Hi I've rarely needed help from anyone on this forum but there is a time for everything. to provide enough information for anyone willing to help I will explain as briefly as possible.
So throughout my life my grandmother has told me about her experiences with spirits and magic, one story in particular has stood out to me, someone she did business with was visiting her home to make a payment, she went to another room to get a paper for him and when she returned she noticed he hurried from her shelf back to his chair, when they finished she went over to the shelf and noticed he put ashes in to a knick knack of hers, soon after her neighbours saw the same person putting ashes and rice around her house. she was never sure what it was about and i also wonder because I feel whatever it is could follow me my siblings, or my cousins around. and also she has seen a man in a trench coal and a big hat come around and watch her in times of trouble but shes never been scared of him what could it be? a spirit of protection, or the spirit of a family member who has passed? this also intrigues me because many of my family members have seen this figure including my mother she said she was out late when she was young and the figure wouldn't let her pass for about an hour like it was keeping her from harm. If anyone has a similar story or knows what these things mean please let me know.
Regards,moonlightprince (k4)
Well, the figure/entity she keeps seeing does indeed sound like some sort of protective spirit, especially if its presence is accompanied by a sensation of safety or protection.
As for what the stranger may have done at the house, it can be difficult to say for sure. It can depend on a few different things. Such as what tradition/practice the person might have been following, what the ashes were of or what they came from. Knowing a little more about the situation might help. What kind of business did they do together? Was it a positive or strained professional relationship? Did the house have any history of unusual events before the person did this?
After doing a touch of research on use of rice in magic, it does lean towards having that circle be a protective and positive effort. Rice is associated with earth, prosperity, protection, and fertility. In some cuultures spirits are known to be obsessive beings as well so they would leave a jar of rice at their door. the entity intending to enter would see the rice and be compelled to sit and count the grains. (Think OCD compulsion) Thus distracted they would forget to enter the home.
Considering that they were in business together it feels safe to assume that the person did a spell for protection and prosperity/abundance, and the ashes are likely from something that was burned as a part of that working. Most likely ashes from a written intent, sigil, or prayer. And possibly from incense as well.
