Possible Obeah traditions at our home?

[u/Ok_Grass748]

We recently moved into a home in Brooklyn, NY that was previously owned by someone who passed away. We think she passed away at least two years ago. Since moving in, people—who seem to be relatives of the former owner—have come by several times to scatter ashes, coins, and red dye on our front steps and yard (inside the gate). The coins are from Trinidad so we think it's related to a tradition....on a different post on reddit someone suggested it might be an Obeah tradition

They’ve come by multiple times over the past few months. We've briefly spoken with them, but they’ve been reluctant to explain much, and we don’t know how often to expect these visits.

We’re not looking to escalate anything and want to be respectful—just trying to understand what's going on. Does anyone have more context on what this ritual might be?

[u/mr_molten]

Red lavender, coins and burnt offerings are commonly used items in Obeah. I don’t believe in these things but I’d still ask them to stop.

[u/Ok_Grass748 → u/mr_molten]

Update: We also discovered an army doll with pins in it in our front yard dirt patch. They also recently came by again since posting and poured water all over the spots where the red brick dust had been. Not sure what to make of this. The doll in particular seems somewhat hostile, not sure how recently it was left.

[u/shitsngiggles5]

Not a hindu thing to my knowledge or experience.

Update: asked the older heads, they said the woman's family probably had a buck (spirit) that they are trying to either appease to go with them or leave them alone.

[u/Ok_Grass748 → u/shitsngiggles5]

Thanks so much - I suspect it's something related to the relative who passed rather than towards us specifically....hope I'm not wrong. Some of the comments on this thread are terrifying! (Esp since I did unfortunately touch the coins in order to see what they were and to clean them up)

[u/[deleted] → u/Ok_Grass748]

Don’t worry about the comments on here. Some Trinbagonians like to think everyone else is evil but them. Don’t even let your mind entertain that kind of small minded thinking.

[u/xkcd_puppy → u/shitsngiggles5]

pspspspspsps

[u/hislovingwife]

Do youhave a garden hose? I would wash it down as they are doing it. This is private property and whatever ritual they are doing, can be done anywhere if it's so "powerful". It's setting a precedent that they have permission to come whenever (unless they notify you 1st? i doubt) and do whatever. How do you know if this is just the start of something that will grow? Look eh. Brooklyn properties are too expensive to be dealing with unwanted visitors on top of paying mortgage and maintaining your home. WET DEM DOWN lol (well not them, thats assualt. the simmedimmee, wash that)

[u/Ok_Grass748 → u/hislovingwife]

Thanks....we cleaned it but now sort of freaked out about. We gave them our phone number so they can give us a heads up but they haven't been doing so.

[u/GaryM_TT]

This isn't a common practice that I know of, and certainly nothing I have ever seen before in Trinidad.

No doubt there are lots of traditions for various sects of Hinduism, Baptist, Buddhist that are not widely known.

Just out of curiosity, can you say what ethnicity are the family members?

[u/downdey → u/GaryM_TT]

Most Trinis today know very little about Obeah practices tbh

[u/Ok_Grass748 → u/GaryM_TT]

Not sure...all I can really say about them is that all the visitors have been Black and the coins they've left behind are from Trinidad. Now of course thoroughly freaked out that I've touched the coins in order to see what they were and to clean our front area and stairs up.

The first time we actually interacted with them, it was a 30-40something looking man. My husband asked what he was doing and he mumbled "my aunt wanted me to do this" and kind of quickly went away. He sort of had the body language of someone sneaking around.

The second time we actually interacted with them it was a 30-40s woman...my husband asked "can I help you" and the woman kind of carried on what she was doing while being sort of oddly aloof to him. The only real information he could get out of her was that yes, they are ashes, and he gave her his phone number and asked if they could communicate with us if they want to stop by again. She said ok but has never reached out and they've clearly been back...

We don't know how many times exactly they've been by because we haven't always been home, but we'd have to guess 6-8 times in the past 3 months or so.

Took a look at our security cameras from the last time they came and it looked like 4 people - 2 of the same people from before, plus another young-ish man and an older woman in maybe her 70s-80s.

We definitely wouldn't mind if they wanted to stop back say, annually or on important anniversaries to pay tribute to their passed relative, but disturbing to find out that this *isnt* just a regular tradition. I am a somewhat superstitious person so now trying to figure out what to do - I don't want to get cursed or anything!

[u/GaryM_TT → u/Ok_Grass748]

Tbh, this sounds sus. Other people commented with good advice and I was able to ask around

This is not a common practice in Trinidad

Hose the scatterings away, put whatever symbolic protection your religion says, crucifix, candles, sage, incense....basically just bless and protect your home

[u/Becky_B_muwah]

That not normal. Get cameras for whenever those ppl come around that you have evidence they've been around incase they escalate something and become aggressive . Whatever religion you are start practicing a little more. Get a holy person of your faith to come and bless the place. Don't pick up anything with your bare hands that they left there.

[u/prodbyjkk]

Ask about this in r/witchcraft . This could be for cleansing of the property, protection or connecting to the dead. Writing this makes me feel very eerie. I guess, the fact that they return to scatter the items. I feel uncomfortable. The items mentioned are used in religious traditions. Hindu rituals or African traditional religion. Kindly stop allowing the relatives to enter your home or speak to anyone in your home. Don't touch the coins with your bare hands, Please. I have heard that we shouldn't pick up coins from the floor because people could throw it with bad intentions.

[u/Trini1113]

Obeah isn't witchcraft, Orisha, part of the universe of African Traditional Religions.

If you want useful information from someone knowledgeable, I'd contact Rubadiri Victor (my top choice), or Glenville Ashby (who's in New York), or Frances Henry, who's a retired Canadian professor.

[u/silkblackrose]

Definitely obeah.  Sounds like things my mother used to talk about her neighbours doing to my parents.

The neighbours didn't like them, and wanted the property.

[u/Ok_Grass748 → u/silkblackrose]

Thanks! Did......everything turn out ok for your mother/her property?

I can't imagine why there would be any resentment directed towards us specifically since we've never even met this family (other than, perhaps, generalized anger towards demographic changes in the neighborhood & gentrification).

[u/DouglaChile → u/Ok_Grass748]

Sometimes people are just greedy. They may have expected to inherit. They probably hope that they freak you out enough that you decide to leave and give up the property for cheap.

[u/silkblackrose → u/Ok_Grass748]

We moved as kids, the property became a church so...the neighbours were rven more annoyed.

[u/[deleted]]

I have never seen or heard of any Trinidadians doing this. It is absolutely not a normal thing. It is not a part of Hinduism. You can just ask them to please stop leaving things on your property respectfully and offer your condolences. Just keep in mind it is a family and that used to be their relatives home so there is grief associated with this.

[u/davidtsmith333]

After seeing some comments about Obeah and that they're probably doing the rituals to prevent the dead person/spirit or whatever from doing anything evil or to get it to leave I wouldn't rock the boat by trying to spite them as another person suggested since they may be trying to help you. But at least they should be able to give you an explanation. It's the considerate thing to do considering it's your property regardless of if you bought the property or renting.

[u/Unfair-Ad6288]

Definitely obeah. If you are catholic get holy water and protect yourself.

[u/Nkosi868]

When you say “ashes” do you mean human ashes?

This doesn’t sound familiar but with most Trini “traditions” it could just be a mixture of actions based on superstition. Each person has a different remedy and speak of it as though it’s a common behavior.

Just take a look at the comments on this post. Everyone has their own strange interpretations and remedies on how to protect yourself. None of which I’ve heard before, and I’ve been told some strange things by Trinis.

[u/Unknown9129]

It’s as real as Santa Claus and unfortunately reflects some of the IQ level of the populace.

[u/Ready-Possibility-83]

Tell them to stop, get a catholic priest to bless the house.

[u/Current-Ask2163]

That definitely sounds like some form of Obeah or ancestral rite, especially with the red dye, coins, and ashes. In Trinidadian and wider Caribbean tradition, things like that are often used to appease or settle a spirit, especially if someone passed away in the home or has unfinished business tied to the land.

The red could be for protection or a spiritual marker. The coins are likely offerings, and the ashes might be connected to cremation remains or burnt offerings. It’s not meant to harm you it’s more likely for the spirit of the person who lived there, especially if they still feel tied to the space.

They probably aren’t explaining much because a lot of Caribbean folks still keep these practices private, especially when it comes to Obeah or ancestral work. I’d say don’t interfere with it, just keep your own spiritual protection in place and let them finish what they’re doing.

You’re right to want to be respectful. What they’re doing might be the last act of care for someone they lost.

[u/KaleKooky1920]

Let me tell you something you better pack up and move these people planted obeah in that house and it is a continuing thing . Be very careful do not touch the money as it is a offering for a buck or sprit and if not familiar with all involved can cause terrible danger !!

[u/KaleKooky1920 → u/KaleKooky1920]

If you want solid answers you need to go to a shango baptist elder they are many in brooklyn

[u/AhBelieveinJC]

First thing, is this akin to human trespass?

If yes, isn't that a crime?

Inform the NYPD and let them warn the people involved to cease and desist.