Basic Necromancy - Evocation Rules.

As I have mentioned elsewhere on this blog, I am a necromancer. This generally means I conduct divination by way of dealing with the dead. I have a few specific ways I do it. There are, however, some rules that I follow that make what ever method I use safe and effective.

• Never summon what you can't put down
• Control the space and conversation
• Control the spirit's range of effect (summoning circles)
• Have clear beginning and ending of session
• Cleanse the location of session before and after session to establish neutral energy levels

Some of these things are lessons that have been handed down since antiquity in the lore surrounding dealing with spirits and the dead. Summoning someone (or something) that is more than you can handle leads to problems. Poltergeist problems, to be specific. If you don't want random ghostly activity because the spirit was bored and decided to get your attention by flicking that box of popsicles you picked up at the store on to the floor before you got it in the freezer, make a point of laying them to rest at the end of your session. Otherwise you may have an unintended house guest for a while who randomly pranks you for their amusement.

Controlling the conversation and where the conversation happens is important when dealing with anyone you are not intimately familiar with. You don't know if they will be hostile towards you or not. You may have little to no idea what they are seeking out of the exchange. Treat the situation as a negotiation of a business arrangement. Controlling the space is equally important. Having clearly established boundaries and rules of conduct ensures that all parties involved in the discussions know what is expected and what is going to be tolerated. Leaving things open ended can make for a very unpleasant necromancy session.

Summoning circles are a traditional tool for controlling the space that the spirit can influence. Most of the folklore about summoning circles is pretty accurate. Summoning circles serve both as a containment system for potentially hostile spirits and a doorway for the spirit to travel into our plane for manifestation. When I use a summoning circle, I use a double set this way if one fails there is a second in place to maintain security. This provides for the safety of all parties because spirits that are manifested on the physical plane are vulnerable. The barrier of the summoning circle helps protect the spirit as much as it protects the people.

As with all magical rituals, a clear beginning and ending of the ritual is an absolute must. This helps us orient to and from magical work. It also allows us to stabilize the magical systems we'ere working with so that things to go too haywire when we're finished. A concrete beginning and end of a ritual provides structure to help the ritual function properly.

Cleansing the location before and after a ritual helps ensure that the location is magically neutral. This is good because it limits external influence upon your ritual and limits the unintended effects of your ritual upon the area. It is also just practical and responsible.