A Ritual for the Spirits of the Dead

Since October is the month of descent, a time when the veil between our world and the Spirit world becomes thinner, I have decided to share with you a simple yet powerful ritual that can be useful for everyone seeking connection with the Ancestors. It is a way to offer your respect and gifts to the Dead under the protection of Hekate. If you decide to give it a try, let me know in the comment!

This is a simple yet effective ritual to connect with the Ancestors and the Spirits of the Dead, wherever you are. Please note: the purpose of this ritual is not to engage directly with the spirits or ask them anything (at least for now). You are simply introducing yourself, making offerings, and paying your respects, all under the protection of Hekate. Because of this, no additional protection is needed beyond Hekate’s guidance.

How I Created It

A few years ago, I felt the need to connect with the Ancestors and the Spirits of the Dead while visiting Venice, a city I know well, where I lived for years, but where, as far as I know, none of my direct ancestors are buried. I knew part of my husband’s family rested in the local cemetery, but I didn’t know their names or the location of their graves. Yet, I kept feeling a call, a restless uneasiness I had to address.

It was a challenging situation: I wanted to visit the cemetery, pay my respects, and open communication, but I was traveling, I didn't have my usual tools, and I didn’t know the local rules about candles and offerings. Fortunately, Hekate guided me, and I ended up creating this simple, adaptable ritual that can be performed in any cemetery when you feel the need to open the communication.

Procedure

Materials: Ten flowers (ideally purchased at the cemetery’s nearby shops).

When: Whenever you feel the need to open—or reopen—communication with the Ancestors or the Spirits of the Dead and pay your respects.

Steps:

1. Arrival and Preparation Go to the local cemetery either at opening time or in the evening or when you know it is going to be quiet. Buy your flowers at a nearby shop. If no shop is available, bring them with you.

   
   

2. Invocation of Hekate At the cemetery gate, call upon Hekate, Queen of the Dead, in your own words. Ask for her guidance and assistance in opening the communication with the Ancestors and the Spirits of the Dead. If you prefer, write your prayer beforehand and either read it aloud or silently. If you want, leave a coin at the gate, to pay respect to the Spirit of the Land and the gate keeper.

   
   

3. Offering the Flowers When you feel Hekate’s presence, address a simple prayer to all the spirits resting in the cemetery. Then:

   • Pick the first flower.

   • Walk around the cemetery, repeating the mantra “IO HEKA IO HO” ten times.

   • Place the flower on a tomb.

     
     

   Repeat with each flower until all ten are offered, reciting the mantra a total of 100 times. If possible, place flowers on:

   
   

   • A child’s tomb

   • A soldier’s tomb

   • A young adult’s tomb

   • Someone who died at an old age

   • An abandoned tomb

   • Then any other tomb your steps guide you to

     
     

4. Closing After the last flower is given, take a moment to meditate. Thank Hekate for Her guidance, bid farewell to the spirits, and leave without looking back.

After the Ritual

In the following days, observe what happens around you. You should feel a stronger connection to the local spirits and be prepared to receive messages.

You can repeat the ritual whenever you feel the need. To deepen the connection, you may choose to repeat the mantra 100 times per flower instead of ten.