Necromancy: The Art of Calling the Dead
Necromancy: the ancient art of summoning the dead.Undoubtedly the darkest of all dark arts, necromancy is the ancient practice of communicating with the dead. This art involves controlling spirits and derives its name from the Greek words 'nekro,' meaning 'dead,' and 'mantia,' meaning 'divination.'
Necromancy can be categorized into two principal forms:
divination through ghosts and divination using corpses. The latter has historically prompted acts such as exhuming bodies and stealing from tombs, as certain witches and sorcerers deemed such grim rites essential for casting effective spells.
Necromancy is an ancient and widespread practice that only a skilled and courageous sorcerer might hope to perform successfully. It has long been considered exceptionally perilous because it involves not only making pacts with dark forces but also engaging the "astral body," which is believed to yearn for renewed life. This astral entity can drain the life energy from the living to prolong its existence indefinitely, so without strict safeguards, the sorcerer could face catastrophic risks.
To summon the dead, the sorcerer must call upon powerful spirits to both protect themselves and coerce the ghost or corpse to obey. An ancient Greek incantation invokes mighty deities such as Kore Persephone, Ereshkigal, Adonis, Hermes, and Thoth to compel the dead. According to a ritual described by the Roman playwright Seneca, the summoning involves not only fire but also a blood soaked altar.
Potent essences and fragrances play a vital role, leveraging their strong influences. Some complex rituals also incorporate careful studies of planetary alignments, the phases of the Moon, and Saturn's effects.
Selecting the location for necromancy is crucial; ideal spots include isolated crossroads, crypts, ruins, haunted groves, or sanctified grounds.
Once the site is chosen, the practitioner should draw a series of concentric power circles on the ground, inscribed with crosses, other sacred symbols, and the Holy names of God. These circles must be blessed and consecrated while the magician and their assistant stand at the center, protected by these divine names. Armed with a wand, the sorcerer then calls forth the dead by invoking names of power.
Some sorcerers recommend establishing a connection between the living and the dead—such as displaying the deceased’s portrait or offering a piece of bread for the ghost to consume—to enhance identification. When the invocation succeeds, the ghost typically manifests with agonized screams and incoherent fury, resentful at being forced back from the realm of the dead. Occasionally, the summoned spirits may appear as raging beasts within the circle, threatening to tear the sorcerer limb from limb. As you can see, necromancy is no simple art.
When the dead finally yield to the sorcerer’s command, they often appear as a naked figure ready to answer questions.
At the conclusion of the ritual, it is essential to bid the dead farewell, as they usually depart amid clouds of sulfurous smoke. The sorcerer should leave the magic circle only after this protection lifts, then remove all flowers and burnt offerings from the site, burying their ashes deeply in the earth.
This entire process is fraught with dreadful dangers, as even a minor mistake in the ritual can bring utter ruin upon the practitioner and damage their very soul.
A guide to necromancy: how to summon a spirit from a tomb
Under ordinary circumstances, the dead do not return as ghosts. When they do, it is usually for a specific reason. Thus, if someone wishes to communicate with the dead, they must take extensive magical precautions to shield themselves from wrathful spirits. Moreover, there is always a risk that the entity summoned is not a ghost but a deceptive demon.
Cemetery necromancy, a specialized branch of this magic, requires its own unique methods.
As midnight strikes, the sorcerer, having completed the preliminary rites, intones in a hollow, sepulchral voice:
"The dead, rise and come to me!"
The sorcerer then moves through the cemetery, scattering earth from graves as a spreading of the sacred ground. To summon the dead from their resting places, they cry out:
"Ego sum peto tuo et uidere queo!"
To dismiss the spirits, the sorcerer commands:
"Return now to your chosen realm!"
Some occultists believe that when summoning the spirits of the dead, the sorcerer does not truly call forth the ghost, but rather the astral double, or astral corpse.
For more, read: How to make a pact with the devil
In the early 16th century, it was recorded that some practitioners would take small fragments of buried corpses—particularly those hanged or subjected to disgraceful deaths—such as fingernails, teeth, hair, ears, eyes, tendons, bones, or flesh. Such macabre remains, especially the flesh of unbaptized infants, were highly sought after and caused many tombs to be desecrated. Among the most famous cases involving human flesh in magic is the Irish witch Alice Kytetfy, accused of using the hair of a corpse and the skull of a thief in her spells. Moss growing on the skulls of those executed by hanging was also prized in magical circles.
To claim that ancient necromancy is no longer practiced would be premature; even today, numerous cemeteries are desecrated in the pursuit of such dark arts.
This brings us to the end of this article on necromancy.We share this knowledge solely for informational purposes and do not recommend that anyone attempt the actions described. Feel free to continue exploring this website to learn more about white magic and black magic..
Necromancy can be categorized into two principal forms:
divination through ghosts and divination using corpses. The latter has historically prompted acts such as exhuming bodies and stealing from tombs, as certain witches and sorcerers deemed such grim rites essential for casting effective spells.
Necromancy is an ancient and widespread practice that only a skilled and courageous sorcerer might hope to perform successfully. It has long been considered exceptionally perilous because it involves not only making pacts with dark forces but also engaging the "astral body," which is believed to yearn for renewed life. This astral entity can drain the life energy from the living to prolong its existence indefinitely, so without strict safeguards, the sorcerer could face catastrophic risks.
To summon the dead, the sorcerer must call upon powerful spirits to both protect themselves and coerce the ghost or corpse to obey. An ancient Greek incantation invokes mighty deities such as Kore Persephone, Ereshkigal, Adonis, Hermes, and Thoth to compel the dead. According to a ritual described by the Roman playwright Seneca, the summoning involves not only fire but also a blood soaked altar.Potent essences and fragrances play a vital role, leveraging their strong influences. Some complex rituals also incorporate careful studies of planetary alignments, the phases of the Moon, and Saturn's effects.
Selecting the location for necromancy is crucial; ideal spots include isolated crossroads, crypts, ruins, haunted groves, or sanctified grounds.
Once the site is chosen, the practitioner should draw a series of concentric power circles on the ground, inscribed with crosses, other sacred symbols, and the Holy names of God. These circles must be blessed and consecrated while the magician and their assistant stand at the center, protected by these divine names. Armed with a wand, the sorcerer then calls forth the dead by invoking names of power.
Some sorcerers recommend establishing a connection between the living and the dead—such as displaying the deceased’s portrait or offering a piece of bread for the ghost to consume—to enhance identification. When the invocation succeeds, the ghost typically manifests with agonized screams and incoherent fury, resentful at being forced back from the realm of the dead. Occasionally, the summoned spirits may appear as raging beasts within the circle, threatening to tear the sorcerer limb from limb. As you can see, necromancy is no simple art.
When the dead finally yield to the sorcerer’s command, they often appear as a naked figure ready to answer questions.
At the conclusion of the ritual, it is essential to bid the dead farewell, as they usually depart amid clouds of sulfurous smoke. The sorcerer should leave the magic circle only after this protection lifts, then remove all flowers and burnt offerings from the site, burying their ashes deeply in the earth.
This entire process is fraught with dreadful dangers, as even a minor mistake in the ritual can bring utter ruin upon the practitioner and damage their very soul.
A guide to necromancy: how to summon a spirit from a tomb
Under ordinary circumstances, the dead do not return as ghosts. When they do, it is usually for a specific reason. Thus, if someone wishes to communicate with the dead, they must take extensive magical precautions to shield themselves from wrathful spirits. Moreover, there is always a risk that the entity summoned is not a ghost but a deceptive demon.
Cemetery necromancy, a specialized branch of this magic, requires its own unique methods.
As midnight strikes, the sorcerer, having completed the preliminary rites, intones in a hollow, sepulchral voice:
"The dead, rise and come to me!"
The sorcerer then moves through the cemetery, scattering earth from graves as a spreading of the sacred ground. To summon the dead from their resting places, they cry out:
"Ego sum peto tuo et uidere queo!"
To dismiss the spirits, the sorcerer commands:
"Return now to your chosen realm!"
Some occultists believe that when summoning the spirits of the dead, the sorcerer does not truly call forth the ghost, but rather the astral double, or astral corpse.
For more, read: How to make a pact with the devil
Discover more about necromancy
The use of human corpses as ingredients in potions and spells is closely linked to necromancy, and remains one of the most notorious techniques in witchcraft. A violent or premature death enhances the magical potency of human flesh, believed to contain residual life force not yet exhausted.In the early 16th century, it was recorded that some practitioners would take small fragments of buried corpses—particularly those hanged or subjected to disgraceful deaths—such as fingernails, teeth, hair, ears, eyes, tendons, bones, or flesh. Such macabre remains, especially the flesh of unbaptized infants, were highly sought after and caused many tombs to be desecrated. Among the most famous cases involving human flesh in magic is the Irish witch Alice Kytetfy, accused of using the hair of a corpse and the skull of a thief in her spells. Moss growing on the skulls of those executed by hanging was also prized in magical circles.
To claim that ancient necromancy is no longer practiced would be premature; even today, numerous cemeteries are desecrated in the pursuit of such dark arts.
This brings us to the end of this article on necromancy.We share this knowledge solely for informational purposes and do not recommend that anyone attempt the actions described. Feel free to continue exploring this website to learn more about white magic and black magic..
Bibliography
- Waite, Arthur Edward. The Book of Ceremonial Magic. William Rider & Son, 1911. Source.
