Unquiet Voices: The Magical Art of Laying Ghosts

by Rob Douglas, Nonie Douglas

Overview

Your Field Guide to the Realms of the Unseen

Whispers from beyond the veil haunt and beguile us. Are they from ancestors trying to help or monsters hoping to deceive?

Drawing on thirty years of research and experience, Rob and Nonie Douglas present paranormal investigation from the perspective of medieval magic. They combine classical necromancy and modern investigative methods to help you confidently identify spirits, know when they are present, diagnose their effects, and lay them to rest.

This practical guide teaches about diverse types of spirits and dispels common misconceptions. It also offers reference tables and step-by-step techniques designed so you can quickly refer to them in the field. Featuring illustrations throughout and a lexicon of arcane terms, this book offers compassionate and effective ways to understand and be understood by the unquiet voices all around us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738765556
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	07/08/2024
Pages:	360
Sales rank:	164,221
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Rob Douglas has practiced magic and occultism for over thirty years. He is a multi-traditionalist who spent his formative years in rural Scotland amid rich cultural practices which included Laying Ghosts. His love of esoterica led him to become a dedicated ritualist and independent researcher with specialist knowledge in medieval ceremonial magic and British initiatory traditions. Learn more at ArcaneBorders.com.

Nonie Douglas is an artist, writer, and esotericist who works with the practice and preservation of mystery traditions of the British Isles. Impelled by her pursuit of ancestral spirituality, Nonie teaches about the soul's journey and brings peace to the dead through traditional cultural rites. Learn more at ArcaneBorders.com.

Table of Contents

Contents

Tables and Figures xii

Introduction 1

Part I: The Arcana of Unseen
Chapter One: The Arts of Necromancy 9
Chapter Two: Arcana of the Unseen Worlds 25
Chapter Three: Cosmology of the Soul 37
Chapter Four: Sublunary Spirits 55
Chapter Five: Necromantic Classifications 75
Chapter Six: Signs of Unquiet Spirits 97

Part II: Working in the Field
Chapter Seven: Essential Skills 113
Chapter Eight: Sciomancy Tool Kit 125
Chapter Nine: Rites for Working On-Site 153
Chapter Ten: Model for Inquiry 169
Chapter Eleven: Model for Analysis 189
Chapter Twelve: Pathways to Resolution 209
Chapter Thirteen: Methods to Lay Ghosts 227

Conclusion 249

Definition of Arcane Terms 255

Bibliography 271

Index 275

Editorial Reviews

"Rob and Nonie Douglas provide the reader with a practical guide informed by their many years in the field and magical practice. The book has much to recommend it; from its brief history of necromancy and its misunderstanding in the Western tradition, to its technical classification of deceased human spirits. There is too a concise and exceptionally helpful discussion of Aristotelian philosophy and its enmeshment with later occultism....The authors' emphasis on precise language is linked to the need for prospective sciomancers to be able to communicate effectively with those in need who do not necessarily share their worldview, and this adds a level of reason and compassion to the work which is very welcome. This is a highly readable and clear exploration of necromancy or sciomancy, both in the past and present, enlivened by the authors' Scottish folk magic roots."
—Dr. Peter Hewitt, Folklore Museums Network founder and Museums Officer, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

"Unquiet Voices is a guidebook steeped in tradition and culture. The reader is instantly transported to a fireplace in Scotland where the practice of laying ghosts has been passed on for hundreds of years—and now its our turn to learn! Using both science and ancestral lore, Rob and Nonie Douglas impart their years of experience and research in ways that are easy to incorporate into any spiritual practice. They teach both a deep respect for the tradition and the mechanics needed should the reader find themselves in need of action. From investigating a disturbance to choosing a method of resolution and everything in between, this book is a must-have addition to your spiritual library or paranormal investigation toolkit. Rob and Nonie's passion for magic and working with the spiritual realm bleed off of every page and leaves the reader hungry for more."
—Courtney Buckley, professional paranormal investigator, educator, and "ghost bait" on Scared and Alone YouTube series

"This book is a concrete step-by-step overview of the laying of spirits and the various tools, rituals, and approaches one can employ. More importantly, this book stresses relationship with spirits so that you do not inadvertently disrupt a spirit minding its own business. This volume breaks down this sometimes-overwhelming field for all who have ever been curious about what goes into paranormal work. A thoroughly enjoyable read!"
—Ben Stimpson, author of Ancestral Whispers

"The authors guide the reader into the cosmology and practice of necromancy, and more specifically, sciomancy—which aims to provide relief to the living and the dead through occult action. Wife and husband team Rob and Nonie Douglas have put in the time—both in the library and in the field—to create a densely-packed and invaluable look at the work of interacting with spirits of the dead, and occasionally spirits of other kinds, as well. The book is thoroughly researched with an emphasis on Classical texts like Agrippa and medieval grimoires, and breaks down the necromantic worldview into something empirical but alive—an Ars Scientia...This is not a simplistic book about ghost-hunting, but instead a deeply rooted and incredibly painstaking examination of a widely misunderstood occult practice."
—Cory Hutcheson, author of Llewellyn's Complete Book of North American Folk Magic

From the Publisher