Books of spells are full of instructions for beginning a working and almost silent about what to do when it is over. The few that mention it tend to say "bury the remains" or "throw them into running water." For a practice that calls the earth sacred, that advice needs another look.
A jar buried in the garden is litter. Salt poured onto soil kills what grows there. A ribbon tied around a branch can cut into the bark for years. None of this is done with ill intent, and all of it is easy to avoid.
The principle
Whatever you put outdoors should be something that the place could have produced itself, in an amount that it can absorb. Everything else goes back indoors, to be reused, recycled, or put in the trash. Putting a thing in the trash with thanks is a perfectly respectful ending.
What to do with each thing
| Remains | Do | Do not |
|---|---|---|
| Candle wax | Let it cool and put it in the household trash. Save clean stubs to melt into new candles, in a bowl set over hot water and never directly over a flame. | Bury it or leave it outdoors. Most candles are paraffin, which does not break down. |
| Salt | Sweep it up and put it in the trash, or wash it down the sink. | Pour it on soil, grass, or the roots of plants. |
| Herbs and flowers | Compost them, or scatter small amounts of local plants in the garden. | Scatter seeds of plants that do not grow locally. |
| Paper | Burn it safely in a fireproof dish, or recycle it. | Burn glossy or coated paper indoors. |
| Ashes | Let them cool completely, then add a small amount to the compost or the trash. | Dump warm ashes anywhere at all. |
| Jars and bottles | Empty them, wash them, cleanse them, and use them again. | Bury them, or throw them into rivers or the sea. |
| Water | Pour plain water onto the earth. Pour water that contains salt or oil down the drain. | Pour salted or oily water onto plants. |
| Food offerings | Leave them for an hour, then compost them. | Leave out food that harms wildlife or attracts pests. |
| Ribbons and cords | Use natural fiber, tie it loosely, and take it down within a few weeks. | Leave synthetic ribbon on any living tree. |
| Crystals | Keep them, cleanse them, or pass them on. | Bury them or drop them into water "to return them." They are not from there. |
Things to leave out altogether
- Glitter. It is plastic, and it never goes away. Use dried petals or crushed eggshell.
- Sky lanterns and balloons. They come down somewhere, as litter and as a fire risk.
- Coins in wells and springs. The metals pollute the water. Offer a song, or pick up some litter.
- Anything left at an ancient site. Stone circles and old trees suffer from candle wax, crystals, and ribbons. Take your offerings home again.
Better offerings
The oldest offerings leave no trace at all: clean water poured onto the ground, a handful of birdseed, a song, or a spoken word of thanks. An hour spent clearing litter from a riverbank is as real an offering to the spirits of a place as any I know.
When a spell says to bury it
Many traditional spells do end with burial, and you can keep the spirit of that without the harm. Bury only what will rot: paper, natural cord, herbs, an apple. Or keep a large flowerpot of soil for the purpose. Things can be "buried" in the pot for as long as the spell requires, and then taken out and disposed of properly. The same goes for a witch bottle: keep it in the pot, or at the back of a cupboard by the door.
The Rede says to harm none. The soil, the river, and the birds are included in that. A working that begins with care for the earth ought to end the same way.