Graveyard Etiquette
âIf you take from a graveyard, youâll leave more than you took.â
Graveyard vs. Cemetery-
A Graveyard is a burial ground attached to a church.
A Cemetery is any burial ground.
[For simplicity, I will be refering to all burial grounds as "cemeteries."]
As a paranormal investigator first and a witch second, I find cemeteries to be the least terrifying places to interact with the dead. Yes, there are bodies all around you, but in almost all cases, cemeteries are not haunted. That being said, this does not mean the cemetery is empty. In fact, it's far from it.
Gatekeeper-
Every cemetery has a Spirit designated as the Gatekeeper. They are the Guardian/Protector of the land and spirits within. This Spirit is usually from the first person buried there. Though, the job as the Gatekeeper may be taken by a physical visualization of protection for the cemetery, such as a statue (e.g., a gargoyle or angel).
When visiting a graveyard, it's always a good idea to bring an offering for the Gatekeeper.
Each cemetery has its own rules and preferred offerings. This can become more detailed when focusing on a specific spirit within the cemetery. Like people, each spirit has its own personality and tastes. When visiting a cemetery, make sure to do your research. An example: reading the Torah to the spirits of a Catholic cemetery would be seen as useless at best and rude at worst.
Offerings Ideas-
Clean the graveyard- pick up litter, and debris left behind by guests or just blown in.
Apples (an Irish tradition)
Flowers (Chrysanthemums, Hyacinth, Red Poppies, Lily, Cypress Tree, ect.)
Stones (Jewish Tradition)
When in a Cemetery-
Do:
Interact with the Graves that have less visitors
Have respect while acting normal
When dealing with children-spirits have fun, play games, or share some jokes
Don't:
Walk over the Graves
Lean/sit on tombstones
Take anything without permission
Take anything off of a grave with permission or otherwise (unless the family or keeper allows you to)
Litter
[Opinion] Whistling - Some believe this act will summon a doppelganger or forerunner to appear, and if one hears whistling, this may invite Death.
Graveyard Dirt-
In certain spells and practices, the ingredient graveyard dirt may be needed or mentioned. This, as one would assume, is dirt from a cemetery.
Always ask for permission before taking anything out of a cemetery, including the dirt
Graveyard Dirt Alternatives-
Dirt from a deceased plant
Used coffee grounds
Cinnamon powder (for protection based spells)
"The cemetery is an open space among the ruins, covered in winter with violets and daisies. It might make one in love with death, to think that one should be buried in so sweet a place." -Percy Bysshe Shelley
