Simple Magick: 9 Uses for Grave & Graveyard Dirt

Grave dirt, or graveyard dirt, is sometimes used in Witchcraft. It is considered that there is a strong magickal connection between a deceased person and the dirt from their grave. It can be used in spells relating to family matters, love, healing and grief; or it may be that dirt from the burial of a wicked person may be used in malevolent magick. Either way, graveyard dirt is used by many witches.

Amongst other things, grave dirt is used for:

• Samhain rituals
• Protection spells
• Communicating with spirits
• Altar item during mourning
• Banishing
• Habit-breaking spells
• Curses
• Ancestor Connection and veneration
• Summoning spirits

Taking and using grave dirt is a highly contentious issue. Many people find it disrespectful to take land from those who are trying to rest; however a work-around could be not taking it from specific graves. The dirt I have gathered is the dirt removed from grave digging - not all of it goes back, and is left in a pile; but it still holds the energy of this land, which for hundreds of years has been used for funerary purposes.

Gathering dirt from the grave of someone you know is usually preferable, and feels much more acceptable than taking from the grave of someone you don’t know; but this, like many other aspects of Witchcraft, is a matter of personal ethics; and not one I should lecture you on.

The character of the person who is buried in the grave may be crucial to your work; it might even be that they would have enjoyed being part of your workings. I suspect my grandmother would have taken a very keen interest in some of my spells!

Of course, it is always thoughtful and fair to leave a gift for the dead in exchange for what you have taken. Flowers, a libation, small coins, pretty stones or some other small offering is appropriate.

Do you use Graveyard Dirt in your practice? What do you think about it?

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