The Witches' Book of the Dead (8 page)

More common offerings through history include honey, wine, olive oil, flowers, a mixture of milk and honey (a fantastic libation of the dead!), honey wine (mead), sprinkled barley, fava beans (popular in Sicilian Catholic areas for Saint Joseph's day—he is the patron saint of a happy death), blood (pricked from your own finger with a sterile medical lancet, available at any drug store), jewelry, your own hair, and resins of myrrh, copal, and other funerary incenses. Sicilian Strega Lori Bruno shared with me her ancient family recipe for the food for the dead, which you can find in
appendix A
.

Whether you do this daily, weekly, or (at least!) monthly, try to keep the connection flowing by leaving both the more common, universal offerings and those items that speak personally to the spirits you are trying to attract.

4
The Witches' Tools of spirit Work

In the previous chapter you learned about the altar of the dead and its offerings. But Witchcraft is also about magic and rituals of power. Tapping into that power can be accomplished by the use of the Witches' tools—sacred implements used by magical practitioners to conduct their magic and channel spirit powers. The skull is certainly the most important implement to have on your altar. However, if you want to elevate it even further from merely a place of reverence to a fully working magical power center, there are other tools you will want to acquire as well.

The truest magic of the Witch lies within the heart, the spiritual center of being where we are most connected to the wondrous energies that flow through all of creation. Even the aforementioned skull is but a doorway through which your own power manifests. Tools are not the source of the Witch's power, but rather an extension of it, a means by which she can amplify her inner reservoirs of magic.

Magic allows us to send out spiritual energy from the body while psychic ability allows us to draw it in. Each process requires a different kind of tool. Tools for sending energy include the wand, the ritual dagger, and other points of focus, while tools for drawing energy include the chalice, the pentacle, and other objects of receptive nature. Jewelry and other adornments can often be used for either purpose, such as a labradorite ring worn on the left hand to bring in spirit power or a pentagram ring worn on the right index finger to direct the will of the Witch.

Working with the dead can be as simple as psychic interaction with them, but it is also important to note that certain items can help fuel the process by increasing the level of spiritual energy necessary to draw the spirits to participate in your magic. The tools of spirit work vary from tradition to tradition. The ones shared here are those that I find to work the best. These tools will also be employed in the rituals found in later chapters, so it is important to try to obtain as many of them as you can. You will likely add to this list over time, but this is an important foundation for beginning your magical practices.

The Bronze Dagger

As old as the tale of Homer's
Odyssey
, the bronze blade was used to shed the blood of those animal sacrifices meant to raise the spirits. Some may find this barbaric, and it is not a practice I personally prefer. However, the bronze blade is also a powerful symbol of protection and commanding. While steel or iron may repel spirits altogether, a bronze dagger is a softer energy, welcoming in the spirits with the warning that they not run afoul of the sorcerer lest that blade be taken up in defense. The bronze dagger is also used where a magic circle of protection is to be cast. My own dagger is a solid piece of bronze with a hilt formed of two dragon talons, and the blade itself textured with dragon scales. The dragon is an ancient symbol of wisdom and protection. The dagger is also a symbol of the element of Air—one of the great four elements that should be represented on any working Witch's altar.

The Yew Wand

Shawn Poirier first taught me to conjure the spirits with a wand of the poisonous yew tree, which represents the powers of death and rebirth. The wand is an extension of the Witch's will and is used to channel her energy into the universe. The yew is sacred to the Witch goddess Hecate in her guise as queen of the underworld and helps the Witch to direct the spirits of the dead to go and do her bidding.

According to lore, the wand must be measured from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger to represent an extension of your power. However, I am flexible about this rule. Whatever size your yew wand, be sure that you feel a connection to it, for it will be among your most frequently used magical tools. Not incidentally, J.K. Rowling, the author of the popular
Harry Potter
novels, chose yew for the wand of the Dark Wizard Voldemort, whose army of “death-eaters” were competent necromancers. The wand represents the element of Fire.

The Pentacle of Protection

Often found on the Witches' altar, the pentacle, or five-pointed star, is typically carved or etched upon a flat platter known as a paten. The pentacle is one of the earliest symbols that humans learned to draw. Within the star are formed the extensions of the human body: head, arms, and legs surrounded by the sacred circle, a symbol of divinity and protection in many cultures. Placing charms and spells upon the pentacle will help to energize them with the power you call up in your rituals; you can also place your offerings to the dead upon it. You should always try to keep the pentacle present during any ritual involving the dead, in case any harmful spirits show up. The pentacle represents the element of Earth.

The Chalice of Libation

Traditionally, the chalice is used by Witches to draw down the powers of the gods to be shared among those participating in the ritual. The chalice represents the deepest feminine mysteries of the goddesses of old. In the case of the altar of the dead, however, the chalice is used for offerings of libation for the dead and for the deities who represent them. It can be used to pour small amounts into the cauldron (see below). You must only drink from
this
chalice when you wish to share in the communion of the dead. Such drink is often accompanied by spirit visions and intense dreams. The chalice represents the element of Water.

The Spirit Rattle or Bell

Sound is often used to help call the spirits. In my own practice, I use a papier-mâché rattle that was made by an artist into the head of Anubis, the Egyptian guide and guardian of the dead. In the Voodoo still practiced today in Haiti, the Houngans (priests) and Mambos (priestesses) use the sacred Asson rattle, much like magicians might use a wand, to raise spiritual energy and to invite the spirits to participate in the ritual. In traditional European magic, a bell was the tool of choice for using sound to invoke the spirits. It was also used to banish them in rituals of exorcism, though I prefer a rattle for this as well. Sometimes, Witches will use a drum to raise the spirits. Whatever your preference, it's important to have some ritual sound tool to work with the dead.

The Cauldron

In ancient rituals of the dead, a fire pit was often used to make offerings to the spirits. For the altar of the dead, we will use the cast iron cauldron, preferably with three legs. The cauldron is a symbol of the great womb of creation, hearkening back to the days when mother goddesses were worshipped for their creative powers. The cauldron contains the mighty powers of death and
rebirth. Your cauldron will be used to burn spells written on parchment asking for the dead to grant your wishes. You will also put some of the offerings to the dead into the cauldron, particularly offerings of your own blood (only a few drops are needed!), honey milk, wine, olive oil, and other offerings, some of which may be poured from the chalice or a libation bottle. You may also create a fire in the cauldron to see visions of the dead in rites of necromancy, which you'll learn about in
chapter 9
. Just be careful not to allow too much fire, and be sure to place the cauldron on a ceramic tile so as not to damage your altar. As with any fire, whether candle or cauldron, never leave it unattended. The cauldron itself is a symbol of Water, but when we add the element of Fire, we combine the powers of divine masculine and feminine to ignite the spark of life—attracting the dead like moths to a flame.

Spirit Incense and Burner

It is good to keep powdered spirit incense to burn over charcoal in an incense burner. I recommend my Necromancy Incense, which is listed in
appendix A
. Incense further carries your will and intention into the realms of spirit. I prefer granular incense that is sprinkled onto a disk of charcoal within a small pot or cauldron. Stick incense is acceptable as well, as long as it contains ingredients of spirit such as wormwood, copal, dittany, and myrrh. If you're using a burner with powdered incense, add a bit of sand to the bowl and place a ceramic tile underneath it so the heat from the charcoal doesn't damage the bowl or the altar.

Spirit Powder

Spirit powder is used to create a boundary of sacred space. You sprinkle it much like some traditions of magic would sprinkle salt, in an area—preferably circular—around where you're going to be doing your magic. There is a powerful recipe for this in
appendix A
. As you'll learn in the chapter on necromancy, it's important to create boundaries through which only benevolent
spirits may pass. There are energies out there that are not conducive to your work, and using a barrier of spirit powder creates both a physical and spiritual boundary through which only that which is true and pure shall enter!

A Jar of Honey

Honey is one of the best ways to sweeten your relationship to the spirits. It is one of the oldest ways in history to honor and make offerings to the dead—so much so that it should always be on your altar.

Skeleton Keys

Skeleton keys, especially those once used by people who have passed over, can also open doors to other worlds. In New Orleans Voodoo, Papa Lebas (who corresponds to the Haitian Legba) is the keeper of the crossroads, often represented by Saint Peter with his equilateral cross of keys. Having them on the altar symbolizes the opening of doors.

Anointing Oil

Use anointing oil to bless ritual tools, statues, the skull, and your person in the ritual space. See
appendix A
for a recipe for anointing oil.

Candles

Some Witchcraft traditions observe strict guidelines on what candles should be where on an altar, but the ancestral altar is flexible. Typically, the candles on the altar at HEX are seven-day candles in glass, decorated with imagery of various ancestors, deities, or magical intentions. If you don't have such candles, simple white and black candles will do. A white candle on the right of the altar sends out energy and honors the dead, while a black candle on the left draws in universal light and wisdom.

There are many more tools that you can incorporate into your magic that are beyond the scope of this book, but I urge you to personalize your magic by seeking those items that speak to you, draw upon your own ethnic bloodlines and traditions, or are essential symbols of those spirits you are hoping to build relationships with. Just as you get to know your friends in this world, get to know your new friends in spirit and discover what they relate best to!

5
Banishing and Exorcism

Working with the dead opens doorways to other worlds. It rings a bell that lets the spirits know that you're here and ready to work with them. Unfortunately, you aren't just alerting spirits that you may actually want to work with; you're also getting the attention of some that might not be so friendly. Those kinds of spirits love to cause trouble. Some may already be lying dormant around you, silently creeping about your home, waiting to be awakened by your magical dabbling. This is why it is so important to understand how to rid your home of spirits when they begin to cause problems.

The best offense, as they say, is a good defense, and so you need to know how to keep yourself safe from supernatural dangers. One of the best ways you can do this is to enter into your visionary state and visualize an energy shield of protection around your body that strengthens your own aura— the psychic energy field that surrounds all living things. Another is to carry protective jewelry, charms, and other accoutrements of magic that harmful
spirits have learned to recognize and fear, much like the vampires in movies recoil from the cross.

The skills of psychic protection, banishing, and exorcism are crucial to magic, so if you're looking to study them more in depth, I recommend Dion Fortune's 1930 classic
Psychic Self-Defense
. In the meantime, this chapter should provide you with the basic information you need to keep yourself safe and sound as you make your exploration into the worlds of the dead. To begin, it's important to figure out what you're dealing with.

Unwelcome Spirits

While the work you do will draw many good spirits to your altar, you might not want some of them around. Such unwanted visitors can be very hard to dismiss. Angry spirits can often be strong and take more effort to usher off. Other spirits, regardless of their intentions, may be energized by peculiar energies of place. This is one reason why certain places become haunted— the dead are able to use place and land as an anchor in the physical world, especially in those places to which they had a personal connection. It is important to close the doorway to the spirit realms after the dead have been summoned and business is concluded lest an entity that you don't want to contend with comes wandering through.