~ Celtic Mythology - Cernunnos

~ Celtic Mythology - Cernunnos

Celtic/Gaulish god of nature and fertility. Often referred to as The Horned One or wild god of the forest.

A Guide to Graveyard Work

One of the earliest introductions I had to spirit work as a baby witch was graveyard work. In short, this practice involves building relationships with the deceased spirits of a graveyard, by communicating, leaving offerings and being mindful of their space. It is part of a wider practice known as death work, but this focuses specifically on how to enter and respect what is essentially the 'home' of the spirits you are working with. You can further build on your practice from this.

This is a handy guide to the different aspects of the practice, looking into the appropriate offerings and etiquette, written with a lot of love.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Graveyard Etiquette

There are rules you must follow in graveyards, whether for your personal safety, out of politeness, or following the law of your country. Sometimes these overlap. But sometimes, the rules you hear might be no more than baseless superstition, which there is a lot of concerning graveyards. There are way too many superstitions to list, however -

Some good rules to follow are:

Don't begin this work with the intention of taking from the graveyard or using the spirits in your practice. In the same way you wouldn't take from a stranger, it's important to build a relationship before you ask for things.

Try not to stand on graves where possible, out of respect for the dead but also those mourning them. Sometimes, graveyards are set up so that it is impossible to go anywhere without stepping on something, which is okay so long as you're not intending disrespect. However, do be wary that headstones can fall and the ground can shift.

Some people believe you shouldn't take any photos of the graves. I personally think that if the grave is old enough, it doesn't matter too much. If the grave is modern, it might be inappropriate for those in mourning to see you taking photos.

You can clean up trash, but be mindful of what might be considered trash. Obvious thrown-away food and drink packaging might be appropriate to clean up, but what if someone left a deceased one's favourite food at their grave? Or what if you decide to get rid of a toy or letter left there? Try to avoid cleaning up around the actual graves and focus on cleaning near the gates or in empty areas.

Don't trespass! If the cemetery has set entry times, enter and leave only within those times. Don't jump the fence, and don't enter any areas that are clearly gated or off-limits.

Leave an offering when asking to take something from the cemetery grounds. I don't feel it necessary to leave an offering each time you enter, especially if you plan on visiting often. But, if you want to take something like graveyard dirt or plants growing there, leave an offering for sure. And make sure to ASK. If you feel wrong, it's a no.

If you EVER find anything askew in a graveyard, such as vandalism, theft, or even dug up bones (it happens, I've found them before) PLEASE report it straight to the groundskeeper, associated church, or relevant authorities. It is not your responsibility to attempt to fix these things, or take things for yourself.

Offerings

You can leave offerings at the gate, or on specific graves if you want to work directly with that spirit. You don't always need to leave an offering, but it is a good thing to do when building a relationship and especially when asking to take from the site.

Some good offerings are:

Coins, especially two coins. There is a belief that the two coins are placed on the eyes of the deceased to pay the ferryman taking them over the river Styx. This has been maintained as a tradition.

Flowers. Even better if you look into Victorian flower symbolism for older grave sites and base your offering on this.

Origami. I would often fold multiple tiny cranes and leave them as offerings on individual graves. The best part is they are biodegradable.

I would be wary of leaving any kind of food or drink, as you might attract animals or even cause harm to the ecosystems living there. The same goes for anything made of plastic or that could hurt an animal.

Natural items such as seashells, feathers or stones are great, safe options for offerings.

You could also burn a candle or incense, but remember to stay with them while they burn and make sure they are extinguished when you leave.

Offerings don't have to be physical - you could say a few kind words, sing to them, or even just dedicating time to sit with the dead or talk with them can be an offering in itself.

Protection

I personally don't go into my practice thinking I could get possessed or followed by a demon at any given moment. However, I do think it's important to remember that graveyards can be full of a lot of upset, angry, and occasionally malevolent energies. Even if you don't intend to, these energies can attach to you or be taken home by you and can make you feel off.

Here are some ways you can protect yourself:

Cleanse yourself before and after entering a cemetery, even just by meditating and visualising or by using incense.

Check out my post on shielding techniques, and try to familiarise yourself with the visualisation techniques until you feel comfortable doing them.

Charm an item of clothing, such as a piece of jewellery, as an amulet to ward against negative energies that you can wear.

Find or create a protective sigil or rune that you can draw on something or on yourself.

You can pray to any deities you work with to ask for protection, especially if these deities are associated with death or spirits.

Communication

People who practice death work might communicate with the dead in different ways. They might be clairvoyant, use divination, feel energies or sometimes even just know what the spirits are saying. In any sense, spirit communication is a skill that is very much required in this practice. @koscheys-skull said it best here. You need good communication skills, in the sense that you are still talking to PEOPLE. And you need to go in with good intentions. If you are going in purely with the intention of using the dead for your own benefit, you won't get very far. If you can't talk to and actively listen with some semblance of empathy, you won't get very far. Death work is not an aesthetic, it is not for you to take your emo photos and be disrespectful. it is a serious, difficult and tolling practice that takes a lot of time and refining.

If you have gotten this far, I wish you all the best. It is a difficult but ultimately fulfilling part of spirit work, and if you are ready to dedicate the time and effort to it, you will get a lot out of it.

Thanks for reading! Please visit my tags for more guides, and feel free to reach out with requests for more information. Lots of love.

🌖✨ The Waning Gibbous Moon: Time to Cut the Ties ✨🌖

Feeling weighed down by old patterns?

Witches know that the Waning Gibbous Moon is the perfect time to finally let go. Traditionally linked to the Crone aspect of the Goddess, this period invites deep reflection, purification, and the cutting of ties that no longer serve you. It's also a great opportunity to express gratitude for the lessons learned and the progress made. Use this phase to clean house and set the stage for postive change.

🕰️ Phase Duration: 4~6 days

🧙‍♀️ Ritual for Banishing Negative Attachments 🧙‍♀️

🕯️ Start with a black or gray candle—these colors are perfect for releasing and protection. Pair it with Amethyst for clarity and Obsidian for grounding. You can also (always) use a Black Tourmaline for protection.

🪄 Cast a circle to create a sacred space for your ritual and light your candle. Focus on the negative influences or habits you want to banish from your life. Picture them as weights tied to you and dragging you down.

Write down each of thes burdens on a piece of paper. Hold it and chant this incantation 3 times with intent:

🔥 By the waning Moon’s glow I release what must go As the flame burns These cords dissolve I am complete, I am free, New energy is called to me 🔥

Burn the paper in the candle’s flame and watch your troubles turn to smoke and dissolve. Scatter the ashes near a big plant or a tree, or bury them, as a final goodbye.

Close your ritual by thanking the energies supporting you and reflect on the space you’ve cleared for new, positive growth. 🌿

🌔✨ Elements associated with the Waning Gibbous Moon ✨🌔

These elements align with the Waning Gibbous Moon's themes of release, protection, and transformation. They support banishing rituals and can help you clear away what no longer serves you:

🕯️ Candle Colors: Use Black to banish negative energies and provide strong protection. Gray complements this by neutralizing and dissolving residual negativity.

💎 Crystals: Incorporate Obsidian for grounding and protection. Smoky Quartz transmutes negative energy into positivity. Black Tourmaline is the strongest crystal for shielding against negative influences, and Onyx helps with releasing old patterns and providing strength.

🌿 Herbs: Sage is ideal for cleansing and purifying. Mugwort enhances spiritual clarity and protection, while Rue helps dispel negative energy and offers an extra layer of protection.

🌬️ Incense: Burn Myrrh to deepen spiritual cleansing and purification. Cedar is also powerful for driving away negative energies and safeguarding your space.

🌿 Essential Oils: Cypress helps to release and transition. Pine renews and purifies, and Patchouli supports grounding and protection.

🎴 Tarot Cards: Use The Hermit for introspection and wisdom, Death to signify transformation and endings.

Incorporate these elements into your ritual to fully harness the Waning Gibbous Moon's energies, supporting your intentions for release and protection. 🪬

Follow for more magick and witchy tips 🔮💜

#IVYSANCTUM

mythology moodboards | airmed

irish goddess of healing herbs

"i YɘAᴙᴎ ꟻoᴙ THis ꟻɘɘliᴎg AgAiᴎ."

Something I feel like people getting into folk magic need to understand, for many people of many backgrounds, is folk magic started as a means of survival. It was struggle magic, and it is still struggle magic.

Where I'm living now and where I'm from, people planted by the signs to ensure their crops wouldn't go bad before harvesting. People used ocean water to soothe joint and muscle pains when they got old. People studied the native plants for medicine and were mindful to only take what was needed. People did little rituals and minded their grannies' words to keep their good luck. If they didn't know how to do something (or couldn't), they went to people who did.

Learning folk magic to reconnect with ancestral traditions from before your time is valid. Learning folk magic to connect with and work with the land is valid. There are many valid reasons to take up folk magic. Still, understand that folk magic is survival, and folk magic is community.