian spirits. So their role is to protect the necromancer from potential harm and to oversee the ritual. ah Guardian spirits can be ancestral or tied to a location, etc. So it really just depends when we're thinking about guardian spirits in this circumstance.
00:12:11
Speaker
Additionally, there are gatekeeper entities, and these are spirits that hold keys to the boundaries between worlds. These could be archangels, deities associated with the thresholds and doorways, or specific spirits known to guide the passages between the physical and spiritual realm.
00:12:26
Speaker
Some examples of this include Hekate, Papa Legba in Voodoo, and Saint Peter in Christian folklore. Additionally, this can include elemental spirits, and these can be called upon to protect or cleanse the ritual space.
00:12:40
Speaker
And depending on the element invoked, like for instance, spirits associated with the element of earth, they can help to ground and stabilize the energy. And then ancestral spirits.
00:12:51
Speaker
So in necromantic traditions or practices rooted in familial veneration, ancestral spirits can help act as intermediaries to facilitate communication with more distant or unknown spirits who may be called upon during the rites.
00:13:06
Speaker
um Additionally, deities associated with the underworld can be invoked or called upon to help oversee the ritual. And this can include deities like Hades, Persephone, Hel from Norse mythology, or Yama from Hindu or Buddhist beliefs.
00:13:21
Speaker
And then additionally, demonic entities. Certain demons have powers related to death, the dead, or the underworld and can make them relevant depending on the necromantic practice and what you believe. And spoiler alert, we are actually going to be covering demonology in next week's episode. So I won't go too in depth here, but examples of demons that are associated with death and the underworld are Boon, Bifrond, Murmur, and Samael.
00:13:48
Speaker
So let's take a look at some methods and tools used and necromantic practices. Something that was very evident while I was researching this topic was that this practice is not for the novice practitioner.
00:14:01
Speaker
It requires patience, knowledge, and adequate preparation. So with that in mind, me discussing methods and tools is not to give you a step-by-step guide if you're interested in this topic.
00:14:11
Speaker
It's merely to provide you with a general overview of information. First thing you need to think about whenever you are looking at methods and tools is the ritual preparation in and of itself.
00:14:23
Speaker
The success of necromantic rituals depends on your preparation and a lot hinges on the practitioner's ability to enter a trance state of for communication with the spirit. This preparation may include days of fasting, meditation, and specific recitations to get into the right state of mind before a ritual even begins.
00:14:42
Speaker
Additionally, altar is something else that is commonly used during necromantic practices, and this serves as the focal point for the ritual. The altar would be a place for ceremonial tools to be placed, and it's also the space to place specific symbols or items specific to the deceased or the spiritual entities being invoked.
00:15:03
Speaker
Candles. So black candles specifically are often used as they are thought to correspond with necromancy's connection with death and the underworld. Candles and necromancy are used for both illumination and for their symbolisms.
00:15:17
Speaker
Incense, specifically scents like myrrh, frankincense, or sandalwood, are burned to purify the space, aid in meditative practices, and to invite in the spirits, and in some cases appease them as well.
00:15:30
Speaker
There are also some beliefs that it's easier to communicate with spirits when burning certain scents, so that's something to keep in mind as well if you are interested in practicing necromancy. Additionally, you'll want to have a circle of protection, and this is to protect the necromancer from harm, and it's essential to keep unwanted spirits at bay.
00:15:48
Speaker
This can be done by drawing a physical circle on the ground, and the partitioner would stand or sit in the middle of the circle to perform that ritual, and the circle itself is usually filled with protective symbols or inscriptions.
00:16:01
Speaker
A chalice, which is used to hold offerings such as water and wine. An athame or a ritual dagger to direct energy and to draw symbolic boundaries or to carve inscriptions.
00:16:13
Speaker
Ritual daggers and athames are also used to separate the spiritual plane from the mundane So, which would be incredibly important during necromantic practices a mirror or a scrying bowl is often used to receive messages from the spirit world bones and skulls may be used as a representation of the dead and as a physical medium for communicating with the spirit world Graveyard dirt, which can be used to strengthen the connection with the dead.
00:16:40
Speaker
And this can be from any grave site or the grave site of the spirit that the necromancer is trying to connect with. Herbs. so there are certain herbs that are used to help with spirit communication and they can be burned as incense, carried, or used to anoint the body.
00:16:55
Speaker
These are things like mugwort, wormwood, and belladonna, but obviously use this one with care because of its toxicity. Spirit boards can be used to facilitate communication with the spirits. And additional spoiler alert, we are going to have an episode on Ouija boards in the very near future, so look out for that.
00:17:16
Speaker
Offerings such as food, money, or personal items of the deceased can be used to show respect or reverence. Talismans or sigils. are often used to act as a vessel for spiritual energy and sigils are used to direct and control the spirits who are summoned.
00:17:33
Speaker
And then additionally, talismans or sigils.
Ethical Considerations and Modern Perspectives
00:17:36
Speaker
Talismans are often used to act as vessels for spiritual energy and sigils are used to direct and control the spirits who were summoned. And if we look at some of the methods and tools that were used in ancient practices,
00:17:50
Speaker
This often included things like blood offerings, gravesite rituals, and the use of psychotropic incense and ritual circles. And then what has been documented in some medieval and renaissance grimoires are methods that include bones, candles, diagrams, and invocations of demons or angels.
00:18:11
Speaker
And then as far as modern approaches, often modern necromancers rely on mediumship, spirit boards, guided meditation, and dream contact. And as far as a modern witchcraft perspective on necromancy, this is that working respectfully with ancestors is more important than the coercion piece that was seen in more ancient styles of necromancy practices. Now, this is not to say that every modern day necromancer believes in working respectfully with ancestors and with the mighty dead. But that's just, I guess, the view as a whole from
00:18:47
Speaker
how I was researching the topic. So we look at some symbolisms and some themes related to necromancy. Death is seen as a gateway to knowledge. There is a symbolism of liminality. So the symbolism of crossroads, caves, graveyards, twilight hours, all of those things are examples of that. Also chthonic deities associated with necromancy. So this would include Hades, Persephone, Hermes,
00:19:12
Speaker
psychopomps or psychopompos, hell and anubis, the colors black and red, herbs such as cypress and myrrh, and stones such as obsidian and onyx.
00:19:24
Speaker
And when we look at necromancy and any sort of ethical considerations, at its heart, necromancy asks us to reflect on what it means to engage with the dead.
00:19:35
Speaker
Are we honoring them or are we disturbing them? Ancient cultures often saw this tension clearly, fearing the disruption of the dead while holding rituals steeped in reverence for their ancestors, and that tension hasn't gone away.
00:19:48
Speaker
Modern practitioners tend to approach necromancy with a focus of respect and consent. Just as we wouldn't demand something from the living without their agreement, many argue you that we shouldn't coerce the dead either.
00:20:00
Speaker
This means that there needs to be a focus on ancestral veneration, working with those who have a natural connection with us, and avoiding practices that feel manipulative or extractive.
00:20:12
Speaker
And there's a cultural sensitivity that plays a key point when it comes to necromancy. So there are traditions like voodoo, palo mayambe, and Shinto and insist ancestral rites that are living sacred systems with their own structures and communities. And it's important to not collapse them into general necromancy or borrow them without permission. Ethical necromancy means knowing where your practice comes from and respecting where others are rooted.
00:20:39
Speaker
So how do modern practitioners approach necromancy? Necromancy doesn't have to look like how it does in horror movies, and it can be as simple as lighting a candle for your grandmother, offering food to your ancestors, journaling after a dream visitation, or even using divination tools to seek guidance from those who came before you.
00:20:59
Speaker
Many practitioners see necromancy as a practice of healing and connection, a way to help you work through the grief of a loss, to find guidance, and to stay rooted in your culture.
00:21:10
Speaker
So because of this, instead of thinking of necromancy as something evil, dark, or forbidden, we can reframe it as what it is, communication with the dead.
Conclusion and Future Topics
00:21:21
Speaker
It's about remembrance, reverence, and building bridges between the worlds. It's not about fear.
00:21:26
Speaker
It's about guidance, growth, and honoring the bonds that death cannot suffer.
00:21:40
Speaker
That's a wrap on this episode of Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft. We hope you had as much fun as we did. If you loved this episode, we'd be eternally grateful if you left us a five-star review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
00:21:51
Speaker
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00:22:09
Speaker
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00:22:22
Speaker
Join us next week as we get extra spooky and take a deeper look at demonology. Until next time, stay magical, stay curious, and as always, blessed be witches.
00:22:47
Speaker
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