In witchcraft, bones serve as a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical. The use of bones in magic is a practice as old as time, rooted in our ancestors' deep connection with nature and the afterlife. For the modern witch, bones can be a powerful tool, and understanding their applications in the craft can lead to a deeper, more profound practice. So, let's embrace the macabre and dive deeper into the fascinating practice of bones in witchcraft and becoming a bone magician!
Moral and Ethical Considerations
Before delving into the uses of bones in witchcraft, it's important to approach this topic with respect and ethics. Source bones responsibly, ensuring no harm comes to animals for the sake of obtaining their remains. Many practitioners only use bones they find naturally or purchase from ethical suppliers who obtain bones as byproducts of natural or necessary deaths. Moral considerations include that the practice itself is considered necromancy, so it's something to consider if one has any moral hangups about this.
Source Responsibly: Always source bones ethically (for example, through animal remains). Never harm a creature for the purpose of obtaining its bones.
Honor the Spirit: If you come into possession of bones, do so with honor and gratitude for the life of the creature.
Cleanse and Consecrate: Cleanse any bones or animal remains before you use them to ensure they're clean, remove residual energies, and consecrate them with the intention that you have to use them. Bone cleaning is important before wearing bone amulets, making bone charms, using oracle bones, before bone rituals, and to also help in bone preservation.
Understanding Bone Symbolism
At the heart of bone magic is the philosophy that bones are the keepers of the soul, the essence of life that endures beyond death. They symbolize the immutable truths of existence: strength, durability, and the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Within the realm of witchcraft, these remnants of once-living beings carry the vibrations of their past lives, offering invaluable insights and powers to those who know how to harness them. By understanding the bones spiritual symbolism, it allows our magic to be more powerful by having deeper levels of understanding as to how they can be more effectively used.
Fun and Interesting Ways to Incorporate Bones in Witchcraft
Divination: Osteomancy Unveiled
Divination with bones, osteomancy, or bone casting, is a practice that involves interpreting messages from the divine through casting bones or throwing bones (also known as bone throwing). This method often employs a variety of bones, each with its own symbolic meaning, along with other items like shells, stones, and nuts to create a rich tapestry of potential answers. When bone reading, the bone caster practices this by throwing the bones onto a cloth or into a circle, and the patterns that they form are read to divine the future, reveal hidden knowledge, or answer pressing questions.
Each bone's position, proximity to others, and the sounds they make upon landing all contribute to the divinatory message.
Scapulimancy: Also known as scapulomancy or omoplatoscopy, is an ancient form of divination that uses animal shoulder blades, typically from sheep or cattle, to foretell the future or gain insight into hidden matters. This practice, deeply rooted in various cultures across the globe, employs several methods. In the pyro-osteomancy technique, the scapula is heated over a fire until it cracks, with diviners interpreting the patterns of these fissures to glean prophetic information. Another method involves carefully examining the natural shape, color, and texture of the bone without applying heat, with practitioners believing that the unique characteristics of each scapula hold hidden messages. In some traditions, such as those found in ancient China and among certain Native American tribes, the bone would be marked with symbols or questions before the divination process, allowing for more specific inquiries. Some practitioners even used a combination of these methods, first examining the raw bone, then heating it to observe changes, and finally interpreting the results based on their cultural and personal understanding of the symbols and patterns revealed.
Scrying: Additionally, there are different divination tools that bones can be used for, such as a focus point for meditation and to visualize potential futures or to seek guidance through the practice of bone scrying. If the term is unfamiliar, it may be familiar if you associate it with crystal ball gazing. In magic, scrying often involves gazing into a black mirror to work with spirits, however, bones offer a lot of utility in this respect due to their nature of being vessels and holders of life and, thus, for spirits to appear in. For example, in skull divination, one can work with animal skulls for recieving knowledge from the spirit world, as a skull is the reciever of information and the seat of consciousness.
Rune Divination: Alternatively, you can carve bones with runes for divination if you like using this form of divination.
Crafting Talismans and Amulets
Bones can also be crafted into powerful charms, talismans, and amulets, imbued with specific intentions. For instance, when it comes to bones used for protection, a talisman for protection magic may be created from the bone of an animal known for its defensive nature. And bones from animals with keen senses might be used to craft charms for enhancing intuition or psychic abilities. Small bones, often from chickens, are also sometimes used in charms to attract good luck. These items can be carried on the person, placed in homes, in vehicles, in witch bags, or used in spell work to draw upon the energies they represent, but always be careful not to damage them when doing so. And, again, always make sure any responsibly sourced animal remains have been properly cleaned first so they are hygienic to wear and also cleansed to remove any potentially undesired energy they may have picked up before consecrating or charging your bones.
Alternatively, with similarities to bone magick, you can use sea shells or exoskeletons of deceased animals, for example, that you may find washed up on the shore. These have a protective energy that is quite useful for amulets and to protect from negative energy. Also, you may have seen altars where people use seashells as a holders for smudging rituals using smoke cleansing. So they can be used as decorative ritual tools, but in a practical sense. Bone necklaces and amulets, in general, also make excellent ceremonial attire and ritual adornments.
Spirit Work
Working with the spirits associated with bones can be a profound experience, as incorporating animal bones into ritual practice can also help a practitioner channel the spirit of the animal itself. From this perspective, these spiritual bones hold power that's particularly significant in traditions that rever certain animals as sacred or embodying specific qualities.
Animal Magick: Bones from a particular animal can help invoke animal spirits as a guide or teacher. For example, a raven's bone might be used to invoke mystery and transformation, while a bear's bone could symbolize strength and healing. Using certain objects in magic, like bones, are also known as fetishes. Not to be confused with fetishes that could mean the inclination towards a certain attraction, but the word fetishes in this case can inlcude various objects that are used in what is known as "sympathetic magic," which is magic that uses the law of correspondence. Through meditation and ritual, the practitioner can seek to embody the traits of different spirit animals or call upon its spirit for assistance in their magical workings. We also see some people wearing a shark, jaguar, or bear's tooth necklace to help instill the qualities of different spirit animals into a person so they can take these qualities with them wherever they go. Here, again, we see what bones are used for protection, along with other qualities that they possess. We see this form of animal magick in shamanic work where the spiritual power of spirit animals is harnessed to aid the practitioner along their journey to other planes.
Ancestor Work: One of the most sacred aspects of bone magic is ancestor veneration. Due to the legality around owning human bones not always being a viable option, one can also place the ashes of a cremated relative on their altar, if done so safely and without the risk of the ashes being knocked over. Additionally, if there's no possibility of using either, you can try to use a personal belonging from your ancestor of something that they loved, a sample of their handwriting, or a photo to better help work with their energy. This creates a tangible link to the past, turning the abstract concept of ancestry into something that can be physically touched and felt.
In many cultures, bones are seen as a way to connect with ancestral spirits or the spirit of the animal they came from.
Spirits: There are also examples in Buddhism and Hinduism where deities are depicted wearing skulls, such as a crown made of skulls as we see with Mahakala, or Munda Malas, which can also depict the deity wearing a necklace or mala made of skulls as we see with Shiva or even wearing freshly severed heads like we see with Kali. Also, in both Hindu and Buddhist Tantra, there is the Kapala, which is an actual skull cup that is used in ceremonies. In Slavic folklore, we also hear about Baba Yaga, who is said to use the bones of her unfortunate victims, who she lures into her house, cooks, and then uses their bones as building materials for her house and fence.
Enhancing Spells and Rituals
Incorporate bones into spells and rituals to add an extra layer of power.
Fertility: Bones, particularly those from animals known for their fertility, can be added to spells to promote growth and abundance.
Transformation: As a symbol of the life cycle, bones can be used in rituals that focus on change and transformation. Take some time to meditate on the different ways that you think you could use your spell bones in a way that would apply to your life and try these ideas out to see how they work.
Speed and quickness: If you are trying to speed things up in a spell, you can use the bones of a fast animal to help get results sooner.
Alternatively, if you don't have bones, you can exchange them with different spell ingredients, such as crystals that may correspond to the same principles in varying degrees.
Deepening Your Bone Magick Practice
In order to better integrate bone magick into your practice, it is quite helpful to study and familiarize yourself with the symbolism of each bone and the animal or being it came from. This can include learning about animal behaviors, habitats, and mythological associations through animal magick, which can inform your practice to help you better align the natural energies of the bones to how you intend to work with them magically. When the practice session comes to a close, you can give thanks to the spirits they are connected to as a gesture of respect to the beings they are linked to.
Furthermore, consider keeping a journal of your experiences with bone magick. Document the bones you work with, the rituals you perform, and the outcomes you observe. Over time, this journal can become a valuable resource, revealing the nuances of how different bones influence your craft.
The use of bones in witchcraft is a multifaceted practice, rich with history and potential. It connects practitioners with the past, with nature, and with the spirits that guide them. Whether it's through divination, crafting talismans, or conducting rituals, bones offer a unique conduit for magical energies. Those who approach bone magic with respect, sacredness, and an open heart will find it a profound addition to their spiritual journey, linking them to the ancient wisdom that continues throughout the ages.
Matthew
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