Creating a book of the dead.

necromancyandme:

Find a member of your family whom is seen as “wise” and who knows much of your family tree. It is a good idea to buy a note book and use it only for the names (and characteristics) of the dead.
It is also wise to get both sides of the family, so you may maximize the amount of spirits at your disposal.

If you are “in the closet” about necromancy you can rest assured that all you are doing is collecting names and dates as well as taking notes of what they were like in life. Nothing wrong with that.
You’ll need to mark down their birthdate, date and (if possible) time of death. Ask about stories and take notes on their personality. Ask for photographs of them and ask about their favorite food and drink.
Once you’ve written down all that you can, its time to divide them.
First make two lists,
One female and one male.
Next divide those lists into:
greater (spirits you know the most about) and lesser (spirits you know very little about).
Those lists will themselves be scaling from greater to lesser. The less you know of a spirit the less capable you will be to summon them. Knowing the favorites of the deceased will allow you to create more appealing altars and give your give better offerings during a ritual and knowing the personalities helps you choose what spirit you’d want to work and what to expect.

You should now have four lists, and a notebook full of names and knowledge of the dead. By doing this you have taken the first step into summoning a spirit.

a guide to exploring abandoned farms

mindfulwrath:

estrellian:

stimmyabby:

kittleimp:

otorohanga:

  • essential supplies include: plenty of food and water, a change of socks, a hat, rope, bandaids, a knife, gloves, an acorn in your pocket, and an offering
  • there are always odd noises on the farm. half of them come from the animals
  • try to forget what the lake looks like between the hours of three and four AM
  • never ever find yourself alone in the milking shed in the south end of the farm. time passes differently there
  • if you happen to hurt yourself in your exploration, make sure you do not bleed onto the dirt
  • bring plenty of water, you do not want to drink from there
  • the cows will watch you, this is normal
  • close every gate you open, even if the fields are empty. don’t ever leave one open behind you, just trust me
  • beware unstable rocks, the cracks tend to be filled with insect nests
  • bring a weapon with you, but no guns
  • if you see someone else while exploring, never tell them your name. you can never be sure if they are real or not, and further out you go, the less real they will seem. the patupaiarehe have evolved in cruel and unusual ways
  • do not go inside the empty share-milkers cottages, whatever you do, do not go inside. something else lives there now
  • a tree with the undersides of its leaves showing mean that a storm is coming. a tree with no leaves means the storm has already come
  • sometimes the hills look like they’re moving. be aware of this, because some things don’t like to be disturbed
  • do not sleep under the full moon, in fact, just don’t sleep on the farm
  • finding skulls is normal, only become worried when you start finding ribs
  • if you find yourself lost in a forest, continue walking in a straight line until you are free again. the trees may make it look as though you are going in circles, but i promise you’re not. ignore the soft music you can hear
  • your phone won’t work out here
  • the ghosts from the land wars won’t harm you, but be sure to show them respect
  • don’t take anything from the farm with you when you leave. just be grateful you have made it out alive

This is labeled as New Zealand Gothic so there are a few things specific to NZ here, but I live in Michigan and let me tell you. This isn’t a joke, not is it region specific. There is a farm my father has visited since childhood that never felt right. He once saw a black mass that they don’t like to talk about. A few years ago a swarm of flies attacked his tent one morning while he was camping with a friend. That same day, he became suddenly and violently ill. He brought whatever attached itself to him back home and it didn’t leave until we did a full cleansing ritual.

Do not fuck around on farm land. Especially if you don’t know what was on that land before it.

@aprilwitching

I actually need to add to this because there’s some stuff the locals out in Missouri told me.

  • around dawn/dusk/twilight if you feel something behind you, don’t turn around.  Even if you are in an open field
  • you hear a woman crying in the woods, hope that its probably a cougar.  dont go looking for it
  • avoid the woods around these farmlands if you can
  • dont cross streams
  • try not to be there around the evening time.  whatever you’re feeling will get worse and might follow
  • if you’re religious, don’t bring any artifacts of such if you can.  crosses etc.  it can upset whatever is there.  
  • I dont care how pretty the rock is, don’t pick it up
  • avoid going in most buildings.  not just the ones listed above.  especially barns.  look in, look around, don’t physically walk in there. not only is it structurally unsafe, you don’t know whats hiding in there.  corporeal or not.
  • lastly, before you leave.  check your belongings and pockets and anywhere anything you can stash stuff in. chances are you will be missing something, that’s normal.  if you had something there you didn’t before.  sometimes they just happen to be there even with no recollection.  get rid of it on that land, not off of it!

A Simplified Guide To Exploring Abandoned Farms, by MindfulWrath

  • Don’t

Herbs Associated With The Dead

thesecrethallowwood:

Here’s a quick post of herbs used to summon, talk to, or celebrate with the dead. It was created to invoke ancestors specifically, but I hope this helps all of you guys!

Bay leaves promote communication with the dead, are used in funeral wreaths, and shared during ancestral feasts on Samhain.

Birch is associated with rebirth and reincarnation. Blessings for the deceased are written on birch bark and burned.

Cedar is used to summon the dead, and in ancestral feasts.

Elderberries are used to decorate altars during Samhain.

Frankincense is used for purification while communicating with the dead and spiritual transformation.

Holly is associated with resurrection and renewal, thus making it an appropriate decoration for Samhain altars as well.

Lavender is used to bring peace to the dead.

Rosemary is burned in Samhain ancestral feasts to communicate with deceased friends.

Rose represents love, healing, and purification, also making it a great Samhain altar decoration.

Tobacco is used as an offering during ancestral feasts.

Wormwood is used to summon spirits and help them manifest.

Sources:
“Wortcunning: Herbs of the Deceased.” Nafaeria. n.p. 7 August 2008. Web. 17 October 2015.

“Necromatic Herbs: Plants of the Dead.” WordPress. n.p. 8 December 2013. Web. 17 October 2015.

Happy ritual making, and happy Samhain!