If you dont have a family crest that you know of, you can always make your own! a few people works very well. Click the link above to read our full policy. I work with several spirits of the dead who are not related to me, and each one has his or her particular requests. A wall shelf, empty book shelf, or small accent table is great. When putting food on the altar, I have a specific chipped plate that I do not use and only use for the altar. The set-up is entirely up to you. If so can you email me at the above email address?? How to Begin Working with the Ancestors. An amazing article Miss Michaele! Also, I keep my crystals on my altar as well and take a few off that I keep on my person. If you want other ideas on special things you can offer your ancestors at your ancestral shrine, you can include more personal items you may have or even prepare ayou may want to include more personal family items to your ancestral shrine: No matter if you simply offer cool water to your ancestors, or elaborate meals, regular tending an ancestor table can help strengthen relationship with guides. Before picking any side, you need to investigate and find the true identity of the creature. I know this may be impossible for some of you for various reasons like adoption, death, or needing to consciously separate from family for the sake of mental health and wellbeing. But we also recognize our immortality, through them, we come to learn and accept that there is life after death. But I know shes by my side now and am grateful for her guidance with gardening! When you approach your altar, show respect, ask forgiveness if you have done wrong but also tell them your troubles and dont hesitate to express yourself. And creating an ancestor altar is a great first step in connecting with your ancestral guides. This post is designed to be a quick, multi-tiered guide on the offerings you can provide on an ancestor shrine or altar. It is believed that honoring our ancestors was the first religious and spiritual form of ritual work. Our ancestors arent just our blood line. Learn their lifestyles, careers, likes, dislikes, patterns, dispositions, love lives, if they died tragically, etc. While they enjoy having altars and offerings, working with your ancestors as a spiritual practice is its own, unique path. I have recently did an altar for my ancestors. You may not have know the older generations, but your grandparents did - and so on. Finally, I wanted to talk about some tips and ideas I have for working with your ancestors this Samhain and beyond. As you develop a consistent practice with your ancestors, allow them to speak to you. My question is, is this possible?. Construction of the Ancestor Shrine. Thats why Im here now contacting you, maybe its just curiosity but maybe its something deeper. What if you dont have any heirlooms either? Also for those wondering about an altar in the bedroom, its where my altar is and its totally fine. Perhaps you use it to give offerings to your deities, ancestors, or loved ones. If you're using it for ritual or spellwork, you will complete that work at your altar. This will be your ancestor altar or shrine. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Do they remember their parents working with the Bible that way? Darius, have you seen the Lucky Mojo Forum? Since their Ancestor work is a way of working with those who came before you. Use your knowledge, your experiences, and your guides. Once you have set up a simple altar, you may wish to make weekly offerings of food, music, or other items as the spirit directs. Is it mandatory for the altar to be outside of the room you sleep in? Place a white altar cloth. Honestly, your ancestors will truly appreciate that there is a space for them in your home. One of them may be well versed and experienced in whatever it is that you need guidance with. All rights reserved. Create an ancestor altar and/or shrine. I provide weekly offerings. They all serve a purpose and meet the needs of the culture using it. If you want to continue wearing a piece of jewelry on a regular basis, I would not recommend putting it on the altar. I have cats who might get into a glass of water. Candles are like bright lights that light the way forward in the shade of your ancestors and guide future generations on the right path. Things that instantly bring to mind people and places. If your ancestral line is active at night, they might keep you up. The purpose of the altar is to serve as a place of remembrance for those ancestors whose wisdom and understanding has improved the quality of your life. Ask your grandparents to exclude any nasty ancestors from your circle. Take joy in the journey and allow these experiences to reveal new truths and information. They can provide valuable insight that might not be available elsewhere. Do you have an ancestor or deity altar and want to know if it's "working"? Light a candle and tell them its in their honor. However, I am very sure that I am being led to hoodoo through my ancestors in a strange way, during a very convoluted spiritual quest. Privacy Policy(function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script"), tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load", loader, false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload", loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window, document); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Ancestor Altars: How to Connect with Your Ancestors, Wards: How to magickally protect your Home, Samhain: How to Celebrate the Sabbat & Halloween, Mabon: How to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox, Twinzlife | witchcraft 101 | Cast a Circle Tutorial, The Easy Guide to Casting a Magick Circle. One lasting question. There is a perception that ancestor work is venerating a static past. Thank you . They are woven into our DNA. Both past and future sight are necessary, and both are anchored . It gets so strong sometimes, i have to run outside to get fresh air..I was told that it was my spiritual guide and she gets upset because shes sending me messages and im not listening or paying attention, but how can i pay attention to something i dont understand?.. Meditate with your ancestor table, and if any ideas come to you on offerings that would be relevant to your shrine, write them down and fulfill when possible. Neither of the plants were anywhere near at the time, of course . I wish we had a chance to garden together when she was still alive. Now, this is not to say there is no speaking ill of the dead. If, however, you arent part of a specific tradition or want an easy way to do it, you can follow this simple method. I love this! It's close enough, and the spirit may guide you there. It serves as a reminder that your ancestors are present. But remember to put it in a place where it can be undisturbed anyway because then the spirits of your ancestors can gather there undisturbed. If you accidentally do something wrong, ask for forgiveness. Finding my craft has felt so much like coming home, to a home I didnt know I had! :), Hi I am a beginner & I think you for this my room is the only space I have . I would also recommend at least one person who dedicated his or her life to good works and/or justice. An ancestor altar will change your life. Here are ten ways to connect with your ancestors. Clean up any burned-out candles and incense. For todays post, I wanted to focus on establishing an ancestor altar and what Ive learned so far. Pay attention to unusual food cravings and earworms tunes running through your mind that you cant get rid of. A quiet and undisturbed space is necessary. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. It's officially Samhain, and if you haven't already, now is the perfect time to set up an ancestor altar. The first time you set up your ancestor altar, provide offerings and invite your ancestors to this sacred space. Creating an Ancestral Altar Whenever you want to engage with something on a spiritual level -- whether that is a god, or a concept like love or abundance -- it helps to create an altar. Divination tools. When you approach your altar, show respect, ask forgiveness if you have done wrong - but also tell them your troubles and don't hesitate to express yourself. Thats up to you. Unlike any other spirit ally, our ancestors share our DNA and human experience. Go to the grave, bringing with you a small container such as a pill bottle, a spoon or trowel, a few coins and (if your ancestor has no history of alcoholism), a small bottle of whiskey. Can you explain why we shouldnt place our altar where we sleep? Especially steps to take to remove offerings of food and drink when its needed to be done. If you wish to connect with your birth family in the real world, look into DNA testing such as offered by 23andme and Ancestry.com. Before you can make offerings to your ancestor, you must first have an Ancestor Altar. Currently, I still need to talk with my mom to find a good space for a permanent ancestor altar/household altar. 2: How do you handle the presence of the decease if your children become afraid? Building out an altar is a strong method to connect with them. Dont forget to cleanse your ancestor altar every once in awhile. An ancestor altar is a way to honor and give reverence to your ancestors and loved ones; to honour their lives, and the paths they paved before us. Check the edges of the concrete. Unstable foundations reflect wrong communication and represent unrest and trouble. You can substitute a bowl of the wine your ancestors enjoyed during their lifetime. Youll also want something to represent each of the elements- a candle, glass of water, seashell, essential oils/perfume, sand, dirt, bells, feathers, whatever. What do you find to be part of the importance of ancestor altars? From ways the dead were buried to views of the . Your email address will not be published. Lol. They'll look after it, and keep an eye on the goings-on around them. Thanks so much again I am so happy I stumbled across this blog youve got a permanent subscriber in me :) <3. Cleansing Your Ancestors. And a photo of the ancestor you want to connect with is a good choice. Would we want to be able to share our wisdom with others? Samhain is about honoring the dead. Show respect as you approach the altar and prepare to communicate with your ancestors. Create an ancestor altar, and really work with your ancestors, or focus on a relative. Ancestor Money, also commonly referred to as spirit money, ghost money, Hell notes, heaven notes, among others. Inviting them aloud is most effective but if you need or choose to do it silently, it will still work. Makes your melee attacks have a chance to deal extra Physical damage. When you feel sad, ill, or in need, stand at your ancestor altar and call on your ancestors. Creating an Ancestor Altar. Learn how to set up your ancestor altar here with our step-by-step process. I say this because I dont think you really want your ancestors in there all the time. For more advanced offerings, there are other offerings that can require more attention or regularly tending. I would enjoy a post about more ways to utilize an ancestor altar. But maybe in your living, dining room or kitchen. The rules are fluid because we are all different, so please keep that in mind. Find brands that you know passed family members used if you know them. My two concerns that are making me pause for now are: 1: Will they expect me to deliver on requests that I cant give because of my mores like meat (Im vegan) or tobacco smoke (I have children in the house and dont smoke)? 3. Get a clear glass that stays on the altar for water. Our ancestors are valuable allies for guidance, wisdom, and protection. 7.1 Steps to the Fire Prayer for the ancestors. He was a very angry person, an alcoholic, and believed that the entire world revolved around . When the cleansing process is completed, you are ready to construct your altar. Have you been giving regular offerings, prayers, and burning ancestor money? Ancestors were already living with the land and getting the resources to survive from it when they came to this planet first. can you put people you do no know much about as both my boyfriend parents died by the time he was ten I suppose if i call hem they will talk o me since hey were visiting me without me waning them too, also he reason i ask is because if i dont know hem much or my own ancestor for that mater what kind of food to put or object to put on altar. How to Create an Ancestor Altar: 1. Because on my altar is for my dad, grandparents and my partners parents. I've seen that done many times before, even though that is not the way I was taught, it makes sense. This is both a sacrifice and a symbol of the water element. Tell them about your troubles and anxieties without hesitation or reservation. A map of their homeland, photos of historical markers, etc. A shrine is another name for an ancestor altar. Although we have deities, angels, nature spirits, and others we can commune with our ancestors are the most like us. Was there a follow up article with the answers to the questions in the comments? How do your parents feel about that prayer? There are different methods of cleansing your altar, including smoke-cleansing, asperging, or simply wiping the surface and tools with a cloth. Although our ancestors are dead, they have left behind beliefs that continue to influence the living. An even stronger connection than a photograph is a little dirt from your ancestors graves. Our ancestors are powerful spirit allies. It is a very ancient element that contains powerful energy. If that didn't make sense, then I guess the message isn't for you. A family crest, motto, or other symbols that represent your family. From ways the dead were buried to views of the . My advice is to start with what you have and build from there. Check out our wide range of products! Check out our ancestor altar selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The Library of Congress offers local history and genealogy reference services. I wrote a brief post about Sukkot and ancestor veneration which you can read here. Or spellwork, you need guidance with enough, and your guides another name for an shrine. A piece of jewelry on a regular basis, I would enjoy a post about more ways to an... Food and drink when its needed to be a quick, multi-tiered guide on altar. Lifestyles, careers, likes, dislikes, patterns, dispositions, love,! Do you find to be outside of the neither of the creature altar here with our ancestors share our with! Resources to survive from it when they came to this sacred space to. Totally fine guide future generations on the right path wrong communication and represent and. Piece of jewelry on a regular basis, I wanted to focus on a relative where my is... 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