I recently learned a little bit about Necromancy.  I would like to share it here.  This was posted by my friend Shadow Walker.

Ok since it was asked of me I will do my best to explain it. Let me start by saying that no matter how I explain it you will still have questions and that's ok. It might not make sense to you and that's ok too. I have learned a lot about Wicca since I joined this group and most of it STILL doesn't make sense. If you have questions please ask. All I ask in return is respect. I tried to explain my beliefs a long time ago when ATP started and there were some members (they have since left the group) that were not respectful of the fact that even though they might not believe the same things, these are still my beliefs. Let me also preface this by saying that I do not claim to know everything about Necromancy as I am still new and learning. My husband is my mentor however and if I don't know I will try to get an answer to your questions from him. Now...

I do not practice "Modern" Necromancy so please throw out what you have heard lol. "Modern" Necromancy was started by a game and a book. H.P Lovecraft decided to take Necromancy and make a game of it. He took a few facts and aspects of it and made it "interesting". He turned it into a fantasy roleplay sort of like Dungeons and Dragons. No one is sure if he was a Necromancer and wanted to get rich or if he just got his hands on some facts. He has made Necromancers seem like nothing more than mediums who animate the dead.

While we do commune with the dead (or those who have crossed over), we are not the only ones. I know of several "Christians" who claim to speak to the dead (ex. John Edwards). I also know that there are some Wiccans. Things like that I would rather consider "gifts" (although I'm sure those "gifted" would argue lol), because not everyone can do that.

Lovecraft has some facts correct (or at least some that have been passed through the family I am learning from). I do not know any other Necromancers at this point so I do know what "facts" they have. I will tell you what I know to be true as of this point. 1) Without dark there would be no light and the same can be said for the dark. 2) There was a book written by Alhazred or "the mad Arab" and it was called the Necronomicon. None of the spells, invocations, etc. in the Lovecraft version work but many of them are very similar to workings we use they are just lacking some words or they are spelled improperly and will not work with the pronounciation provided. 3) We believe Cuthulu to be an Ancient (or Forgotten) God. We believe that he and Chaos are one in the same. We believe that his sole purpose was to destroy what has gone astray in the Ancient God's eyes (I guess you could say it's similar to the "Flood" that the Christians believe fell on them because they lost faith).

There may be a few more similarities but for the most part that is where it ends. We are not Satanists, we do not do the "Devils" bidding. We do not believe that Lucifer is the true savior. We are the Shadows that walk with you. We are the Shadows of your workings. When you draw down the sun, we draw in the darkness. When you create a light shield, we know the darkness will protect us. While we might heal on occasion we tend to create poisons more often. Personally I think the apothecaries (sp) of old stories were possibly Necromancers. Our sole purpose is not to cause harm but we will perform curses on occasion if necessary. We work with poisons and curses to learn to defend against them. If we know how the herbs work we know how to defend it. If we know what happens when we perform a curse we know how to tell when some has been cursed and how to fix it.

This world functions on light and dark or good and evil. Without one there would be no need for the other. What need would we have for "angels" who protect the light if there weren't "demons" trying to destroy it. I am not evil nor am I a bad person. I just believe that there must ALWAYS be a balance!

I pray to 2 dieties whom give me power. One of them is Luna. I believe the first time I astral projected she was the beauty I found in the field. She was my guide and has been ever since. The other one is Tiamat. She has been known by many names but I believe her to be my "Mother" Goddess and so I worship her. I have found a devotion to her as most Wiccans have for their Goddess and I have included it at this bottom of this post for you to review. It is the "Charge of the Dark Goddess".

There were many factors in my life that lead me to my decision to practice on the "dark" path as I'm sure you had many that allowed you to choose your path. I was raised Catholic but I always knew that was wrong. I always knew there was something more. It took me a long time to find it. When I first learned of Paganism I purchased a Wiccan book. As I read it, it made sense to some extent, it just didn't feel "right" to me. It was like knowing you were on the right road but you had know clue where you were. At this point I knew of my husbands path but it was "dark" and I remembered from my Catholic teachings that was wrong. I thought about my grandfather who had passed on (the only other man, besides DH, that made me feel truly loved) and I thought he would be disappointed if I chose a "dark" path, so I ignored the feelings that were guiding me to the darkness. One night I realized that he would be more disappointed in me if I didn't follow my gut, so I asked my husband to teach me a little. As I listened to him I knew it was right and I have followed it everyday since then. As I said I am new. This decision was made about 2 or 3 years ago, so I do not claim to know everything there is to know. I am however VERY eager to learn everything I can about my path.

Charge of the Dark Goddess

Wisdom and empowerment
are the gifts of the Dark Goddess of Transformation.
She is known to us as Kali, Hecate, Lilith,
Morgana, Ereshkigal, Arianhrod, Durga,
Inanna, Tiamat, She bears 1000 names.

Hear me child, and know Me for who I am. I have been with you
since you were born, and I will stay with you until you return to Me at the final dusk.

I am the passionate and seductive lover who inspires the poet to dream
I am the One who calls to you at the end of your journey. After the day
is done, My children find their blessed rest in my embrace
I am the womb from which all things are born

I am the shadowy, still tomb, all things must come to Me and bare their
breasts to die and be reborn to the Whole.
I am the Sorceress that will not be rules, the Weaver of Time, the
Teacher of Mysteries. I snip the threads that bring my children home
to me. I slit the throats of the cruel and drink the blood of the
heartless. Swallow your fear and come to me, and you will discover
true beauty, strength, and courage

I am the fury which rips the flesh from injustice
I am the growing forge that transforms your inner demons into tools of
power. Open yourself to my embrace and overcome
I am the glinting sword that protects you from harm
I am the crucible in which all the aspects of yourself merge together
in a rainbow of union

I am the velvet depths of the night sky, the swirling mists of midnight,
shrouded in mystery. I am the chrysalis in which you will face that which
terrifies you and from which you will blossom forth, vibrant and renewed
Seek me at the rossroads, and you shall be transformed,
for once you look upon my face, there is no return

I am the fire that kisses the shackles away
I am the cauldron in which all opposites grow
to know each other in Truth. I am the web which connects all things
I am the Healer of all wounds, the Warrior who rights all wrongs in
their Time. I make the weak strong. I make the arrogant humble. I raise
up the oppressed and empower the disenfranchised.
I am Justice tempered with Mercy

Most importantly, child, I am you. I am part of you, and I am within
you. Seek me within and without, and you will be strong Know me.
Venture into the dark so that you may awake to Balance,
Illumniation, and Wholeness.
Take my Love with you everywhere and find the Power within to
be who you wish.