Graveyard, Ancestors, Mediumship, Dying, Death, The Dead

Unread post by **natstein** » Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:58 am

Hello geraldbelton,

No laughing here. If you are asking the question there are other people who are thinking about it to. I would Just go when your clock says it is midnight. I don't think we need to adjust in or out of the daylight savings time thing.

Peace~

Nathen

Unread post by **Joseph Magnuson** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 2:57 pm

geraldbelton: Nathen is 100% correct. Go when it's midnight. Your time, general watch time, midnight. You are over-thinking this.

Harvest Moon · Unread post by **Harvest Moon** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 7:34 am

Question: what do you do when some of your recent ancestors were terrible people? Abuse drunkards? I want to make a lovely spot for them, especially my grandmother, but my grandfather was, frankly, an Asshole. Do you believe they leave that evil behind and therefore should be venerated or do you just leave them out of it?

Thank you,
Melody

Unread post by **natstein** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 11:13 am

Hello Harvest Moon,

For this I think it is kind of up to you. I personally have an Uncle who passed who was not the best person and I have not put him up where I work with my ancestors. So you do not have to automatically put some one up there just because they have passed on. I personally do not think my uncle would be very helpful.

If you feel like you want to have a space for someone who did not lead the best of lives you can though. It can be an avenue for you to have a space to offer forgiveness if they wronged you in some way and give them a chance to atone for their wrong doing by trying to become helpful to you. That doesn't mean they automatically will try to atone but I think you can kind of feel it out for yourself if you think they should be worked with. You can always light a white candle and ask. See what kind of response you get. You can ask that specific ancestor or you can ask the other ancestors that you already have a relationship with and see what they say.

Again ultimately this is up to you, if you want some more guidance on this you can contact one of the members of AIRR (www.readersandrootworkers.org) and have a reading done on it to help confirm for you what you should do. Hope this is helpful.

Peace~

Nathen

Harvest Moon · Unread post by **Harvest Moon** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 12:09 pm

Thanks, Nathen!

Unread post by **MissMichaele** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:04 pm

Harvest Moon, being in your family and dying isn't enough to qualify someone and an ancestor. The purpose of working with them is not only to care for them after they are dead, but for them to continue taking care of you. If you couldn't rely on them to do that in life, you may not want to do so when they are dead.

And that's no reason you can't reach out to your grandmother with an ancestor altar.

Good luck,

Miss Michaele

Harvest Moon · Unread post by **Harvest Moon** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 5:34 pm

That's what I needed to hear..
Thank you, Miss Michaele.

Juxtapose · Unread post by **Juxtapose** » Mon Oct 20, 2014 9:54 am

Shalom all and blessings!
I searched this forum but couldnt find this answer.

Starr Casas, wrote she uses white candles on her ancestor altar. I read on here that red is appropriate to symbolize the blood ties. Then, in Denise Alvorados Voodoo Hoodoo Handbook, blue is listed as the ancestor candle color. Im confused. My question is, does it matter? Can I use a yellow one if thats all I have?

kaboodle · Unread post by **kaboodle** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 11:07 am

Is it possible for me to light a candle for me to die? As in I'm sick of life and want to die but I don't want to commit suicide because it's wrong in my religion. So can I light a candle that will let me die peacefully in my sleep? Like a Saint Death? I genuinely want to die.

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 8:16 pm

Hello, Kaboodle,

Please please please send me a PM so that we can talk about this.

I am very worried that you feel this way. I don't want anything happening to you. Is there any way that you can get a hold of a crisis line?

Please understand that we care about you and don't want you to feel this way.

Send me a PM or send me an e-mail at my e-mail address and we can talk.

PLEASE

Juxtapose · Unread post by **Juxtapose** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 3:52 pm

Hello all!
I went to an amazing historic graveyard here in Riverside, CA and found a perfect spot to bury a vinegar jar at a grave of a husband and wife. Problem is, that while I was digging with a trowel, dirt from the grave got into my purse and all over the blanket. What do I do? I sprayed it with the same cleansing spray I used when I left the graveyard, a mix of Florida water and FWP. I also took everything out of my purse and sprayed it and sprayed the inside. Is this ok?

Unread post by **Ms Melanie** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 4:23 pm

Hi AsherDorian,

That couple must have really liked you! LOL

You cleansed everything very well. Did you take the dirt back to the graveyard that fell into your purse? If, not you might want to think about doing that.

Hope this helps!

Juxtapose · Unread post by **Juxtapose** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 5:27 pm

Ms Melanie wrote:Hi AsherDorian,

That couple must have really liked you! LOL

You cleansed everything very well. Did you take the dirt back to the graveyard that fell into your purse? If, not you might want to think about doing that.

Hope this helps!

Oh Ms Melanie no I didnt think about that! I hope they dont get angry!
I didnt want to bring any dirt back home with me so I tried to clean it all out while I was at the cemetery. I also have kept the trowel and blanket I used in the trunk of my car, is this ok as well? And what do I do with the clothes I wore? I just put those in the laundry, I didnt spray them really...This was my FIRST TIME at a graveyard to deploy a trick and I a super nervous about bringing anything into my home with my son...I appreciate your reply btw

S

Unread post by **Ms Melanie** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 5:29 pm

Hi AsherDorian,

If you cleaned your purse out at the cemetery don't worry about it. Put a little bit of Chinese wash in your rinse cycle for the other items.

You've done very well!!

littlewing · Unread post by **littlewing** » Sat Nov 22, 2014 3:52 pm

I fell into a very deep depression after working with graveyard dirt. I think a spirit followed me home and is influencing me negatively.

I gathered the dirt without buying it with coins or alcohol because I didn't know this rule at the time. I think I must have angered the spirits. I didn't take it from a specific grave, just some dirt by a tree.

I cleansed my workspace thoroughly and myself but I'm worried a spirit or spirits are still with me. What else can I do?

I've learned my lesson. I need to pace myself. I think I do better staying away from any negative or invoking work. Maybe when I'm much more experienced.

littlewing · Unread post by **littlewing** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:00 pm

My mother passed away on Sunday and she is being cremated. I am considering getting a tattoo of the celtic mother symbol with her cremains. Are there any concerns I should have?

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:06 pm

Hello, littlewing ,

Again, I hope you're doing well.

What a lovely idea for a tattoo.

But, this is a Hoodoo forum and we can't speak for the Celtic faith and this Goddess Mother.

Additionally, I strongly suggest that you consult with a physician before doing something like this.

The only reservation that I have (as a practitioner) is that if your Mother had any bad energies (such as illness), I don't know if I would want that energy in my physiological system.

Please think about this for awhile before doing something this permanent.

All My Love to you and your family

littlewing · Unread post by **littlewing** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:34 pm

That's a good point, thanks Miss Aida. I may just get the tattoo without the ashes. I found a very cool symbol from an alleged angel language called Zibu. Not sure if it's at all legit, but it spoke to me when I saw it.

We cleaned out her apartment today. It was actually pretty therapeutic though exhausting. I used a ton of Chinese Wash and Buffalo Ammonia, steam cleaned the carpet and then sprayed the carpet with peace water. Hopefully that will make things easier for the new tenants.

My sister had a dream that our mom was clinging to her and wouldn't let go. She woke up feeling like it was still happening. We are trying to set her free but we are still very sad and crying a lot. I found a little baggie with all of our baby silverware and I lost it.

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:38 pm

Hello, Littlwing,

Just please be sure you know exactly what it says.

I ALWAYS tell folks NEVER to repeat words or write symbols that they are not familiar with. Could be dangerous.

It's going to take about a year for the grief to subside.

If you need anything, we are here for you

littlewing · Unread post by **littlewing** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 11:09 pm

Great advice. I will probably go with one between my shoulder blades. I still haven't ruled out the ashes since her cremains are a purified form of her.

littlewing · Unread post by **littlewing** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 7:53 pm

I'm reading the Martin Coleman book and he says that women who have dreams of sex where they wake up having an orgasm are more likely to be natural necromancers. That seems pretty random to me. What is the connection?

I have dreams like this all the time by the way.

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:17 pm

Hello, littlewing,

Well, it means that you are a better magnet for spirits than others.

In other words, they have an affinity to you because you are receptive to them.

Does this answer your question?

littlewing · Unread post by **littlewing** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:09 pm

Yes, you explained it better than he did it. Thanks Miss Aida.

luckycat13 · Unread post by **luckycat13** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 5:43 am

A post on another thread got me thinking....I've been really blocked for a long time. I mean, my mediumship abilities have been blocked for quite awhile. I've always been...visited by spirits. I don't even really have a way to explain it. It's definitely not like Long Island Medium. It's more like I'm this weird guestbook where dead people go to process their deaths on their way somewhere else. I very rarely get messages for people, but sometimes I do. Like, "Don't date that girl, she has a nasty surprise for you." (That was my favorite) But usually it's just like someone hijacks my mind for a bit and I get a lot of information/pictures at once. It's often shortly after someone has died and they haven't moved far along so they still have attachments to this world and they just sort of....haven't come to terms with their own passing. They aren't sharing memories of their lives either, it's almost always just the way they died. A lot of times, I don't even think they are aware of me or my consciousness sharing space with theirs. I literally just feel like an open window when that happens. And sometimes their presence can be very pushy, because I think they sense the opening even if they don't really understand what they're trying to open. The ones that have been gone longer tend to be aware of me and are more likely to have something to say for someone else. It's more of a two way street. I'm allowed my own awareness. I can ask a question. I don't have better words for it. I havent seen anything close to what I experience on any television show or referenced in books. I'm not saying it's unique, I just don't know how to articulate it. It's not possession. I'm not speaking in tongues. It's more of a trance like state where someone turns on a movie in my mind. I SAW them when I was little but that stopped around the age of 10 when I became frightened by the understanding that the person in my bedroom actually didn't belong there.

After years of not seeing anything with my eyes, I saw the Spirit of Death about a year ago. Without reading the other post, I saw it shortly before the first of three of my closest family members would go to the hospital with life threatening conditions (my son, his father, and my father). It was terrifying to me. Nothing felt evil or purposefully terrifying, in fact it felt not...indifferent and not even without compassion but it was a neutral presence. And that neutrality comes with a certain type of coldness. Regardless of its nature, which is too complex and otherworldly for me to understand, I still just couldn't handle SEEING it. I am VERY open to spirit contact. I don't want them getting hung up in my home but I like hearing from them.

Since that happened, I haven't heard from them. At all. At first I thought I just needed to relax and they would return. It has happened before after encountering the spirit of someone who has died violently or tragically. It can be too disturbing and I just shut down, I think. Or they leave me alone. I don't know which it is. But it's been a year. And no one has visited. I don't know if I should get a reading to find out what is going on, cleanse myself, maybe do a Blockbuster ritual and some Psychic Vision work...I have no idea. I feel really....just confused by it. I don't feel like it's a loss, necessarily, but sort of....yeah. I do. Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated.

And is this something I could read for myself on? My understanding of the phenomenon itself is limited so perhaps it would be better to ask someone else. I want a psychic remedy.

Luckbewithme876 · Unread post by **Luckbewithme876** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 4:26 pm

Doctor Hob wrote:Rum is primarily used in Caribbean influenced traditions, like Voodoo and Lukumi (Santeria). You're more likely to see whiskey offered in hoodoo.

As far as respectful behavior in a cemetery; it isn't much different than respect to the living. You're coming into their home, so be polite. I talk with the dead the same way I talk with the living. I introduce myself, tell them what kind of work I'm doing, and ask them if they will help me. I typically pay with dimes, but you will find that some spirits ask for other things.

People don't pay as much attention to cemeteries as you might think. I've gone into a cemetery near my home and done work while a funeral was going on a ways off. Nobody even realized that I was there. A trick Miss cat suggested, that I've used successfully, is to take some flowers in a paper cup. Dig your hole, put whatever needs to go in at the bottom, then plant the flowers on top. You can also take tools to clean and tend the area around a grave. This is both respectful and good cover for the work your doing.

All that said, you should check local laws to be sure there aren't any specific thigs that could jam you up. Always good to know how you'll need to go about your work.

This is actually what I came here to ask about. In the future, when I'm preparing to turn in my Homework #4 for the correspondence course, what can I substitute for the silver dollar? I've read the payment method using whiskey in Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic. Is there something besides a silver dollar I could use?

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 9:12 pm

Hello, Luckbewithme876,

You will learn this in the course. There are several chapters on the subject. You are not to prepare the homework ahead of time; it is done in conjunction with the lessons.

I use dimes

Take care

dolphin_flower7 · Unread post by **dolphin_flower7** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 9:01 am

hi all! .. can some1 pls tell me if u shld bury gifts at the grave of your ancestor or just lay on the headstone? & is it ok to give food & do you bury the food with ancestor's grave or simply lay it on the burial? .. finally,is there a spell to call upon your ancestors for help (i.e. special incense, color candles, oils, prayers etc)? how will you knw the or shld this wrk only be done by an experienced rootwrkr?

thanks

Unread post by **Papa Newt** » Thu Feb 19, 2015 10:35 am

Hi dolphin_flower7,

I went ahead and merged your post to an established thread that covers working with ancestors among other topics. Take a moment and read the previous pages as you just may find an answer or recommendation from other forum members. Many blessings.

dolphin_flower7 · Unread post by **dolphin_flower7** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 3:56 pm

thanks papa newt ... since this thread was about ancestors i thought i made a post under the appropriate thread ... so sorry, i will try to find which page or thread you sent my post to ... thanks again ...

Unread post by **JayDee** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 5:54 pm

dolphin_flower7

I would leave it for them. Leave it on the head stone. But as a personal rule i dont leave anything that can be harmful to wildlife or nature. So I use biodegradable stuff like cups. But thats me I feel an obligation to keep it clean as well and not hurt animals. As for calling on ansestors, you can use some of LM products for that spirit guide comes to mind to help connect. A lot of what you are asking I would say depends.. meaning it depends on the family member you are working or calling on. If a family members favorite color is pink, that would be the color choice for me regardless of other colors that may correspond to the work better. Prayer to this person may matter on family custom and tradtion, relationship you had, or the relationship you had with people they knew and loved. I guess my point is that connecting with family members who have passed to help with work is a personal work that involves connecting with them not a standard do x y z and its done type of work. You can start with making an alter at home and putting photos of them, dirt from the grave site, and flowers with water and lighting a candle daily and praying. Ask them for guidance in what to do.

dolphin_flower7 · Unread post by **dolphin_flower7** » Tue Feb 24, 2015 7:58 pm

j82 ... thank you so much ... i just wanted to be extra careful working with ancestors & all ... some of the ancestors i knw & some i dont ... this is good advice ... i will follow ... thanks

WhiteEagle · Unread post by **WhiteEagle** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 1:18 pm

So I was pretty much pulled into a graveyard near my home, I was driving home and stuck behind an annoying motorist and I made a quick decision to turn left into the graveyard. I frequent this graveyard and have for a long time been trying to find my family plots (large catholic graveyard), as I drove up one of the isles admiring some of the unique headstones and mausoleums, the graveyard keeper flagged me down and asked if I needed help, I gave him my family name and he told me he was just working near there and his work truck was parked right there. So I guess they wanted me to find them today??? lol

I do have to go back and do some cleaning since they haven't been visited in a while.
Any ideas on offerings/gifts to leave??

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 10:11 pm

Hello, azurkgny,

That is AWESOME!!

You might just want to ask them out loud everyday what they would want as offerings and they will most definitely tell you (you may smell something, see signs, etc).

That is personal between you and them. They will tell you. Just ask!

Take care

WhiteEagle · Unread post by **WhiteEagle** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:38 am

Hello Miss Aida,

Thanks I'll give it a try, it definitely was and amazing feeling and seeing my family roots here in my home town since the 1800s.

Thanks soo much,

KG

Mimi123 · Unread post by **Mimi123** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:26 pm

I need some advice about buying graveyard dirt.
I've been working break up and come to me spells on my target who I've known since we were kids. His dad, who always seemed to like me and was nice to me, died several years ago. We visited his grave a couple of weeks ago and I got the idea that maybe I could enlist his dad's help in getting him to commit to me.
I didn't have much of a connection with his dad, but we did know one another. Could I buy dirt from him using the procedure outlined in these pages, leaving coins and some whiskey on his grave?
Would dirt from his grave be more meaningful, and therefore more powerful, than dirt from a stranger's grave?

Unread post by **JayDee** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:46 pm

Mimi123 ,

Dont just take dirt from a stranger, what if that stranger beat his wife, do you want that in your work? Also this kids dad will be protective and honest and watch over him, if he agrees to the work I would work with him. You will only know by doing some prayer and candle work as talking at the grave. I would be more inclined for you to work with your own family who will have your outcome in mind and help you. But you can call on his as well if you know they will work with you. It can be more powerful but we dont know if dad wants to help you work magic against his kid and my guess is the answer is no lol. Would you help a person work magic on your child?

Mimi123 · Unread post by **Mimi123** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 4:27 am

Good point. My target's father may not be inclined to help. Thanks for your response, J82.

Babbal101 · Unread post by **Babbal101** » Sat May 02, 2015 7:41 pm

Hey Guys have gotten several readings done which showed the root cause of my problems was a ancestral energy ( maternal great grandma) who needs some attention! Apparently she chose me for some reason due to this ive had very bad health, delays denials and blocks in education, career, love finance etc.. my family wont tell me what is the reason she may be after me she did die a painful death and died when i was about two she appeared to me in a nightmare once when I was young and never after that. She was creamated so no gravesite for her. so far I have gotten a healing vigil light set for her. what can I do so she moves on and leaves me alone?!

Babbal101 · Unread post by **Babbal101** » Sun May 03, 2015 10:25 am

anyone?

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Mon May 04, 2015 12:12 am

Hello, Babbal101,

Please do not follow your question by urging us to answer right away. Sometimes it takes a couple of days.

You definitely need a reading to get answers of what she wants and then we can figure out how to get her to leave.

Please contact and AiRR member for help: http://readersandrootworkers.org

I hope that you get answers soon and can have peace of mind

take care

Babbal101 · Unread post by **Babbal101** » Mon May 04, 2015 8:43 pm

Thanks Ms Aida can I get a quick 10 minute reading with you, that's if you do ten minute readings. I just want to know what she wants and help her move on so that my life can be better. thanks!

Unread post by **Ms Melanie** » Tue May 05, 2015 12:59 pm

Hi Babbal101,

Miss Aida wanted me to let you know that she is unavailable today. Also, that she does 30 minute or an hour reading.

Nue · Unread post by **Nue** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 11:10 am

I am not an orphan, thankfully, but this is something I have always had confusion over. One of the big things in these kinds of dealings is reverence, offerings and respect for the ancestors. But, what becomes of those that are, say for example, lost in the foster care system with no way to trace their roots? Do they still have protection although they have little means to communicate with them to find out who they are?

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Fri Jun 19, 2015 5:49 pm

Hello, Nue,

First, ancestor veneration or contact, while quite common in African Diasporic religions and among Christian spiritualists, is not universal in hoodoo. Many Protestant denominations, for instance, do not believe that such contact is possible, proposing a doctrine sometimes known as "soul sleep" and citing Psalms 115:17 (The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence) as their proof text. For them, only the Resurrection will bring renewed contact with the dead.

Others, including Christian Spiritualists, hold that contact with the dead is possible. If such is your belief, it would seem to follow that although knowing the names of your ancestors might hasten or enhance contact, they will find you anyway, even if you are an orphan.

Second, please consider this: Hoodoo is the domestic folk magic of people formerly kidnapped and enslaved. Many were the offspring of slave-owners who did not love them nor even consider them of human status. Yet ancestor veneration is still found in Black culture. Hence it follows that one need not know one's lineage in order to be in contact with one's ancestors.

Nue · Unread post by **Nue** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 8:18 pm

Thanks for the insightful response! Really cleared up a lot of things for me

GreenThumb · Unread post by **GreenThumb** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:44 am

How can you begin venerating/contacting ancestors you know nothing about?

I've been feeling nudged to do it for years, but I don't know where to start. I don't know any dead ancestors (or recently deceased), and my family is spread out and distant- and I don't have any desire to change that. I have read over the thread (mostly) and most ancestor veneration seems to be based on pictures and integrating favorite items/keepsakes- what's a good way to begin ancestor veneration when you have no idea who your ancestors are?

Unread post by **Miss Athena** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:05 pm

Hi GreenThumb,

There is a whole thread here on the forum on altars, which has a lot of information on setting up an ancestor altar. Here is the link:

altars-questions-and-answers-t124.html

Also, AIRR has a page on ancestors and you may find some useful information here as well:

http://readersandrootworkers.org/wiki/Ancestors

It doesn't matter if you know your ancestors' names or not. Just call upon them, offer them a glass of fresh water every day, light white candles, give them white flowers and start simple like that. You can apply Spirit Guide oil to the candles and light Spirit Guide incense to assist you.

http://www.luckymojo.com/spiritguide.html

Good luck.

Innocence · Unread post by **Innocence** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 9:12 am

I have an ancestor altar on a small breakfast tray table on the floor that I've been burning candles on everyday to build a relationship with my ancestors. Since I started a 7 days moving lodestones spell today, I found that the space underneath the ancestor altar is the only place in the house I can hide the work from my ex. I would feel weird to burn candles to my ancestors with the moving lodestones spell underneath them. Is it ok if I stop burning candles to my ancestors for the next 7 days? I will continue to keep a glass of fresh water and white flowers on the altar.

Unread post by **Miss Athena** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:16 pm

Hi Innocence,

Your ancestor altar should be a place of reverence and respect, so I would use it only for that purpose. Sacrificing that work for the sake of another spell doesn't make sense to me. Surely you could find another spot for your lodestone spell that doesn't disrupt the sanctity of your ancestor altar.

Good luck.

Innocence · Unread post by **Innocence** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:34 pm

Miss Athena, thank you for your feedback. I got a warning sign from my ancestors earlier as well. I've moved the lodestone tray to under my sewing machine table and covered it with some fabric. crossing my fingers that my ex won't notice!

Unread post by **Miss Athena** » Wed Oct 28, 2015 12:39 pm

Hi Innocence,

Your ancestors were telling you something and I'm glad you found an alternative location.

Good luck with your spell.

Innocence · Unread post by **Innocence** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 7:14 pm

I read this on the Lucky Mojo page "Place BLESSED THISTLE in an open dish on the altar, mixed with Yerba Santa, Angelica (Holy Ghost Root), Cascara Sagrada (Sacred Bark), Basil (Sacred Basil), or other herbs whose names contain the words "holy," "sacred," or "blessed." This brings spiritual aid to the home." I am wondering if I can place a dish of these herbs on my ancestor altar instead of white flowers? Thanks!

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 10:54 pm

Hello, Innocence,

I wouldn't replace the flowers.

Just put these in a dish and also put them on your altar.

take care

snouvavou · Unread post by **snouvavou** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 7:29 pm

I have a question about reverence of the dead who are more "affiliate" spirits and not actual ancestors.

I have had an ancestor altar for decades and keep candles, liquor, genealogy books, and offerings and the like for my people ... but as I have been studying conjure, I was inspired to keep an image of Dr. Jim Jordan in the area of my shrines where I honor the dead that are "non- blood". I am inspired to do so as I am from North Carolina and I have spent some intense time in the part of the state where he lived and practiced. I feel drawn to honor him in such a manner ...but I guess I wanted to make sure that was appropriate.

Any thoughts?

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Jan 16, 2016 7:44 pm

Dear snouvavou,

Yes, this is both traditional and appropriate. People will sometimes make a pilgrimage to pay for some graveyad dirt from a well-known rootworker of the past. In fact, people have told me that an even better way is to go to the grave, speak to the spirit, then sleep all night on the grave (you may curl up a sleeping bag, if it's cold). In the morning, pay for some dirt and carry it home with you. Thereafter, you will have the wise cousel of that root doctor always available to you.

The only "wrong" thing that can be done -- and i mention it because i have seen it done, with bad outcomes -- is to ASSUME that you know what offering to leave at a spiritual worker's grave because you have some sort of "one size fits all" model of this tradition. In fact, depending on the life history of the conjure doctor, tobacco and alcohol will NOT always do, nor will flowers or foods. Coins will always be acceptable to the spirits of professional workers, though, as they did their work for money or donations.

Good luck.

snouvavou · Unread post by **snouvavou** » Sun Jan 17, 2016 6:14 am

Thank you so much for the response, Miss Cat. It felt right but I wanted to be respectful. I also like the idea of a pilgrimage to his grave, that is an awesome suggestion. I think I might need to do an Eastern NC Hoodoo road trip!

Unread post by **Miss Reece** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 8:59 am

Hi everyone,

Okay, I've searched the forums, I get zero results when I try multiple keywords, so I'm posting here since the thread is about ancestors, the dead, etc.

My dad passed away at the beginning of November and I have a portion of his ashes. I'm wondering if his ashes might be incorporated into any of the spells utilizing graveyard dirt (or really any spell, I suppose) in an effort to enlist his help? Or would this be disrespectful? In life my father always referred to himself as a "worried agnostic" and never really professed any particular faith system (and honestly, really did not like organized religion at all). I know he was fascinated by the "occult", for lack of a better descriptive umbrella term, so I don't think he would be terribly offended by my desire to enlist his help. I'm just not completely sure if this would be considered an inappropriate practice in general or not.

I do know my father has been with me a few times since his passing, and has made his presence known very clearly on at least one occasion. We were very much alike in temperament in life despite our grievances with one another, and I know I was the only one of his daughters to try to keep in close contact with him. Does any of this matter?

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Arcadia73+

Unread post by **Miss Aida** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 8:52 pm

Hello, arcadia73+,

You can most certainly do that.

Miss cat has talked about this several time son radio shows and in her teachings

Wishing you the very best

Take care

Sorcerers Apprentice · Unread post by **Sorcerers Apprentice** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 12:20 pm

I am putting the finishing touches on my Ancestral altar and would like to add graveyard dirt from the graves of my ancestors.
Now my qustions are:

1) After I collect the dirt what would be a few suggestions to keep the dirt in?

2) Is it okay to mix the soil of the 4 graves together to keep on the altar? (I actually would prefer to keep them seperate, but have limited space.)

Thank you!

Unread post by **catherineyronwode** » Sat Feb 27, 2016 7:04 pm

Sorcerers Apprentice --

I think you may not be relating to your ancestors as people / spirits of people just yet. You are asking random strangers for rule-sets ("Is it okay?") when you should be asking your ancestors!

1) I like little containers of the time and place where the person lived, and of a type they would have had. A Chinese porcelain ginger jar, an Edgeworth Tobacco tin, a Besamim Spices tower, a glazed figural "mantelpiece pretty" such as a bird that can filled from below if it was formed with a hole in the bottom, a little brass stamp box, a tea caddy, a sterling silver pill box or vesta case, an art-glass perfume bottle -- the possibilities will vary based on your ancestors' lives! If you have nothing of them, trip around an antique shop or scroll through ebay, with a little of their dirt and ASK!

2) Keep them separate. They were not buried in one grave. Have some respect.

Look up this song by Van Morrison on You Tube. Play it. Sing along. Then you will stop asking foolish questions about rule-sets:

"Irish Heartbeat"
by Van Morrison

(This version performed by Van Morrison and the Chieftains)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT0YgMnSXR8

Oh won't you stay
Stay a while with your own ones
Don't ever stray
Stray so far from your own ones
'Cause the world is so cold
Dont care nothing for your soul
That you share with your own ones

Don't rush away
Rush away from your own ones
Just one more day
One more day with your own ones
'Cause the world is so cold
Don't care nothing 'bout your soul
That you share with your own ones

There's a stranger
And he's standing at your door
Might be your best friend, might be your brother
You may never know

I'm going back
Going back to my own ones
Come back to talk
Talk a while with my own ones
'Cause the world is so cold
Don't care nothing 'bout your soul
You share with your own ones

Oh won't you stay
One more day with your own ones
Don't rush away
Rush away from your own ones
This old world is so cold,
Don't care nothing for your soul
You share with your own ones