Here's how it happens:
1. He travels to the land of the Cimmerians, a place of perpetual darkness.
2. He digs a pit and pours libations of blood, honey, and water.
3. He sacrifices a black sheep and burns its wool as an offering to the gods of the underworld.
4. The smell of the sacrifice attracts the souls of the dead, allowing them to cross the river Styx and approach Odysseus.
The ritual is described in detail in Book XI of Homer's *Odyssey*. It's a powerful and fascinating scene, highlighting the importance of rituals and sacrifice in ancient Greek culture, as well as the respect for the dead and the power of the underworld.