Making *My* Conjure Graveyard

Before any of this post will make any sense, one has to be familiar with what a "Conjure Graveyard" is.  A conjure graveyard is simply a way to dispose of *left-over* material from your hoodoo workings.  Those that do not have a specified means for doing so. For more information on this, please see THIS post by my Fan-tab-ulous friend and root doctor, Oakthorne.

All that is required to construct a standard conjure graveyard is a container with a lid, a white cloth big enough to drape the four corners outside of the container, and graveyard dirt collected for this purpose.  However, I am OCD and everything has to *feel* just right to me.  No ordinary container would do.  I searched for something for a couple weeks.  I looked at Wal-Mart, Target, World Market, even antique stores.  Nothing.  Then, one day, I was standing in Wal-Mart, in the office supply section, and I saw a normal, ordinary, faux leather, black, storage box.  *light bulb*  I'll make my own!!

So it started like this::




Then I had to develop a design that symbolized, to me, the purpose of the graveyard.  I chose the ouroboros and winged death with its sickle.  I chose the ouroboros based on its alchemical application, the unity of all things, eternally; and the cycle of birth and death. Enclosed in the ourobos is winged death, who guards over the grave until the time in which it will be returned to the earth, and the cycle will be continued.

 First Draft:

Outlined::

 Completed::


After the image was complete, I cut it out, roughly circlular, and glued it to the top of my box.
I felt the need to protect my conjure graveyard, as it will hold the reminents of my conjure works.  First, I annointed the top of my box in a five-face die pattern with a protection oil.  Then, I dressed a small 4' red altar candle with the same protection oil.  I placed the candle on top of the box, in a brass star candle holder, directly in the middle.  I lit this candle from my Master Purpose candle while stating my intent to it, to protect the contents of my graveyard.



Now, I will allow my candle to burn down.  When it is almost gone I will blow it out, sending the spell on it's way.  Tomorrow, I will place my white cloth inside, along with graveyard dirt collected for this purpose.  Then, presto! Ready to go!

Buying Graveyard Dirt

**In the following, I will share my experience buying graveyard dirt from a very close relative, my Nan.  Due to the personal nature of this experience and my intentions, I will leave some details out.  I am sure everyone will understand.

If you are unfamiliar with the concept of buying graveyard dirt, please see THIS in Lucky Mojo Curio.

Today, after class, I visited Keeton Cemetery, where most of my maternal family has been buried since the late 1800s.  I haven't visited in four years, since my Nan's funeral.  The cemetery is set in a clearing ontop of a tall hill.  My Nan's grave is located in the older part of of the cemetery, next to headstones that are simply old stones.  I am not sure why she is located there, away from the rest of our recently deceased relatives.






I slowly made my way to my Nan's grave, a little bit nervous, actually, feeling guilty about not having visited in the whole four years, and knowing *my* Nan.  See everyone should have someone in their life like my Nan.  She is not what you think of the stereotypical grandmother being, but she *is* what I think every grandmother should be. My Nan is a firecracker.  She is loud, boisterous, and always honest.  She always tells you the truth, even if you don't ask, and especially if you don't want to hear it.  She is everyone's Nan.  And half the time you aren't sure if she even likes you, but Heaven help the soul that ever hurts one of "hers."

Once I made it there, I sat down, right in the middle.  I just sat there, listening.  After a while, I was sure that she knew I was there, and that she knew why, as she always seemed to when I came to her when she was living.   I just sat there and talked to her, like I use to.  Eventually, I got around to explaining why I was there, and what I wanted to ask of her.  I got the distinct feeling that she was saying, "You better be glad you came to me for this."  Typical Nan.

"Traditional" payment for graveyard dirt is usually silver dimes.  Instead, my payment was a silver cross and a turquoise stone, two things that were very special to her in life.  For libation, I brought Dasani water.  My Nan was a recovering alcoholic, who replaced her alcohol addiction with a Dasani addiction.  Only Dasani water, she would drink nothing else.

I dug a small plug and removed it.  Then, I removed about two small handfulls of dirt and placed them in a small glass jar with a lid.  I placed the cross and stone in the hole, and covered them with the plug.  I poured out the libation onto the grave and then I laid down there and just visited.  I stayed there, at the grave, for a long time, until I felt it was time to bring her home.



And then I realized that I had locked my keys and phone in my car.... seriously... not cool.  I had to walk to some strangers house to call for help.  But all is well. :)

Currently, I am allowing the dirt to dry.  Well, as dry as clay gets. :P  But, after that, a portion will be placed on my ancestoral altar, and a portion will be saved for other uses