~Feeding Fire to the Dead ~
The realm of the dead is often depicted as a cold dark place, sometimes even being wet. Making it's denizens cool fluid beings craving fire and the warmth of vitality. Chthonic entities, in my experience, are very reactive to warming offerings. Such as candles, fire, coffee, liquor, and spices. These types of gifts excite the spirits of the underworld, allowing their old bones to thaw from being in cold chthonic waters.
You have to be careful feeding fire to the dead. While it is excellent at bringing movement to slumbering beings, it can also lead the dead to cause chaos. Acting wild and unruly for the inexperienced conjurer. Which is why in traditions like Quimbanda you'll find firey spirits such as Exu and Pomba Gira are given these types of firery offerings and mediums will consume alcohol and tobacco, but are warned against over indulgence as to not give the spirit control over you. There is a line to ride when it comes to exciting spirits with hot offerings, as too much fire and the magician could get burned.
Cooling offerings are often preferable when working with the dead for this very reason. Especially with wild/unknown dead you are working with, because over excitement could be dangerous when you're unfamiliar with the being you're speaking with. These offerings take the form of milk, honey, wine, and sometimes coins. You see these types of offerings used frequently in the PGM when working with the dead, and other rarer ingredients get used inconjunction when working with divinities. These cooling offerings call the spirit forward without inciting them too much, and can also be paried with hot offerings to temper spirit.
This is why im my personal practice with my local dead I tend to shy away from hot offerings, and focus more on giving cooling gifts such as coins, milk, and sometimes honey. Only when I really want excitement and quick action do I lean towards feeding my spirits of the dead hotter offerings.
