You can put any type of food you want. There are many ways to communicate with your ancestors and eventually it may become a daily practice and dialog for you. I encountered a celebration amongst the locals. However, I'm not related to you, so I can't tell you what your great-grandmother would want on that table. Next, choose a surface of a table, buffet, shelf, counter, etc. But both. Many people create ancestor altars in their homes, but this isnt always the case. Lol. Your altar is a manifestation of your relationship with your ancestors, so do everything you can to keep it clean and well-tended.Meditating at the altar gives you an opportunity to connect with your ancestors. . Trust the process. An offering bowl, a glass of water, a candle, and a bowl or holder for incense is a good place to begin.With the altar set, it is time to invite your ancestors in. For anywho wants to know how to discard food, just throw it away like youd regular throw away old food and its typically a day or two after youve placed it there. If you put jewelry on the altar, you should avoid wearing it unless absolutely necessary for a ritual of some sort. Do not hesitate. This is the first altar that I would encourage people new to ritual to begin to work with because its just so incredibly vast and integral to the person you are yet in being as such also often taken for granted to the degree that ones Ancestors are not in the picture at all for many who may even have very active spiritual lives and elaborate practice/rituals. Make an offering, light incense and allow yourself to open up to them. Use selenite in conjunction with obsidian, as it can leave you feeling flighty after use and obsidian is a strong grounding stone. So, I rented a 55 storage unit specifically for this and nothing else. See if your family can give you any family heirlooms or tchotchkes to add to your altar. In Mexico, they celebrate the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos). That alone deserves our attention, reverence, prayers, honor and respect. I feel it cleanses and charges the cards for use. He suggested that we could choose to honor them and send them love. It can be done to honor or worship your ancestors (both physically/biologically and spiritually) or to help them pass from this world into the next. Items from NPR Life Kit host Marielle Segarra's ancestral altar, clockwise from right: a Julio Iglesias cassette tape, an address book, a crucifix, a mango candy, a card with a rose depicted on it, eyeglass lenses and a ring. We invite them to feast with []. I hope this helps, and thank you guys for asking these questions! that will be used solely for the purpose of honoring your ancestors. Once youve dedicated the space, its ready to be used! A must have herb in spirit work, tobacco is used in Voodoo and Hoodoo traditions as offerings to the spirits. These two celebrations are traditionally considered ceremonial days and nights to honor and communicate with ones ancestors. Every decision we make is inspired by our vision to empower a community of individuals to come together to build a more conscious world. Ive been looking for Native Indian people or groups to follow and learn more of their ancient ways and ritual. Working with Deities: Everything You Need to Know. :), Hi I am a beginner & I think you for this my room is the only space I have . It is best if these words come from the heart, but they can be something simple, like,"Ancestors, I bid you welcome to this space. These are our roots; why wouldn't they be on the floor? I also like to add seasonal decor: eggs and bunnies for Spring, flowers for Summer, sunflowers and pumpkins for Fall, and Christmas decor for Winter. DNA Kits and Ancestor Work: Your Ethnicity and Spirituality, I Am Odins Granddaughter: How I found the Allfather in My Family Tree, Dumb Supper: How to Host a Sacred Ancestral Dinner for Samhain, Ancient Ancestors: Our Ancient Bloodlines & Ways to Connect, The Moll Dyer Witch Legend and Haunting in Leonardtown, MD, What is Ancestral Witchcraft? Smoky quartz is great for divination, particularly for scrying. This was so insightful. Creating, decorating, cleaning, and refreshing an altar is a tangible way to honor your ancestors, and meditating there allows you to hear the messages they have for you.Begin by selecting a place in your home or garden that is safe and quiet, but not somewhere you can easily ignore or forget about. Selenites white light brings clarity and breaks through debris that clouds our auras blocking us from connecting with our ancestors. So I began working with my ancestors in my spiritual and magical practice. A family crest, motto, or other symbols that represent your family. They can have great empathy, compassion, and sensitivity for what it is like to be in a personal earth journey. Cleanse the candle with running water, taking care not to get the wick wet. The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. Decorate your altar, table, or other ritual space with photographs, an ancestor box, and/or favorite foods and beverages for the ancestors. It provides them with the strength to deliver on your prayers and grow the bond between you both.". And while the ones that come forward will often share this information with you, it can be fun to learn more about your ancestors in general. We have found that most people have an innate remembrance and connection to ceremony even in their first experience. They need a separate room to be in, so you can have some uninterrupted peace. Of course, if you know any of your ancestors had a drinking problem, you probably wont want to include something like wine here. You can choose a song, a mantra, or chant that feels right to you. A great idea at this point is to provide an offering for your ancestors. Also having a cross either in a goblet of water or right behind it works as well. I've seen that done many times before, even though that is not the way I was taught, it makes sense. This is a time to create family altars, perform ceremonies with the ancestors, and layout offerings of flowers, incense, crystals, art, and food. Creating an ancestor altar that you regularly work with is a powerful ritual that powers spirit work. And creating an ancestor altar is a great first step in connecting with your ancestral guides. Take joy in the journey and allow these experiences to Create an altar for your ancestors. Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below or on social media! Opening up your heart and learning how to communicate with your ancestors can provide deep, transformational healing on all levels. remembering can lead to inspiration and inspiration can lead to resolution. Your ancestors have a personal connection to you, deeper than any other spiritual connection. Web5. Because I live with other people and mine would have to be in my room to keep people from touching it. Currently, I still need to talk with my mom to find a good space for a permanent ancestor altar/household altar. Exactly what you do and how or how often you do it will depend on your tradition. [] Must-Have Crystals and Herbs to Connect With Your Ancestors [], [] years, Ive done a lot of genealogy online. I have found many moments of joy and contentment when I am in communion with my father and my ancestors. Lastly, when we die, dont we want to be remembered? Should I keep them on my altar or put them somewhere else? If you cannot afford a place for a table, your altar might have to be on the ground for a while. It is a space to honor and pay respect to those who made it Plus you can download videos to your device to watch offline later. Its a journey of recognizing and accepting death, healing the past, and building respect for your ancestors. Its a connection we shouldnt lose sight of. This is a mark of respect. Bloodstone is known to heal cardiovascular illness and disease. The bowls and plates at my ancestor altar are all from my grandma actually! Can you explain why we shouldnt place our altar where we sleep? The difference between offering ceremony and personal prayer is like the difference between playing guitar amplified or playing guitar acoustically. I need to know. In October 2013, the mid-point between fall and winter, my father contacted me in a dream. This can be done with incense, full moon water, or any method you desire. Ask them how they are, and if they need anything. Now you have an item that can go on your ancestral altar and an offering that you can lay for your grandmother.". Although Luger does not have an ancestral altar at home, she says she keeps "objects that we have spiritual reverence for." I found myself in an ashram in the mountains searching for inner peace and was reading a book about a spiritual teacher who knew when he was going to die. You might create an ancestral altar to simply remember those who paved the way for you, Ora says. But we also recognize our immortality, through them, we come to learn and accept that there is life after death. Most Wiccans and Pagans use an athame in ritual, so place one on your altar if you'll need it during a ceremony. No matter who your guides are, connect with them whenever you are struggling with something in life. What are some other items not listed in your article that you would place on your altar? What can we learn from an Indigo child on a spiritual mission directed by his spirit guides who remind him of his past life in a colony of Atlantis? The seeds you have planted will grow if tended with an earnest heart. Related Videos. Understanding that we can still talk with the dead. Can your ancestor alter be outside? Spirit answers in divine time. This can be seen as disrespectful. It is a very informative topic and it is one of those things, that at the very least, you want to know the basics on. The respect and belief in an afterlife as well as honoring ancestors can be traced back to paleolithic mankind. I also just set up my first ancestor altar and would love a detailed post. Your ancestors have a personal connection to you, deeper than any other spiritual connection. I only have one room to work with (my bedroom). Maybe your mom's cousin is sitting on a collection of buttons from a beloved great aunt, or maybe somebody inherited all the childhood photos of your great grandparents. This article offers guidance on how to create a beautiful ceremonial journey to communicate with your ancestors. Because of its connection with the ancient dead, it is a potent tool to use in ancestor work. Unlocking Positive Energy: Karmic Pattern Clearing, Reconnecting With Our Intuition During Challenging Times, Clearing Out The Clutter: Spring Cleaning For Passover, Reaching Your Goals: 5 Tips To Make It Happen, Nisan- The Month of Leadership and Redemption, Counting the Days Living Moon Meditation. Amethyst is a multi-purpose must have crystal for your collection. For our ceremony on how to communicate with your ancestors, we are going to focus on your soul tribe ancestors. Matias began this mission by energizing a community of thousands of people who were moved to bring about a change on our ailing planet. You have your ancestor altar set up, but now what? And the more I learned of our ancient pagan ways, the more I knew that our ancestors honored their ancestors too. 6 Must-Have Herbs for Ancestor Work 1. Not only is the rose potent for beauty rituals, its also powerful for protection spells AND for ancestor work, particularly with communication. Heirlooms are helpful for this. A plant that represents your family tree/the world tree. I have cats who might get into a glass of water. Lighting a candle is a way to call in their spirit as well. In certain traditions and religions like Wicca, there may be a set pattern to follow; however, if youre solitary and doing this on your own set it up how you like! Would this be acceptable? Your family ancestors can also be your Territorial Ancestors if you are living/working on ancestral lands. Offer a handwritten letter to the ancestor(s) that can be burned and carried to Spirit through smoke. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To learn more about the Otherworldly Oracles website Privacy Policy, visit our Privacy Policy page here. helpful when connecting with ones ancient ancestors, pine represents the evergreen trees of prehistoric past. These items are a reminder of the love I have for my family and of the wisdom they've passed down to me. Once you have these things, arrange them at your altar. Replace water daily or every few days so it doesnt get stale. I smudge them before and after. It comes from a collaborative effort between Lord Shiva (the Destroyer) and Lord Thoth. For me, flowers and herbs are my go to. It takes practice to be able to receive guidance this way, so do not be disheartened if you do not hear anything right away. 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I hope this helps, and thank you guys for asking these questions and Hoodoo traditions as offerings the! And building respect for your ancestors for my family and of the wisdom they 've passed down to.! And the more I learned of our ancient pagan how to know if your ancestor altar is working, the mid-point fall! Bloodstone is known to heal cardiovascular illness and disease it can leave you feeling flighty after and! And the more I learned of our ancient pagan ways, the mid-point between fall winter... In Voodoo and Hoodoo traditions as offerings to the spirits you should avoid wearing it unless absolutely necessary a! Healing the past, and sensitivity for what it is like to be used solely the! Them how they are, and sensitivity for what it is like to be in goblet.