Working with Murmur: philosophy, questions, and listening for an answer
Murmur, philosophy, and compelling the departed to answer
Murmur is described in the Grimoire Companion notes as a Duke who teaches philosophy and compels the souls of the departed to answer questions. Those two points belong together, and they are worth keeping together. Philosophy, in this context, is not abstract talk. It is the discipline of asking a question properly, of knowing what you mean by it, of listening to an answer without reshaping it into what you wanted to hear, and of following the answer where it leads, even when it is uncomfortable. A working that asks a question of the departed, without that discipline, is likely to produce noise, not an answer.
Be specific about the question itself, and about who you are asking. A question about a life, a death, a decision, or a matter left unfinished is not the same as a question in general, and a petition that asks for answers in general will be hard to read afterwards. Write the question down, in one sentence, and leave it overnight, to see if it still reads true. That pause is part of the work, not a delay in it. It is also a way of showing respect for the matter itself, because a question asked in haste, about a person who has died, is a different act from a question asked with care, after thought.
Anointing fits Murmur work because an answer needs a clear vessel, and anointing is a way of marking that vessel, whether it is your own hands, a seal, or a candle, for a clear purpose. The oil marks, and it stays, through the working, as a reminder of the question you actually asked, rather than the question you drifted into halfway through. When the working turns to listening, that staying quality matters. Sit quietly for a time, rather than filling every moment with more words, and write down what you noticed, in plain language, afterwards, over days and weeks, not just on the night itself.
Why anointing, and why oil at all
Anointing is a way of marking something, or someone, for a purpose. In practice, it is often done on the hands, the forehead, or on a tool, seal, or candle that will be used in the working. The act itself is simple, and that simplicity is the point. You are not hiding the work behind complicated gestures. You are touching the thing, naming the purpose, and doing it deliberately. Oil is used for anointing because it stays. It does not evaporate in a moment like a scent on the air, and it does not wash off at the first touch. It remains on the skin or on the tool while you work, and that staying quality is part of how it functions in a ritual setting.
The oils offered here are hand made from only pure essential oils, roots and herbs, with no extraneous ingredients or fillers, and no synthetics. Sometimes there is the odd gemstone thrown in as well. That made-to-order point matters for a working like this. It means the oil has not been sitting, opened and closed, through other people's orders. It is made for your order, and then blessed before it is sent out.
Do not use the oil internally, and do not use it on broken skin. It is made for anointing and ritual use, from essential oils, roots and herbs, and it should be treated as a ritual oil, not as a food, a medicine, or a skin treatment. If you have sensitivities to essential oils, test a small amount first, or do not use it on skin at all, and anoint a tool or candle instead. Incense and oil are often used together in Goetia work, and they do different jobs in the room. The oil marks and anoints. The incense fills the space and sets the atmosphere for the working itself. If you are doing a full working, use both: anoint first, with a clear purpose in mind, then light the incense and let the room settle before you speak.
Being clear before you begin
Before you do anything, be clear about the matter itself. If you cannot state it in one sentence, you are not ready yet. Write it down, leave it overnight, and come back to see if it still reads true. That pause is part of the work, not a delay in it. A petition that tries to cover every possible outcome usually covers none of them well, and a vague working is hard to read afterwards, because you will not know what changed, or whether the change had anything to do with the work.
Work from the system you already follow for Goetia work, and from the teaching you already trust in that system. A general article like this one is not a substitute for proper teaching, and it should not be used to invent a purpose for a spirit you have not studied. If the matter is a legal matter, a safety matter, or a medical matter, deal with that matter in the ordinary world first, or at the same time. Ritual work is not a substitute for a lawyer, a doctor, or for leaving a dangerous situation.
Preparing the room and yourself
Preparation is most of the work. Clear the space you will use, physically, and set it aside for this purpose. Put away the things that pull your attention elsewhere. If you have a regular working space, use it. If you do not, choose one place and use it consistently for this working, so the place itself starts to carry the association. Set out the oil and seal before you begin, along with anything else your practice calls for, so you are not fumbling for a tool halfway through.
Then prepare yourself. Bathe, or at least wash your hands and face, and change into clothes you do not wear for ordinary errands. This is not about looking a certain way for anyone else. It is about marking, for yourself, that this time is set apart. Eat simply beforehand if you can, and avoid starting a working when you are exhausted, drunk, or already agitated. A clear head is a working tool, just as much as any seal, oil, or incense is. Know what you are going to say, in your own words, before you begin.
A simple working order, to adapt to your own practice
The following is a general order, not a fixed script. Adapt it to the system you already work in. First, prepare the room and yourself, as above. Second, set out the seal, tool, or candle you will use, and the oil and incense if your practice calls for them. Third, anoint, deliberately, naming the purpose in your own words, deliberately, naming the purpose in your own words. Fourth, speak your petition, clearly and once, rather than repeating it until it loses its shape. Fifth, sit quietly for a time and listen, rather than filling every moment with more words. Sixth, close the working properly, in whatever way your practice requires, and put the tools away in their proper place.
Afterwards, write down what you did, when you did it, and what you noticed. Not what you hoped would happen, but what actually happened, in plain language, over days and weeks, not just on the night itself. That record is what lets you tell, weeks later, whether anything changed, and whether that change had anything to do with the work. If nothing changes, that is also information. It may mean the petition was unclear, the timing was wrong, the work was not appropriate, or simply that the situation needs a different approach.
Keeping a record, and knowing when to stop
Do not repeat the same working endlessly in the hope that repetition alone will force a result. Do the work properly, once, observe, and then decide, calmly, whether a second working, a different approach, or no further working is the right next step. Repetition without reflection is not persistence. It is noise. A working that is honest about that is more useful than one that pretends otherwise.
Care for the physical tool is practical, not mystical. Keep it clean and dry when you are not using it, away from other objects that could scratch or damage it, and handle it as a working tool rather than as decoration. A tool that is looked after is a tool you will actually use, and a tool you actually use is the one that teaches you how to work with it well.
Murmur Goetia grimoire demon evocation oil
I hand make this myself, in small batches, when you order, and I bless it myself before it is sent out. It is made by hand, for this work, and not mass produced. I make no promise about what it will do for you, only that it is made for this work. This is Murmur oil, for anointing and spirit work with Murmur, in a 1/2 oz bottle, made from pure essential oils, roots, and herbs, with no synthetics and no fillers.
If you want it for that work, this is the one I offer: Murmur Goetia grimoire demon evocation oil, $44 CAD. View the product
I also make the incense to go with it, for the same work: Murmur Goetia incense, $44 CAD. View the product Anoint first, with a clear question in mind, then light the incense and let the room settle before you speak.
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