Graveyard Dirt in Magical Workings

Mention graveyard dirt in a magical context, and chances are good you'll get a lot of strange looks or questions. After all, it sounds a bit creepy, right? Who in their right mind goes around scooping up soil out of cemeteries?

Well, believe it or not, a lot of people. The use of graveyard dirt isn't all that odd in many magical traditions. In some forms of folk magic, for example, the magical connection of the dirt is more significant than just being from a grave. What's more important is the person who's inside the grave.

Dirt from the grave of someone you loved could be used in love magic, while dirt from the burial site of a very wicked person might be incorporated into malevolent workings or curses. In other words, the dirt from the grave is a physical object that corresponds with the traits of the person buried beneath it.

How does one obtain graveyard dirt? It would be easy to just meander into the local cemetery with a trowel and a bag and start scooping, but it's better to be more respectful than this. First and foremost, it's important to choose a gravesite correctly. The best choice is to use dirt from the grave of someone you knew in life -- a family member or friend who has passed. If the person is someone you cared very much about, and who had a positive impact on your life, dirt from this grave could be used in any number of positive magical workings.

The second option would be to use dirt from the grave of someone who you may not have known personally, but who is known to you. For example, soil from a famous writer's grave could be used to inspire a creative spark. Earth from the grave of a wealthy person might be incorporated into a working for prosperity.

No matter whose grave you choose to collect dirt from, it's important that you do so in a respectful and honorable manner. Ask permission first -- and if you begin to feel uneasy, as thought the person buried beneath you is unhappy with what you're doing, then stop. It's also a good idea to leave an offering or small token of appreciation. Only take a small amount of dirt -- no more than a handful.

Finally, be sure to say thank you when you're finished.

For specific examples of how to use graveyard dirt in a ritual or working from a Hoodoo perspective, read Cat Yronwoode's essay over at Luckymojo: Graveyard Dirt.



-The Crafty Witch

Happy Krampusnacht!

December 6 is the day in which parts of Germany and Bavaria celebrate Krampusnacht, which is a throwback to a pre-Christian tradition. The word Krampus means "claw", and apparently certain Alpine villiages have big parties featuring a scary clawed incubus who hangs around with Santa Claus. The Krampus costume also includes sheepskin, horns, and a switch that the incubus uses to swat children and unsuspecting young ladies. The Krampus' job is to punish those who have been bad, while Santa rewards the people on his "nice" list. There's been a resurgence in interest in Krampus over the past century or so, but it seems as though the custom goes back hundreds of years.


While the men parade around dressed as creepy demons, the women get to have some fun too, wearing masks and representing Frau Perchta, who was a Nordic goddess, who may have been an aspect of Freyja, the fertility goddess. Interestingly, in the Pennsylvania Dutch community, there's a character called Pelsnickel or Belznickel who is an awful lot like Krampus, so it appears that the tradition migrated across the water when Germans settled in America.

Krampus.com, which calls itself the official home of "Krampus, the holiday devil," calls Krampus a "dark counterpart of Saint Nicholas, the traditional European gift-bringer who visits on his holy day of December 6th... The bishop-garbed St. Nicholas rewards good kids with gifts and treats; unlike the archetypal Santa, however, St. Nicholas never punishes naughty children, parceling out this task to a ghastly helper from below."

-The Crafty Witch

Fav Halloween Movies 5 of 7

Now that we are winding down and getting to the end of the Fav Halloween movies I'm saving the best ones for last Movies 5 - 7 in my opinion are the best of all time Halloween movies.

------------------------------

Hocus Pocus

Rating: PG           Length: 96 mins.               Year: 1993

Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy

Movie Description

A spin on the infamous 17th-Century Salem Witch Trials is the focus of the 1993 Walt Disney Pictures fantasy-comedy Hocus Pocus.

Salem, Mass. 1693: Three sisters (deemed witches by townspeople) are publicly hanged after allegedly killing another girl and transforming the slain girl's brother into a talking cat. Dissolve to Salem, Mass. 1993, October 31st (Halloween) to be precise.

New high school student Max isn't adjusting well to his new school or classmates. Apparently Max is an object of ridicule because he scoffs at the legend of the three witches, which is held to be a "sacred truth" in Salem. Reluctantly, Max agrees to accompany his younger sister on her "trick-or-treat"-ing rounds, where they become involved in strange goings-on at the house where the three 17th-Century "witch" sisters lived.

Hocus Pocus has developed somewhat of a cult following over the years. The cast is solid, led by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz and Thora Birch. Legendary TV producer/director Garry Marshall has a cameo as the Devil.

------------------------------

The Haunted Mansion

Rating: PG           Length: 88 mins.               Year: 2003

Cast: Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Nathaniel Parker, Marsha Thomason

Movie Description

The Evers family needed a little quality time together, but what they didn't need was quality time with a floating head in a crystal ball. Ghosts, dark secrets, and mysterious characters transform their tranquil family outing into a ghoulish night they'll never forget.

------------------------------

Thank you to http://www.disneymovieslist.com for info

-The Crafty Witch

DIY Spooky Tree Centerpiece

The Tree Centerpiece really pulls together a room, whether it be spooky for child’s fun, it will definitely have everyone looking twice

Best of this entire project will only cost $3.00!

What you'll Need:

• Black Plastic Cauldron

• Floral/Craft Foam

• Glass Gems, Rocks, or Stones

• Halloween Tinsel Garland

• Plastic Skeleton Garland

• Twigs from Your Yard

• Paint & Paint Brush (Optional)

• Glittery Bat Ornaments (See Directions on Page 2)

*All items italicized are item you probably already have around your own home.

*All items underlined are optional

Easy Step-by-Step Directions:

1. First, gather a few spooky-looking twigs from your yard.

2. Place the floral/craft foam in the center of the cauldron and

fill the empty space around the foam with glass gems, rocks,

or stones. This will anchor your foam and provide stability

for your tree.

3. Stick the twigs from your yard securely into the foam... make

sure you push them far into the foam for stability. Arrange

twigs into your desired tree shape. If you want to paint your

twigs black or another color, do that next. They will be easier

to paint standing upright in the foam. Set the tree aside to dry.

4. Once the twigs are dry, cover the stones at the base of the

tree with Halloween tinsel garland, then place the skeleton

garland on top of the tinsel and position the skeletons

however you wish.

5. Decorate the tree with more skeletons, Halloween creepy

creatures, or handmade glittery bat ornaments (see directions

on page 2).

 

I did mine a little differently but both ways are acceptable. I had bits of gravel from around by house that I was able to anchor mine down with but there are many options available at your local Dollar Tree to find what you would like best. Also I did not line the bottom of my tree centerpiece with tinsel garland and the skeleton garland, I was going for a spookier look to I surrounded mine with Spanish Moss (available at the Dollar Tree)

---------------------------------------------

Here is also link for those of you how would like to have a print out of the directions - it will take you to the Dollar Tree site where you can print out a PDF!

Go For PDF!

-The Crafty Witch

Fav Halloween Movies 2 of 7

This is actually one of the best Disney movies I have ever seen, back in the 90's Disney got to get away with racy innuendos and some mild language. This movie as a child was so scary to me and was the absolute best to watch late at night (which at that point and time was really like 10pm) curled up with my power ranger footie pajamas and my fuzzy blanket. ANYWAYS -- its such a great movie.

------------------------------

Tower of Terror

Rating: UR           Length: 89 mins.               Year: 1997

Cast: Steve Guttenberg, Kirsten Dunst, Nia Peeples

Movie Description

Written and directed by D.J. MacHale, Tower of Terror is a made-for-TV production supernatural thriller from Walt Disney Television. The 89-minute film is based on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror theme park attraction at Florida's Walt Disney World Resort, the first Disney production featuring one of its own attractions.

Steve Guttenberg portrays a former distinguished reporter who fell on hard times and now toils for a sleazy tabloid. His fortunes begin looking up after stumbling across a 1939 episode in which five people mysteriously disappear while in a luxury hotel elevator during a lightning storm. Buzzy Crocker (Guttenberg) and his niece Anna (Kirsten Dunst) become involved through a chance encounter with Abigail Gregory (Amzie Strickland), an older sister of one of the victims. Abigail claims to know the "real" story behind the incident, and her version intrigues Buzzy and Anna; so much that they attempt to recreate the decades-long mystery in hopes of solving it.

In addition to Guttenberg, Dunst and Strickland, other notable cast members include Nia Peeples, Michael McShane and Melora Hardin.

-------------------- ----------

Thank you to http://www.disneymovieslist.com for info

-The Crafty Witch