By feeling the nearness of death, you turn your eyes inside and find nothing but banality, because the living, compared to the dead, are unbearably banal.
Miguel Delibes
This edition of Feed Your Head continues the exhilarating and, at times, eerie journey into the mysteries of life.
The term "necromancy" originates from the Latin word "necromantia," which is derived from the Greek word "nekromanteia," combining the Greek words nekros (meaning dead body) and manteia (meaning divination by means of). Essentially, "necromancy" translates to "divination by means of a dead body."
Although the literal definition of necromancy involves using the dead to predict the future, it encompasses more than just fortune-telling. Practitioners engage with the deceased in multifaceted ways that can influence the physical world of the living. For instance, necromancers may raise the dead to uncover secrets, seek forgiveness, or reveal the identity of a murderer.
Referred to as "death magic," necromancy is commonly associated with dangerous or "black" magic, despite the fact that some medieval necromancers were part of the clergy. Despite its negative connotations, this practice can also yield positive results.
Necromancy, the practice of communicating with the dead, is a topic that is addressed in various passages of the Bible.
Bible
In the Book of Deuteronomy 18:10-11, the Israelites are explicitly warned against engaging in necromancy along with other forbidden practices. The passage lists a number of activities that are considered abominations, including passing children through fire, divination, observing times, enchantment, witchcraft, consulting with familiar spirits, wizardry, and necromancy.
Similarly, the Book of Leviticus 20:27 reinforces the severe consequences associated with necromancy. It states that individuals who practice necromancy or act as mediums should be put to death by stoning, emphasizing the seriousness of this offense in the eyes of the ancient Israelites.
One of the most famous instances of necromancy in the Bible is found in the story of King Saul and the Witch of Endor from the book of 1 Samuel. Desperate for guidance before a decisive battle, Saul sought the help of the witch to summon the spirit of the deceased Prophet Samuel. Despite the risks and prohibitions, the witch complied and Samuel's spirit appeared, delivering a grim prophecy of Saul's impending doom. The events that followed validated the prophecy, as both Saul and his son met their tragic end in battle as foretold.
These biblical accounts serve as cautionary tales about the dangers and consequences of dabbling in necromancy and seeking forbidden knowledge beyond the boundaries set by divine law. They highlight the belief in the supernatural and the moral implications associated with attempting to communicate with the deceased, shedding light on the ancient perspectives on life, death, and the boundaries between the living and the dead.
Necromancy in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
In the Middle Ages (after the fall of Rome), necromancy was strictly forbidden by the Church. This, of course, did not stop its practice. Surprisingly, many medieval necromancers were members of the clergy who believed they were invoking the help of God to conjure demons, angels, and spirits. Necromancers were also alchemists or "natural philosophers," whose interests included not only chemistry and medicine but also the quest for eternal life. The techniques used to raise or communicate with the dead were related to those used for exorcism (the removal of demons); they also included a wide range of occult practices and the use of hallucinogens.
Ancient necromancers generally raised the dead in order to learn secrets or to gain insight into the future. Occasionally, the dead were raised so that the living could gain their forgiveness or direction (or, in some cases, just to communicate). Medieval necromancers had similar goals, but in addition, they summoned the dead to manipulate the living and occasionally made use of the bodies of the dead.
Perhaps the best-known medieval necromancer was Johann Faust, a German alchemist who dabbled in the occult and, in particular, in necromancy. Born during the early 1500s, the historical Faust was described as a magician, astrologer, and trickster. His supposed interactions with the dead made him the subject of plays and even operas. Christopher Marlowe, for example, made him the anti-hero of one of his plays, The Tragedy of Doctor Faustus.
Contemporary Necromancy
Fascination with necromancy has by no means disappeared since the Middle Ages. Fictional accounts of interactions with the dead continue to be extraordinarily popular.
While books and movies such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy do not necessarily use the term "necromancy," they all relate to using or interacting with the risen dead. Mediums (people who claim to communicate with dead) are often called upon to ask the dead for secrets or to foretell the future. In addition, popular games and television shows include reanimation of the dead (many focus on zombies, which have a different history). Even books and movies for young people, including the Harry Potter series, have themes related to necromancy.
How Necromancers Communicate With and Command the Dead
Over the millennia, the processes for reaching the dead have changed dramatically. In some cases, the process is very simple; mediums, for example, may call upon their spirit guides or go into a trance without complex rituals or spells. Historically, however, the processes for communicating with the dead through necromancy are quite extensive and dramatic. In some cases, necromancers have lived very austere lives—eating only certain foods, avoiding even the sight of women, remaining celibate, and so forth. Often a virginal boy or man was called upon to complete the ceremony.
While ceremonies performed today are quite varied, some of the following elements are common.
Necromantic rituals usually begin with the necromancer drawing signs and inscriptions on the group with a knife or sword (or on a cloth in ink or blood). The circle is not only a symbol of power but is also a means for containing the spirit of the dead and thus protecting the necromancer.
Words are added to the circle, including inscriptions pointing to north, south, east, and west, the names of the necromancer, the medium, and the spirits being called.
Signs usually include ancient figures such as a pentagram, astrological, and astronomical symbols.
Objects such as jugs, swords, or candles are placed at specific locations to be used during the ritual.
Once the scene is set, the necromancer goes through a ritual which varies a great deal. Some elements may include:
A prayer or plea to the spirits, angels, or demons being invoked.
Instructions for how the dead should appear and what they should do.
Spells which, in some cases, are based on Biblical passages.
Sacrifices (animal blood, milk, honey, ashes, flour, or salt placed in jugs or sprinkled around).
Rituals ranging from knocking two stones together, burning candles, etc.
VETALAS
The concept of vetalas is deeply rooted in ancient Indian spiritual and mystical traditions, particularly within the realms of early Buddhist Tantra. Vetalas serve as powerful symbols, bridging the worlds of the living and the dead, and reflecting themes of control, power, and danger. The distinction between "wild" and "created" vetalas adds a fascinating layer to their mythos.
The wild vetalas, akin to vampires, resonate with the fear of untamed spiritual forces that haunt the liminal spaces between life and death. Their characteristics of courtly manners and bat-like transformations hint at a deeper narrative of the dangers posed by unrestrained spirits that can deceive and prey upon human weaknesses. The notion of improperly handled corpses becoming vulnerable to these spirits emphasizes the importance of ritual and respect in dealing with death.
Created vetalas, controlled by necromancers, reflect the human desire to wield power over life and death. The practice of binding spirits into corpses, like the zombie tradition in Haitian voodoo, reveals a similar cultural anxiety about the consequences of exerting control over supernatural forces. In both cases, there's a balance of utility and danger, as the potential for the spirit to break free underscores the inherent risks of attempting to dominate the unknown.
This duality—between control and chaos, utility and destruction—is a key theme in the spiritual texts of early Buddhist Tantra, where mastery of the supernatural was sought not only for personal power but also for achieving deeper spiritual goals. The vetala represents both a tool and a test of one’s command over the spiritual realm, with the ever-present danger of failure serving as a reminder of the perils of meddling with forces beyond ordinary understanding.
Vetalis: the Buddhist succubi
Another significant aspect of vetalas was their importance in Indian Tantra, where sexual practice ("karmamudra") played a central role. This method was believed to be the quickest and most effective in Tantra, provided one had the capability for it. However, a challenge arose in finding a willing partner, as early forms of karmamudra were viewed as repulsive. For men, the common approach was to seek the services of a low-caste prostitute, although not everyone had the means or faced other practical obstacles to do so. Monks, on the other hand, encountered additional challenges due to the monastic vows of vinaya, which prohibited engaging in sexual activities with women.
An alternative practice that gained popularity was the raising of a vetali, specifically a female vetala, which was approved for monks to engage in karmamudra without violating vinaya rules. This ruling sparked a significant interest in learning how to raise vetalis, leading to a surge in demand for information on the subject. It is crucial to understand that authentic sexual practices within Tantric contexts are meant to benefit both parties involved. While some literature may portray a one-sided approach using individuals like prostitutes, slaves, or corpses for karmamudra, it is emphasized that such practices are ultimately self-defeating.
Clueful Tantrikas comprehend the importance of mutual benefit in these practices and engage in them accordingly. Vetalas and vetalis, despite often being perceived as malevolent beings, can undergo transformation through Tantric practices, much like humans can. The belief that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature extends to the undead as well. Historical records suggest that during the era of the Mahasiddhas in India, there were numerous highly-realized vetalis, some of whom were renowned not only as consorts but also as teachers.
One notable figure in Tantric lore is Vajra Vetali, known as the Queen of the Vampires, who achieved Buddhahood as the consort of Yamantaka. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche composed a powerful invocation dedicated to her, describing her as someone who consumes the ego's blood and takes action against those who distort the teachings as night descends. This invocation is a significant part of the practices carried out in Shambhala centers as a tribute to the enlightened vetali and her transformative journey within the realm of Tantra.
Source of inspiration for history in Tantric scriptures David Chapman https://buddhism-for-vampires.com/the-tibetan-book-of-the-undead
✨️EXTRA EXTRA✨️
The term ayahuasca comes from the Quechua language and means "vine that leads to visit the dead", because according to anthropologist Josep Maria Ferigcla, the Quechuas believed that "when one was under the psychoactive effect of ayahuasca one had visions of the inhabited world." by the spirits of the ancestors.” Currently, Ayahuasca ceremonies have expanded from the Amazon jungle to the large cities of Colombia, more recently; However, for anthropologist Roberto Restrepo, these ceremonies have lost the spiritual value they originally had, and they should be called experiences of urban shamanism or neo-shamanism
Shaman, Shaman, Shaman!
Trying to talk to our dead becomes a rite, a ceremony that links us to death and could help us in the transition from mourning and the quest to make the biological phenomenon of death more knowable. Aren't we a bit necromancers when we dream about our dead? When, rather than asking them, we demand that they contact us, talk to us, be present in any way; when we want to communicate with those who are no longer there, with those who are no longer there.
Grief could be compared to a stubborn longing to realize the seemingly impossible. Death, then, is presented as a determining condition of imagination, of creativity. Artificial Intelligence currently allows access to duplicates of our loved ones who have passed away, with whom we can have a virtual conversation, either through text or video, thanks to a bank of audio files and images, which provides the illusion of being in contact with that person again. Impossible not to link it to what happens in Adolfo Bioy Casares" novel The Invention of Morel, published in 1940: a continuous reproduction of holograms depicting humans.
Mirages, fantasies. Ambiguous, confusing situations. Religion and skepticism. Choosing to believe will always be a subjective decision.
Our dead, our voids, make us up. We take by the hand one or more ghosts that we do not want to let go so as not to feel completely uninhabited. They accompany us day and night, in laughter and tears. Or so we want to think to make up for the abandonment in which the departure of those we want leaves us. We even talk to them, we imagine their voices, those that, little by little, are diluted among the days of us, the living. Those who remain. What would we ask those who are no longer there? Why do we believe that they, in that other dimension or plane, will have answers for what they most likely would not have been able to respond to in life?
✨️Till next time ✨️Reach out and explore, explore, explore, before the big change comes 🧿👁🧿
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Sources
Rudy, Lisa Jo. "What Is Necromancy? Definition, Origins, and Examples." Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/what-is-necromancy-4796625.
Kapcar, Andrej. “The Origins of Necromancy or How We Learned to Speak to the Dead.” Academia.edu - Share Research, www.academia.edu/37504678/The_Origins_of_Necromancy_or_How_We_Learned_to_Speak_to_the_Dead.
“Lay That Ghost: Necromancy in Ancient Greece and Rome.” Biblical Archaeology Society, 11 Apr. 2019, www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/ancient-necromancy/.
“Necromancy from Antiquity to Medieval and Modern Times.” Medievalists.net, 30 Oct. 2018, www.medievalists.net/2015/10/necromancy-from-antiquity-to-medieval-and-modern-times/.
“Medieval Necromancy, the Art of Controlling Demons.” Inici, www.sciencia.cat/temes/medieval-necromancy-art-controlling-demons.
Ogden, Daniel. Greek and Roman Necromancy. Princeton University Press, 2005.
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