My ed reminding me of my appearance whenever I eat:
shuffle - shuffle your cards for some time with cleansing intent.
sort the cards - put the cards back in the order of the major arcana from 0-21, wands, cups, swords, and then pentacles. let them stay like this for a short while, until you feel they’re cleansed, and then shuffle them again.
crystals - choose a crystal with your intent and place it on top of your deck, or create a crystal grid around it.
smoke cleansing - pass your deck through the smoke of burnt sage or rosemary, or through the smoke from insense.
sunlight/moonlight - natural light sources give healing energies to your deck. sunlight is more masculine, while moonlight is more feminine. keep this in mind when choosing a light source and what’s best for your deck.
meditation - meditate on the cards. this may be one card at a time or the whole deck at once.
yoga - do yoga with your deck, this will soothe and cleanse you both and create a stronger bond between you and your deck.
sound - use a song, a bell, or an instrument to wash vibrations over and through your deck to release energy.
salt - sprinkle salt gently over your deck or put your deck in an airtight bag and submerge it in a bowl of salt and let the salt absorb pent up energies.
sigils - write a cleansing sigil on a slip of paper and put it in the box or bag with your deck.
fresh air - set your deck on a windowsill by a cracked open window. allow the movement of fresh air to cleanse the pent up energy from your cards.
close contact - keep your deck beside or under your pillow as you sleep to both cleanse and build a close relationship with your deck.
brand new deck - if you bought or have been gifted a new or secondhand deck, the best way to sort out its energy is to cleanse it before the first use.
after each use - this is the best way to upkeep the health of your cards.
every day - a great way to take care of your cards, routine cleansing is a wonderful daily ritual for you and your deck.
when someone else touches it - energies can get muddled when someone other than the reader touches a deck.
after a complicated reading - your deck can run out of energy quickly when you ask it to do a complcated reading, and the best way to replenish these energies is to cleanse.
after not using it for a while - stagnant energies will build up in your deck if you go a while between uses. the best way to counteract this is a thorough cleansing.
with your life cycles - whether moon cycles, menstrual cycles, or sleep cycles, cleansing your deck when your energy is high can be a good idea.
whenever your deck tells you - sometimes you will be able to feel when your deck needs to be cleansed. a good cleansing and recharging is helpful when shuffling becomes difficult, you’re getting the same cards repeatedly, or you feel your deck run low on energy.
nostalgic, nurturing, resourceful, traditional
I realize that others have written up posts on death witchcraft, but I decided to write one as resources on this craft are scarce and I know many are curious. Note that every witch practices the craft differently, and for different reasons; these are just my personal experiences based on myself and the death witches I’ve spoken to.
I personally define death witchcraft as using death to empower you rather than dishearten you. I reflect a lot upon the concept of death, come to terms with my own death, and work through spiritual “deaths” in my life, such as the death of friends or jobs of an aspect of my personality. Death witches work with and honor spirits of the dead (ghosts, ancestors) as well as the power of death itself (endings, resurrections). I embrace death as a new beginning, and a pivotal point in the cycle of life.
Does this answer sound familiar? Because I’ve said it before, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. I get this question a lot, you see, which is why I’m making a post about it. (⌒_⌒)
As with many paths, every witch does it for different reasons. For some, it’s a fear, or similar fascination, with death and its inevitability. Some practice it to find peace with death, and the dead. Some combine it with chthonic worship. And some just think it’s cool shit. No matter the reason, death witchcraft is one of the more emotionally tolling and obscure crafts out there. So if you’re interested, be prepared to commit.
A lot of spirit work, mainly caring for the dead. Ways I do this include tending to graveyards, giving offerings to the dead, helping the dead pass on, and helping people through mourning. I do a lot of shadow work, where I face my fears about death and the “deaths” in my life, and come to terms with accepting it. I also honor ancestors, honor different cultures’ funeral rites, and necromancy.
Other witches combine the craft with vulture culture, or becoming a mortician or funerary holder. I personally do not.
Necromancy is divination through the dead. Basically–talking to the dead to receive insights into the present or future. Necromancy can be performed in many different ways, including but not limited to summonings, bone throwing, pendulum readings, and other rituals. No, there’s no reanimating of the dead; many necromancers are strictly against that, if it is at all possible.
Some necromancers are death witches; some are not. I know many death witches who incorporate divination into their path, but would not call it necromancy. The lines seem to be blurred here. But because I receive so many questions on it, I figured I’d include it in the FAQ.
Well, uh … yes and no. Considering how much work death witches do with the spirits of a dead, a general belief in the afterlife is common among death witches. However, I do know some death witches who engage in past life work as an aspect of their craft instead of working with ghosts. Death witchcraft has the capability of neatly fitting into most kinds of religious belief, if necessary.
No. In my opinion, at least, no. The only thing “dark” about death witchcraft is that it involves, well, death, an idea which many people are uncomfortable with. And it can be a hard and draining path. But, dark? Or unethical? Not at all.
The only rule I can think of that I would ever even think to enforce is to respect both the dead and the living. The dead are not your slaves, they’re not there to give you power; they’re just as valuable as we are. Respect them, and they’ll respect you.
Check out these posts ~
Tools for the death witch
Magical uses of graveyard dirt
Graveyards in Witchcraft by @witches-of-ouroboros
The Proper Collection of Graveyard Dirt by @raven-conspiracy
Offerings for the dead
Altar ideas
My protection techniques (there are many others, but these work for me)
If you’re interested in necromancy
Guide to worship for chthonic deities (if applicable)
List of chthonic deities (if applicable)
Emotional death spells
Death witches to follow
Crystals in death magic by @cosmic-witch
Spirit communication with animal bones
Seeing past lives (if applicable)
Substitutes for your own blood (if applicable)
Substitutes for graveyard dirt (if applicable)
More on what death witches do by @snake-scale
Is it one of these? ~
How can I conquer my fear of death? ~ Part Two ~
Does long-time exposure death energy affect you?
How do you know you are making a difference?
Being a death witch vs. being a spirit worker
Death walker vs. spirit worker
Are certain necromantic rites necessary? (imo)
Do you need to be a necromancer to be a death witch?
I’m a secret witch! What should I do?
I’m freaked out of spirits. Any tips?
On the death of a familiar
Do I have to use real bones?
What does it mean to “pay the gatekeeper”?
Praying for roadkill
How can I contact a dead relative?
Do I have to use a ouija board?
When speaking to the dead, are language barriers an issue?
Using ashes of the dead
On ghosts of separated bodies
Letting go of a lost relationship
There’s a spirit in my house??
What’s with this ‘raising the dead’ stuff in necromancy?
What are death energy exercises?
Combining death and glamor magic
I’m a secular witch. Can I still practice?
On miscarriages
On suicidal tendencies
Uncommon tools in death witchcraft
Do ghosts only hang out by their bodies?
Can souls feel pain after death?
Can I worship the concept of death?
I have a stranger’s graveyard dirt. Now what?
What do I say to the dead?
For the beginning Wiccan and death witch/necromancer
Springtime for the death witch
Death Witchcraft: Volume 1 (mine)
A whole list of recommended reading
My ‘death witch’ tag
If not, feel free to shoot me an ask! As you can see I love answering questions (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧
OP’s Note: You may notice that a lot of these answers are mine. That’s because this post reflects my views on the craft, explicitly. I will also be updating it as I receive more asks and make more posts in the future.
Updated 5/28/18
One Crow — Bad Luck, Death (Should be noted that a corvid alone is unusual as they are gregarious species)
Two Crows — Good Luck, Joy
Three Crows — Wedding, Female Birth
Four Crows — An Event, Male Birth
Five Crows — Money, Positive Business
Six Crows — Wealth Change, Loss/Gain
Seven Crows — Secret, Curse
Eight Crows — Life-Altering experience
Nine Crows — Love, Something Sensual
Ten Crows — Turnaround In Luck, Overwhelming
Eleven Crows — Surprise, Secrets (Hidden/Revealed)
Twelve Crows — Good Luck, Fulfillment
Thirteen Crows — Completion, The End
It’s been said that if the number of covids you see tallies up to something negative, then it can be countered with saying “Greetings Mr. Crow, I salute you!” as well as offering it a lil’ treat!
There are many different rhymes to help you remember! One of the longer ones goes as follows:
“One for sadness, two for mirth;
Three for marriage, four for birth;
Five for laughing, six for crying:
Seven for sickness, eight for dying;
Nine for silver, ten for gold;
Eleven a secret that will never be told.”
****These are used as Suggestions****
Rosemary can be used in place of other herbs
Rose can be used in place of any other flower
Frankincense or Copal can replace gum resin
Sage in place of any mints
Tobacco in place of any poisonous herbs
Acacia substitute Gum Arabic
Aconitie substitute Tobacco
Arabic substitute gum ,gum mastic or frankincense
Allspice substitute cassia, cinnamon, cloves ,mace or nutmeg
Balm of gilded substitute rose buds or gum mastic
Belladonna substitute Tobacco
Benzoin substitute Gum Arabic or gum mastic
Camphor oil substitute Eucalyptus oil or lavender oil
Carnation substitute rose petals anointed with a few drops of cinnamon oil
Cassia substitute cinnamon
Castor beans substitute for a few drops of castor oil
Cedar substitute sandlewood
Cinquefoil substitute clover or trefoil
Citron substitute equal parts Orange & lemon peels
Clove substitute mace or nutmeg
Clover substitute cinquefoil
Copal substitute frankincense or cedar
Cowbane substitute tobacco
Cypress substitute juniper or pine needles
Deer tongue substitute tonka bean, woodruff or vanilla
Dittany substitute gum mastic
Dragons blood substitute equal parts frankincense and red sandlewood
Eucalyptus oil substitute camphor oil or lavender oil
Euphorbium substitute Tobacco
Frankincense substitute copal or pine resin
Grains of paradise substitute black pepper
Gum bumelia substitute copal, pine resin or dragons blood
Hellebore substitute tobacco or nettle
Hemlock substitute Tobacco
Hemp substitute nutmeg or damiana
Henbone substitute Tobacco
Hyssop substitute lavender
Ivy substitute cinquefoil
Jasmin substitute rose
Juniper substitute pine
Lavender substitute rose
Lemon Grass substitute lemon peel
Lemon verbena substitute Lemon grass or lemon peel
Mace substitute nutmeg
Mandrake substitute Tobacco
Mastic substitute gum, gum Arabic or Frankincense
Mint substitute sage
Mistletoe substitute mint or sage
Mugwort substitute wormwood
Neroli oil substitute orange oil
Nightshade substitute Tobacco
Nutmeg substitute mace or cinnamon
Oakmoss substitute patchouli
Orange substitute tangerine peel
Orange flower substitute orange peel
Patchouli substitute oakmoss
Peppermint substitute spearmint
Pepperwort substitute grain of paradise or black pepper
Pine substitute juniper
Pine resin substitute frankincense or copal
Red Sandlewood substitute sandlewood with a pinch of dragons blood
Rose substitute yarrow
Rose geranium substitute rose
Rue substitute rosemary with a pinch of black pepper
Saffron substitute orange peel
Sandalwood substitute cedar
Sarsaparilla substitute sassafras
Spearmint substitute peppermint
Star Anise substitute bay
Sulfur substitute tobacco, club moss or asafetida
Thyme substitute rosemary
Tobacco substitute bay
Tonka bean substitute deer tongue
Trefoil substitute cinquefoil
Valerian substitute asafetide
Vanilla substitute woodruff or deer tongue
Vetivert substitute calamus
Wolfsbane substitute tobacco
Wood aloe substitute sandalwood sprinkled with ambergris oil
Woodruff substitute deer tongue or vanilla
Wormwood substitute nutmeg
Yarrow substitute rose
Yew substitute Tobacco