The Dark Secrets of the Mortuary Business: A Wife's Confession
When I married into a family that owns a mortuary, I had no idea how deeply my life would change. At first, it seemed like any other family business—hard work, late nights, and a steady flow of clients. But as I became more involved, I started noticing things that didn’t sit right with me. My in-laws believed in rituals that ensured the success of the business, and I soon found myself entangled in their world, carrying a heavy burden of guilt ever since.
Rituals for Business Growth: Ensuring a Flow of Clients
One of the first secrets I learned was how my in-laws used rituals to keep the mortuary busy. They believed that the success of the business relied not just on marketing and reputation, but also on spiritual practices. According to them, the business thrived when they "called" for clients.
After a body was prepared for the funeral, my in-laws would secretly smear a special mixture referred to as *Muti*on the body. This wasn’t just any ointment; it was said to have been prepared by a traditional healer, infused with powerful intentions.
The purpose of the *Muti* was to bind the spirit of the deceased and to influence the living. During the funeral viewing, they believed that the *Muti* would identify the weakest spiritual person present. That person would fall ill or pass away within months, ensuring another client for the mortuary.
Let me try to explain it further. So during the viewing of the body, the Muti smeared on the body would identify and affect a family member who is weak to fall victim.
It was chilling to see families return to the mortuary after losing another loved one, often within a year of the first death. My in-laws claimed it was the effect of the *Muti*—once death entered a family, it lingered. They saw it as a "blessing" for the business, but I saw it as a terrible curse.
They used to also perform night rituals.
Late at night, when no one else was around, my in-laws would perform rituals in the mortuary itself. They would light candles, chant prayers, and pour libations (liquid offerings) on the ground to appease and control the spirits of the bodies there. These spirits were believed to act as messengers, ensuring a steady flow of clients.
Protecting Themselves from Hauntings
You might think that working so closely with death would lead to hauntings, but my in-laws had rituals to protect themselves from angry spirits. They believed that failing to do these rituals could result in the spirits seeking revenge.
There would also be "Cleansing After Every Funeral"
After each funeral, family members would wash their hands and faces with a special herbal mixture. This was meant to cleanse them of any spiritual residue left by the deceased. The mortuary offers them a special detergent to use. Little does the family know that the detergent has herbs. Those herbs hide the mortuary's dark secrets that even if the family consults nothing points back to the business.
Every month, they would prepare a meal and leave it at a crossroads or beneath a large tree as an offering to wandering spirits. This was meant to ensure that no spirits followed them home or caused trouble at the mortuary.
Before major holidays or anniversaries of the business, they held family ceremonies to honor ancestors and seek their blessings. This often involved slaughtering an animal and offering its blood to strengthen the business’s spiritual foundation.
My Guilt and the Weight I Carry is consuming me.
As the years passed, I found it harder to live with what I had learned—and worse, what I had participated in. I never actively performed the rituals, but by staying silent, I became complicit. I started noticing patterns: families grieving for years, their losses seemingly endless. Could it really all be coincidence? Or the Muti really works!
I’ve considered leaving the business, even the marriage, but it’s not that simple. The secrets I carry could ruin the family’s reputation and livelihood. And yet, I can’t shake the guilt. Every night, I hear whispers in my mind—whether it’s my conscience or the spirits of those we wronged, I don’t know.
If you’re reading this, take it as a cautionary tale. The mortuary business isn’t just about caring for the dead; for some, it’s a delicate balance of life, death, and spiritual power. Be careful of what you wish for, and always protect your spirit when attending funerals. Some rituals are too dark to ignore, and once you’re part of them, it’s hard to escape.
For me, every day is a battle between staying silent and speaking out. Perhaps one day, I’ll find the courage to let the world know the truth. Until then, I live with the shadows of the past, hoping that one day, my soul will find peace.
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