Be Aware That This Blog May Touch On Sensitive Topics Regarding Death So Read On At Your Own Discretion.

Necromancy Basics

What Is Necromancy?

Also called death work, necromancy is the art of interacting with the spirits of the dead. Necromancers may have many reasons for doing this including, but not limited to, divination, communication, healing, and cursing. Necromancy is an ancient magick, practiced in many forms, by almost all cultures, for thousands of years. The spiritualist movement of the 19th century popularized mediumship and gathering for seances. Today, necromancy is not as commonplace, but many witches still reach out to the dead to enhance their craft and to shift their perspective on death.

Many fear death, but the reality is that death eventually comes for us all. Death is a part of life, a process of nature, and an element in and of itself. Death has an energy that is capable of empowering those brave enough to face it head on.

Working With The Dead

Necromancy can be carried out using many different methods and for different purposes. Contacting the dead can actually bring peace to the living, helping them understand and embrace their own mortality. Conversely, ghosts can be employed as a means of baneful magick, cursing targets with their presence. The nature of the spirit will determine their influence on the living. As such, there are a few notable types of spirits:

• The Beloved Dead- The spirits of your dead friends, relatives, and ancestors. These are people who were connected to you in life, or by family ties. These spirits can be contacted to bring healing through closure as well as for general communication. They can lend their energy to workings, empower and heal you through their presence, as well as protect you from harm.

• The Mighty Dead- These are spirits of fame, notoriety, and influence. Having made a mark on the world in life, they still have much to offer in death. This type of spirit is fantastic for divination, empowerment, gaining knowledge and skills, and deep communication. The can be invoked by a necromancer through their name.

• The Dark Dead- These are the tormented souls who haven't moved on from their own traumatic death. They are full of sorrow, confusion, and rage. These types of spirits are extremely strong and should only be contacted by a skilled practitioner. Often, violent or intense hauntings are the work of these spirits. They can influence emotion and energy and can also exhibit poltergeist behavior.

• Animal Spirits- Dead animals can also be contacted through necromancy, often using the animal's skull or bones as a beacon and vessel. These spirits can empower workings, offer protection, or even help you connect to nature on a deeper level. Deceased pets can be worked with similarly to the Beloved Dead.

Furthermore, there are numerous methods and techniques one can utilize to achieve communication with the dead. These practices are not limited to the dead, as you can utilize many of these to connect with non-human spirits and deities as well. The most notable means of communication with the dead:

• Mediumship- Being a medium means you can psychically communicate with the dead. While some people are born with the natural ability, others can develop it over time from exposure to the spirit world.

• Seance- A group endeavor to summon a spirit, usually lead by at least one medium. Many other methods may be employed during a seance. These can be long events, often lasting hours.

• Talking boards- A talking board, often referred to as a ouija board, is perhaps one of the most widely known means of communicating with the dead. These boards have been used for centuries in various forms, usually by moving a planchette across the letters and symbols.

• Pendulum/dowsing rods- Also used to detect water underground, these useful tools are very sensitive to energy. A pendulum is a weight at the end of a cord or chain that swings in various directions and circles in response to energy. Dowsing rods function very similarly, but they are held loosly in the hands so they can spin freely. Most dowsing rods are made of copper wire, bent into an L shape. These can be used to detect spirits as well as calibrated to answer yes or no questions.

• Tarot/oracle cards- Cards have often been used to communicate with the dead. They can provide valuable insight into the nature, feelings, and traits of spirits as well as key events of their life/death. I recommend being a skilled reader before using this method to contact the dead, as there can be miscommunication.

• Mirrors- Mirrors can act as portals to the spirit world as well as make it easier to see spirits. Black mirrors work especially well for this as they limit distractions, allowing one to better focus or scry for answers.

• Technology- Modern necromancy definitely has an edge thanks to ground breaking devices often utilized by ghost hunters. Inventions like the ghost box and ovulus are made specifically for speaking to the dead. These can be expensive, however. An affordable alternative is a digital voice recorder which are able to pick up spirit voices or EVPs (electronic voice phenomena). Simply ask a series of questions, with pauses in between, and play it back to hear any responses.

Graveyard Etiquette

Graveyards, cemeteries, and burial grounds are excellent places to make contact with the dead. These hallowed spaces are often hubs for spirits and can be very valuable to practitioners who conduct themselves properly. The rules for graveyard necromancy are as follows:

• Leave an offering at the entrance for the cemetery guardian. Also leave an offering at any graves you work with. Traditional offerings include coins, liquor, tobacco and flowers.

• Ask for permission before taking anything from a graveyard and leave an offering in return.

• Ward/shield yourself before doing graveyard work. You can wear a pentagram or other protective symbol, or cast protection magick on yourself.

• Treat the graveyard and every grave with respect. Try your best to fix any damages done by others and keep the grounds clean of litter. Doing this will earn you major respect from the resident spirits.

• Always thank the dead for their time before leaving.

• Consider cleansing yourself after a visit, to ensure nothing follows you home. You can also wear a hood/scarf so spirits don't grab onto you, as they usually go for the back of the neck/head.

Graveyards are considered to be liminal spaces. These are special settings that exist in a place of transition and are known to be gathering places for spirits. Any magickal working done in a liminal space will be enhanced by the energy of that location. Other examples of liminal spaces include crossroads, hedge rows, halls, and doorways.

Relevant Posts

Necromancer's Tool Kit

Liminal Spaces In Witchcraft

The Pendulum

The Dark Dead And Baneful Necromancy

Black Opal Charm

The black opal is widely known as the 'Witches' Stone' and is prized for its magick enhancing properties. To increase your magickal power, change your stone with the following chant and place it on your altar.

"Opal black of burning fire,

Add the power that's required,

To make my magick hit its mark,

By light of day, or night so dark."

.

What is an Altar?

Altars are a hub of your magickal energy. A lot of witches perform spells there, seeing it as a source of valuable energy. It is also a place of worship if you have patron deities. For worshippers, this is where you would communicate and give offerings to said deities. This is also a wonderful space to charge and store your magickal tools. Altars are not a witchcraft-specific object, either- most christian churches have Altars dedicated to Jesus Christ as well!

What can be considered an Altar?

Anything that you use for any of the above can be considered an Altar. I use a bookcase as an altar but it can be anything from a table to an entire room to something as small as a suitcase or even an altoid can- something used commonly among closeted witches as it is not easily found or recognized by loved ones who might be so pleased with the concept of Witchcraft.

How do I decorate my Altar?

You can decorate it in any way you like! An altar, like the Craft in itself, is an extremely personal concept. However, here are various common ways I have seen some being decorated:

To honor their ancestors

To celebrate the seasons

To celebrate holidays such as Ostara or Yule

To honor their deities

Minimalist, having only their supplies and tools with it

Here are some ideas for each one one of these examples on the above list:

To Honor Your Ancestors 

Give Offerings of their favorite foods 

Decorate it in their favorite colors

 Have pictures of them on it 

Leave letters addressed to them on the Altar, sending your love and appreciation to them wherever they may be in the afterlife.

To Celebrate the Seasons 

Spring- decorate in bright colors such as yellow and pinks; regularly have flowers (real or fake) on or near it; dedicate your Altar to your patron fertility/life/nature deity 

Summer- decorate in bold colors such as reds and greens; leave plants such as cacti or produce plants like tomato plants on or near it; leave offerings of fresh (preferably local and in-season) plants on it; dedicate your Altar to your patron god of passion/sun/hard-work 

Fall- decorate in muted and comforting colors such as browns and oranges; leave offerings of wheat/cinnamon/squash; leave a small letter addressed to your late loved ones in this time of thinned veil; dedicated your Altar to your patron god of harvest. 

Winter- decorate in colors such as whites or blues or even black; leave sprigs of evergreen tree needles or cones near or on it; dedicate it to your patron god of death or life cycles

To Celebrate the Holidays 

Samhain- In this time of the thinnest veil, you would want to decorate your altar in a way similar to the way you would in honor of your ancestors. See above for ideas regarding that. 

Yule- Leave an (artificial) burning yule log on it, have sun imagery to celebrate the return of the sun 

Imbolc- Leave a burning candle (or an artificial candle on) on your altar all day; decorate with a bundle of wheat, a pomegranate, or other symbolism of fertility 

Ostara- Decorate with jasper or incense for jasmine or any other floral scent; leave offerings of food; if possible, move it in front of the sun

Beltane- Decorate with phallic decorations; leave items on it that bring great joy to your life, leave a candle of an earthy smell burning 

Litha- Decorate with imagery of the moon to welcome the growing darkness; leave it in dark colors for the same reason; similar to Imbolc, display symbols of fertility 

Lammas- Decorate in Fall-themed colors; Leave an offering of (preferably home-made) bread 

Mabon- Decorate your Altar in items and symbols of things that you are grateful for; leave a letter of thanks to your deity; cover in colors of transition such as orange-red, grays, blue-green, etc.

To Honor your Deities 

Cover your altar in their patron colors

 Display symbolism of their domain (for ex. A bowl of salt-water if they are over the Sea)

If their worship permits, display a portrait or artistic rendition of them! Feel free to do this yourself, no matter how you gauge your artistic abilities. I’ve even seen people represent gods with dressed-up dolls or barbies 

Light an incense in a smell that reminds you of them

The Minimalist Approach 

Typically these kinds of altars hold simply the tools of the trade and representations of the elements (none of this is mandatory ever and you should follow your gut with what is necessary for you): 

Incense to represent air 

Candles or light to represent fire 

A bowl of water to represent… well… water 

A bowl of salt to represent Earth 

Athame 

Candles 

Crystals

Wand

Hey Guys! I made some more printable reference sheets for y’all! You can download them along with my other reference sheets and printables here. Feel free to request printables and reference sheets as I am always looking for ideas to create more!! Also! Feel free to share Altar tips and decorating ideas on this post ^_^

CIRCLE CASTING 101

A magickal circle is an energetic construct that you build or envision around yourself before working magick, doing a ritual, some like to cast a circle before meditating or reading tarots. For a solitary practitioner the circle is typically 5-6 ft in diameter, but the size expands based on the size of the group. It can be defined physically, energetically, or both.

Circles provide protection and serves as a container for your personal energy as well as the energy you conjure.

Please remember that this is just what i personally like to do when casting a circle, but that there are many methods.

Preparation for circle casting

1. Determine how much space you will need.

2. Cleanse your area. Vacuum, sweep, throw away any trash in the area.

3.Make sure you have everything you need for your ritual! Theres nothing more frustrating than having your circle casted and realizing you’ve forgotten an herb or any supplies you need for the work you’re about to do.

4. Purify your area. Light purifying incense, sage, sprinkle salt and holy 💧. Most importantly, Visualize the negative energy dispersing. If you don’t focus & visualize, your physical actions will have little effect. Visualization is hands down one of the most important things in any and all magickal workings!

5. Now its time to cast your circle!

Visualize protective energy coming from within you and direct it towards your casting arm. Focus it through a casting tool (Athame, wand, or ✋)  and visualize a beam of energy coming from it and settling on the ground. Trace your circle with this energy, 3 times in a clockwise direction. Once for protection, once for focus, and once for power.

Call the 4 quarters

Face North and say “I call to the North, to the element of Earth. Grant me (us if not practicing alone) your endurance, your strength.”                                  Sprinkle salt onto your altar or crumble soil into a bowl on your altar.

Face East and say “I call to the East, to the element of Air. Grant me your creativity and your intuition.”                                                                             Light incense, wave a fan,or drop feathers onto your altar.

Face south and say “I call to the South, to the element of Fire. Grant me your passion and your energy.”                                                                                 Light candles.

Face west and say “I call to the West, to the element of Water. Grant me your empathy and your emotion.”                                                                              Pour blessed/storm/moon/natural water into a bowl or into your chalice.

Now would be the time to call on any deities you’d wish to work with. You can call any Goddess or Angel by personalizing this to them. I typically do not personally work with deities, but if you were to want to, Call to them similar to how the Elements are called. Ex. “I call to Gaia, Mother Goddess, Spirit of Earth.” and then place an offering symbolizing them, so for Gaia you might place  grain on your altar as an offering.

If not solitary, now would be the time to invite others to the circle. The group leader typically invites others in by a series of phrases, although i know every coven has their own method fine tuned for themselves, This is just the method i’ve seen used and am familiar with.                                                                    Group leader:”Children of the Goddess, I now invite you to enter our circle.” Each member will be asked “How do you enter this circle?” The response should be “In perfect love and perfect trust.”

Now its time to raise energy. This is the most important part of this process. It is so important because when you open your circle at the end of spellwork, You release all of your energy you have filled with intent out into the universe to go manifest whatever it may be you have called to. You want as much energy as possible to be released carrying your intent!

Here are a few ways! There is no wrong way to do this part, and there are SO MANY ways. You can fine tune this all to you. Remember that this is your ritual, and you want your energy fully behind everything you are doing. This is all customizable, most of all the energy raising.

-Witches Rune Chant

“Darksome night and shining Moon,

East, then South, then West, then North,

Hearken to the witches’ rune;

Here i come to call thee forth.

Earth and Water, Air and Fire.

Wand and pentacle and sword,

Work ye unto my desire,

Hearken ye into my word.

Cords and censer, scourge and knife,

Power of the witches blade waken all ye unto life,

Come ye as the charm is made.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell, Lend your power unto my spell,

and work my will by magic rite.

By all the power of Land and Sea, By all the might of Moon and Sun,

As I do will, So mote it be;

Chant the spell, and be it done.

Eko, Eko Azarak

Eko, Eko Zamilak

Eko, Eko Karnayna

Eko, Eko Aradia”

-Meditating to raise energy. Visualize energy building and building by visualizing warm, yellow light fill your body until its expanding out of your body and filling the dome above your circle. visualize it filling with energy until you are content.

-Music or Drumming, Dancing and Chanting.

Once you reach your desired energy level, it is time to get into whatever spellwork or ritual you desire to preform!

After your spellwork, its time for Cakes and Ale. I like to make little spirit cakes and have some red wine after a ritual. Expelling all of that energy from your body is draining, and you should take your time to enjoy this part of the ritual. Set a cake and some wine aside for the entities who have lent you their energy as thanks. Cakes can be anything, from saltine crackers to cupcakes. Ale can be water. Anything that works for you is ok. For my cakes, i bake a shortbread and mix whatever ingredients i want into the dough. This way, I can craft them with the intent for whatever ritual i may be doing.

ONCE YOU FINISH YOUR WORK SAY GOODBYE TO THE ELEMENTS AND THANK THEM FOR THE POWER THEY BROUGHT. ALWAYS SAY GOODBYE AND THANK ANY DEITIES CALLED ON. 

HERE IS HOW I DO IT:

-Farewell to Goddess. ex. “I thank you, Gaia, for gracing me with your glory. Farewell and Merry met.”

-Farewell to Quarters (Counterclockwise). 

“My thanks to the element of Water, Your compassion was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Now cover your dish of water or pour it out, Physically say goodbye as well.

“My thanks to the element of Fire, Your fierceness was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Douse your candle. 

“My thanks to the element of Air, Your wisdom was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Douse incense/flip fan/turn over feather.

“My thanks to the element of Earth, Your protection was a gift. Farewell & Blessed be.” Cover earth with a cloth, or return it to ground.

I like to walk the circle the opposite way of its casting three times, and voila!

Keep in mind that this is just my method! There are many methods and this is just one of them.

I hope this is helpful to you! 

-Love and light, @lapiscat

Bones In Magick And Divination

The long-standing tradition of using skulls and bones in magick dates back ages, yet it is a topic often overlooked in modern witchcraft, leaving many unsure of how to incorporate them. There are many excellent ways to use these mystical objects and their potent energy within your craft.

Some Ethics:

• Never harm an animal simply to obtain its bones for magickal purposes.

• It's best to find bones in nature or buy them from a trustworthy supplier.

• Remember to pay respect to the animal whose bones you are using.

Archetypal Energy

Because bones contain DNA they are not only spiritually, but biologically connected to the animal they came from and all its ancestors. This makes bones powerful totems and talismans that embody the qualities of that animal. This is important to consider when wearing bones or using them as vessels and guardians.

The House Skull

Bones and skulls carry a lot of protective energy. One traditional use for a skull was that of a house guardian. These skulls are usually given a place of prominence in the home and often adorned, painted or decorated. A ritual can be performed to invite the spirit of the animal back to use the skull as a vessel. A binding sigil can be used for this as well as to tie the spirit/skull to you and your home. Skulls are commonly stained red or black to embue them with more protective power.

Crafting

Bones and skulls can be used in creating magickal tools and crafts as well. Long bones and antlers make unique and powerful wands. Skulls can be mounted or hung. Smaller bones can be used to make things like witches ladders and chimes. They make powerful jewelry pieces and charms.

Bones In Spellwork

There are many applications for bones in spellwork including spirit/deity work, necromancy, and ancestral work. They carry the general correspondences of protection, healing, strength, stability, growth, life, and death. Bones are also used in baneful workings and binding. They can be used much like crystals. Each type of bone carries its own magickal properties and can be utilized in rituals, offerings, and as a component in spell jars/bags or poppets. They can be ground into bone powder for general purposes or burnt to bone ash for darker workings.

Bone Correspondences:

• Skull- Thoughts, power, divination, spirit, truth, higher realms

• Teeth- Communication, destruction, control

• Spine- Stability, strength, confidence energy

• Rib- Agility, shielding, abundance, vitality

• Arm- Harmony, balance, duality, physical interaction

• Hand/fingers- Skill, creativity, accuracy, progress

• Wrist/ankle- Flexibility, connection, fluidity

• Leg- Edurance, momentum, travel, change

• Foot/toe- Speed, stealth, balance, luck, prosperity

• Shoulder/hip- Structure, permanence, support, rest

• Tail- Secrecy, sudden events, change in luck, accidents/mishaps

• Claws/nails- Conflict, damage, persistence, defense

• Horns/antlers- Penetration, protection, determination, destruction, harm, nature(can represent The Horned God)

Throwing The Bones

Bones have have been used as a medium for divination for centuries, by many different people and belief systems. Today, it is unfortunately a dying art. It is still practiced sporadically, however and is referred to as osteomancy or curiomancy. Some practitioners choose to use only bones, while others include a variety of things in their kit. Some suggestions include:

• Charms

• Shells

• Coins

• Keepsakes

• Stones

• Toys/figures

• Items from nature

• Found objects

Once you have your items gathered, set to the task of assigning meaning to each bone/object. What feelings does it elicit for you? What does it make you think of? Write down your meanings in a grimoire or designated book. Find a bag or pouch to hold your 'bones'.

To cast your bones simply "shuffle" them around in the bag with your fingers, similar to shuffling a deck of tarot cards. Once you or the person being read are content with their thought/question, grab whatever is within your palm and cast them in a circular motion. For smaller kits, you may cast all your objects at once and use their location to interpret the message. Some read the bones in a spiral, while others use quadrants, rings, or even complex maps/spreads. You can use a cloth with a circle drawn on it or any symbols/design you feel appropriate. Each spread, style, and kit will be unique to its creator.

Coins are Essential to Hellenic Worship and Witchcraft

In Ancient Greece Drachmae (the coins/currency of the time) were used not just in everyday life but honoring the dead. It was believe that coins were offered to the deceased right before they were buried. The coins were given to grant the spirits passage to the underworld by paying Charon who will ride across Acheron, a river in the underworld to the afterlife, fearing they will get stuck on the shores if they don’t have the payment to cross. Though it is a very old superstition it is still very important to offer such a gift to the spirits that crossed over, though whether you don’t believe such a belief or do about paying the ferryman the act of the gesture is a sign of great respect and admiration for the departed. Collect your spare change and don’t be afraid to use them for various reasons:

- Offer them to your ancestors.

- Place a coin on gravestones when you visit a cemetery.

- Offer coins to your deities as money being one of the great sacrifices to give to them even if it’s just a penny.

You can also do spell work with coins as charms, divination (flipping heads or tails), talismans, focal point of power, etc.

Bones & Witchcraft

This post is 100% UPG (unverified personal gnosis), meaning that while other people may also do it - I came up with these methods myself and don’t claim that they are the only way to do it!

Spirit work:

Animal bones are a great way to connect to the spirit of that animal.

I typically do this by smoke cleansing the bone and myself, making the lighting dim and using my energy + intuition to connect me with the animal’s spirit/it’s past.

Holding energy:

I’ve found that bones are great at holding energy in a way that is long-lasting and doesn’t need to be recharged often.

It is powerful and transmits the energy with strength and subtlety.

I use water or soil to aid me, and while holding the bones in my hands, fill them with energy.

Using the animal’s energy:

Once I’ve established a bond with the animal’s spirit and feel comfortable with it, I will use the animal’s energy to aid me.

Some examples…

Deer bones for things like finding my way, moving quietly, awareness.

Antlers for strength, standing my ground, being intimidating.

Rodent bones for having a low profile, and more specific correspondences based off each species.

This involves either holding them and absorbing the energy or carrying them with me in a little pouch or bottle.

Using as wards:

Once I’m confident the bones are cleansed and able to hold energy, I perform a ritual to make them part of my wards.

It usually involves some combo of sigils, smoke cleansing, herbs, and the elements.

I then bury the bones or hang them in my room or the trees. (I make natural cordage if I hang them in the trees, when it breaks it shows I need to redo that part of my wards).

Connecting to their home:

As a nature-loving chronically ill person, I often am trapped inside.

I’ll use bones to transport me to where they laid before I found them or where their animal frequented usingvisualization.

Other ideas:

I do not do these, but they’re worth mentioning!

“Throwing the bones” divination.

Making a bone into a wand.

Using as a sigil amplifier.

Enchant them.

Use to connect to deities.

Utilize correspondences/energy for curses.

Quick note: Please ensure your bones are ethically sourced (don’t support people who get them using methods harmful to animals basically). ALL of mine are ones I found myself in the forest because that’s what feels best to me!

Related Posts:

On finding (animal) bones

On cleaning bones

Animal parts laws (external site)

Bones & Witchcraft

This post is 100% UPG (unverified personal gnosis), meaning that while other people may also do it - I came up with these methods myself and don’t claim that they are the only way to do it!

Spirit work:

Animal bones are a great way to connect to the spirit of that animal.

I typically do this by smoke cleansing the bone and myself, making the lighting dim and using my energy + intuition to connect me with the animal’s spirit/it’s past.

Holding energy:

I’ve found that bones are great at holding energy in a way that is long-lasting and doesn’t need to be recharged often.

It is powerful and transmits the energy with strength and subtlety.

I use water or soil to aid me, and while holding the bones in my hands, fill them with energy.

Using the animal’s energy:

Once I’ve established a bond with the animal’s spirit and feel comfortable with it, I will use the animal’s energy to aid me.

Some examples…

Deer bones for things like finding my way, moving quietly, awareness.

Antlers for strength, standing my ground, being intimidating.

Rodent bones for having a low profile, and more specific correspondences based off each species.

This involves either holding them and absorbing the energy or carrying them with me in a little pouch or bottle.

Using as wards:

Once I’m confident the bones are cleansed and able to hold energy, I perform a ritual to make them part of my wards.

It usually involves some combo of sigils, smoke cleansing, herbs, and the elements.

I then bury the bones or hang them in my room or the trees. (I make natural cordage if I hang them in the trees, when it breaks it shows I need to redo that part of my wards).

Connecting to their home:

As a nature-loving chronically ill person, I often am trapped inside.

I’ll use bones to transport me to where they laid before I found them or where their animal frequented usingvisualization.

Other ideas:

I do not do these, but they’re worth mentioning!

“Throwing the bones” divination.

Making a bone into a wand.

Using as a sigil amplifier.

Enchant them.

Use to connect to deities.

Utilize correspondences/energy for curses.

Quick note: Please ensure your bones are ethically sourced (don’t support people who get them using methods harmful to animals basically). ALL of mine are ones I found myself in the forest because that’s what feels best to me!

Related Posts:

On finding (animal) bones

On cleaning bones

Animal parts laws (external site)

💀Unusual Death Witchcraft💀

Visiting natural history and art museum. Not only for the spirit work (museums are surprisingly rife with spirits) but also the reflection on the objects themselves that are imbued with death energy due to their age.

Kitchen witchcraft with fermentation. I’m talking both home starters/yeasts and drink based fermenting! The process of encouraging fermentation is literally a controlled necromancy if you think about it! Also your own fermented product will be excellent to use in spellwork!

Upcycle crafting! The process of reusing items in a new way that you already had or seeking out items to use instead of letting them become trash is also working with death energy!

Playing death related games or watching movies with friends and family. Death witchcraft tasks and energy work doesn’t have to look witchy! If you have a weekly or monthly hangout where you play tabletops like Betrayal at House on the Hill or even online games. Or watch documentaries or movies with loved ones that related that totally counts! Especially as a lower spoon option.

Drawing or photographing abandoned buildings/architecture. So often people forgot that the decay of manmade objects and places do hold death energy and weight. Tapping into this side of death witchcraft can be an interesting experience.

Visiting a 24 hour store or restaurant in the middle of the night. This is a personal experience of mine but that quiet low level liminal space energy is such a similar transitional energy as to help you grow your experience and sensing of death energy. Also walking through a store at 3am is a good time to practice a walking meditation or some simple spirit communication without too much trouble. Just have your headphones in for an excuse!

Learning to maintain your own compost! I’m hopeless with the green thumb side of things myself but I still have composting I do for my yard in general. My wildflowers and natural growth is lovely because of it! The cycle of your kitchen supplies life and decay is such a simple and deep way to access that death energy and maybe even work your way up to having that green thumb! Also using this compost in spellwork will pack a punch!

What are some unusual ways you experience death witchcraft and energy?

Some Uncommon Tools in Death Witchcraft

I feel like some materials that are commonly used in other paths are often overlooked by death witches. For example:

Bloodstone is not often mentioned, but has incredible potential for death work. It represents blood flow in the human body, and therefore can be used in spells in the same vein as actual blood is used. I mainly use it to connect to ancestors, but you may also use it for grounding, protection, and energy work.

Cascarillla (ground eggshells) have potential in the craft; they represent death of a conceived chick, and the protection of new life. It can be used in place of salt if you’re scattering it around plants, as it won’t harm the surrounding nature. You can even make a black salt out of it by grinding it with ash or charcoal, or dying the egg before the grinding it.

Banana bread can technically be a good offering, since it uses brown bananas oftentimes. Bread is also a common offering for the dead.

Many witches recommend harvesting plants when they’re still alive. For death witchcraft, there may be more power in harvesting dead plants. For example, fallen eucalyptus leaves would make a fine addition to any protection powder against malevolent spirits, due to its association with both protection and death.

Sea shells and snail shells are traditionally common in bone throwing for representing the bones of the sea and the bones of the earth, respectively. If you don’t have actual bones on you, these would make a nice substitute.

Although blood is often recommended for linking yourself to a spell, you may also use nail clippings, hair, saliva, or even tears.

Paper clips are an accessible, cheap source of steel, which is mainly iron. A great ingredient in protection spells.

Dawn is a great time to work with beginnings and afterlife, while dusk has potential for spells about endings.

Dirt from crossroads or the gate of a cemetery helps one connect to spirits, and cross over into the afterlife.

Don’t want to use bones? Use nail clippings, talons, teeth, or even snakeskin or furs.