Witchcraft 101: ✨Graveyard etiquette✨
Let’s talk about graveyards and cemeteries and how to be respectful!!
Please keep in mind this is outside of the normal rules of not being loud and not desecrating graves.
Being in a cemetery *can be dangerous* remember, it’s a sacred space for the dead which means many gods find it sacred ground
Even if a ghost had passed on it doesn’t give anyone the right to take dirt from their grave, after all you have no idea what religion the person buried is apart of, and most wouldn’t be comfy with their own grave dirt being used for witchcraft
Their graves are *special* they’re used to keep a person's memory alive, even passed on ghosts have a connection to their grave due to a number of reasons whether it be how they died or what, so calling upon them and asking is your best bet but don’t be surprised if they’re offended you even brought tarot or a pendulum to their grave.
Being respectful can be a number of things but please remember being respectful to the grave is different from being respectful to the family, leaving items for a grave isn’t recommended if you don’t know who’s buried.
Waking around a cemetery is fine, being quiet and getting to know them after death is wonderful, but some offerings have significant meaning, so cleaning graves you haven’t gotten permission from the family for is a no no, as many stones can be harmed by certain chemicals
If you’re leaving items again you have no idea how the family might react so a better option is leaving an offering for the **church grimm** who is a guardian of a cemetery.
Often when these sacred spaces are built there’s a belief that the first buried must be a dog so they guard the graves.
Most are ones that are attached to a church, but all in all even if it’s not a hound these sacred spaces have guards to them, and they are not kind to trespassers, **especially on Halloween** as a lot of those places get vandalized on it.
Offerings to them can be a number of things but even with an offering you’re expected to be respectful and act right
These guards have no issue harming humans, they are protectors
Offerings can include a number of things but are not limited to: biodegradable offerings such as oranges, apples, pomegranates (most fruit works) coins, eggshells, crystals (non soluble), flowers
Do keep in mine that you’ll be leaving items so it’s best to offer it in front of the gates or somewhere in the corner, you don’t want to offer anything that can offend or mess with the earth around (no salt or water soluble crystals)
These items should not be big, as rotting items can attract a number of things and make it uncomfortable for the grieving party.
**DO NOT** leave candles or incense burning, you may only use them if you watch them the whole time, *please please please check with the local cemetery about the times they’re open and if you want to clean graves you can talk to the ones running it to get in touch with the family to ask permission*.
I’ve met death workers and many of them are *wonderful* but there’s a difference between helping a ghost that’s in a random place that died with regret or unknown circumstances then playing in such a sacred space such as a graveyard or cemetery.
So if death work is an interest to you it is a wonderful and rewarding path, it’s amazing to talk to so many people of different times that had different experiences but we must never forget about the living that grieve these lives.
If any death workers want to add on please do ❤️
Anonymous question: “what happens to the ghosts and church grimm if the cemetery is destroyed?”
A number of things *could* happen, they might be reassigned to a place that doesn’t have one, they may retire, or some may pass with it. It depends what god guards the space and the will of that grim.
Anonymous addition!
“Liquor is also good offering for the spirits. I used to bring a bottle of wine with me to my favorite cemetery and poor half out into the ground and then some into a cup before wrapping up.”
