deepintheground

[deepintheground]

Grave offerings and burying the dead with tools and goods is actually such a deeply human thing to do. It's not really even necessarily about how much you believe in a literal afterlife or them taking the tools with them. It's also just going Wait, I'm Not Done Taking Care Of You, let me make you one more pair of socks so your feet won't be cold when you go wherever it is where I can't follow.

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i’ve been catching up on my household spells and wards today as it’s the buck full moon today and i settled in my living room once i was done and i looked out my window and staring directly inside, an inch from my window, was an adult deer. i’ve never seen one this close to my house before even though they’re in the area because i have a fair amount of construction going on about a block away and it freaks them out but wow! that was so cool!

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🧅 No-Crossin’ Pickled Onions🧅

An Appalachian Folkpot Spell for Banishing, Protection & Healing

Pickled onions might look like nothin’ more than a tangy little side dish to some, but round here, they’re carryin’ more than just flavor—they’re carryin’ old mountain wisdom. See, back in the day, picklin’ wasn’t just about keepin’ food through winter. It was a kind of kitchen conjure—a way to trap the spirit of the harvest and stir a bit of spellwork into your daily bread.

Now onions, they’ve always had a place in folk magic. With all them layers, they’re seen as keepers of protection and truth—soakin’ up sickness, drawin’ out what don’t belong, and holdin’ strong at the door to keep trouble out. Folks used to hang ‘em in doorways or set ‘em on the sill when bad weather or bad energy came creepin’. But when you take that onion and drop it in a jar of vinegar and spice? That’s when the real magic starts.

Picklin’ is transformation work. It’s the art of takin’ what’s fresh and fleeting and makin’ it last—preservin’ not just food, but blessin’s, strength, and protection. The vinegar acts like a sealant, the salt purifies, and every spice you toss in speaks its own charm. Garlic wards off more than just colds. Mustard seeds bring courage. Pepper keeps the wicked away. And that little jar becomes a folkpot talisman, sittin’ in your fridge or on your shelf, hummin’ with quiet power.

It takes time and patience, sure enough—but that’s part of the spell. It teaches us to move with nature’s rhythm, to trust the slow magic, and to remember that even somethin’ as simple as a pickled onion can hold the power to protect, to heal, and to carry the old ways forward—one crunchy bite at a time.

This here is a No-Crossin’ Jar—a folkpot brew that’ll guard your home, banish what don’t belong, and sweeten your spirit all in one. You can set it on your shelf like a wardin’ charm, or pop the lid and eat a bite when you need that magic inside you, not just around you.

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What You’ll Need:

1 large red onion, thinly sliced – for protection, absorbing illness, and banishin’ what don’t belong

1 cup apple cider vinegar – homemade if you’ve got it, to seal and transform the work

1 ½ cups water – to purify and cleanse, like a good spring rain

1 tablespoon sugar – to sweeten the situation or soothe your own spirit

1 ½ teaspoons salt – for purification, protection, and grounding

1-quart mason jar

Optional Folk Add-Ins:

2 teaspoons minced garlic – protection, purification, and good mountain medicine

½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper (or peppercorns) – to banish and seal

½ to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes – to send back maliciousness and speed the spell’s kick

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How to Work the Spell:

First things first—cleanse your space, your jar, and your tools. Light a little incense, whisper a prayer, or just set your will straight. This ain’t just cookin’. It’s conjurin’.

Now slice your onion slow and steady. With each cut, pour your intention in. Think about what you’re sendin’ away and what you’re callin’ in. As you place the slices into the jar, speak this charm:

“Layer by layer, peel back the harm— what’s been sent, I now disarm. Brine of fire, bulb of might, guard my home by day and night. Let all that’s foul be turned away— these onions keep the devils at bay.”

Add in the rest: garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes. Pour the vinegar and water over it all, watching how it pulls the fire and purpose together. Seal that jar tight—press your palm over the lid and breathe your will into it.

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To Use:

You can set this jar on your altar or pantry shelf as a quiet guardian, lettin’ it do its work as a kitchen ward. Or tuck it in the fridge and give it a week to cure—then eat a few slices when you’re feelin’ spiritually frayed, sick to your bones, or like someone’s been meddlin’ in your peace.

If you’re eatin’ it, say a little somethin’ first:

“What harms me, leaves me. What heals me, stays.”

Let the vinegar clear you. Let the fire protect you. Let the onion do what it’s always done—soak up the mess and give back the strength.

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Optional Add-Ons:

Etch a sigil or word of power on the lid—something like “No-Crossin’” or your own family charm

Light a white or red candle over the jar to "wake it up"

When the jar’s spent or no longer needed, bury the onions at a crossroads or toss them in running water to banish all that was drawn out

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So there you have it—No-Crossin’ Pickled Onions, straight from the mountain kitchen. May they bless, banish, and protect, one bite and one breath at a time.

[deepintheground]

i have a complicated relationship with my parents but coming back to appalachia after time away is comforting in ways i don’t fully have words for. i love living on my own but it is a very different area than where i built my practice as i’m near the coast now. the mountains will always be where my heart lays

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Buck Moon - July 10 2025

Put on your flower crowns and your walking shoes - it’s time for the Buck Moon!

Buck Moon 🦌

The Buck Moon is the name given to the full moon in the month of July and is called this because at this time of year, the rack of antlers previously shed by male deer are beginning to regrow and harden in preparation for the fall rutting season. 

Other North American Indigenous names for this moon include Salmon Moon (Tlingit), Berry Moon (Anishinaabe), Month of the Ripe Corn Moon (Cherokee), and Raspberry Moon (Algonquin, Ojibwe). The West Abenaki also call this the Thunder Moon in reference to the often-stormy summer weather. (This one is my personal favorite and the name appears in lunar calendars just as often as the Buck Moon.)

European names for the July moon include Hay Moon and Wort Moon, and it should be noted that the name Stag Moon does appear in some European sources as well.

This year’s Buck Moon will be at peak illumination at 4:37pm EST on July 10th. It will be below the horizon for that location at that time, but will still count as full for magical purposes when it rises later in the evening.

What Does It Mean For Witches? 🦌

The July full moon continues June’s template of planning for the future, this time with a focus on your passions and ambitions. Reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far this year and plan your next step.

Dream big and plan big, but don’t give in to reckless urgency. Summer (and capitalist grind culture) gives us the urge to Go Go Go. Despite all this, it’s important to take time to rest and recharge, lest we find ourselves burning out and losing our motivation.

What Witchy Things Can We Do? 🦌

Celebrate your victories and revel in the abundance of the summer season. If you’re inclined to do so, take a page from the deer and do a bit of prancing around a bonfire or your favorite flower arbor with some festive flowery headgear.

Go exploring! Find a local park or garden and take a stroll among the greenery, or use TV and the internet to explore and learn about faraway places. This is another opportune time to go and check out pick-your-own farms and farmers markets as well. Sharpen your foraging and plant identification skills while you’re out and about!

If you’re tending a garden, harvest some herbs and investigate what you can make with them. Whether it’s seasoning for meals, homemade botanical products, or just helpful spell ingredients, many herbs and flowers have a plethora of uses. As an exercise, select three plants growing in your yard or garden, research their magical correspondences and botanical properties, and try to think of as many ways as possible to use each one for witchcraft and for practical purposes. For extra credit, pick something native to your area that doesn’t appear in the western magical canon and use its’ physical, folkloric, and historical associations to create something new!

(Safety Note: Always clean and prepare home-harvested herbs properly before using them for kitchen, bath, or medical preparations. Always be sure to properly identify any wildcrafted or foraged plants. Always consult a doctor before trying an herbal treatment and take all allergies, medications, and pre-existing conditions into account. Please also note that while herbal treatments can be helpful, it can have negative interactions and side effects just like any other medication, and it is not meant to be a replacement for modern medical care.)

Apart from the usual full-moon festivities, I’ve always found this is an excellent time for weather-witching. Summer weather is notoriously fickle, but it is also highly malleable - one recalls that old American Southern epithet of, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”

If you’re hoping to bring some rain to water your garden or break the back of a heat wave, this may be the time to do it. My personal favorite folk magic ritual for rain-calling involves going outside with a broom and a bucket of water, using the broom to scatter drops of water over your yard, and shouting up to the clouds, “SEE? IT’S NOT HARD!”

Make sure you take local weather patterns into account and try to draw on existing fronts and nearby precipitation to get the desired result. And keep in mind that with weather magic, less is more and one casting is enough. Asking for too much or asking too often can produce undesirable results. And if you manage to make it rain, be sure to collect some for moon water!

If you’re interested in weather-witching, I highly recommend checking out this masterpost by @stormbornwitch for a number of excellent articles and suggestions.

Happy Buck Moon, witches! 🌕🦌

Sources and Further Reading:

2025 Witches Calendar

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

Witchcraft Exercise - Creating Correspondences

Buck Moon: Full Moon in July 2025, The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Buck Moon Bonanza: Embrace July’s Massive Energy!, The Peculiar Brunette.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison.

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, check out my monthly show Hex Positive, and find my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[deepintheground]

Witchcraft for the grieving

To anyone who needs this post, I am sending gentle and loving energy your way. Know that grief is meant to hurt, and with time it WILL get easier (but may not go away, and that’s okay). Please utilize this post only as a supplement, and talk to a therapist or loved ones if you need to.

Spells/Rituals:

Grief powder

Sage drops spell

Jar of grief spell

Honoring the dead

Grief vessel

Ritual of grief

A remembrance spell

Remembrance spell/ritual

Hug-in-a-mug grief spell

A spell for grief and moving on

A spell for passing and mourning

“Grief seed” pop culture spell

Storm spell to ease your grief

Sigils:

Grief over death is easier for me and effects me less

My grief does not control me

I grieve in peace

Memorial requiem

Rest in power / rest in paradise / rest in love

Loss of pets:

Animal release spell

Pet farewell ritual

Say farewell to a pet spell

Pet funerary spell

Other:

Tarot spread to ease grief

Norse spells/prayers for grief and death

Crystals in death magic (includes some for grief)

Crystals for PTSD (includes some for grief)

Taking Care by Callista Buchen (poem)

Helpful posts:

Masterpost for overcoming heartbreak

Rejuvenating witchcraft

Magic to replenish energy

Recommended tags to utilize when you’re ready:

#Moving on spell + #Moving forward spell + #Letting go spell

#Mental health sigils + #Mental health spell

#Self love magic + #Self care magic

#Release spell

Witchcraft is to be used in addition to proper medical care, treatment and medication, not as a sole alternative.

Links updated June of 2024, please check the original post for updates and inform me of broken links via askbox!

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Spirits are fluid, and move as such. The devil you met in the woods will not be the same as when you called him into your home, will not be the same as when he took your hand at the river banks. They are not wholly separate, just different.

[deepintheground]

I feel like not enough people know that you can just go do witchcraft. Like yeah, all the pretty and aesthetic things you see online can be really expensive, and if you live in a place where witchcraft is frowned upon it can be hard to hide things, but your practice can literally be anything you want.

Part of my practice is making friendship bracelets with colors of what I want to manifest. I learned morse code and tie my goals into the bracelet. It look like a normal bracelet, no one would know the difference unless I told them. Your manifestations and spells can be verbal and whispered to the wind, your sigils can look like doodled stars or stick figures, your altar doesn't need to be anything more than the tools you use (if you even need an altar). You can put spells together based on what you have and what the things around you mean to you.

You do not need to buy things for witchcraft or have a very visible practice, just do what feels right for you. Your practice is what you make it.

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Low-Energy Ways to Work with Nature and her Spirits:

Look outside. That's it - just open the curtains and see the sunlight, find the trees outside your window and watch the birds.

Put on a documentary or youtube video about a cool animal, ecology, the natural world etc

Talk to nature - whisper, talk out loud, say it in your head - just talk. Compliment pretty flowers, chat about how creepy but cool you think spiders are, picture light dancing off morning dew.

Trace the shapes of leaves/flowers/animals etc on your bed sheets or skin - try to see how many different shapes make up the natural world, find the patterns and fractals within them

Learn the name of one new local plant a week! Just one a week! If you have the energy, research a little about their ecology, history or medicinal uses

Make a flower crown/daisy chain/leaf crown

Take up nature photography - you don't need a fancy camera, jsut your phone!

Collect some shells/rocks/bones etc!

Just sit outside! can be just outside your front door, next to an open window, or in the woods (whatever you can manage)

Take your daily activities outside!! Read in the garden, eat your breakfast under the sun etc

Create art from nature - paint rocks, press flowers, create patterns using feathers or leaves as paintbrushes/stamps

Cloud watching!

More High Energy Activities:

Go for a walk or hike outside and take some offerings. Introduce yourself to the trees and plants and streams and leave them a gift.

If there's one nearby, visit a local farmer's market and buy some local produce; honey, meat, vegetables, fruit, etc! Chat to the sellers and talk about their practices and produce

Do a small spell outside! Find a secluded, comfortable spot and invite the spirits to observe your spellwork - let them get used to your energy and way of working

Make a small diary of your time outside! Don't worry about filling it in regularly, just whenever you have the energy! Write down when the bees start coming out or leaves return after winter. What plants stay during the cold season?

Research local plants and come up with your own correspondences based on their ecology/medicinal use/folklore etc

Go on a walk to see what plants and animals exist in your area! Research them - are they native? Invasive? What is their ecology? Medicinal uses? Even the most urban areas tend to have some wildlife!

Join a local facebook group for birdwatching!

Research your area and figure out what plants or animals would be native, or used to live there - create artwork or something to honour and remember them

Research gardening groups nearby - some cities will have volunteer gardening projects or local groups that help maintain natural spaces! See if any would be feasible for you to join and get out there

Join a local allotment or community garden if you have the means - do some weeding, plant some tomatoes, say hello to the coal tits nesting in the old shed!

If you have the means - invest in a hardy houseplant! Name it, research its care and talk to it! Make a ritual out of watering and talking to it.

Take an online ecology course! Free courses exist and can be super interesting!

Watch youtube videos on a favourite taxa and make notes - build your own knowledge at a pace you're comfortable with on the things you're interested in!

Invite some nature spirits in for a meal - cook something you enjoy and set the table (if you can) for the spirits. Enjoy a meal with them.

Please add any suggestions you have below and I can add them! Everyone has unique energy levels and capabilities, but I hope that I've given people a quick idea of things they can do, if they want!

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Hosting A Dumb Supper

A Dumb Supper is a ritual meal where participants honor and communicate with the spirits of their ancestors or loved ones who have passed away. The term "dumb" refers to the fact that participants remain silent throughout the meal, creating an atmosphere of reverence and allowing space for spiritual communication. It is a form of ancestor veneration, commonly practiced during Samhain (Halloween) or Dia de los Muertos, but can be done at any time to honor those who have passed.

Purpose of the Dumb Supper:

• Honoring the Dead: To pay respects to ancestors or loved ones who have passed, inviting them to share in the meal.

• Spiritual Communication: To invite the spirits to interact with the living, either through subtle signs, dreams, or direct messages.

• Reflection: The silence of the meal helps participants reflect on the lives and memories of those who have crossed over, creating space for spiritual connection.

Needed:

• A quiet, undisturbed room or altar space.

• A table large enough to accommodate all participants, with an empty seat for the spirits.

• Candles (ideally, white, black, or purple for spiritual energy) to light the space. A candle for each participant and one in honor of the spirits is common.

• Pictures, mementos, or personal items of the deceased loved ones or ancestors you wish to honor. These could be photos, heirlooms, or items representing them.

• A meal prepared in honor of the deceased. This can be traditional foods the departed loved ones enjoyed or symbolic foods (e.g., fruit, bread, or other offerings that hold personal significance).

• A place setting for the deceased, usually at the head of the table or in a prominent position.

• Offerings of wine, water, or another beverage that was enjoyed by the spirits in life. Some traditions include a small dish of food for the spirits to let them partake without consuming it physically.

• Typically, the Dumb Supper is done in complete silence to maintain reverence. However, some people choose to play soft music (such as chanting, drums, or nature sounds) to invoke a quiet atmosphere.

• Depending on the tradition or intent, participants can wear something symbolic (e.g., a piece of jewelry that belonged to a passed loved one, or a small talisman representing the ancestors).

Setting Up the Dumb Supper:

• Prepare the Altar or Table - Arrange the table for the living participants, ensuring there is a place for each person, but also leave an empty seat for the spirits. Place photos, objects, or offerings for the ancestors in front of the empty seat to help honor and invite them into the space. If you are inviting specific ancestors or loved ones, you can write their names on small pieces of paper or inscribe them into a ritual bowl to be placed on the table as a focus of connection.

• Set the Meal - Serve the food on the table, ensuring there is enough for both the living and the spirits. In some traditions, you leave a portion of food untouched or a portion specifically for the spirits (symbolizing that the spirits partake in the meal).

• Lighting the Candles - Light the candles one by one, saying quiet prayers or invocations as you light them. If you are honoring multiple ancestors, you may say their names aloud as you light the candle for them. Keep the atmosphere serene and solemn.

The Silent Meal:

• Starting the Supper - Begin the meal in complete silence. No conversation is allowed during the Dumb Supper. This silence serves as a medium to create a sacred space and allows the spirits to join and communicate without distractions. Focus on your food, your thoughts, and any signs or feelings that may arise. Spirit communication may come in subtle ways, such as feelings, sudden memories, or dreams, but remain open to the experience.

• Introspection - As you eat, reflect on the lives of your ancestors or loved ones, recalling their positive attributes, lessons, or even the ways they may have impacted your life. Some people use this time to meditate or silently communicate with their loved ones. Pay attention to any thoughts, images, or messages that arise.

• Closing the Supper - After everyone has finished eating, you may choose to thank the spirits for joining and ask for their guidance, protection, or wisdom. The meal may be concluded with a prayer, a quiet word of thanks, or by blowing out the candles. If there is leftover food, it is customary to leave it out overnight as an offering to the spirits. Alternatively, you can bury or dispose of the leftovers in a respectful manner (i.e., burying them in the earth).

Optional Additions to the Dumb Supper:

• Spirit Communication - If you wish to deepen the connection, you can incorporate other methods of spirit communication such as divination tools (pendulum, tarot cards, or a spirit board) after the meal. This may be done in the quiet of the room or after the supper ends, using the energy raised during the ritual.

• After the Supper - Participants may leave the meal space quietly, maintaining the solemnity of the ritual. Some people walk away from the meal without speaking, ensuring that the energy of the supper remains intact.

A Dumb Supper is an intimate, powerful ritual meant to deepen your relationship with those who have passed and honor their spirits. It is a time for personal reflection, communication, and gratitude, where silence speaks louder than words. This practice can be an incredibly moving and spiritually enriching experience, helping to foster connections with the past while providing guidance for the future.

[deepintheground]

All-Purpose Necromancy Powder

Traditional necromantic powders are often used in rituals for spirit communication, ancestor work, or baneful magic. Below is a standard recipe for a necromancer’s powder, which can be adapted based on your tradition and intent.

Needed:

• Bone Dust or Crushed Eggshells

• Graveyard Dirt

• Myrrh Resin

• Dittany of Crete

• Wormwood

• Black Salt

• Dragon’s Blood Resin

Instructions:

Grind all ingredients into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle. Charge the mixture under the moonlight, preferably during the Waning Moon for necromantic work. Store in a dark glass jar or a fabric sachet.

Uses:

• Sprinkle on an altar for spirit summoning or divination.

• Dust onto candles or ritual tools.

• Sprinkle in your/someone’s path to draw spirits close.

• Add to incense blends when performing necromantic rituals.

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Corpse Roads And Death Currents

Corpse roads (also called bier roads, coffin paths, or lych ways) were traditional paths taken to transport the dead from remote villages to the consecrated grounds of a parish church or cemetery. These paths were often used in medieval and early modern Europe — particularly in England, Wales, and parts of Germany and Scandinavia.

Purpose:

• In many rural areas, only certain burial grounds were deemed acceptable (i.e., blessed or consecrated).

• Outlying communities lacking their own churchyards would have to carry corpses long distances to the central church.

• These routes often traversed unchanging, specific paths — over hills, moors, fields, and even through forests.

Magickal and Folk Beliefs

Spiritual Residue:

• It was believed that a corpse leaves a trace of spiritual or necrotic energy along the path it travels.

• These paths were seen as thin places — liminal zones between life and death, the material and the spiritual.

No Returning Spirits:

• Folk belief held that if the path wasn’t followed exactly or rituals weren’t performed properly, the spirit could wander back.

• To prevent this, routes often crossed water (spirits were believed unable to cross running water).

Corpse Stones / Resting Stones:

• Along the road were flat stones or "coffin rests", where pallbearers could pause. These places became magical waypoints and sometimes shrines.

• Local legends say that these stones became charged with necromantic or chthonic energy.

No Building on a Corpse Road:

• Buildings placed across corpse roads were said to become haunted or cursed. The belief was that the death current must remain uninterrupted.

Death Currents (Thanatocurrents)

A death current (sometimes called a thanatocurrent, funereal ley, or psychic necroline) is an energetic trail left behind by repeated rituals of death, especially funerary processions, executions, or spiritual trauma.

These are more than just myth — they're used in psychogeography, witchcraft, and spirit work to map and manipulate chthonic flows of energy.

Examples & Known Corpse Roads

Around The World:

The Lych Way (Dartmoor, England)

• Used by villagers in Bellever and Postbridge to carry their dead to Lydford Church, roughly 12 miles across desolate moorland.

• Even after it fell out of use, strange lights, phantom processions, and hearing footsteps on the wind were reported.

Corpse Road of Grasmere to Ambleside (Cumbria)

• Carried dead from remote Grasmere to the consecrated church at Ambleside.

• Local stories claim black dogs, death omens, and shrouded figures still walk this path.

German "Totenweg" (Death Ways)

• In Bavaria and the Alps, villages had Totenwege where corpses were carried on foot. These were often carved directly through wilderness.

• Witch trials sometimes cited the use of these paths for necromantic rituals and summoning the dead.

Russian “Doróga Mértvyh” (The Road of the Dead)

• Corpses were carried on specific routes not used for daily traffic and it was considered extremely bad luck to cross these paths during funerals.

• After the procession, the route was swept with juniper or water blessed by an otets (priest) or vedma (witch) to sever spirit ties.

• These roads often skirted the edge of forests, believed to house the spirits of the dead and entities like the Rusalka or Nav (spirits of untimely death).

Irish Bealach na Marbh (Path of the Dead) Dingle Peninsula

• “The Path of the Dead” was used to carry bodies from the remote villages of Ballyferriter to Kilmalkedar Church.

• The path passed through stone circles and ancient monastic ruins — blending Christian and pagan liminality.

• These roads are said to host phantom processions during Samhain and Imbolc. Witches and druids believe the path holds ancestral songlines — geomantic links between burial mounds, dolmens, and faery forts.

• Spirits known as The Silent Host or An Slua Sí are said to follow these roads at night, and one must never greet them.

Italian Via dei Morti (Roads of the Dead)- The Via Appia Antica in Rome

• In Etruscan and later Roman culture, necropolises were located outside city walls along well-traveled funeral roads.

• Bodies were processed along this road from the city to catacombs or necropoli.

• It is energetically dense, carrying the residue of countless deaths, rituals, and ancestral offerings.

Japanese Shinimichi (Paths of the Dead)- Mount Osore

• Considered one of the gates to the underworld, this sacred volcanic site is reached via ancient pilgrimage roads associated with the journey of souls to the afterlife.

• The approach to Osorezan is a living death current, said to allow the souls of the dead to communicate with the living during Obon.

• Practitioners of Shugendō or Onmyōdō may trace these roads for spirit pacification or to find kekkai (spiritual seals) weakened by restless dead.

In The United States:

The Natchez Trace (Mississippi–Tennessee)

• A historic forest trail extending 440 miles, used by Native Americans and later by settlers.

• The “Death Trail” section between Nashville and Natchez was used to carry bodies or for funerary travel.

• Known for ghost sightings, wailing sounds, and unseen footsteps — often connected to spirits of murdered travelers or unburied dead.

• In magickal mapping, it's considered a death current of sorrow, betrayal, and bone memory.

Boot Hill Transport Routes (Western U.S.)

• "Boot Hill" cemeteries in places like Dodge City (Kansas) and Tombstone (Arizona) often had makeshift roads used to carry the dead — mostly murder victims, gunslingers, or outlaws.

• These routes are now deeply haunted and contain repetitive death energy, especially in places where ambushes or executions occurred.

• Folk belief (especially among rootworkers and folk necromancers) is that these roads act like psychic arteries, especially during late summer and Samhain seasons.

Indian Mounds and Spirit Roads (Midwest to Southeast, US)

• Many Native American burial sites (e.g., the Effigy Mounds in Iowa, Etowah in Georgia) are aligned with spirit pathways — meant to allow souls to journey to the afterlife.

• Some tribes believed that the dead travel west — and so ceremonial roads were built westward.

• These spirit roads act as pure ancestral death currents — still respected and avoided by locals.

• Witches working necromancy in these areas often leave offerings on these paths and do not cross them at night, lest they attract wandering spirits.

Gettysburg’s Blood Lines (Pennsylvania)

• After the Battle of Gettysburg, tens of thousands of bodies were carried by wagon to makeshift burial pits or church cemeteries.

• The paths taken by these wagons (e.g., Taneytown Road, Baltimore Pike) became loaded with residual death energy.

• Sightings of phantom soldiers, marching feet, and disembodied voices are common.

• These are artificially forged corpse roads — built through trauma and grief.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Funeral Routes (New Orleans)

• New Orleans funeral processions (especially in the 1800s–early 1900s) followed specific ritual routes, often with jazz music, to the famed cemetery.

• The roads between Treme, Congo Square, and the St. Louis Cemeteries form a necromantic circuit.

• The air along these streets is often said to feel “thick” or “pressurized,” especially during hurricane season or around All Saints’ Day.

• Vodou practitioners and witches use these routes to channel ancestral spirits, call upon Baron Samedi, or work graveyard conjure.

Magickal Applications in Witchcraft

Death Current Tapping:

Witches, especially in necromantic traditions, may:

• Divine along these lines (using pendulums or bone runes).

• Channel energy from a death current for baneful or ancestral workings.

• Establish guardians or spirit allies tied to these flows.

Pathworking or Shadow Walking:

One may astrally walk the corpse road, connecting with:

• The shades of the dead carried along it.

• Spirits of grief, psychopomps, or death gods.

• The road as a living egregore of transition and loss.

Necromantic Spell Example: Binding with the Death Wind

On a known or symbolic corpse road, one could:

• Lay a thread soaked in grave oil across the path.

• Chant the name of the spirit you wish to bind.

• Use a liminal hour (twilight, 12am) to "catch" a breath of the death current into a vessel (like a jar, skull, or black mirror).

• Seal with iron and bury under a lychgate or crossroad.

Corpse Roads vs. Ley Lines

Origin:

Corpse road- Human ritual use.

Ley line- Natural/geometric alignment.

Energy Type:

Corpse road- Necrotic, liminal, ancestral.

Ley line- Elemental, geomantic, solar/lunar.

Use In Magick:

Corpse road- Necromancy, psychopompy, death rites.

Ley line- Portal work, energy raising, manifestation.

Associated Entities:

Corpse road- Spirits of the dead, psychopomps

Ley line- Fae, elementals, land spirits (genius loci)

Walking Deadlines

Corpse roads and death currents are veins of mortality, cutting through the world like psychic scars. To walk or work them is to step into the space between the heartbeat and the grave, a place of immense ancestral and necromantic power. These paths are more than relics — they are active, awake, and waiting for the witch who dares tread softly but deeply along their macabre miles.

[deepintheground]

A Prayer For The Honorable & Forgotten : Ancestor Work

I call to the Ancestors, seen and unseen— To those of my blood, my spirit, and my path. To the ones who shaped this world before me, Walking in wisdom, justice, and love.

I honor the bold, the healers, the seekers— Those who protected, who taught, who mended, Who walked with truth and kindness in their time, Their voices still echoing through the ages.

May your wisdom light my way. May your strength uphold me. May your love live on in my heart, my thoughts, my deeds.

Yet I turn from those who wrought harm— Who chose cruelty when compassion was an option, Who upheld injustice instead of standing for what was right. Their influence has no place here, Their voices do not shape my path.

And to the forgotten, the silenced, the lost— I call your names, even if the world has erased them. I offer remembrance, honor, love, and light. May you find peace where once there was none.

[deepintheground]

crystals in death magic

ajoite - overcome sorrow, emotional healing

amethyst - eases grief and sadness

andalusite - crossing over into the afterlife

apophyllite - spirit communication

bixbite (red beryl) - eases grief

black tourmaline - eases grief

bloodstone - to strengthen ties with ancestors or loved ones who have passed on

blue lace agate - connection to the spirit world, eases passage into the afterlife

calcite - emotional healing, peace

carnelian - eases sorrow, protection in the afterlife

celestite - spirit communication

charoite - eases passage into the afterlife

cuprite - spirit communication

halite - dispelling negativity, protection

hematite - grounding, peace, transforming negativity

jade - protection in the afterlife

jasper - safe passage into the afterlife

jet - eases grief and mourning

kunzite - eases heartbreak

labradorite - spirit communication

lapis lazuli - spiritual connection

obsidian - healing, deflecting negativity, grounding, protection

onyx - grounding, protection

pink tourmaline - emotional healing

quantum quattro silica - eases grief

quartz - safe passage into the afterlife

selenite - spirit communication, eases passage into the afterlife

sunstone - spirit communication

tanzan aura quartz - spirit communication

tsavorite - connection to the spirit world

turquoise - spiritual attunement

violet flame opal - spiritual awareness

© 2024 𝚊𝚍-𝚌𝚊𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚊

[deepintheground]

Communing with Spirits to Create Personal Correspondences

Buckle up witches, we're doing spirit work!

So over the last ten or so years I've been working on connecting with spirits of the land in order to create my own personal set of correspondences.

Now, I'm not going to just list my personal gnosis about the various flora and fauna of where I live because unless you also live in Gubbi Gubbi Country, it won't be of much use to you. Instead, I'm going to give you the tools to do this for yourself so you can take your witchcraft from a beginner level where you're using common correspondences written in books, to an intermediate level where you're making your own.

Let's do this thing!

So, first you need to step away from the witchcraft books, with their carefully curated lists of correspondences, and step outside. It's important to note that most of the common flora and fauna used in traditional witchcraft originates from Europe. If you live in Europe, this makes it easier for you to make your own correspondences. If you don't... well be prepared to do a bit of hard yakka yourself.

"Using what is local and connecting with one's own land is fundamental." (Horne, 2019)

Step 1: Take a Walk

I know it might seem simple but you're going to walk around your local area. Wear some sensible shoes; fill a water bottle; bring your phone and keys; a plastic bag to put rubbish in; and a small notebook with a pen/pencil. I like to put all of this in a backpack but use whatever works for you.

If this is your first time doing this, you're not going to be making any correspondences. As you walk, reach out with your magic and introduce yourself to the local spirits. It will take time for them to be open to you, so the more often you do this, the better.

Don't pick any flowers or plants on these early journeys. Just take your time and if you see any litter, pick it up. This is a great offering to local spirits and helps pave the way for your connection to the land.

You will soon begin to 'sense' local places where there are stronger / more cognisant spirits. I like to call these 'places of power' and have made a hand drawn map of my local area with little symbols showing where these spirits reside.

Step 2: Learn Your Spirits

Now, learning the 'personality' of these spirits will help you to create correspondences later on down the line. Here are some general guidelines that I've found for my local spirits. Yours may be different.

Because I live in a colonised country, many local spirits don't like colonisers and will be actively hostile towards people who are not indigenous. For example, during the 1700s and 1800s there were massacres of the local Gubbi Gubbi people on this land by colonisers. The spirits of the land remember the blood of their cousins spilt by outsiders. In the 'lifespan' of older spirits like rivers, islands and mountains, these atrocities didn't happen that long ago... so you can understand why they wouldn't like non-indigenous people.

Water Spirits

Rivers tend to have strong spirits associated with them. They are slow moving, often nourishing, revitalising and cleansing. They're also OLD, like thousands of years old. The age of the river usually dictates the wisdom of the spirit. But you also need to do research into the history of the river, what plants and animals call it home and how it's been treated by humans as this often dictates how hostile the spirit will be with you when interacting with it. Most of the time river spirits will ignore you. Don't be discouraged, but understand that you are just one of the millions of entities living on their banks. Be respectful and persistent. It takes time.

Creeks and Streams are much younger than rivers most of the time and their speed reflects this. They often have more energising, almost playful spirits but this is not always the case. For example, there is a creek in Gubbi Gubbi Country called Murdering Creek... It's called that because in 1862, approximately 25 Gubbi Gubbi men were simply fishing in canoes during bunya season only to be ambushed and massacred by the Manager of the Yandina Station, Walter Taplock Chippindall, and five other stockmen (Gibbons, 2014). The spirit of this creek understandably does not like white people and did not want to work with me. That is totally fine and I respected its wishes. Just like people, not all spirits are going to like you. That's okay.

Lakes are often more calm spirits. They nourish the land around them and are often more reflective and quiet. You often have to really listen closely to connect with the spirit of a lake. Do not expect a quick response from a lake... let them ruminate for a while and come back later.

Swamps are simultaneously teeming with both life and death; with fallen trees, rotting logs, buzzing mosquitoes and all manner of wildlife. Spirits of swamps are slow and stagnant like the water that inhabits them. Not much phases them most of the time as they are used to the quickly turning wheel of life and death that lives in or around the swamp. They don’t really care about you most of the time… almost like an indifference that tastes like death and rebirth.

Freshwater springs are usually lively spirits bursting with energy bringing forth life-giving, generous refreshment from beneath the surface of the earth. They are cool and bright with an almost ‘mineral’ taste. There aren’t really many freshwater springs where I am that don’t have bottled water companies taking the water so admittedly, my connection with these types of spirits is limited.

The Ocean… Stand in awe at the majesty of these spirits. They are both life-giving and devastating. I love the ocean and feel safe when in its waters, but I also know it doesn’t give a shit about me. It is vast, ancient and tumultuous. There is deep, deep wisdom here… be respectful and you’ll be fine.

Earth Spirits

Mountains here are often proud and headstrong. The spirits of the Mountains on Gubbi Gubbi Country often have stories associated with them. The most famous are the volcanic plugs known nowadays as the Glasshouse Mountains. They’re a family: Tibrogargan, the father, and Beerwah, the mother, had many children. One day, Tibrogargan was gazing out to sea and noticed a great rising of the waters. He ran to his children and told them to flee inland. He told his eldest son, Coonowrin, to help his mother Beerwah, who was with child. But Coonowrin fled, leaving his mother behind. Enraged, Tibrogargan pursued Coonowrin and hit him in the neck with his club, leaving it crooked and bent. When the floods had subsided the family returned to the plains. Feeling ashamed, Coonowrin begged Tibrogargan for forgiveness, but filled with shame at his son’s cowardice, Tibrogargan could do nothing but weep copious tears, which, trickling along the ground, formed a stream that flowed into the sea. Then Coonowrin went to his brothers and sisters, but they also wept at the shame of their brother’s cowardice. The lamentations of Coonowrin’s parents and of his brothers and sisters at his disgrace explain the presence of the numerous small streams of the area. Tibrogargan then called to Coonowrin, asking him why he had deserted his mother. Coonowrin replied that as Beerwah was the biggest of them all she should be able to take care of herself. He did not know that she was pregnant again, Then Tibrogargan turned his back on his son and vowed that he would never look at him again. Even today Tibrogargan gazes far out to sea and never looks around at Coonowrin, who hangs his head and cries, his tears running off to the sea. His mother Beerwah is still heavy with child, as it takes a long, long time to give birth to a mountain.

Trees here in Australia have all sorts of different spirits and personalities. For example, most paperbark trees feel revitalising, like a snake shedding its skin, they are often spirits of renewal and change. They are also protective and healing as paperbark was used to make waterproof shelters,bedding, bandages, rafts, containers and more. The leaves were also used to add flavour to cooking, and a traditional ground oven will often include layers of paperbark leaves. Tea Tree spirits are also cleansing and healing. They often live beside lakes or swamps that are traditionally called “healing lakes”. The tannins of these trees leach into the water making the water change to a tea color while infusing the water with antibacterial and medicinal qualities. Eucalyptus or Gum tree spirits are often cleansing and protective as the leaves have traditionally been used in smoking ceremonies for millenia and their wood for shields. These spirits are also closely associated with fire as the leaves and bark don't decompose and are filled with a highly flammable oil. Eucalypts are therefore destructive, protective and even regenerative as our landscape needs fire to survive with many native plants requiring heat and smoke to crack open seed pods and help them germinate in the new carbon-rich soil.

Step 3: Write your Correspondences

I’m not going to go into detail here as Bree @breelandwalker has an excellent post all about Creating Correspondences which I will direct you to look at.

So yeah ~ hope this was helpful!

~ Marci 

References

Gibbons, R, 2014, ‘Deconstructing the Myth of Murdering Creek’.

Horne, R 2019, 'Folk Witchcraft: A Guide to Lore, Land, & the Familiar Spirit for the Solitary Practitioner'

[deepintheground]

LIMINAL SPACES IN WITCHCRAFT

Crossroads, man made or natural.

Rivers, creeks, or lake shores/beaches.

Hallways, corridors, doorways, stairwells, and landings.

Windows.

Graveyards, cemeteries, and burial mounds.

Dawn, dusk, afternoon, and midnight.

Valleys.

Fairs, festivals, and marketplaces.

Hedge rows.

Abandoned or empty places.

The edge of valleys, forests, and glades.

Swamps, bogs, and marshes.

Mirrors.

Birth/life and death.

Dreams or alternated states of consciousness.

The turn of the seasons.

Caves or underground spaces.

[deepintheground]

Thoughts on the way spirits present themselves:

Sometimes, when we're calling spirits, they're arrive without us knowing. The spirit could be standing right in front of us waving, and our subtle senses just aren't fine-tuned enough to see them. Some get around this by working with a scryer. Others might build the ritual pressure in the space until the spirit is compelled into become more visible. Something i find consistently reliable is utilizing forms of passive divination.

This way, you have ways of diving a spirit's presence without having to pull your attention away from your conjurations or ritual actions.

Passive divination methods for spirit conjuration could include:

Burning incense to see figures and signs in the smoke

Letting candles melt to look for symbols in the wax

Hanging bells around the space

A water scrying set up where the surface is oily to more easily produce images

Above, I included photos from a ritual I did a while ago where I used candles and stone with a similar purpose. This stone was being consecrated as a tool to scry with in the future, and I wasn't receiving clear signs that the spirit i called had come. It wasn't until I looked down and saw the melted wax in the form of a black hand that I realized they were sitting with me. It was small and very subtle, so subtle I could've easily missed it.

Having passive ways of scrying and divining the presence of spirits can be a huge help when exploring new spirits and conjuration methods. It takes some discernment to know how to use them, but when applied well, they are a huge boon to one's setup.