Dreaming the World

On Nature, Shamanism, the Arts, and Healing in Challenging Times

An Introduction to my Ancestor’s Feast – Samhain

Jennie and I have some deep ties to India, a place we have learned from, and shared with, others. One of the themes that has arisen for each of us is that of similarity in belief and ceremony. The days of the Dead are still a couple of months off. Not so in India. Even there attention to the Ancestors seems to be slipping, as the country Westernizes. As always when things change, there are gains and losses. Many Europeans seem to leave the Ancestors behind, to abandon them along with the past. I often wonder whether more awareness of the Ancestors would help Western culture be more attune to life.

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Michael Watson PhD

5 responses to “An Introduction to my Ancestor’s Feast – Samhain”

  1. KaylaB Avatar
    KaylaB

    I sincere and deeply given Namaste for the honour you bestow on my Ancestors for whom I do this rite 🙂 Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Gretchen Del Rio Avatar
    Gretchen Del Rio

    Lovely Michael. East Indian rituals are my go to comfort. I lived there for a winter long ago and spent years periodically living in ashrams in the US. So it is a deep layer for me. Now India wants worldly possessions and throw out the old sustaining practices. Westerners began to pour into India in the 60’s seeking less not more because they found the possessions did not contain heart. Perhaps India must seek the worldly until they also see that there is no reward. The face of spirituality is changing….becoming less religious, but, nonetheless, deepening among seekers awakening. I use ritual each day in some form. It is essential to me even though the form may change. I have less than I did 50 years ago but a freedom that continues to grow. Namaskar, Gretchen

    Reply
    1. KaylaB Avatar
      KaylaB

      Namaste Gretchen, I am glad, honoured and humbled that you see the value in the spiritual practices of my heritage, please note, most Indians do as well 🙂 India is still very much one of the poor 3rd world countries and are in the process of finding the same balance that the west seeks, they are both just addressing the balance from different direction. A spiritual nation finding balance with their wealth, and a wealthy nation finding balance with spirit. I am an advocate for teaching my friends in the west more about Hinduism and it’s various sister spiritual paths, such as Yoga and Ayurveda as sadly many of these paths are taken as fitness fads, and the spirit of the practice removed as it heads west. I am of mixed heritage, and spiritual practice. I try to honour all my paths by creating ritual that holds them all in sacred space. I happily share these on my blog site and am very grateful to Michael for seeing the worth in what I am doing, and helping me share it with others. A sincere and deeply felt Namaste to you both. Kayla Alyssa, the Shakti Shaman

      Reply
      1. michaelwatsonvt Avatar
        michaelwatsonvt

        Kayla, It is indeed my experience that most Indians deeply value their rituals and traditions. My friends also hold a deep concern that many of the rituals they hold dear seem to be threatened by the rush of modernization. Hopefully there will be room for both. Time will tell.

        Reply
    2. michaelwatsonvt Avatar
      michaelwatsonvt

      Thanks Gretchen! Kayla wrote a fine piece! The form is always changing.

      Reply

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