These serene and sacred final resting places of the dearly departed are interwoven with the rich cultural tapestry that is October 31^st – be it in the form of Halloween, Samhain, or events such as Día de Muertos that transpire at the beginning of November.

Connections between the end of the harvest season and death are inextricably linked. The kinship these two share stretches back countless thousands of years.

There is something wholly natural in the thinking and belief that the visual death of the landscape and end of many readily available food sources gathered or grown from the land and the realm of human death would go hand-in-hand.

Not every culture around the world links the end of October with death, but a good many have certainly long associated autumn with concepts of dying, death, and the afterlife.

Often, even when solemn, these events were seen as times of merriment, mirth, feasting, presenting offerings, and communing with those on the other side of the veil.

In the 21^st century, the connection between the season of Halloween and the realm of the dead, especially as it exists in the earthy plots of land we call cemeteries and graveyards, has become primarily symbolic for a lot of folks.

For others, however, a continuation of the connections that generations before us held fast to is still going strong in our lives and spiritual practices.

The subject of death and graveyards is not relegated to October though, of course. Yet the natural connection between the two makes the early days of fall and the coming autumnal months ahead an especially well-suited time to delve into a topic that is near and dear to my heart: taphophilia.

What is taphophilia?

An English term born of two ancient Greek words, “taphos”, which applies to matters such as funerals, wakes, tombs, burials, and graves, plus “philia”, which means love/fondness, taphophilia quite literally means a love of graveyards, death and related subject matter.

Before we proceed even a single line further, it should be stated for the record, that the hobby/passion of taphophilia does not in any way mean the same thing as necrophilia.

The latter meaning that a person has an extreme/pathological fascination or obsession with dead bodies, which may or may not elevate to the level of engaging in sexual acts with corpses.

While it is certainly possible that someone could be both a taphophile and a necrophile, one does not imply the other in any way. In fact, I would argue that the crossover between the two groups is bound to be very small.

A taphophile is someone who has an interest in things such as funerals, cemeteries, gravestones, and the general subject of memento mori (as well as the funerary and remembrance items associated with such), and taphophilia is not something negative or perverse.

Taphophiles may enjoy such activities as visiting graveyards and cemeteries, photographing such locations, reading epitaphs, taking grave rubbings, thinking about/discussing subjects of death and the lives of those who have passed on, and studying the history of graveyards and/or famous deaths.

As well as researching subjects such as art, burial rites and customs, photography (including post mortem photography), poetry, music and other creative mediums in which death has been featured in varying capacities.

Anyone, of any age, can be a taphophile. I myself have been a proud (funeral) card-carrying member of team taphophilia since childhood.

Likewise, taphophiles can be of any nationality, spirituality or religion, profession, or gender.

If you have a strong interest in topics pertaining to graveyards, funerals, and/or death, you may be a taphophile already!

For some, a fascination or connection with these topics starts very early in life. For others, it may develop in their teens or their adult years. Indeed, a person can find themselves bitten by the proverbial taphophilia bug at any stage in their life.

It is not uncommon for taphophilia to emerge organically from other areas of interest such as genealogy or archelogy in which a person may routinely find themselves studying graveyards, gravestone symbolism, death records, funerary customs and/or art, or other related topics.

Likewise, someone who may start out with a focus on taphophilia might find that their interest in subjects like history or genealogy have been ignited or kindled all the more and so begin to weave these passions together.

Many, though certainly not all, taphophiles enjoy documenting/recording their trips to graveyards, often sharing some of what they’ve seen and discovered publicly.

Searches on social media – Instagram very much included – for hashtags such as #taphophila #taphophile #gravehunter #graveexplorer #cemetarywandering #cemetaryphotography #cemetarylove and many other related terms quickly reveals that no shortage of people have an interest in the history and exploration of graveyards and associated topics.

The reasons why some folks are, or become, taphophiles varies immensely. I cannot help but think that the unique, highly personal reason(s) why we’re drawn to subjects pertaining to death, funerals and graveyards is one of the most beautiful and endearing aspects of being a taphophile.

Other names for taphophiles

Various other names have been used over the years to describe those with a penchant for subjects pertaining directly to cemeteries, graves, and the general subject of death.

Some of the most common are cemetery enthusiasts, cemetery devotee, cemetery tourists, tomb tourists, tombstone tourists, gravers, and grave hunters.

Naturally, as with most things in life, one does not need to identify with any particular term or label unless they wish to do so.

Long before the contemporary term taphophile came into being, many folks throughout time have had a strong interest in the subjects that taphophilia covers. To this day, some people simply choose to say that they like/love graveyards and leave it at that.

Of course, if you’re especially keen on graveyards and associated subjects, it can be handy to know that multiple terms exist, should you wish to refer to yourself and this interest by them.

They are also handy ways to search for information on subjects pertaining to taphophilia, connect with fellow taphophiles/grave hunters, and share the graveyard wandering photos you may capture along the way.

Is taphophilia morbid?

Well, that depends on a few things – including who you ask and how you define the word “morbid”.

First and foremost, there is nothing inherently negative (and certainly nothing “evil”) about taphophilia. Far from it!

Some taphophiles have done, and continue to do, much to help preserve graveyards, crypts, and funerary related history. Others may simply have a passionate interest in these subjects.

Death as a topic does have a certain inherent element of the morbid to it, that much is true, but the degree to which one perceives taphophilia as a “morbid interest” may lie largely with a person’s own current relationship to, and thoughts, on death.

For those who are, or who have grown to become, greatly at home with subjects of death, funerals and graveyards, taphophilia may hold little in their eyes that is overtly morbid, eerie, or frightening.

As someone who is extremely comfortable with virtually all aspects of death, dying, graveyards, and concepts pertaining to the afterlife, I find great beauty and interest in matters pertaining to taphophilia.

At the same time, however, I readily acknowledge and respect that not everyone gets giddy at the thought of visiting a graveyard or talking about death.

If this area is not your wheelhouse, that is 100% okay.

As with so much in life, we each have certain interests and passions, areas that we’re more comfortable with and those that feel off-putting, frightening, or otherwise unpleasant to us. Or, by the same token simply hold little to no interest for us.

Why are taphophiles interested in graveyards?

This is not an easy question to answer, as the reason(s) why each person with an interest in funerals, graveyards, and related death applicable topics varies widely.

For some, it may be primarily spiritually or culturally lead. Others may be avid history or celebrity buffs and so studying and/or spending time in cemeteries may be a natural extension of that interest.

Early childhood exposure to graveyards, standout experiences with funerals or graveyards at any point in one’s life, or a general connection to the subject of death itself are other possible reasons why someone may find themselves drawn to taphophilia.

Some people, myself included, find graveyards can be places of deep personal introspection, serenity, comfort, and/or inspiration.

We visit and study them with great reverence and compassion, both for the departed and for the loved ones that the dead have left behind on this side of the veil.

Graveyards and similar settings – especially those with at least a few decades of existence under their belts – can be extraordinarily beautiful, fascinating and meaningful locations.

No shortage of taphophiles are drawn to cemeteries because of the breathtaking artistry and humble human history alike that they house.

There are, of course, many academic and culturally rooted reasons, as well, why someone may be drawn to visiting, studying or otherwise focusing on topics pertaining to funerals, graveyards, headstones and the like.

Gravestones and grave markers are highly important and meaningful, both to the families of those whose relatives have been laid to rest, as well as for society at large.

The volume of both art and history housed in graveyards the world over is immeasurable. It behooves and benefits us all to try, whenever possible, to preserve gravestones, cemeteries, and other burial grounds and the rich history that they house.

To this end, various excellent organizations, such as the Association for Gravestone Studies have formed over the years and the importance of the work these bodies do is deeply important and thoroughly commendable.

How to be a taphophile

The ways to be a taphophile/grave hunter are legion!

Arguably, an interest in graveyards, funerals, death, and/or the history of such is a primary component to being a taphophile.

Beyond that, one can opt to be as engaged, hands-on, and documentarian as you wish.

You can read every grave hunting-related blog under the sun, subscribe to YouTube channels and podcasts on the subject, and lap up every book you can get your hands on pertaining to graveyards, but doing so is not a prerequisite or requirement to being, or calling yourself, a taphophile.

While some taphophiles are drawn to particular graveyards, such as those where famous figures are buried or where their own relatives were laid to rest, many (if not most) of us break for just about any graveyard.

Plenty, (again) myself included, will actively seek them out, both close to home and when we travel.

So long as one is always respectful and lawful, there is almost no “wrong” way to visit a cemetery.

Just make sure you do so during official hours of operation, abide by any posted rules in a given cemetery, are respectful of other visitors (who may be there in a state of mourning), and do not take any manmade “souvenirs” home with you (items such as leaves, small amounts of graveyard dirt from inconspicuous areas, and similar organic materials are sometimes okay to take).

While visiting a graveyard, you may wish to capture photos or videos. This is generally permitted unless signage indicates otherwise.

Likewise, some people enjoy making gravestone rubbing. In recent years, there has been some debate surrounding this practice for various reasons. A key one of which is the fact that rubbings can potentially cause damage to older and/or delicate headstones.

Traditionally, paper (or thin fabric) and carbon pencil, charcoal, or another dark drawing medium have often been used to create gravestone rubbings. Rubbing wax, as detailed in this post on How to Make a Gravestone Rubbing, is another method that some people employ.

A fairly modern approach is to utilize shaving cream (which, as discussed in this PDF article on The Use of Shaving Cream on Headstones, can also be used to help clean graves off). Though, there too, mixed views on the subject abound.

It could be debated that creating headstone rubbings made more sense prior to the advent of digital photography and camera phones.

However, even a printed photo is not quite as tangible as an actual headstone rubbing that you created yourself, and it is easy to see why this popular form of graveyard recording is still in fairly wide use.

Personally, I prefer to stick with photographs of graveyards and headstones. Rest assured though, that I can easily see the appeal of gravestone rubbings and appreciate the important value they hold both to taphophiles and historians/genealogists alike.

Many ways abound to be a taphophile/grave hunter or simply have a passion for the subjects covered in this post.

You can research the graves of relatives, famous folks or total strangers alike, both online (websites such as findagrave.com can be a big help there) and off; collect funeral memorabilia (sometimes called funeralia/funerallia) including memento mori items, read up on the topics pertaining to funerals, graves, and death; join organizations dedicated to preserving graveyards and headstones, engage online with others who share this interest, make visiting graves a part of your spiritual practice (for example, those of a witchy/Pagan persuasion may wish to Use Graveyard Snow in Your Magickal Workings), study and/or create art pertaining to graveyards/death, and much, much more!

Some taphophiles are particularly drawn to certain elements of graveyards. For example, the epitaphs on headstones, graves that are older than a certain date, the stunning artistry that has often gone into headstones, grave markers, mausoleums, graveyard statues (be they angel statues or otherwise), or the wrought iron work found in some graveyards; or the grounds of a graveyard themselves, including trees and gardens.

Others have broader interests and enjoy graveyards as a whole, perhaps favouring certain styles of gravestones or types of cemeteries.

Some people find immense inspiration in graveyards and may visit them as a place in which to write or create art (or to gather the inspiration to create at a later point in time).

Graveyard photography has long been popular and is a fantastic way to document your graveyard visits. This act is flourishing more than ever thanks to digital photography and the awesome cameras that many modern cell phones now house.

It should be noted that, while certainly not necessary or even expected (per se), some people – irrespective of their spiritual beliefs – like to leave offerings or tokens of appreciation at the graveyards they visit.

A wide range of items can be utilized in this capacity, including fresh flowers, leaves, acorns, coins, small metal charms or trinkets, notes written on paper, and even bottles of alcohol.

Generally speaking, if leaving an offering/token of thanks, you want it to be something tasteful and which does not stand to damage the grave or the ground (and associated wildlife) around it.

Most graveyards are open to the general public and the majority are free (or by donation) to visit. If you feel the siren’s call to spend time at a graveyard, I highly encourage you to do so.

Generally peaking, graveyards are relatively safe, private, beautiful spots that may surprise you with their diversity and captivatingly soulfulness.

Being a taphophile is a wonderful and rewarding thing. It can be something you engage with occasionally, a main focal point of your life (and/or career in some instances) or anything in between.

If you opt to let others know about this interest, you may even find fellow taphophiles in your existing social circle or make new friends via channels such as social media or local historical preservation societies, where others who share this passion are able to connect.

As well, some cemeteries and graveyards have public (or, conversely, privately arranged) tours that you can take part in.

If you enjoy getting your taphophile groove on in the company of others who are apt to appreciate a good graveyard as well, such tours – which are often guided – can be a stellar way to learn more about a particular location and some of its interred residents.

Graveyards and cemeteries (the latter of which, it should be noted, tends to refer to a burial ground that is not attached or adjacent to a church or other place of religious significance, though the two terms are used fairly interchanging in everyday parlance) are immensely diverse places.

Some are massive, sprawling across multiple acres or city blocks, others are scarcely larger than a small backyard. Some are hundreds of years old, and plenty are far new. Each is an outdoor museum and history lesson in one.

Much like snowflakes and fingerprints, no two cemeteries are exactly alike.

Some may be more interesting or breathtaking than others, but each has a great deal to show and teach us. Even those that we have never been to before, tend to have a sense of the familiar and the unknown alike to them.

Graveyards are sacred, liminal spaces. They ask for respect, and ideally preservation, but demand little and offer up so much in return.

Intersecting interests

Taphophilia can be a standalone hobby or passion unto itself, and for plenty of taphophiles, it is just that.

However, a good many of us may have overlapping or related interests. Scores of other hobbies, passions and pastimes can dovetail or otherwise go hand-in-hand with taphophilia.

Some of the more common include studying/appreciating/collecting mourning jewelry and/or other forms of funeral and death related memorabilia and art; ghost hunting or other forms of paranormal investigation, abandoned building exploration, urbex (urban exploration), dark tourism, genealogy, history, poetry, writing, art, photography, bird watching, natural walking, and travel.

As well, it should be noted that many taphophiles are death positive – whether they are aware of this concept or not.

The term death positivity was coined by funeral industry professional, author, YouTuber, and all-around seriously awesome person, Caitlin Doughty to convey the concept that it is not only okay, but welcome and incredibly important, for people to speak openly and honestly about topics pertaining to death, dying, funerals, burial arts, corpses, and their own end-of-life plans.

If you wish to learn more about death positivity, I highly encourage you to read this excellent page on the Death Positive Moment.

Online resources for taphophiles

The number one resource for taphophiles must surely be graveyards and cemeteries themselves. In the 21^st century, this is followed closely by the internet and the ever-larger volume of information pertaining to topics and locations that are of interest to those with a penchant for visiting cemeteries.

The following is an alphabetically arranged list of some of the taphophile, graveyard, and funerary history-related websites that I’ve personally found to be helpful over the years.

This is not, by any means, an exhaustive list of online resources for taphophiles. Instead, it is a great jumping-off point or way to further your existing taphophilia resource sphere.

Note: Some of these websites have not been updated in recent years. The information they house is still useful though to many who are interested in graveyards and cemeteries, so I’ve opted to include some “retired” pages here.

–100 Best Examples of Epitaphs

–A Grave Interest

–A Timeline for Taphophiles

–Art of Mourning

–Beneath Thy Feet

–Billion Graves

–Canadian Cemetery History

–Cemetery Club

–Cemetery Conservators for United Standards

–Cemetery Travel

–Find A Grave

–Grave Explorations (YouTube channel)

–Grave Mappers

–Headstone Meanings & Symbols

–Headstone Symbolism

–Historic Oakland Foundation

–In Loving Memory

–Introduction to Churchyard and Cemetery Monuments

–Spade & The Grave

–Stoneletters

–The Art of Dying: Memento Mori Through The Ages

–The Cemetery Club

–The Graveyard Rabbit

–The Jolly Taphophile (and their corresponding YouTube channel, Graveyard Junkie)

–The Order of The Good Death

–The Secret Life of Death podcast

–The Sepulcher

–Tombstone Symbols and Their Meanings

–Travels of a Hobgoblin Taphophile

And here is a handful of great YouTube videos that those with an interest in graveyards, tombstone symbolism and related topics are apt to enjoy.

–Bizarre Graves and the Stories Behind Them

–Cemetery Symbols

–Epitaphs & Grave Quotes From History

–Funny and Creative Tombstones That Actually Exist

–Headstone Designs, Symbols, Cherubs, and Iconography Found in Cemeteries

–Skulls, Willows, Cherubs & Other Gravestone Emojis

–Tombstone Symbolism

–The Fascinating History of Cemeteries

In addition to the online taphophilia resources listed above, a fab way to get the ball rolling when it comes to graveyard exploration and research is to simply Google keyword phrases such as “cemetery in [name of location]” and take things from there.

While not every cemetery has a website or Facebook page, in my experience, many of them – especially those that are actively maintained at present – are at least listed on Google Maps.

As well, plenty of city council, local tourism, and historical society websites will make mention of graveyards, cemeteries, and memorial parks in their vicinity. Each of these resources can potentially be useful for those wishing to explore burial grounds either close to home or further afield.

And lastly, there are quite a number of books – both in and out of print – pertaining to graveyards, funeral customs and rites, and similar topics.

I’m thinking that this an area that deserves a blog post unto itself, so will start compiling just such a list to hopefully share here with all you in the future.

What being a taphophile means to me personally

As you may have deduced, my passion and the reverence I hold for cemeteries, funerals, and the vast subject of death is tremendous.

If you follow me on social media, particularly Instagram and Pinterest (in particular, check out these boards on my account: Death Becomes Us All, In Loving Memory, and Remembered in Art), you may already be aware that this is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart.

I collect antique and vintage funeral related items, read extensively on death-related subjects, follow oodles of others who share this passion, am incredibly death positive, and visit cemeteries on a regular basis.

Graveyards soothe me. They are serenity and comfort, inspiration, spiritual hubs, and places of extraordinary beauty.

I feel at home in cemeteries. Their headstones and markers, angels and crypts ask no questions, yet they spark many queries and remind me both of the brevity and extraordinary gift of life.

It’s safe to say that I am a proud taphophile and wouldn’t want it any other way.

My sweet husband, bless him, has long learned that a trip to a cemetery is a surefire way to lift my spirits, help calm my nerves if needed, and bring me happiness in the process.

We currently live within walking distance of our small town’s cemetery, which was founded in the 1910s. As I do not drive, the fact that – in the non-snowy months at least – I can reach this sacred spot on foot is all the more meaningful to me.

I visit often. The lanky evergreens that pepper and surround this quiet, humble small-town cemetery stand watch over those who slumber in the manicured ground below. The energy of the place is cathartic, pure, honest, sweet and wonderful.

With each trip, I become more familiar with those who reside in this graveyard, yet every visit introduces me to something new as well.

And when we travel or simply visit nearby towns, cities, and tiny unincorporated communities alike, I seek of cemeteries. Even before we’ve met, they feel like old friends.

Familiar, timeless, and earnest, graveyards beckon to me and I gladly heed their call. Each one teaching me, guiding me, and helping me to celebrate both sides of the veil in equal measure.

Are you a fellow graveyard lover as well?

The post What is Taphophilia? Exploring the Fascinating Subject of Grave Hunting appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Famous the world over for its snow, Canada certainly lives up to that reputation in most parts of the country – our wee woodland corner of British Columbia included.

As I pen these words, more than three feet of accumulated flakes are calling our backyard home and there are banks around the neighbourhood that come up to the second-floor windows on some houses.

Yes, it’s winter proper still around these parts and that got me thinking about one of my favourite magickal ingredients to gather when we’re squarely in the season of the Oak King and summer’s radiance seems lightyears away: graveyard snow.

What is graveyard snow?

As its name implies, graveyard snow – or cemetery snow – is snow that has been collected from a burial ground.

In order to do so, you will need to have access to a public graveyard or cemetery, gloves or mittens to keep your hands safe and warm, a waterproof and leakproof receptacle to carry your snow home in (unless you plan to work with it in situ), and possibly a small shovel, spade or other type of scoop to gather the snow with.

If you’re only collecting a small amount of snow or your gloves are waterproof, you may be able to easily put the snow into your bucket, container, etc with your hands.

Depending on the layout of the cemetery you’re visiting, you may be able to gather snow from the ground, the tops of headstones and other types of grave markers, low hanging tree branches, shrubs, statues or monuments, and gates or fences surrounding the cemetery itself.

When is the best time to collect graveyard snow?

This is largely a personal choice and there is no objectively “best” time to collect graveyard snow.

You may wish to do so on a day whose correspondences tie into those of your magickal workings. On a sabbat (such as Yule or Imbolc – or even, depending on when snow starts falling in your area, on Samhain), a particular stage in the moon’s cycle (I’m especially fond of working with cemeteries and materials collected from them during the full and dark moons), or at a time of the day that is conducive to the spell or ritual that you’ll be using the snow for.

When taking anything from nature, be it graveyard snow or otherwise, it is always a lovely and appreciated gesture and sign of respect to leave a small offering. This can be anything from a stone to springs of herbs, leaves you’ve gathered to fresh or naturally dried, preservative-free fruit.

How does graveyard snow differ from graveyard dirt?

Graveyard dirt, a much beloved and fairly commonly used material in the workings of many witches, hoodoo workers, and various other magickal folks is dirt from the ground of a graveyard.

It is employed in myriad types of working, including witches balls and bottles, protection, guarding, strength, luck, prosperity, finality, cursing, and death related spells and rituals, as well as times in the year when the veil is at its thinnest (such as Samhain and Beltane).

Graveyard dirt is believed to be imparted with many important qualities, energies and essences, including those from the departed who were laid to rest in that cemetery.

It is a sacred material and one that should always be gathered with the utmost reverence, respect, and consideration both for those laid to rest in the cemetery and for the natural environment/ecosystem of the cemetery itself.

Graveyard dirt is a fascinating topic unto itself and one I’m that sure I will cover here on Witchcrafed Life in greater depth in the future.

Aside from the rather obvious point that one is snow and one is dirt, graveyard snow differs from graveyard dirt because it is typically charged more with the magickal properties of snow firstly and a fainter – one might say “echo-like” quality of the general surrounding where it fell secondly.

As well, generally speaking, graveyard snow is easier to take without fear of having someone say something unwanted to you while you’re in the process of gathering it up. (Though that possibility is there anytime you’re removing anything from a cemetery.)

Magickal properties of snow

Snow is a wonderfully magickal natural material and one that, in a lot of cases, you may have access to for multiple months in a row if you live in an area that gets quite cold.

A literal form of the Element of Water, snow is ideally suited to workings pertaining to that element and to the elemental beings associated with water called undines.

It is also great for cleansing, purifying, consecrating, freezing or halting (something unwanted or unneeded), rejuvenating, preservation, and banishing work, to name but a few excellent used for it.

Snow itself is already charged to a degree by the fact that it sits outside under the sun and moonlight. You can charge it further, either in its solid or liquid (melted) form by imbuing snow with your intentions and intentionally placing it in the path of the sun or moonlight.

Specifically, you may wish to charge it under a new, full, or dark moon – such as those that occur either on or closest to a sabbat. I adore gathering and charging snow during the Yule and Imbolc seasons, respectively.

If you’ve gathered snow (and/or ice or icicles) that fell during a snowstorm or blizzard, keep in mind that the snow will be charged with the energy, intensity, and strength of storms and storm clouds.

You can keep snow that you’ve gathered in suitable containers (such as glass jars with lids) for quite some time. It can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for later use throughout the year. I adore using snow gathered at Yule in some of my Litha workings.

Bringing the extreme of one season into that of another in a magickal context is a powerful and meaningful way to honour both, remind ourselves that the Wheel of the Year is ever turning, and to unite the energies of two sabbats that are on opposite ends of the calendar from each other.

The magick of snow is a wonderous thing! Snow helps to create light in the dark heart of winter. It is strong and powerful, yet ethereal and temporary at the same time (save for in extremely cold climate such as at poles and atop certain lofty mountains).

How to use graveyard snow in your magickal workings

You can utilize graveyard snow in most instances of snow magick, but given the energy of where it was collected from and the connection to the other side that anything from a graveyard stands to have, you may wish to use graveyard snow for darker, heavier, or more serious spells, rituals, cleansings, and other purposes.

The following are some ways of using graveyard snow in your magickal workings.

(Note that the snow is generally melted before being used.)

–Anoint yourself with melted snow. Ensure that the snow is clean and free of debris (run into through a coffee filter, cheesecloth, or linen napkin first if needed). Apply it to areas of your body that need rejuvenating, help with healing (do not apply snow to any type of injury or wound that would be harmed by cold or water), cleansing, unblocking, freezing of negative habits (for example, to your fingers if you wanted to “freeze” nail biting in its tracks), or as a general energy field pick-me-up during the sluggish days of winter.

-Apply melted snow as a protective barrier around your doors and windows. Lightly spray or dab melted snow to these areas, asking for protection and safety for your home itself and all who reside within. Ask that anything or anyone who may wish you or your home harm be frozen in their tracks before they reach your threshold.

–Bless your sacred space with melted snow. If you can do so while further snow is falling outside at the same time, this helps to bless both the inside and outside of your sacred space with the strength, energy, protection, and timeless beauty of snow and winter (or summer, if you live south of the equator).

-Build a snowman or other snow figure (for example, that of an animal you connect with on a spiritual level) as a protector of your property. Draw symbols, sigils, or words (or tuck pieces of paper or bark with such things on them) into your figure. Ask that it, and the strength of winter’s fortifying chill, help to guard your home and keep it clear of unwanted visitors or troubles all season long.

-Cleanse your crystals with (clean) melted snow. Those that you associate with darker workings, death, rebirth, protection, winter, Yule, Imbolc, and even snow itself (for example, snowflake obsidian) are all crystals that can benefit in particular from a lovely snow cleansing.  

-Cleanse yourself during a snowfall at a graveyard. If you’re able to visit a cemetery while it’s snowing, consider utilizing that opportunity to allow the snow to cleanse your spirit, bless you with the clarity and strength of winter, and energize your magickal mojo this winter. (Naturally, be safe and always wear weather appropriate clothing when you’re out in the snow).

-Create a snow altar. If you’ve gathered enough snow or are using a mix of graveyard snow and snow on your own property, you can create an outdoor altar. This altar will be temporary and anything placed on it that you wish to preserve needs to be water-safe or waterproof.

-Create a focus charged cleansing spray with snow as the primary component. Add other ingredients that work for your needs, such as herbs, essential oils, salt, mini pinecones or pine needles (for additional winter energy and the magickal properties that these natural materials house), or water-safe crystals or stones.

Use the spray to cleanse your home, the inside of your vehicle, your (water-safe) magickal tools, your candles, stone or crystal runes, or your clothing (again, ensuring it will not be damaged by water).

I like to cleanse my winter boots, coats, scarves and gloves with protection focused melted snow cleansing water to help keep me safe, warm, and guarded against the more dangerous elements of wintertime during the icy cold months.

–Draw sigils in the snow. The choice of sigil(s) is up to you and will relate to your workings, needs, and the fact that most things drawn in (or made out of) snow have an inherently temporary nature to them.

–Include snow in a ritual cleansing, banishing, releasing, or purification bath. While it would take a great deal of melted (and warmed!) snow to fill a bathtub, you can easily add a cup of snow to your bathwater. You may wish to charge and/or bless the snow first, though this is a personal choice.

–Let snow help to melt your troubles away. Gather some snow and focus the intent of something you’d like to clear your mind or life of into the snow. In a calm setting, light some candles and/or incense and concentrate on the bowl of snow, channeling what you’re looking to rid yourself into the snow as it melts. Once the snow has melted, dispose of it outdoors away from your property, if possible.

–Melt snow and use it in a spell jar, bottle or vile. Combine it with other ingredients that are relevant to your magickal needs. For extra charm and beauty, biodegradable glitter, if it is suitable to your spell or other type of working, can be a really lovely addition to these kinds of jars.

–Provide an offering of snow on your altar (indoors or outdoors) or other sacred space that you use for your magickal workings. If you work with deity and are in need of assistance, guidance, strength or support this winter, consider researching gods and goddesses associated with snow and inviting one or more of them to assist you, leaving a snow offering for them in the process.

As the snow was collected from a cemetery, it can make for an especially apropos and respectful offering to place on an ancestor altar or to otherwise offer to your ancestors and/or any other entities, spirits or beings from the other side that you presently work with.

–Save some snow to use when you plant your spring garden. If you’re a gardener or otherwise grow fresh herbs, flowers, tomatoes, etc, consider storing some melted snow to use as a blessing and strengthening helper of winter on its successor season, spring, when you plant the seeds of your garden for this year.

-Water scry with melted snow. Scrying in its multitude forms is one of my personal favourite forms of divination. Water scrying, especially when it applies to studying and discerning meaning in the ripples and movement of water is technically called hydromancy.

It is a wonderfully accessible form of divination that only needs a suitable bowl or chalice, water (melted snow in this case), and the focused thought and attention of the person doing the scrying.

Use melted snow to scry during the winter months, particularly during the sabbats, esbats, and anytime you feel a sense of clarity is strongly needed in your life. Consider making note (such as in your magickal journal or Book of Shadows) of what presents or reveals itself to use during your scrying season.

Important note: while none of the magickal uses for snow listed above involve ingesting snow, if you opt to eat or drink snow, ensure that you gather pristinely clean snow and that, for safety sake, you boil it first.

If, even after boiling and cooling, the snow tastes off, chemically, or otherwise strange in any way, immediately stop consuming it. Your health and safety must always come first when working magick.

The versatility of graveyard snow

Much like snow in general, graveyard snow is a multi-purpose, wonderful magickal ingredient. If you have access to both snow and graveyard, it is well worth seeking out and utilizing.

You might even want to gather some from atop graves themselves and other portions of snow from different parts of the graveyard, separating the two and using the former in workings that pertain more to death, banishing, protection, spirit work, psychic abilities, hedge riding, astral projection, dreams, and ancestor work.

Whereas burial in a graveyard is generally quite long-lasting for most bodies, snow is a temporary visitor in our lives each year. The potent combination of these two factors and the energy that each brings to the table makes graveyard snow a stellar choice for witches and magickal workers of all sorts who are fortunate to have access to it.

The post How to Use Graveyard Snow in your Magickal Workings appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.