On Saturday I met with a small group to teach practices for acknowledging, and working with, the ancestors. The time seemed propitious as the weekend coincided with sacred days honoring the dead in both the Catholic and Indigenous practices of the Americas. I was honored to spend time with these women, all of whom have sought to walk paths of beauty, living lives that honor Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
The ancestors are always with us, never leaving our sides, yet they seem more approachable now. The growing cold and lengthening darkness have long heralded their return to our communities, and a shift from the personal to the collective.
As we looked into our relationships with the ancestors it became clear the ancestors were present and attentive. This was both a given and a revelation. It is easy to forget their concern and engagement in our lives, as the dominant culture distances death and those who have passed over.
As we invited them to share with us, the ancestors spoke of the joys and sorrows of their lives, and of the unfinished tasks facing their lineages. It was not as though we could undo generations of suffering in one morning of ceremony. Rather, we were invited to consciously take on the unfinished tasks, to do only what we are able. As they spoke to each person in the privacy of her thoughts, old grudges and misconceptions gave way to compassion and understanding, daemonization yielded to caring. We were reminded we are bridges between the ancestors and the next generations.
In the evening we shared ceremony for the ancestors with others from our small community. It was a blessing.
Beautiful! I wish I was able to attend. However, I did cook an ancestral dinner and my family shared stories and memories of those that are no longer with us.
Sounds great! We spent a long time eating and sharing stories.
What a wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing it.
Beautifully written. Helpful thoughts to consider as I work on refining my ancestral rituals. My mantis spirit guide was very insistent that I do a lot of ancestral work in this season.
Thank you, Lee. The ancestors like our attention and care. They seem to love beauty and good food. Mostly, they want us to know they are nearby.
Indeed. Up until the last full moon my mantis spirit guide, was very insistent about connecting me with two of my closest ancestors during a particularly vivid visionary experience. She drew attention to them by running around and jumping excitedly on their shoulders. Messages received! I thanked her, by dedicating a beautiful piece of art to her. Mantis Earth Mother. It became my latest post.
Lee, It can be so difficult to listen to those who know us best. When we do, we are rewarded.