If a witch chooses to keep an altar as part of their practice, it is their choice what items and tools they display and/or use. These are just a few ideas I have taken from my personal altars. Feel free to use anything for your altar that feels right. These are just suggestions!

Tools
Athame (Knife) - Can be used similarly to a wand if desired or to prepare offerings, incense, etc. Any safe metal is appropriate and a bone handle is a plus! Many use them for display or as protection talismans.

Wand - Can be used as an extension of your hand to channel energy, point, or draw sigils within a circle or as part of a spell. Metal, bone, wood, or crystal wands all work equally well. 

Candles - Either to use in spells, to create atmosphere, or to burn during meditation. Black, white, red, silver and gold candles work well and metal candleholders or candlesticks compliment death work.

Cauldron - Often used to burn offerings, spells, or incense. 

Offering Dish - Primarily used to place offerings on the altars. I prefer bowls so that liquid offerings can be given. I prefer to designate one vessel for food/drink and others for unrelated offerings.

Crystals - Can be used for spell work, to cleanse or protect an altar, or as decoration. Some excellent choices are onyx, obsidian, tourmaline, pyrite, clear quartz, and hematite.

Other
Plants/Terrariums - I love using graveyard dirt and moss collected at cemeteries to make small terrariums for my altar to give me a task at my altar each day. Living plants can also be tended on an altar. 

Skulls, Bones, Mummies - This may be a given, but oddities like these are excellent representations of death (skulls, bones, mummies, wet specimens, mounted insects, etc.).

 Graveyard Dirt - I like to keep a small amount of graveyard dirt on my altar at all times. Ensure this is collected ethically and with respect.

Art - Visual representations help motivate a lot of my practice and keeping my altar beautiful aesthetically supports my craft. Keeping figurines, prints, paintings, etc. on or around your altar may be a source of inspiration.

Photographs - If your craft is centered around ancestor veneration, grief practices, or funerary rights, than it might be appropriate to keep photos of deceased relatives/friends/pets on your altar.

Altar Themes:
Dieties
Mushrooms/Fungi
Ancestor Veneration
Decomposition
Life Cycle
Funerary Rites

thefoxisawitch:

Here’s another~ I thought this would be a good thing for most death witches as it’s a simple foundation layout. However you do you!

If you’d like to tip me for my work you can here https://ko-fi.com/katrinanebula

grandmaveitch:

Hello lovelies!

Losing a family member can be very hard and it can take a lot out of someone both physically and mentally. Over the past few months I have been trying to figure out how to contact those loved ones who meant so much to me and my family but I find that my body and my mind struggles to produce the energy for such spellcraft. I am by no means a master spellcrafter but I hope this spell can help those of you who may also be feeling lost or confused about life or wish to find closer and get answers to unsolved questions. 

What you need:

• 1 white candle (taper candle/fake candle are my preferences)
• Protection Prayer
• Divination Prayer
• Name of the person you wish to contact
• Window (optional)
• Photo or Trinket of departed (optional)
• Music, crystals, offerings (optional)

Preparation:

Since this is a sleep spell I urge you to use your safe judgement, I have a safe place I can leave the candle burning all night without worry but also I have found that fake candles work just as well! I also do my whole night routine before this spell, including all my night meds. 

What to do:

X - I light my candle or turn on my fake candle, and move on to sound: because of my night terrors sleep in silence and while usually I’ll watch cooking videos at night I do this spell I try to put on visual documentaries - Moving Art on Netflix is a lovely background noise but sometimes I’ll also put on dramas like The Borgias. 

X - Say the protection prayer and make sure to include the family members name in the prayer and call on the gods to guide and help the person to you. 

*Note: Use as much of a name as you can, for example: “I ask for ____, father/mother of ____, grandfather/grandmother of _____, husband/wife of _____ to visit me tonight.” This helps make sure that your invitation is direct as possible as not to allow negative spirits into your home and dreams.

X - Lay down in your bed and close your eyes, begin to talk to your family member and explain the situation that needs clarity, thank them for making the journey and for any advice they decide to give.  Also talk to the gods, and thank them for protecting you and your family member and for guiding them here safely. Since this is a spell about family I reach out to the gods I am devoted to because they are -in a sense of the word- part of my family, however if you would prefer to reachout to gods of travel/protection or gods of divination specifically that is 100% allowed and encouraged!

(This can get emotional, especially for a recent passing, the first time I reached out to my Abuelo I cried for 20 minutes, but it felt good and I knew was just talking to him and he was comforting me even - if I couldn’t hear his voice.)

X - After you explain everything to your family member and the gods, open your eyes again and take a moment to yourself. Make sure you are 100% relaxed and ready for the night and then say the divination spell. Then, if you so choose blow out the candle and head to bed. As you fall asleep try once again to say thank you to the gods and those who have passed for their guidance. 

The Next Day

X - I have found that those how have passed deliver messages in riddles and poems, I recommend writing down what you can remember and figuring out what parts of the dreams can represent aspects of your life.

Important: 

Maybe you didn’t receive any dreams that night, don’t stress out. Take time to reflect on who you are reaching out to and what you know about them and who they were like in person and what your relationship was like with them and/or with that side of the family. Maybe there is a broken link with that side of the family, I personally had to repair a relationship with my Abuela before I heard from my Abuelo. However if it is a toxic relationship DO NOT ENGAGE, DO NOT GO BACK TO ABUSE JUST FOR ANSWERS.

stygiantarot:

Safe Crossings for Someone Who’s Passed

A simple ritual to help someone who’s passed find peace.

Ingredients:

• A small candle (white or black is good, or a color you associate with the deceased)
• A small piece of paper and pen/pencil (or special treat or toy if for a beloved pet)
• Rosemary oil or leaves
• Thyme
• Violet, marigold, or rose petals
• Ground clove
• A pinch of sugar (any kind)
• A small candle-safe bowl/holder (needs to be a bit larger than the candle itself so herbs can be placed around)

1.) Write the name of the person or pet on the piece of paper. Write what you wish for them (peace, rest, happiness, love, reunions, etc.). Include the toy and/or treats around the bowl if for a pet.

2.) Place the paper under the candle. If you have rosemary oil, rub the candle with it lightly. If you have the leaves, you can stick them into the candle in a ring around the outer edge.

3.) Create a ring around the candle with the herbs and petals. Sprinkle the sugar around on top last.

4.) Light the candle and say the pet/person’s name and the things you wish for them.

5.) Leave the candle burning as long as you are able, but it’s okay if that’s a short amount of time.

6.) Bury the herbs/petals and paper- or burn them if you’re unable to bury.

YU GONPLEI STE ODON

the ritual I did when I heard my neighbour had passed

I live in a small close and one of my elderly neighbours had owned most the houses and so we were all close with him. He had the warmest heart and loved to care for the earth. He truly was a light soul.

When I found out he had passed, I truly was heart broken. I instantly prayed to hades and lite a candle so his soul would travel safely and kindly to the afterworld.

I then saw a packet of parmaviolets I’d reiceved at christmas and knew that hades wanted one as an offering. I put one on either side of the candle to symbols his soul passing from the living to the dead. I have a crystal (black quartz i believe) that i have to dedicate to Hades and so i put that in front of the candle. Even though usually i don’t give incense as an offering to Hades because it goes up, the symbolism of his soul lifting away from this earth struck me and so I lit it and put it in front of the candle.

Tonight, I am going to pray again for him and his family.

Safe Travels, Willy.

scarletarosa:

Zoological Curios in Witchcraft

These items can either be bought or harvested from dead animals. Do not bring harm to any being just to obtain something and always respect their remains.

Alligator foot or tooth - curses, protection, money-drawing
Badger tooth - luck in gambling
Black cat fur - glamour, curses, paranoia
Black dog fur - cursing, discord, arguments, protection
Chicken feet - protection
Black chickens’ eggs - cleansing
Black chicken feathers - cleansing
Crab shell - send curses back to the caster, protection
Porcupine quill - cursing, protection
Rabbit foot - luck, beauty, social power
Snakeskin - love, sex, temptation, transformation, cursing
Cat whiskers - balance, good luck
Cow tongue - binding gossip, binding lies, social powers, persuasion 
Scales - protection, reflecting curses
Spider webs - cursing, binding, trapping an enemy, dream magic
Dead spiders - cursing, fear, patience
Dead centipedes - cursing, fear, rivalry, good luck
Dead moths - beauty, guidance, faith, attraction, psychic abilities
Raw chicken meat - banishment, protection
Raw chicken heart - vitality, love, cursing
Menstrual blood - sex magic, obsession, fertility
Human teeth - communication, obtaining through force
Crow feathers - rebirth, knowledge, wisdom, seer work
Shark teeth - cursing, protection
Raw pork - abundance, prosperity, greed, aggression
Owl pellets - death, change
Canine teeth/claws - cursing, protection, banishment
Frog eyes - rebirth, health
Bear claws - protection (especially of unborn children)
Raw fish - fertility, rebirth, good luck, health, abundance, joy
Goat hair - virility, fertility, abundance, peace, balance
Black goat hair - cursing, illness, family issues, misfortune 

photos are mine!!!! these are my skulls :3

lyrium:

---

apache tear
+ gentle form of obsidian, useful for mending sorrow and grounding
+ legend states this stone formed when the tears of weeping apache women fell to the ground as they mourned their dead warriors

calendula(marigold)
+ often used in funerals and remembrance ceremonies, eases sorrow
+ closely tied to samhain and día de los muertos

cemetery dirt
+ used in a variety of death rituals and spells
+ contacting the dead, banishment, protection, astral protection
+ various types have different effects, research ethical collection first

copal
+ resin often burned for purification, grounding, exorcism
+ closely tied to día de los muertos

cypress(tree of death)
+ used to honor the dead and mend associated sorrow
+ chips may be sprinkled over a grave to ease the pain of loved ones left behind and help the departed soul move on
+ classic symbol of mourning, commonly found in cemeteries 

frankincense
+ resin burned for consecration, exorcism, communing with the dead

mullein(corpse candles)
+ can be used as a substitute for cemetery dirt
+ stalks are often used as wicks for homemade candles
+ used to invoke spirits and for divination 

myrrh
+ resin burned for purification, exorcism, healing sorrow
+ increases power of any incense, often paired with frankincense 

patchouli
+ can be used as a substitute for cemetery dirt
+ powerful, earthy musk when burned, useful for grounding in rituals

poppy
+ suitable offering for the dead and many deities associated with such
+ brings peace to the deceased and loved ones

rowan (mountain ash)
+ may be worn or planted near homes for protection
+ planted on graves to prevent haunting by departed spirits

violet
+ legends tell of violets blooming on graves of virgins and saints
+ appropriate offering for the graves of children

willow(witches aspirin)
+ traditional symbol of mourning as it “weeps” similarly to humans
+ used for protection and to commune with spirits
+ often found in cemeteries to soothe departed spirits

wormwood
+ often used to summon spirits and commune with the dead
+ burned with sandalwood at night in cemeteries to conjure spirits

yew
+ used for protection from evil and contacting the dead
+ often found in cemeteries and used in ancient roman funeral pyres

Respectfully Visiting Strangers’ Graves

Today I visited a cemetery for Nemeseia. None of the dead people I know or who are related to me are buried anywhere near me–the closest is two states over, and most are in other countries–so, obviously, I wasn’t visiting anyone I’m connected to.

After this, I thought that it would probably be a good idea to share how I ensure I’m being respectful of the dead and their family’s when I select a strangers’ grave to honor. If you can think of any other ways to be respectful, feel free to add on.

General Cemetery Etiquette

1. Be quiet. You can talk or sing, but keep your voice low. Don’t blast Jay-Z.
2. Avoid mourners. Especially if you’re not visiting a specific grave, keep your distance from others. The cemetery is, first and foremost, a space for those grieving people they didknow.
3. Don’t walk over graves. If you cant tell where graves end, assume you should only walk directly behind and between headstones.
4. Don’t lean on, push, or touch headstones. Headstones aren’t sturdy! You can knock them down or break them.
5. Dress ‘normally’ and reasonably. I love eccentric makeup and statement fashion, but a graveyard isn’t the place for that. Avoid crop tops, lingerie, lots of glitter, etc. I wore my most simple floral skirt and a black t-shirt.
6. Don’t take dirt, bones, items, offerings, anything from a grave. It’s abhorrent. I don’t care about your graveyard dirt or 'vibes,’ don’t disturb strangers’ graves or steal their gifts. If you really need dirt get it from near the gates or something.

Selecting a Grave

1. Don’t visit someone who was born in or died this month, or on holidays. If it’s August, check that the birth and death dates weren’t in August. If the grave belongs to a man, don’t visit on Father’s Day, if it’s a Christian, not on any saints’ days, etc.
2. Make sure the grave hasn’t been recently visited. If it’s pristine and has flowers on it, leave it alone.
3. Avoid people who died less than 5 years ago. Those are far more likely to have visitors.
4. Avoid graves with religious symbols. Respect the religions of the dead. Do not involve a dead Muslim in your pagan holiday, don’t do satanic witchcraft on a Catholic’s grave.
5. Avoid graves with phrases on them like “beloved father/wife/sibling.” These are also far more likely to have visitors and living relatives.
6. Pick a site far from any mourners. Again, the cemetery is their space. Leave them be.

WhatNot to Offer/Leave

1. Avoid alcohol libations for religious graves or child deaths. Not all Muslims, for example, abstain from drink, but you should still respect the religion’s rules when you don’t know the dead.
2. Don’t leave things that spoil. No meat, no fruit, avoid food in general.
3. Don’t leave large offerings, ie. full sized bouquets and wreaths. Remember if the family does come by, you don’t want them to have to wonder who on earth gave grandpa fifty carnations and a bottle of rose.
4. Don’t leave plastic or things animals are likely to choke on.
5. No drugs or things that might be mistaken for drugs. White powders, mysterious green leafy lumps, etc. are no-goes. I hope it’s clear why.
6. Avoid bones. Not everyone wants to find a bird skull on their tia’s head stone.
7. Don’t leave art, poetry, or notes. It’s confusing and slightly creepy if you don’t know the dead.

Good Options for Offerings

1. Small, non-spoiling snacks. Unwrapped chocolate, candy, etc.
2. Flowers and plants. I leave mini bouquets of home grown oregano and lavender.
3. Unlit incense. I tied a stick into a bouquet.
4. Feathers and whiskers.
5. Lightly cleaning a plaque or headstone. Simply dusting off dirt and grass, don’t bring Clorox.
6. Liquid offerings (libations). Pour them in the dirt, don’t leave in a cup. Ideal offerings are things like small amounts of wine, water, or milk.

The grave I selected today was of a man who passed in 2014. His headstone only said his name and “community member,” and was untouched. It had no symbols other than a typewriter on it, making ti safe to assume he wasn’t very religious if at all. The offering I gave was water poured on the ground, dusting his plaque, and a small bouquet of plants and a feather.

When visiting a cemetery, it’s important above all that you respect the dead and the living. It’s not a tourist attraction or a spooky witchy site. It’s for the dead and those who loved them first and foremost. Respect that.

I was recently blessed by a fellow death witch with this amazing Oil of the Dead and Incense of the Dead from Ward and Weave!

These things feel amazing!!

Asphodelo worked for 7 months to create and consecrate these amazing blends, as well as a Coin of the Dead.

The incense is cemetery crossroads dirt, tombstone lichen, dandelion root, cypress, frankincense resin, cinnamon quill, rose petals, and anise seed. Not only does it smell amazing but it’s incredibly potent for spirit work.

The oil is sweet almond oil, cemetery crossroads dirt, tombstone lichen, dandelion root, cypress, frankincense resin, cinnamon quill, rose petals, anise seed, and organic essential oils of frankincense, cypress and star anise. The oil was specifically designed for safe-passage in cemeteries.

I plan to put these products to work very soon and I’ll let you all know how they go.

If you’re interested in knowing more or purchasing some for yourself, visit Ward and Weave for the whole she-bang!