What amounts to a necromantic practice is that of the Sin Eater. The Sin Eater was a person who performed a rite that is based on a Christian concept. Every sin must be atoned for, yes? If one could not receive final absolution, then one of the village, a Sin Eater, would perform a rite over you by which it was believed they could absorb the spiritual burden of sin.

Ah yes, they were employed in Ireland. It was seen eventually as the lowest profession. Yes, as any necromancer would have been, but it’s still basically that, and in this way the dead could rest in peace, and it would be the Sin Eaters job to pray and atone.

Does sin exist beyond the Bible? Ideas of error or impurity are in many faiths, but not all seen so grimly.

Did the Sin Eaters take the punishment voluntarily, or were they just chosen? It varied. Sometimes voluntary, sometimes chosen. In ancient Egypt, the priests of Anubis and the priestesses of Nephthys were more necromancers than actually religious guides.

The priests of Anubis performed what were essentially necromantic rites as a service for the dead and their surviving loved ones. To preserve a connection that they felt needed to be kept, and the priestesses of Nephthys were professional mourners. Nephthys being the goddess of sorrow, it was believed that if a spirit was not properly mourned it would not rest. This led to later western views that if not properly buried, a departed person would not rest. These ideas are surprisingly well connected I find.

In more modern times, a Necromancer would undertake practices to more closely connect to the dead. This was seen as necessary to be able to contact them.  So the old village woman who washed the deceased clothes, or maybe her husband, might also serve as a Necromancer. Sort of like the more modern Bruja of Spanish culture, everyone knew them, but nobody talked about it openly both because of a bit of fear, and because they wanted mediumistic readings. Basically those who wore the clothes of the dead, or ate as a mourner, got the attention of the dead. It varied a lot globally, but some things were universal, and we are discussing the phenomenon in general and not someones specific religion.

I don’t think we are better today. With time we lost touch. Oh, I agree, but we still have Necromancers, and they have found new fame. Instead of living in restricted places like an Egyptian necropolis, they are giving TV shows and writing books and living on more than funerary offerings. I bet you all can name at least one.

Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.

Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~