At its core, necromancy centers on the belief that the dead retain agency and can act as mediators between the physical and spiritual realms.
Historically, necromancy has been both a scholarly pursuit and a forbidden rite. A Necromancer's Manual of the Fifteenth Century (review) Necromancy
: The original purpose of necromancy was "sciomancy"—summoning shades to answer questions about the future. At its core, necromancy centers on the belief
: Modern folk necromancy focuses on "trafficking" with spirits through ritual offerings, incense (suffumigation), and specific ritual speech or vocalizations. At its core
: Practitioners often use physical remains or items associated with death, such as graveyard soil or clothing of the deceased, to facilitate contact. Historical and Cultural Perspectives
