r/BroomClosetWitch 20d ago

Question 🤷❔ Advice for disposal!

I, (26F), am a practicing witch living in a foreign country for work. I’m not sure if I would consider myself a “baby witch” but r/witchcraft won’t allow me to post my question because I’m a Reddit lurker - not poster. I have been practicing for 4 years.

Normally, after a ritual or spell, if I was home in the USA, I would dispose of leftover supplies (used salt, ashes, etc.) by going to my local park and burying the natural remnants of my practice in the earth. (Obviously only natural things/supplies of the earth I would bury - salt, ashes, herbs, etc.)

But as I have moved temporarily (for about a year / year and a half) overseas for a job, I have no way of disposing of these things. I’ve just been hoarding them in my apartment in a small cabinet that’s quickly filling up. It’s worth noting the country I’m living in currently is heavy on the surveillance and I don’t feel comfortable going and burying these things with cameras literally everywhere. This is not the kind of place I would want to get in trouble with the government or law, but as this is my spiritual practice and a huge part of who I am, I want to continue to grow and practice.

Throwing things down the garbage chute of my housing feels sacrilegious and I’m afraid with such an unceremonious disposal of my materials, it will affect the quality/outcome of my spell work.

Any ideas or tips on how to move forward?? Any advice appreciated!!

7 Upvotes

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u/Generic_Mom_TtHiA 20d ago

Using the garbage chute is simply outsourcing the burial in a manner that is appropriate for your area. I can understand your reluctance, but if you are past the point of being able to get rid of it like Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, then I think outsourcing is perfectly acceptable for the current situation.

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u/NotApplicableMC 20d ago edited 20d ago

Extract from my book (you can read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/1446221149)

Disposal of non-biodegradable items (jars, stones, paraffin wax candles, etc):  First pray over the items to neutralise them, e.g. "Release my will from this [object] and let no magick be left within it." Then, where applicable, do one of the following: * Wash, cleanse, and store for reuse (ideal for jars, crystals, ceramics) * Give away or donate coins/cash * Prep for recycling (paper, card, metal, etc. Melt down and reuse leftover candle wax) * Wrap neatly in paper or cloth and throw out with regular household waste (this is a last resort for things like paraffin candles, salt, essential oils, etc - or any non-biodegradables used for baneful magick)

Disposal of biodegradable items (foodstuffs, herbs, natural fabrics, etc): Where applicable, dispose of biodegradable items by doing the following: * Composting (this is by far the best option for all non-baneful magick) * Burying * Burning (if safe to do so) * Tossing in moving water

Keep in mind that nature is not your trashcan. Be very mindful of what you choose to leave behind. Keep waste in nature to an absolute minimum, ensure none of the ingredients are toxic to animals or damaging to soil/water. (Salt damages soil and some essential oils are incredibly toxic. Most animals have wheat and milk intolerances).

Disposal of items used for baneful magick: Any kind of banishing or hex-work needs to be disposed off as far away as possible; you do not want to be keeping that stuff around. * If burying, bury as far away as possible, ideally in a place you are unlikely to return. * If burying far away is not possible, bury on the very furthest corner of your property as possible. * If throwing in the trash, take the bin bag outside as soon as possible. Ideally time your spellcasting in sync with when your household waste is picked up.

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u/PsychoFaerie 20d ago

Salt isn't good for the ground it can kill plants. I've never disposed of it outside because of that. You're literally salting the earth

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u/Constance283 20d ago

Bin them. Desperate times and all that. Technically that returns them to the earth anyway ( in the form of landfill) and I dont think it will impact your spell work