When Someone in the Family Passes Away:
Never Keep These 4 Relics – Here’s Why
Losing a loved one is a deeply emotional experience, and while it’s natural to hold onto memories, there are certain items—often called relics or energetic objects—that many cultures and spiritual traditions advise not to keep after someone’s passing.
These objects may carry emotional, energetic, or spiritual weight, and keeping them around may unintentionally affect the energy of your home or your own healing process.
Here are 4 items you should never keep, and the reasons behind each:
1. The Deceased’s Pillow
Why not keep it?
In many traditions, pillows are believed to absorb a person’s energy, emotions, and even illness over time. When someone passes away, their pillow can retain heavy emotional residue or “spiritual imprint,” which may disturb the living—especially during sleep.
Potential effects:
- Restless nights
- Emotional heaviness
- Recurring dreams or unsettling feelings
What to do instead:
Burn, donate, or respectfully discard the pillow after a short mourning period.
2. Clothing Worn at the Time of Death
Why not keep it?
Clothing worn at or near the moment of death is thought to hold a strong connection to the final emotions, physical pain, or trauma the person experienced. Keeping such items can prolong grief and subtly trap sadness in the environment.
Potential effects:
- Prolonged mourning
- Lingering sorrow or anxiety
- Superstitious beliefs around bad luck or “haunted” items
What to do instead:
These clothes should be washed thoroughly and donated, or ceremonially released or buried if keeping them feels uncomfortable.
3. Broken Personal Items (Watches, Glasses, Jewelry)
Why not keep it?
Broken items symbolize incompleteness or unresolved energy. Watches that stopped at the time of death or glasses left behind may psychologically anchor you to the moment of loss.
Potential effects:
- Subconscious fixation on the moment of death
- Emotional stagnation
- Attraction of “stuck” or unbalanced energy
What to do instead:
Repair and gift the item forward if possible, or respectfully let go through recycling, donation, or symbolic burial.
4. Old Medicine and Medical Equipment
Why not keep it?
Holding onto the deceased’s medical supplies (like medication, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, etc.) keeps the illness energy in your space. These objects can serve as constant reminders of pain, sickness, and helplessness.
Potential effects:
- Guilt, sadness, or trauma triggers
- A “sick” atmosphere in the home
- Interference with emotional closure
What to do instead:
Safely dispose of all medications and donate equipment to hospitals, care centers, or non-profits that help others in need.
Final Thoughts
While memories of our loved ones stay in our hearts, not all physical items are meant to stay with us. Letting go of certain relics doesn’t mean you’re forgetting them—it means you’re creating space for healing, peace, and positive remembrance.
Release the heavy, keep the meaningful.
Honor their memory by living lightly.