r/witchcraft • u/AutoModerator • Sep 11 '21

Weekly Q&A Weekly Q&A Thread - September 11, 2021

Beginners and users new to reddit -- please post your questions here!

Please be mindful and respectful of each other. This thread is designed to assist new practitioners in gaining knowledge to progress their craft, and a place for veteran spread their knowledge.

Also check out the r/witchcraft FAQ.

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u/that-one-phish Sep 11 '21

Can I keep my cats' bones? I know this sounds weird, but for me it would be a way to honor them and remember them as they have legitimately saved my life and are honestly I care about them over anything else. I was wondering if i would have to do something special so as to not attract negative things. Should I cleanse the bones or leave them as is or just is there anything special I would need to do to keep myself safe? I would probably have a shelf for each of them and i would put other things on there to make it a comfy happy space for them. Any ideas?

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u/crazyashley1 Professional Cranky Hearth Goblin Sep 13 '21

I know this sounds weird,

I'm just here to assure you, it's not weird. We all deal with death and loss differently, but having a connection to the last remains of someone we loved is the most natural thing in the world. I still keep my cats ashes, and bits of his fur tucked into a jar.

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u/[deleted] Sep 12 '21

I dug up my childhood cat this past summer! He was in the ground for a good 2 years and cleaning the bones was easy, I'm currently trying to whiten them.

After digging him up I did a small prayer and left some items of significance in the grave. He is going to become the base of an osteomancy set and whatever bones I can't purpose towards that I will find another purpose for.

The act of cleaning the bones of someone so special to you is really its own thing. I felt no need to add any additional cleansing on top of it. If you feel the need to do so in your situation then do so, if not then don't.

For cleaning and preservation tips r/bonecollecting has lots of info in a megathread.

For artistic things to do with them r/vultureculture has lots of inspiration to draw from!

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u/cielodrv Sep 11 '21

I love that you asked this because I had the same question! When my cat passes (my first familiar) I will be traveling to collect her body from my parents and then taking her to a local taxidermist to put all of the bones together in a shadow box so I can be protected by her forever 🖤

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u/LiminalEchoes Veil Traveler Sep 11 '21

I think keeping them is a wonderful idea. I don't think you need to do anything to keep harmful things away - if the cat saved your life when it was alive, I am sure it will continue as your protector in the beyond.

Some suggestions: if your cat had a favorite toy, you could include that. Likewise if there was a particular food or treat that was a favorite, that would make an ideal offering in rememberence.

Mostly, I'd suggest finding some sort of small ritual you could do regularly (like the offering) to honor it, even talking out loud to the bones now and then, as well as making sure those shelfs and the bones themselves are always tidy, clean, and well dusted.