Grave Matters: Exploring Cemetery Magick

Dirt and Divination: A Witch’s Guide to Cemetery Rituals

How about a field trip to the local cemetery to connect with the dead? Not what you thought I would say, right? Well, my witches, let’s dig in.

Traditionally, we think of connecting to the dearly departed near Samhain. But really any time of year works, especially as we approach the colder months when the veil is thin and we long for the warmth of summer’s kiss.

Most of us have an odd relationship with death because we have never been taught to honor the process of life and death, to honor the transitions of life. Walking the spiral has taught me a lot about letting everything go as soon as I receive it so I can begin the journey again. However, right now we will walk the cemetery and make friends with the dead.

Graveyards hold a quiet, sacred place in the heart of witchcraft , not just as a setting for rituals, but as spaces of deep listening, healing, and connection. Yet beyond the surface, there are truths known by those who walk these paths with reverence. Here are some of the lesser-known, spirit-taught understandings about witches and graveyards that may shift the way you engage with these resting grounds.

Every graveyard has a gatekeeper spirit. This presence might not have a name, but you’ll feel it, often near the entrance, an old tree, or a central crossroads in the cemetery. It could be an ancestral spirit, a land guardian, or a soul still watching over the space. When entering, it’s wise to pause and introduce yourself, energetically or aloud. Ask permission. You may sense a welcome, or a gentle nudge to leave. Both should be respected. The gatekeeper tends to the energy of the land, the energy of the decomposing bodies laid to rest there and the energy of those visiting. Your energy will be, being read and worked with by this gatekeeper so always come in love and you’ll leave in peace. Come in anger, or hate and you’ll be swept off the land in one way or another.

One of the most overlooked truths is that graveyards and cemeteries are not just places of death, they are communities of spirit. Each grave holds not just a body, but a life, a history, and a lingering presence. These spaces are alive in a different way, layered with quiet conversations, echoes of prayers, and the deep stillness of time. If you sit long enough, the land begins to speak, not always in words, but in sensation, thought, or sudden clarity.

Time behaves strangely in graveyards. Many witches notice that minutes feel longer, or the air feels thick and slow. That’s because spirit time is not the same as clock time. When you enter these places, you’re stepping into a liminal current, and your body knows. Don’t rush. Let the energy move around you, and trust what you feel, your intuition is one of your most powerful magickal tools here.

Not every spirit wants to participate in your magick. Some are resting. Some are grieving. Some are just watching. Some never return to where their bodies are laid to rest because they have more important things to tend to. A witch who works with spirits learns to ask rather than assume. Consent is just as sacred with the dead as it is with the living. When a spirit agrees to assist you, whether in protection, healing, or justice the work becomes far more potent and aligned.

Some witches make it part of their practice to tend forgotten graves. To visit the unvisited. Clean a headstone. Leave flowers. Say a name aloud that hasn’t been spoken in years. I love doing this, it’s a favorite self care day of mine when I tend to the oldest and most forgotten bodies in the earth. These small acts of devotion create powerful bonds, not only with that spirit but with the spirit world itself. There is magick in remembrance, an awakening or strengthening of mediumship abilities and deep protection in honoring the forgotten.

Of course, not all energy in graveyards or cemeteries is peaceful. Just like in life, some spirits are unsettled, or looking to attach. This is why protection is non-negotiable. Warding yourself before and after a visit is essential. Use herbs like rosemary or rue, or carry a protective talisman.

The Sacred Art of Collecting Dirt

Grave dirt is not just dirt. It carries memory, essence, and story. Where it’s taken from matters: dirt from the grave of a healer carries a different charge than dirt from the crossroads, or from an unmarked grave. A witch working with grave materials understands that this is sacred exchange, not extraction.

There is a difference between a graveyard and a cemetery , not just in name, but in energy, history, and the way spirits dwell within them. A graveyard is traditionally attached to a church or place of worship. Because of this, the land is often consecrated and shaped by religious influence, which can be felt in the atmosphere. The energy in a graveyard often feels older, quieter, and more orderly, with a strong sense of boundaries. Many witches feel this space is best suited for ancestral connection, spirit honoring, and gentle communication with the dead, especially when seeking peace, healing, or remembrance.

A cemetery, on the other hand, is usually not connected to a church, making it feel more neutral and often more energetically accessible to the modern witch. For many of us, cemeteries are actually preferred, precisely because they are free from religious control or doctrine. The energy can be more dynamic, varied, and open to different kinds of magical work, including banishing, binding, necromantic rites, or deeper spirit collaborations. That said, because the energy can be less contained, it’s important to come grounded, protected, and fully aware of your own sovereignty.

For the practicing witch, knowing the difference between these resting places is part of walking with wisdom and respect. Whether you’re gathering grave dirt, leaving offerings, or simply communing in stillness, each space holds its own lessons and laws. Some spirits are quiet. Some are curious. Some may be willing to work with you, but all deserve reverence.

What matters most is your intention, your heart, and the way you carry yourself between the worlds. Whether you step into a graveyard or cemetery, do so with presence, humility, and the knowing that you are walking on sacred ground.

One of the practices I engage in is collecting cemetery/graveyard dirt. This is usually only collected from our own loved ones’ graves, or old grave sites as to not disrespect anyone whose still living that’s lost someone and when done, you should only be taking a small bit. If you are taking from other graves or cemeteries, it should only be with an experienced practitioner. You don’t want to disturb or attach anything unwanted to yourself. I use this dirt to make a destruction oil or binding oil I use in spell work.

When collecting the dirt, the spirit who once inhabited the body should be asked for permission before you take any, and the smallest amount possible should be taken. Using a silver spoon for protection is essential, as many witches wear silver, me included, because it is a highly protective metal. If you feel called to the cemetery and you aren’t sure why, you may have a draw to weaving magick or what some refer to as hedge craft. The cemetery is a liminal space like the beach where the sand meets the water or at a creek where the trees grow close to the water and the dirt just before the water’s edge. It’s because you enter the liminal space between the worlds. Cemeteries are the same. Always leave an offering when visiting the cemetery; this can be flowers, candlelight, a hair, or a more traditional offering like coins. I teach about this in my course, The Way of the Witch.

Connecting with the Spirits

Just as in life, some spirits are unsettled, or looking to attach. This is why protection is non-negotiable when connecting with dearly departed. Like an altar used as a portal to the Divine, a grave site can be a doorway to the Spirit. Most spirits don’t hang out at the cemetery, but they will go there with their loved ones. I mean, it’s much more fun to watch us live our lives than it is to sit in a boring cemetery. However, just because you hang out there doesn’t necessarily mean you will encounter those who have passed on.

Some spirits are at graveyards and cemeteries, and many witches even do spellwork there. I don’t usually do spell work at cemeteries because I feel like every headstone and body laid to rest is similar to an altar dedicated to the existence of that life lived, so I’m very intentional about what I do there. I read headstones and place my hands on them, close my eyes, and connect to the spirit when I feel called. I notice what spirits I feel are there at the grave and what spirits aren’t.

The energy of the body, the imprint of a life once lived lingers long after the spirit has moved on. Even when a soul departs, the energetic echo of their existence remains woven into the bones, the grave, and the land around it. Memories, emotions, traumas, love, and unfinished stories can saturate the earth where a body rests. For witches, this lifeline energy is not something to fear, but something to approach with reverence. It can be read, felt, honored, and even worked with, especially in divination, healing, or ancestral magick. This is why certain graves seem to “call” to us, or why sitting by a headstone can stir visions or sensations. The body may be still, but the life it carried continues to resonate, like the final notes of a sacred song echoing long after the music has stopped.

Do you feel called to a certain grave? If you do, pick the weeds and clean it up a bit. Sit there and offer a song, bring flowers, leave a crystal, and ask the spirit to communicate with you. Ask the spirit if they’ve started a new life or if they are waiting to reincarnate and what their life was like. Notice the thoughts that enter your mind that might not be your own. This is a great way to open your third eye and heal your relationship with death. Let’s face it, the witch wound has made us all fear and dread death. Coming to a graveyard intentionally to heal your witch wound is a great way to start trusting the spiral of life.

One more thing before I say farewell for now, and this is important to know before leaving a cemetery: always stop your car outside the gates, turn in a circle three times, and stomp your left foot three times while saying , you are not mine to hold in love and light I bid you farewell. Speak your boundaries aloud and close the energetic door behind you this, will ensure you don’t take on any unwanted attachments. Be sure to express gratitude to the spirits and the land, leave an offering, and thank them for their presence and guidance. This respect and acknowledgment help maintain the balance and honor the sacredness of the space.

Blessed be.