Juniper for the Unquiet Dead (Gordon White)
Juniper has long been known as a broad-spectrum protective ally for both humans and places. Berries, branches, gin itself, whatever. This operation takes that protective capacity to the recently departed.
Essentially, you burn juniper as incense on the grave of someone -typically recently departed- whom you have determined is at risk from malicious, restless or otherwise unquiet spirits. I’ve had a shamanic healing client who has wafted a photo of a (cremated) loved one through some juniper smoke which seems to have worked -though I’ve not personally tried it.
This operation is useful for the recently deceased in general, but also for people who may have been caught up in certain kinds of magic when they were alive, as well as people who may have been buried ‘wrong’ -and there has been a lot of that over the last three years.
The words you use to accompany the burning of the juniper are up to you. This enchantment is one where the plant ally does most of the heavy lifting anyway. Which means it’s one you can recommend to normie friends who may have missed or held truncated funerals due to government restrictions over the past few years and still feel a bit weird about it, for instance.
How I always begin it is with a contemplation of the juniper itself -and yes, you can just buy dried berries from the supermarket. I observe the actual organism and bring into my awareness the reality that this has been one of mankind’s plant allies since literally the Neolithic era -a ten thousand year relationship, older than the pyramids, probably older than Gobekli Tepe.
Then you light a charcoal disc and place it in (what I use) a little terracotta base for a flowerpot that usually costs around a dollar and place the juniper berries on it. Then you call upon the spirit of juniper -and what or whomever else you would like- to keep the deceased safe from any restless or unquiet dead, and keep him/her out of the clutches of living sorcerers.
That’s it.
Ideally after that you can leave the juniper burning on the charcoal, but if you’re performing this in regional Australia or California or somewhere that really likes to catch fire, obviously don’t.
Just be sure to thank the spirit of the graveyard on your way in and out.
One final note: Performing this operation on the recently buried ‘just in case’ is perfectly fine. It’s not going to mess anything up if your loved one isn’t at risk from the unquiet dead. Extra protection is always welcome. Just consider it part of the funeral rites.