Necromancy

[Darklord_Kodiak]

This thread should get a variety of different responses. Asking the meaning of Necromancy is like asking the meaning of Paganism. The one thing I do know for sure is what the term means. Necros derived from the Greek meaning "dead" and manteia "divination". I love the fear this word brings, but why? This is most of my practice. As far as I am concerned its nothing more than being attuned with the dead. I am not looking to re-animate the dead nor ever have felt the urge to use a real corpse in my practices. Alot of opinions call for dominance of a soul to do the bidding for a person. All I have to say is, What? I work in harmony with the souls, the same souls that protect me and my soul. Just trying to figure out why some people have the urge to call this "black" magick, there is no white or black about it. I guess I just feel more of a conection to the dead than the living because personally the living scare me. Something about most of the human race that is really bothers me. I donot use this power to find out lottery numbers or foolish things like that, I use the knowledge to better myself now and for the afterlife, and most of all for protection. The whole thing that spawned this question is the fact that I was surfing the internet and found some real unsettling ideas people have of this subject. So I ask what does Necromancy mean to you?

[Kaija]

I think we are pretty much in agreement.. my practice of Necromancy is very similar. I don't know where ALL of the fear comes from.. I know that the Lovecraft variety Necromancers are pretty ... hmm.. unnerving sometimes (and no, I'm not generalizing.. I was stalked by one very large group of them.. they were not very.. *shudder*.. I don't even know the words) I use my practice for many things, but currently my main focus has been past life work.. (although this life has gotten in the way the last few months).. I have always been drawn to death also.. so much so that I wanted to be a Mortician.. still kind of do.. but I'd change it.. It's too much business and not enough help with crossing over, or acceptance. I don't know.. what else would you want to know?.. I don't think I have any knowledge that would be new to you..

[Rick]

Necromancy seen as a dark practice, inspiring fear in the general populace? Hmm... ya think it could be because, oh, I dunno, it was traditionally practiced under the gallows (on the corpses of hanged criminals) & at "haunted" places like burial mounds & such? Just a thought...

PS: I'm not opposed to the practice of necromancy. In the Northern Way, it is the traditional manner of divination.

[Akeyla]

I have done a little bit of research into Necromancy and The Necronomicon. So far my understanding is that they did use dead bodies and they did at some point sacrifice humans. The history of it is steeped in Eastern Philosophies(many of which are still hidden to the public world). A lot of the fear of it comes from the many people who have read the books and experienced wierd phenomenons, which could just be a misunderstanding but they are there nonetheless.

H.P. Lovecraft also used references to the book in many of his writings and always it lead to some atrocious crime against humans or some calling forth of horrific beings either from 'space' 'other dimensions' or 'tthe old world'. There are some that argue that he made the whole thing up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necromancy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necromancy)
http://www.digital-brilliance.com/necron/necron.htm (http://www.digital-brilliance.com/necron/necron.htm)

Here are two sites that I found discussed it in a general informative way.

From what you say it sounds like you are using only some parts of what it entails but like most pagan and/or wiccan practices, we each mold it to what we need, as long as it doesn't harm anyone or thing. It's all good.

Hope that helped a little bit.

I for one am not afraid of it or anything like that, but it does deffinately interest me a lot.

[Darklord_Kodiak]

I am very glad to meet people who are so well informed about topics that I am interested in. Thanks for the posts. They are very interesting. Keep em coming.
Kodiak

[Kaija]

Well, as far the Lovecraft's "necronomicon".. it has nothing to do with the words honestly.. as already mentioned Necromancy is "divination using the dead".. The necronomicon speaks of raising demons.. from.. I think it was seven veils.. it may have been more it's been awhile. Basically the point is to bring about the end of humanity.. raise Cthullu who will destroy all but you.. I seem to recall that one of the possible rewards was bringing someone back from the dead.. of course it would only be the two of you left.. so, how long before you ended up like everyone else is anyone's guess. Certain sacrifices were made to each demon (each layer)... they had to be perfect or the demon would take you instead.



As for the using of bodies.. I would for a crossing over ritual, but it would be someone that I knew and when it had to happen.. so part of a funeral most likely. , but otherwise.. yes, they have been used, but for many years artists/anatomists also used bodies.. sometimes digging up corpses.. (or even worse paying people for their dead.. some of those people went out and killed to get the money).. It's not very pretty, no fairy tale ending, but bodies are still used in medical schools, massage schools occaisionally.. (most of them use a video of someone massaging a corpse, but that's also part of the embalming process).. art .. just many different things.

Burial Mounds.. they aren't scary places.. I think that would be part of the question, What makes people afraid of them? .. The answer to this is the same as the answer to why people fear Necromancy..

The Fear of Death. Death as a symbol, or death as a "higher being".. or Dark Angel.. or whatever. People fear death.. and will fear people who seem too close to it. It's a similar fear that Morticians have dealt with for many years.

[Darklord_Kodiak]

I have to agree. Instead of people viewing Necromacy as a form of divination. Divination also being a term that holds alot of different meanings in itself. It is widly viewed as some kind of demon raising power. Its the general misappropriation of the term and the idea that leads to the ultimate fear of the term. If you really step back and take a look at it there is someform of Necromancy in every belief structure and or religion from the most simple to the most complex. The Necronomicon was some very interesting information I never ran across until now.

[TarotCanada]

H.P. Lovecraft's wrote works of fiction and that needs to be remembered.

Cheryl