The Witching Hour

by Silver RavenWolf

  Tips on Gathering Grave Dirt for Powders, Magick, and Ritual

  They say that when no one else will help you, the dead (your ancestors) will come through. I believe this and have seen it occur many times. One way to make the connection to deceased loved ones is the ritual gathering of grave dirt that will be used later in a variety of magickal workings. Here are some cemetery dirt collecting tips my husband and I have used with great success.

  First, follow the rules of the cemetery—you don’t have to creep around after dark with pail and spade to collect the dirt you will need. Dirt gathered in daylight works just as well as those furtive scoops purloined in the dead of night. If you need a lookout, take someone with you who is in agreement with what you are doing.

  Be prepared. A spoon to collect dirt is not helpful. Take a good spade. Will you need one container or many? For example, if you will be visiting several specific graves, you may want to keep the dirt separated and label a resealable plastic bag with which dirt belongs to whom. For general work, we carry cut flowers in a large coffee can; that way we don’t look crazy lugging a bucket and a shovel. The large coffee container with flowers hides the spade. Some of the flowers will be left at the gate of the graveyard as an offering to the guardians of the cemetery. We also pour white rum on the ground, say a prayer of protection, and use a lit cigar as incense at the gate. A burning white dressed coach candle declares you come in peace. Dirt from the entrance area is useful for “opening the way” in magickal endeavors. The honoring at the gate is thought to keep anything negative from attaching itself to you, allowing you to leave freely and protected, as well as acknowledging the Spirit of the Crossroads and the power that he holds. To ensure nothing decides to come home with you, soak a piece of cloth in vinegar; after it dries, put it in your pocket to carry with you during your stay in the cemetery.

  Once inside, know where you are going. Taking dirt from a random grave can work; however, just whose dirt will you be using? Rather than risk negativity, research is the key, particularly if you plan to take the dirt from a stranger’s grave, such as a military or religious personage. Better to use the dirt of a trusted relative or friend if you are in any way unsure. Be careful, by the way, with military graves—it can be illegal to gather the dirt; however, if you are in battle and need the help, and there is no legal issue with the cemetery, a formidable soldier will absolutely do the job. The most powerful dirt we have ever used was from Molly Pitcher’s grave. To seal the bond between yourself and the soldier’s grave, leave a quarter on the headstone as a sign of honor. Before taking the dirt, utter a prayer of protection for yourself and one of blessing for the deceased. Knock three times on the headstone to awaken the power. Clearly state your purpose aloud. You can also make a petition, such as “Grandma, Susie is in real trouble.” Talk to them just like you would talk to anyone. They will hear you. Make the sign of the pentacle on the ground before you dig, then proceed to fill your coffee can. When you are finished, remember to say thank you. Always leave an offering at the gravesite where you took the dirt. Research is extremely helpful here regarding favorite flowers, food, beverages, pictures, toys, etc. Some cemeteries won’t let you leave anything but flowers, and then only if you place them in a specific way. If this is the case, pour a libation on the ground and take the container with you. We have also buried items—mainly pennies—where they cannot be seen.

  Back home, label your container(s) with the specific date and place where the dirt was taken. If you took two containers with you—one for the dirt from the gate and one for the dirt from the grave—be sure to mark the difference between the receptacles. This is particularly helpful if you are making seven cemetery dirt, where you must visit seven different cemeteries (it’s a very potent mix, but it does take time). Dry your dirt in the sunlight; you can put it in your oven at 200 degrees, but this stinks up the house. Sift the dried dirt through an old house screen or mesh colander to remove rocks, pebbles, grass, weeds, and other odd things. Grind the sifted dirt in a ritual circle with mortar and pestle until it becomes a fine powder. A few drops of magickal oil can be used to enhance your formula if you have a particular purpose in mind. If not, store the dirt in a marked canning jar or another airtight container where it can be accessed for a variety of purposes, from banishing nasty people to enhancing a working with help from the dead.

  The dead often answer prayers by giving you time, tools, or opportunities in which to take wise action. If you do not seize the opportunity, the assistance is lost. Always pay attention to what is going on around you when you ask for help from the dead, particularly your dreams and the synchronicity of events. Sometimes the most commonplace occurrences are the answer.

  Nine Ways to Use Nails, Needles, and Pins with Herbal Magicks

  Just how many ways are there to use nails in herbal magick? Many old spells call for the use of coffin nails or nails in general. These days it is tough to acquire legitimate ones, and I have found that wood finishing nails perform very well in place of the traditional coffin nails. Needles and pins can also be extremely useful, particularly when working with fruits and vegetables.

  To Keep Out Ghosts: Soak two nails in vinegar or, even better, four thieves vinegar. Pound two nails into a door or window frame—one on the right and one on the left. Perfect if one is suffering from nightmares, night terrors, or children who claim to see ghosties! Empower a combination of thyme, hops, frankincense, and larkspur in a conjuring bag for double ghostbusting power.

  To Bring Good Fortune: Paint three nails with gold paint and cover with gold glitter. Use in workings to draw good fortune to you. Wrap nails in paper money, secure with gold thread, and dot with honey or money drawing oil. Add goldenseal herbs to increase the profits of business. Golden needles can be used to replace the nails.

  To Banish Evil People: Write the name of the bad person (murderer, thief, abuser, etc.) on a piece of brown paper. Dot paper with vinegar or coat the paper with “send it to the grave” magickal powder. Fold the paper away from you. Nail paper to a dead tree or to the ground in a graveyard.

  To Banish Sickness or Disease: Place nine nails, nine pins, nine needles, and broken glass in a jar laced with vinegar. Breathe into the jar nine times, then repeat this Braucherei charm nine times: “Tetter, tetter, thou has nine sisters; Goddess, bless my flesh and preserve my bones. Perish thou tetter, and be thou gone!” (Tetter means “monster” or “evil being.”) Cap. Seal the jar with an equal-armed cross. Place the jar in an eastern window. Repeat the charm once a day for nine days. On the ninth day dispose of the bottle out of the living environment. Add motherwort to the jar if family protection is your goal.

  To Banish Chronic Illness: Rub a potato over the sick person. Paint three nails or pins with earth fluid condenser. Pound the three nails into the potato. Place the potato outside under a rain spout. Command the potato: “As thou rot, so the disease will be taken away from (person’s name). I will it so!” Repeat the command nine times.

  To Keep Evil from Entering the Home: Soak a handful of pins in a solution of white sage, rosemary, lemon verbena, Beth root, and vinegar for three days over the dark of the moon. On the last day bless the pins and command them to keep evil and negativity from entering the home. Insert the pins in a fresh lemon—the more pins you have, the better. Hang the lemon inside the threshold or entryway to your home. Replace every three months.

  Protection of a Person: Draw an upright triangle on a piece of paper. Put the individual’s name to be protected in the center. Add a photo if you can. Put a Himmelsbrief (German letter of protection) on top of the picture. Sprinkle with a protection herbal powder. Dress three nails with a fluid condenser designed for security work. Lay each nail at a point of the triangle, sharp point facing out. Place a protection candle inside the triangle and on top of the Himmelsbrief. Place a banishing candle outside of the triangle. Light both candles, petitioning deity for assistance. Ring the triangle with nine bay leaves for extr
a protection.

  Good Fortune Knots and Nails: Tie seven nails about one inch apart on a long piece of twine (green is best). Make sure they are secure! Fill a conjuring bag with money drawing herbs, a magnet, and your name on a piece of paper. Dress the bag and each nail on the twine with money drawing or attraction oil. Run your hands over the knots and nails (toward you), starting with the nail and knot closest to the bag down to the nail at the other end, saying first: “I make the bond and establish a secure connection between easy money and me. Money comes to me easily.” Breathe on the conjuring bag seven times, then chant the following three times as you touch each nail: “Seven days and seven nights, seven waves and seven lights, seven mountains, seven stars, work my will by my desire. Money, money on the way, the bond is made this very day!”

  Destroy a Glamoury: There are some folks who just always seem to get away with theft, cruelty, gossip, lies, and, worse, murder. It is as if there is some shield surrounding them where they simply escape responsibility on a repeated basis. These con artists aren’t just in the criminal world—we see them time and again operating in everyday society, manipulating circumstances so that others are innocently harmed. For this working, you will need one tomato (the more acidic, the better), the individual’s name written on a slip of paper dressed with universal fluid condenser, and three pins. As you pierce the paper with the pins, command the powers of Mars to burn away all glamouries so that the individual will be seen and captured for the evil they have done. Cut a slit in the tomato and place the pinned paper inside. Add Mars herbal powder in the slit. Squeeze the tomato closed slowly, envisioning that the juices are the individual’s true nature being forced to the surface of their aura so that everyone can see the evil they have done and continue to do. When you lose the thought, immediately throw the tomato in the garbage to rot.

  Aura and Spiritual Cleansing

  In Braucherei there is an adage that says, “You didn’t get sick in a day; you don’t get well in a day.” Whether you are focusing on health, finances, or relationships, life is a series of energy events and choices that lead us to any one moment. By practicing cyclical spiritual cleansing techniques, we release negativity that can inhibit our work, which gives us a clear field in which to operate. Sometimes, particularly in our darkest hour, we allow a problem or issue to overtake our minds, forgetting that moving forward into a better existence requires a series of steps, not a cataclysmic event. A spiritual/aura cleansing is an excellent first step. You don’t need to be capable of taking a giant leap—one action at a time will do. Any type of spiritual cleansing should incorporate a three-pronged approach: cleansing of the body (which includes the energy bodies), cleansing of the mind, and cleansing of the environment where the body spends most of its time or where it receives the most amount of stress. Once you have performed your cleansing activities, I believe you should add a positive endeavor to fill the void made by the banished negative energy. Some practitioners burn a sweet floral candle or scatter glitter to welcome in directed attraction energy.

  Many years ago author Ray Malbrough taught me the importance of spiritual cleansing in preparation for my coronation in spiritism. His work has significantly affected my life and my magickal practices. The following spiritual cleansing technique can be used by yourself or done in a group format (which can be incredibly powerful when the group focuses on each person in attendance). The ritual is herbal and word driven, meaning the words and the herbs chosen carry marked power in the proceedings.

  As you read through the ritual, please understand that you can change whatever you like; what is important is the sincere action of accepting the cleansing process and the results. This is only one way that I do spiritual cleansings; I have several. I usually adjust the cleansings to the needs of the individual and the circumstances presented at the moment. I will always look at the sign the moon is in, the phase of the moon, and the planetary hour before a cleansing so that I fully understand what energies I have available that can enhance the working.

  Many people think that a spiritual cleansing is a once-and-done affair; no. As a rule, I do a complete spiritual cleansing once a month—more if I have experienced a heightened level of stress. A spiritual cleansing can help to banish negativity that others send toward you; by keeping your field balanced and filled with light and good thoughts, you can deflect this negativity. Whenever I am ill, I will drag my carcass into the bathroom and perform a complete spiritual cleansing that includes a shower. I know I feel awful, but I also know that this is my best effort for a speedy healing. I have never been disappointed in the results.

  How do you know that the cleansing has worked? If you feel at peace at the conclusion of the cleansing, it has definitely worked. The effects won’t last long if you continue to flood your mind with negative thoughts. It is necessary to keep that effort going and to try to rise above the hatred, sickness, fear, or worry that is emanating from your mind.

  Who is the winner?

  You are!

  Spiritual Cleansing Ritual

  Supplies

  Two white candles, a bowl of blessed water, bells or rattles, an herbal cleansing blend of your choice, and a rolled sage bundle or sweetgrass bundle (the collection of herbs in this example includes white sage, lemongrass, lemon verbena, slices of lemon, hyssop, olive leaf, African basil, lavender, and rosemary), sea salt. Dried or fresh herbs can be used. White carnations (or any cut fresh white flowers). If you are using dried herbals, place them in a white conjuring bag. This bag will be put in the bowl of blessed water with the lemon slices.

  Preparation

  Have your supplies ready with easy access. I’ve done this cleansing in good health and in illness, and I’ve found that having the supplies close to me and ready to go is an added benefit. I keep tools and herbs dedicated to spiritual cleansings in a particular box so that I can use the collection at a moment’s notice for myself and others. This box contains a small ceramic plate, a natural rattle, a bell, a natural bath sponge, and cleansing herbs in packets that I’ve made up during specific moon phases. It also has a lighter, a large quartz crystal, a large smoky quartz crystal, white aura cleansing tea candles and white coach candles, candle holders, aura cleansing spring water spray, white conjuring bags, and a rolled sage bundle. Sometimes I use all the tools; sometimes I do not.

  The Ritual

  You can cast a magick circle or you can create sacred space by cleansing the area with burning white sage or burning sweetgrass; if you are allergic to smoke, sprinkle the area with a cleansing mist of your choice or a combination of blessed water and sea salt.

  Light two white candles and hold them on either side of the individual to be cleansed. If this is you, sit in between the two lit white candles. Connect with your idea of divinity, taking several calming breaths.

  Take the sea salt in your hands, rubbing it between your palms. As you do this, intone the following as many times as necessary. Blow into your palms three times after reciting the words—this is to push negativity off of your body.

  May sickness be no more

  May unhappiness be no more

  May worry be no more

  May hatred be no more

  May fear be no more

  I cleanse myself of all negativity!

  These words can be changed to suit the circumstances. Let’s say you are having a problem with jealousy (yours or someone else’s), greed, pain, etc. Craft the words to suit your circumstances.

  If you are working with other people, they can be using rattles, bells, and drums during this process.

  Take the white flowers and run them all over your body, intoning the same words as before:

  May sickness be no more

  May unhappiness be no more

  May worry be no more

  May hatred be no more

  May fear be no more

  I cleanse myself of all negativity!

 
When you are finished, break the flowers, drop them to the ground, and step on them.

  If you are working with other people, have them surround the person and walk around that individual while making sounds with the bells and rattles. Their focus is cleansing the person and the space around the individual. If you are alone, take the time to find a rhythm with bells or rattles and allow your mind and emotions to let go of all negativity. Allow yourself to transcend.

  When you begin to feel a change come over yourself, connect with the sea of potential as indicated in chapter one of this book. I am putting the words here so you don’t have to flip back to that section:

  The sea of potential is all around me.

  The sea of potential is in me.

  The sea of potential is around me and in me…

  And I activate this sea for spiritual cleansing

  of all levels of my mind, body, and soul.

  Say those words three times, and as you do, feel yourself floating in that sea that permeates your entire being.

  Take a deep breath, then place the bowl of blessed water in front of you, between the two white candles. Put the white conjuring bag that contains the dried herbs in the bowl. Add to this a dash of sea salt and the fresh lemon slices. I have found that doing this practice slowly and with peaceful intent can be helpful. Stir the water with your hand several times. Watch the light play across the water. Let yourself merge with the blessed water.

  The next step is a rather long prayer. As you say the prayer, dip your hands in the water, then rub your wet hands together. Do this several times during the recitation of the prayer.