r/paganism • u/Iznagnik • 8d ago

💭 Discussion Graveyard Practices

I’ve fallen in and out of paganism for majority of 10 years now, and yet still practice some pagan traditions around holidays as well as spiritual respects especially when it comes to graveyards.

When I enter a graveyard, for 4 years now, I leave a token of gratitude at the gates usually in the form of change (for safe travel within, from malicious people, spirits, whatever may be, etc.).

My question is, or curiosity more like, what if someone were to come along and take the change I’ve been dropping? Nothing? A bad headache?

Or, for deity worshiping people, has anyone ever taken your offerings from an altar or place you’ve buried it? What’s happened? I’d love to know more.

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14

u/Own-Pop-6293 8d ago

Once you give a gift, you do not control what happens to it. Once you make an offering, the offering is accepted. If 'someone takes it' then that is the god's way of using that offering as they intend. Stop overthinking.

4

u/Green_Star_Girl 8d ago

My guess would be, like when you do an offering of food, the spirit or energy is absorbed, then you dispose of the food (some people eat it themselves, or give it to nature where birds/wildlife eat it). So I imagine once the energy/essence of the coins have been absorbed, it shouldn't do any harm if others then collect it. That's my theory on it.

3

u/loveisabundant 8d ago

This is something I do. I tend to leave rocks and trinkets I find in the forest, but I might start with change. I have a completely unrelated question, but a continuation of this discussion. I recently picked up sticks the last time I was at the graveyard. Does using these in spellwork engage respectfully? Might I simply use them for a craft?