Welcome to the Graveyard Witchcraft Field Guide complete with graveyard dirt, spirit work, and the goddess of graveyards with Plants By Laurali! Cemetery magic is a way of connecting with the quiet world of the dead and is considered an advanced-level form of witchcraft.

With that being said, don’t let it stop you from digging right in, even if you are a beginner witch! The only way to gain experience is to step right into it.

However, I advise you to make sure you have the basics down first. You will need to have a deeper understanding of protection and defense magic. I would also recommend brushing up on your grounding and cleansing skills first.

Most important of all, I highly recommend getting up to speed with spirit work! Spirit work is where you learn how to consort with spirits. This might require a higher understanding of things like divination and psychic abilities.

Graveyard magic is all about the spirit of the place! Cemeteries and graveyards are places with a deep, emotional feeling attached to them. It is a place of in-between building a bridge between our world and the Other Side.

I find graveyards to be especially peaceful and quiet! I often take field trips there during daylight hours or just before sunset. Many people practice graveyard magic in the middle of the night.

For me, not only is it a place of spiritual communication, but it is also a place of calm and meditation. It is a pleasant space in which to collect my thoughts or read a good book. I also enjoy graveyard photography and capturing pictures of orbs during magic hour.

For you, it might become something entirely different and that is okay. It’s important to find your brand of magic in the graveyard amongst the headstones. Graveyard magic is for the witch who is willing to go deep within and do the shadow work!

The Graveyard Witchcraft Field Guide

How does one perform graveyard magic? To become a graveyard witch, one must spend time in graveyards and cemeteries!

Cemeteries are commonly found in local neighborhoods while graveyards are usually connected to a church. That’s how you can tell the difference between the two.

I recommend scouting out a couple of locations you feel drawn to before beginning. If at all possible, find one graveyard and one cemetery that you feel connected to.

The first few times you go, simply spend time in the serene and peaceful location of the graveyard or cemetery. You can sit on a bench and read a book. You can snap photographs and clean up the headstones.

The most important rule to graveyard magic is to be respectful! Cemeteries hold the spirits of people who were once living, just like you and me. Think of how you would feel if someone came trampling on your grave.

That being said, there are a few rules of graveyard magic you must follow! These rules apply to any witch wishing to do magic in the graveyard.

Graveyard Magic Rules

Make Friends With the Gatekeeper - The spirit who presides over graves! You will want to meet this spirit on your first visit and get permission to practice witchcraft there. On my first visit, I walked around and asked the gatekeeper to come forward and make himself known to me. Within minutes, I saw the gatekeeper out of the corner of my eye and received permission to practice my magic there.

Leave Payment - You must pay a toll every time you enter the cemetery for cemetery magic! You pay when you enter and leave money at the gate. You pay again on the way out and give thanks to the gatekeeper. Payment can come in the form of cash, coins, alcohol, or anything else you think the gatekeeper might like.

Bring Offerings - Once you’ve zeroed in on a particular gravesite you’d like to work with, you must bring offerings anytime you practice magic there! Spirits will often like the same things they enjoyed when they were alive. Things like booze, cigarettes, toys, charms, and cupcakes all make great offerings for the spirit. My spirit is a Vietnam vet and he loves it when I bring him pot brownies since they weren’t legalized back when he was alive.

Don’t Take More Than You Need - When taking graveyard dirt or grave dirt, don’t dig deep or take more than what you need! I usually bring old medicine bottles and fill them up with graveyard dirt. If I perform the spell at the graveyard, I bring a spoon to dig a small hole and bury my spell ingredients there, which usually consist of tiny gemstones and herbs.

Be Respectful - Again, I cannot emphasize this point enough! It’s important to be respectful while walking around the cemetery. Clean up headstones, pick up litter, leave tiny offerings when compelled, and keep quiet so as not to disturb anyone. You don’t want to piss off an angry ghost!

Don’t Get Caught - Graveyard magic is walking a fine line in both the spirit world and the world of the living. Do not desecrate graves, as that is highly illegal, and do find ways to be inconspicuous. There’s a reason many witches head to the graveyard in the middle of the night. I practice cemetery magic during the daytime hours with the notion of blending in and not making waves. There are laws that prohibit the desecration of a grave. It’s important not to do anything that can be construed as that, while still being able to perform magic in the graveyard. Don’t get caught doing something illegal, disrespectful, or damaging. This might be the most important rule!

Cemetery Magic Supplies

Before heading into the graveyard, you are going to want to be dressed properly and have some supplies on hand! I recommend wearing a hat and colors that are dark and blend into the environment. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself, especially if there’s a nasty ghost around!

In addition to that, you might want to invest in a small backpack to carry all of your supplies! You can even bring a camera bag for your camera and equipment if you plan to practice graveyard photography.

Protection Gemstones - Carry crystals that offer protection! I always carry two Tiger’s Eye crystals in my bra when I head into the graveyard for a field trip. Carnelian, black obsidian, and black tourmaline are great choices, too!

Cloves of Garlic - I carry a clove of garlic with me that I’ve enchanted for protection whenever I practice cemetery witchcraft. Garlic is great for warding things off and for protection. I carry it either in my purse or place it in my pocket or bra.

Crosses and Bible - If you are religious, you can carry the cross with you and a Holy Bible to read aloud should the situation warrant it. Many people use the bible to enhance their spellwork by reading verses aloud. The cross is a symbol of the holy trinity (the Father, the Son, and the holy ghost) and a symbol of utmost protection.

Spoon or Handheld Shovel - You’ll need a spoon or handheld shovel to scoop up graveyard dirt and grave dirt (dirt from a specific gravesite).

Glass or Plastic Containers - You’ll need a container to keep graveyard dirt in, as well as any rich ground nutrients you can scoop up such as roots, dried leaves, and dead flowers. I use old medicine bottles for most of my graveyard dirt. Reduce, reuse, and recycle!

Spell Ingredients - If you plan on performing a graveyard dirt magic spell on the spot, you’ll want to have your spell ingredients ready! Herbs, tiny crystals, and anything else that is biodegradable should do the trick. You’ll also want to add taglock such as hair, nails, blood, or a picture.

Notebook - You’ll need a notebook or you can use your phone to jot down notes of your experience. What ghosts did you see or what kind of presence did you feel? Which gravesites did you feel drawn to and why?

Goddess of Graveyards

I highly recommend working with Goddess Hekate when performing any kind of graveyard magic! Goddess Hekate is the queen of ghosts, graveyards, keys, crossroads, torches, and witchcraft. She is a powerful force to be reckoned with!

You should probably get to know her first before calling upon her! You can’t expect her to heed your call if you don’t put in the legwork.

With her ability to practice necromancy, Goddess Hekate is the bridge to communicating with ghosts! She can assist you in opening up your senses and hearing the voices in the graveyard. She can guide you as you create a graveyard magic spell!

I always call on her on my way to the graveyard for the ultimate protection! I pray that I am only seen by spirits I wish to be seen by and to be hidden from the rest.

Graveyards are places where spirits can attach themselves to you so prayer and defense magick is extremely important here! In the graveyard, there’s not a ghost that would mess with the likes of the Greek Goddess Hekate without backing off. She’s a great ally and friend for this kind of magical work.

The Best Times To Practice Graveyard Magic

The best times to practice graveyard magic are at midnight, dusk, and dawn. When the veil is thin during the autumnal seasonal shift, Samhain holiday, or during any baneful moon or full moon phase is also an optimal time when spirit work becomes most powerful!

In addition to seeing ghosts and communicating with spirits, you are more likely to see a fairy during these times, too. The cemetery is a place of twilight or the in-between.

Graveyard Dirt Magical Properties

Astrological Correspondences: Feminine and Masculine/Earth/Earth Element/Scorpio

Graveyard Dirt - An herb that isn't really an herb.  Dirt found in graveyards.  I use graveyard dirt for any type of love spell, money spell, or spell where I'm trying to increase something during the waxing moon.  Also, I use it for banishing and binding spells + hexes, and curses during the waning moon.  Pairs well with dark goddesses such as Goddess Kali or Goddess Hecate!

Notes: Learn the difference between graveyard dirt and grave dirt.  Also, graveyard dirt sits with my other herbs and spices in the kitchen.  It's kind of an all-purpose herb that isn't really an herb at all.

Graveyard Dirt is dirt found in and around graves while grave dirt comes from a specific site. You can even use crossroad dirt from the cemetery gates to amplify in crossroad magic you’d like to do.

Astrological Correspondences: Feminine and Masculine/Earth/Earth Element/Libra

Crossroad Dirt - I use crossroad dirt when I have a very important decision I need to make and I can't make up my mind!  Crossroads dirt, much like nettles (see below) is like the pro-con list of dirt.  It helps you to gain clarity and insight into the decision you are trying to make so things become crystal clear for you.  It will help you see what you can't see in a situation, uncover delusions, and clear up any muddied thinking which enables you to make sound decisions.  

Notes:  Crossroad dirt is another herb that isn't really an herb at all.  You can collect crossroad dirt from any crossroad you feel called to do so.  It's really about finding the right spot.  Crossroads dirt pairs well with Goddess Hecate!  She can see through the dark path in front of you and cut through the bullshit.

Graveyard Magic Spellwork

To perform a graveyard magic spell, you should have already established a solid connection with a specific gravesite or an area of the cemetery you feel drawn to. You’ll use your spoon or shovel to dig a tiny hole in or near a gravesite or an area of the graveyard you feel connected to.

Once you’ve dug your tiny hole begin putting your intention into any herb, crystal, petition, and taglock required for your spell. Fill the hole in while you keep praying or chanting your intention aloud or in your mind.

Be sure to ask the spirit of the gravesite or the gatekeeper to carry out your spell in the underworld. Place an offering on top of your spell or anything you think might amplify it and give thanks to the spirit assisting you!

Walk away and don’t look back. This might sound superstitious but I find this to be the key with graveyard work. This is also critical for any kind of crossroads spell.

Leave it in the hands of the spirit and go about your business! When driving or walking home, take a route less traveled so that a ghost won’t attach itself to you or follow you home.

After your graveyard field trip, be sure to cleanse and ground your energy once you get home. Once it’s complete, you can then perform divination on the spell, the different gravesites, and to make sure a ghost didn’t follow you home or attach itself to you. I usually do this with tarot cards, but you can do this with any form of divination you like!

Next, feel the magic coursing through your veins! The first time I practiced graveyard magic, I felt high, almost dizzy with power. It was one of the most magical experiences I’ve ever had!

Do you perform graveyard magic? Tell me about your experience!