I believe that for someone to truly learn about themselves and figure who they really are, they have to research and discover their ancestry. I have recently started a spiritual journey to discover answers to life and answers to the universe. On this journey, I found out that to get these answers I must know the answer to who I am first. This quest has given me a great passion for, and love of, ancestral research and tracking. I have always had a love for history, nature and just a good story of life. By going through the process of ancestral research, I have discovered you can find these things all in one place, a cemetery. I have become a lover of the history of cemeteries, the beauty of cemeteries and the history and stories of life that they tell. That makes me a Taphophile.
According to WordSense dictionary, a taphophile is someone who has a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. Cemetery is derived from the Greek word koimeterion meaning a sleeping chamber or burial place. There is so much someone can learn about history, their community, and their family history by visiting cemeteries. If you are like me and have a passion for visiting cemeteries then you may also be a Taphophile.
Before 1831,the large modern graveyards did not exist in the United States. Churches and town commons were burial places before the rural cemetery movement of the 1830's. Families would visit during special occasions and often would spend the entire day there. In some other countries, people will bring food and break bread with the dead.
Cemeteries offer you a free paranormal tour of the area. Lately there has been an increased social media presence of people doing spirit box sessions to try to communicate with the dead. It is intriguing to me to hear how the spirits respond to the question asked by the investigator. If you are a believer in the paranormal, cemeteries offer an excellent opportunity to speak to spirits and in some cases, give you the scare you are looking for.
Cemeteries offer you a free historical tour of the area you are visiting. The history of the area can be found in the families buried there. From the rich to the poor, mausoleums to unmarked graves, you can find historical information on just about anybody who lived in that town by visiting a cemetery.
They also offer you a free tour of nature from the area you are visiting. I have seen people walking, jogging, biking and walking their dogs through cemeteries. You find wildlife, especially crows, flora and fungi when visiting cemeteries.
Sometimes I wonder how long it has been since a family member has visited some of the dead. After many years of death and the visitors subside as they take their place among the dead, do the spirits get lonely and miss the visitations? That is something I will need to ask in the spirit box session.
It is very important that you respect others while visiting a cemetery. Respect the privacy of others. Respect the cemetery rules. Do not be loud or obnoxious. Don't lean on the gravestones, or move any markers. It is a privilege for us to be able to visit, and we should respect that.
There is so much to learn about life through death. There is so much to learn about our history through our ancestors. Not everyone agrees with being a Taphophile, and that is ok. We all have different beliefs, but if we all respect each other and handle ourselves in a respectful manner we can all bring honor to our ancestors and celebrate the lives they have lived. We carry on their legacy and in order to do that, we have to know who they were.
Cemeteries are a hallowed place and we are given an opportunity to show our respect. We have free access to history, nature and the paranormal through cemeteries. As I stated earlier, There is so much to learn about our life through death. Our cemeteries are our history, our ancestry, let's observe them, visit them, care for them, respect them and honor them.
By
Michael Walters
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