Connecting with The Ancestors
Honoring Where We Came From
As October marches forward, the veil between worlds is thinning. We’re approaching Samhain, the ancient Gaelic festival that marks the end of harvest, and welcomes in the coming darkness.
In many traditions, this sunset time of the year opens up a mystic portal between our reality and the Otherworld. The lines blur, and connections between “them and us” are more easily made – or so it's said. It’s not surprising that this liminal space is also a time when many cultures hold festivals for remembering the dead.
Regardless of whether you believe in spirits or not, I think there’s something meaningful to be said about honoring our ancestors.
Ancestor reverence has been practiced across human cultures throughout time. When viewed from a broader perspective, the Western world’s more recent dismissal of these practices could be viewed as the exception rather than the rule. In other words, there’s a lot we don’t know about the traditional role of the ancestors in our everyday lives.
For the more scientific-minded, let me also offer this nugget: research has found that relating consciously with our ancestors provides a boost to both physical and mental health. So why not give it a try? If you’re interested in exploring the connection to your own lineage, there’s no better time than now to get started.
JOURNAL PROMPTS
What do I know about my heritage? What stories have I heard about my ancestors?
Where do my people come from?
What do I know about the indigenous customs, beliefs, and traditions of my more distant ancestors?
How do I feel about the various branches of my family tree? Are there ones I feel more or less drawn to learning about?
What family characteristics or traits are present within me? Which am I proud of? Which make me uncomfortable?
Are there any generational wounds that need healing? What steps might I take to address them in my own life?
What knowledge and beliefs do I want to pass on to the next generation about our lineage?
COMMUNITY RITUAL
Step 1: Invite people over for a meal. If you’re up for a potluck, encourage guests to bring a dish that represents their heritage, or the favorite food of one of their departed relatives.
Step 2: Set out a plate for the ancestors.
Step 3: Pass the plate around and have each person fill it with offerings from the table. As you do, speak of your dead. Your lineage, or some specific dear departed member of your family.
Step 4: After the meal, place the plate outside so that the spirits may come in the night and enjoy it. Note: this may also attract neighborhood cats. It’s all good. Whoever comes, comes.
(Over the past few years, I’ve done this activity with several different groups, and it was far more meaningful than the Halloween parties I’ve attended - though I like those too! I learned new things about my friends, their families, and our collective views on death. It was healing, cathartic, and memorable.)
TAROT READING
Tarot can be a potent tool for unlocking hidden connections just below the surface of our rational mind. It's also a great companion for stimulating intuition and creative thinking. Here's a spread I've developed to help take you further into your ancestral exploration.
WANT TO GO EVEN DEEPER?
I recommend checking out the work of Dr. Daniel Foor, a ceremonialist and teacher who specializes in ancestral healing. I’ve had the opportunity to study with Daniel, and find his work to be both useful and timely. His book, Ancestral Medicine, offers a strong foundation for understanding our connection to the ancestors, with useful guidance on how to cultivate your personal practice.
