The Necromancer's Cauldron

The cauldron of a necromancer... it evokes a certain grim image in one's mind. I can guarantee you however that whatever you are imagining is completely wrong. Firstly the vessel in question is small (usually 3 1/4 inches tall, by 3 inches wide), made of cast iron with a lid of the same material). Secondly none of its uses involve macabre ingredients such as parts of corpses, innocent blood, dead animal parts, etc. Thirdly you won't ever see one being used in a graveyard. So how is it used? Well in number of ways such as shown in the examples I will give.

Well the most common use is in offering blessings or to ask requests of the dead. In order to do this the cauldron is partially filled with dried necromantic herbs. The blend I suggest is a combination of wormwood, marshmallow (althea), and dandelion root. This will attract benevolent spirits and will make communication easier. The papers on which the blessings or requests are written are then laid on-top of the herbs. The bottom layer is then lit and when everything is consumed the message has been relayed to the dead. Be sure to use a fire-proof base or you will likely lose your base of operations.
Another common use for a cauldron by a necromancer is to hold offerings for chthonic gods and spirits of the dead. Usually these take the form of liquid libations such as wine, olive oil, ale, mead, etc. The libations are poured into the vessel during the course of a ritual of worship. They are subsequently disposed after a period of time by digging a hole and emptying the cauldron into it. After this is done the hole is refilled and the ground smoothed over. The cauldron can also be used to hold food offerings. In such a case the procedure for disposal is the same.

Divination by fire is the third most frequent use for a cauldron owned by a Worker of the Dead. This process is performed by once again filling the cauldron partially with necromantic herbs or wood shavings from trees of the dead. These are then lit on fire and the flames are watched closely for images or shapes. These are then interpreted by the necromancer according to his/her personal symbol system. If using the smoke from the fire to divine then the necromancer blows the smoke away from him/her after asking a question. If the smoke twists clockwise (deasil) the answer is NO. If it twists counterclockwise then the answer is YES. As with the message delivery a fire-proof base should be used. Another form of divination that uses a cauldron is done with olive oil (which is sacred to the dead) and water. The vessel is filled with warm water and then the oil is added. The shapes formed are interpreted symbolically.

A less common use for the cauldron is for the mixing of magical oils. In necromancy magical oils are used for a variety purposes though they are generally are less important than other tools. The oils that a necromancer uses are generally meant for the following purposes: anointing tools, dressing candles and other objects, and anointing the body before rituals or spells. Oils are not used by all necromancers except those who incorporate elements of other magical traditions (such as hoodoo, ceremonial magic, etc.) into their practice.


Note: the cauldron can also be be used to hold libations of olive oil, wine, or other liquid libations meant for the dead or chthonic gods. Additionally it can be used for holding things such as: bone dust, consecrated water, graveyard dirt, etc.

That's all for this post!

Slainte!

Usage and Properties of Graveyard Dirt

The most important thing one should know about graveyard dirt is that it is not a herb. Additionally there are no substitutes that will work properly despite opinions to the contrary. Graveyard dirt MUST be collected from an actual cemetery, preferably at night. In my personal opinion the phase of the moon while it is being collected is not of much importance. However I do acknowledge that dirt collected during a new moon is likely more powerful than if it was collected at another time.

When collecting dirt for a specific purpose a number of things must be done. First the type of working you are going to use the dirt for must be decided. Next research must be performed to determine whether there is an individual in your local cemetery which possessed the qualities needed for the magic. This can sometimes be done through a search of newspaper archives but most of the time divination is necessary. Once a grave with the required qualities is located permission from its inhabitant must be acquired. Sometimes this can be difficult and another grave must be located. Following this step the dirt must be collected and payment given to the deceased. The traditional payment is usually a dime since those in the United States once had a picture of the god Mercury upon it.

The powers and uses of dirt from specific graves can be determined by the nature of their resident. To demonstrate this I shall give a number of examples. Dirt from the grave of a soldier for instance can be used to induce bravery, strength, quick thinking, or to get an individual to obey you and follow orders. Dirt from the grave of a killer/murderer can be used both to gain revenge and to cause harm. In this instance negotiation with the spirit should be undertaken to prevent the dirt from actually causing death. To heal or cause illness, the dirt from the grave of either a doctor or nurse should be brought to bear. As a final example if one wishes to create romance, create sexual attraction, or induce lust the best variety of dirt to use is from an adolescent.

However for those who feel uncomfortable with taking dirt from an actual grave magical theory provides an alternative. This is simply to use dirt taken from a crossroads within a cemetery. Crossroads are thought in many belief systems to be places of great spiritual power associated with magic, rituals, pagan deities, demons, and the dead. The fact that a crossroads within a cemetery is possesses a double connection with the dead should make it quite powerful in necromantic operations. To use it for a specific type of magic I suggest mixing it with finely powdered herbs chosen specifically for the working.

Methods for using graveyard dirt including the following though there are more. Method number one is to rub it on your hand before you shake hands with someone you want to affect. This method is not recommended for cursing or hexing since it will also affect the necromancer. The second method is to sprinkle it around the property or inside the house of your intended target. The last one that sees common use is the blow powder method whereby a small amount is blown into the face of your quarry.

Wands in Necromantic Practice

Proper Length = 21.75 inches or 55.254 centimeters (Calculated using the average of 6 lengths from the following texts: The Avesta, The Grand Grimoire, The Book of Abramelin, Epitome of Supernatural Magic, Les Veritables Clavicules de Salomon, and The Key of Knowledge reference point 73)

Iron Wand: Steel is not an acceptable substitute, it MUST be iron. This wand is used to raise the spirits of the dead from their grave and summon them to your location. It can also be taken into a cemetery, then pointed at a grave while asking a question. The holder of the wand should be able to hear the answer of the spirit soon after. Lastly it can double as a weapon against angry spirits.

Yew Wand: The yew as mentioned in another post is known as the Tree of Death. It also symbolizes immortality/longevity (because it possible may be the longest-lived tree in the world) and rebirth (due to its uncanny ability to regrow from terrible damage). On account of this it can be used in spells of life and healing as well as in death curses. Since it was frequently planted in graveyards, it can also be used to summon the spirits of the dead.

Dogwood Wand: A Christian legend tells that this tree was used to crucify the White Christ and so was cursed to dwindle from its former size. The necessary information concerning this plant's connection to necromancy is hard to find but I was able to locate it. Dogwood can be used in ancestor workings both to draw upon their power and to call them to your aid.

Cypress Wand: Another tree connected with death. It can be used in spells of binding and release, increasing longevity, and for healing grief. Cypress also happens to be one of the sacred trees of the Greek god, Hades. It is likely it that it can be used to draw upon his power.

Willow: The willow is a tree with a connection to death that is overshadowed by its more upbeat aspects. This tree can be used in workings related to burials, summonings, and grief. 

Coffin Nails: Not Just for Malice

A necromantic tool derived from the system of hoodoo, the coffin nail is now an extremely rare item. This is due to the fact that it is no longer needed for making coffins in the American South. The coffin nail is easily identifiable by its square head and its iron content. Since not all of us are lucky enough to know an actual blacksmith (Score one for me), a substitute is available. Simply use old rusted nails, but make sure your tetanus shot is up to date (or just wear gloves).

So what is a coffin nail used for in necromancy? The answer to put it simply is a lot. The nails can be used to carve sigils/symbols/words/etc. into candles. Their most obvious use is in sympathetic magic, where they are used to pierce or prick a poppet. Other uses include talismanic creation, protection spells, hexing, spirit attraction, contract magic, War Water, and warding houses (ie: "nailing down the house"). The coffin nail is associated with graveyards, the dead, and burial and thus can be used in any related magic. They can also be combined with other things such as herbs, graveyard dirt, etc. in order to increase the potency of a necromantic spell. Lastly they can also be used in thanatic magic if they were exposed to death or a dying individual.