One of the things I love most about offerings flowers is that they grew in my garden. Its a topic that I feel isnt covered by most witchcraft books Ive read and Im excited to see what I learn in time. After you have your dirt, and attractive container, and your statue, leave offerings just as you would for an ancestor known to you, as described above. Learn their lifestyles, careers, likes, dislikes, patterns, dispositions, love lives, if they died tragically, etc. Especially steps to take to remove offerings of food and drink when its needed to be done. However, it is essential to note that the food is not simply laid out on a ritual cloth and left to chance. They already know you and want to work with you, something you should never take for granted with Deities. In many Pagan traditions, the ancestors are honored, especially at Samhain. They can help you refine your research skills and find new sources. I recommend you using something similar - a chipped plate for a small offering of food and a chipped mug for coffee. For todays post, I wanted to focus on establishing an ancestor altar and what Ive learned so far. It would be better to have a room dedicated to the ancestors altar. If thats all you have to work with i say go for it. I have 4 roommates so my bedroom is the only personal place where I can keep it. You can also use your own carefully selected pebbles or crystals. Over time, youll learn what your ancestors appreciate most. Rising smoke forming two columns means loss of sanity. NaKeia, Im sure she is! You can also perceive your ancestors instructions by observing the smokes shape. Cleansing Your Ancestors. The reasons for these differences correspond to differences in culture and practice. I've seen that done many times before, even though that is not the way I was taught, it makes sense. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You have your ancestor altar set up, but now what? And about decorating the altar I would try different things and listen with your heart for your familys opinion and suggestions. This can be seen as disrespectful. Without their exploration of this planet in the early days, we would not be here and living a convenient life. Unlike a shrine where many people can gather, an altar is placed in the home. If you need to hide your altar in plain sight it can be as simple as photos on the wall hanging above a table with a candle, incense, and flowers. Thanks! Optionally, cast a circle, invoke the elements or call the quarters. Maybe you want to bring their values into your daily life . For a more structured education, you might want to apply for miss cat yronwodes Hoodoo Rootwork Correspondence course, based on her own experience and learning from hoodoo practitioners over a period of fifty years (she started very young at fourteen!). It's always nice to have a support . I myself have been working with mine for about 4 months and will continue to foster the connection through some of your suggestions above. Plates, bowls, and cups for offerings and libations. But its not always about learning, sometimes its simply about honor. If that didn't make sense, then I guess the message isn't for you. (As you probably know, I love houseplants. First of all, it is soooo important when doing this work that you connect to yourself and your guides. If youre new to setting up an ancestral shrine, keep it simple when setting up your shrine. Liquor is often given to ancestors, but please be mindful with the history of alcoholism in so many families, it may not be something you want to add on your table. You can also recruit new ancestors those who have passed on and succeeded in the things you wish to accomplish, even if they are not related to you. Or do they have to be separate? Perhaps you will live your life feeling lost from time to time, but dont worry. Its a connection we shouldnt lose sight of. They need a separate room to be in, so you can have some uninterrupted peace. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. The photos of those who have passed away are carefully placed in the center back of the altar. It's officially Samhain, and if you haven't already, now is the perfect time to set up an ancestor altar. Traditionally, you take the offering outside for the local wildlife. Try to set up the site of the ancestors altar the day before the festival. 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. Dont let them guilt-trip you just because theyve passed. Honestly, your ancestors will truly appreciate that there is a space for them in your home. For me, twice a month or monthly is a good interval. I work with several spirits of the dead who are not related to me, and each one has his or her particular requests. As a resident of Melbourne, Australia I also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land which sustains and holds me the Boon Wurrung and Woiwurrung (Wurundjeri) peoples of the Kulin Nationand offer my respect to their elders past present and emerging. This is where you have to use your own creativity and mind. A great idea at this point is to provide an offering for your ancestors. Put your ancestors favorite foods on a plate. So on the 20th of last month I was doing a bit of last minute running around before a flight I had to catch out of town and directly in between the oil store where I have recently started visiting for essential oils and dvds and the nail salon I have recently started visiting for my nails and eyebrows, there is a (for lack of better terms) a botanical store where you can purchase many different spiritual artifacts. What you must make sure is that your cloth should be able to hold all your items. Handmade spiritual tools can take up to 7 days to ship. Thank you for all the help and guidance. But not everyone has scrapbooks like these. While they enjoy having altars and offerings, working with your ancestors as a spiritual practice is its own, unique path. I have a question, though. Instead of flowers I would like to put plants on my altar. Some altars are permanent places of honor and others are temporary only making their appearance for special times of honor. First, decide where to put your altar. They will reveal themselves in your thoughts and dreams. The Clan of Tara: Ancient Ancestry and Mitochondrial DNA, Bastet Altar: How to Set Up An Altar for the Egyptian Cat Goddess. So, I rented a 55 storage unit specifically for this and nothing else. This is the wisdom of Ancestor Veneration. Ive communicated with her, but done little more with ancestor work back then. An ancestor altar is where we can remember where we came from and connect with the generations to come. I smell it at home, in the car, even now that ive moved to another city and for some unexplained reason, no one else smells it, except me. Any advice will help me. This way, you wont be overwhelmed when the ritual begins. Unstable foundations reflect wrong communication and represent unrest and trouble. Tell then your concerns, what you're working on, the challenges you're facing . Place photos of Ancestors that resonate . I didnt know what they could say or do that would be different from the countless other types of spirits Ive worked with. Have no truck with hoodoo. Check out our wide range of products! Do they remember their parents working with the Bible that way? As you set up this simple altar, ask her to send you things that would represent her as she would like you to know her. Alternatively, you may choose to create a permanent ancestor altar if you plan to work with your ancestors more frequently. These may be requests for particular offerings from your ancestors. Once their debts have been paid your ancestors will start to help you more with the things you need in the form of sending you blessings. Right now I just started my altar in room because my sister and her children live with me. Many have said I have to wait a year and a day please clear this up for me, and thank you in advance. Then spoon a small quantity of dirt into the pill bottle. 48 Park Avenue, East 21st Street, Apt. Ancestor worship has been practiced to varying degrees in cultures around the world and has accompanied the development of human civilization. This will be my first time, I dont have table yet. Do you have an ancestor or deity altar and want to know if it's "working"? If the smoke is thick, it means financial success. Of course, items the ancestor loved during their lifetime are also allowed. Although we have deities, angels, nature spirits, and others we can commune with our ancestors are the most like us. For example, the Three Sutras of Science and Chemistry says that if incense is sprinkled on an open fire and the smoke drifts to the right, the enemy will be defeated. I keep a small container of my old dogs ashes at my main altar. The first time you set up your ancestor altar, provide offerings and invite your ancestors to this sacred space. Would this be acceptable? 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. 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To petition your ancestors, simply call forth all the ancestors you know and don't. If you know their names, feel free to say them. what if there arent any? Our ancestors are powerful spirit allies. [] Ancestor Altar: How to Create Sacred Space for Your Ancestors []. If, however, you arent part of a specific tradition or want an easy way to do it, you can follow this simple method. 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. If this feels like too much of a time commitment, you can simply take some . The set-up is entirely up to you. Can you explain why we shouldnt place our altar where we sleep? An ancestor altar is a place where you can connect with your ancestors. It is an essential item in the ancestral altar because it provides the element of fire. But my grandma did more than that, she outlined a huge part of our family tree on Ancestry. Clean up any burned-out candles and incense. What are some other items not listed in your article that you would place on your altar? It is believed that honoring our ancestors was the first religious and spiritual form of ritual work. 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. Work with them to provide what you need in the spaces you cleared in time for Samhain. Exactly what you do and how or how often you do it will depend on your tradition. Can I put it into my office? I say this because I dont think you really want your ancestors in there all the time. You help them on their journey in the world beyond as they help you in this earthly world. You can provide stability to the ancestral altars by adding stones. Place the offerings on the table, also running the plates and glasses through the incense smoke. Retrieve the stories from your family. I let my intuition guide me. If so, may I place my ancestor photos on the altar with Oshun? This can be done with incense, full moon water, or any method you desire. I feel so relived to know that I was hearing them after reading this. Food and drink should be disposed of regularly. Because your cloth is the base ground of the altar, you want to ensure that all your soul exchanges are around this base ground. Ancestor worship reflects universal ancestor worship, or respect for ancestors, which is an ancient custom. They give guidance and may even take a stronger hand in things as necessary. Firstly, Id like to say that what you choose to include in your ancestor altar is entirely up to you. But most of all, its a reminder that our ancestors are always present in our lives. Our ancestors arent just our blood line. You then tell them why you have come (to honor them). When putting food on the altar, I have a specific chipped plate that I do not use and only use for the altar. Lele, have you read Martin Colemans Communing with the Spirits? Alternatively, if you are at a stump, I would suggest asking your ancestors what they would have you do. Strengthening that bond with your ancestral army will help you stay not only grounded, but properly guided. Also provide regular offerings. They can provide valuable insight that might not be available elsewhere. You may receive an instant knowing, an image, a feeling, inner light, love, or even words. Although our ancestors are dead, they have left behind beliefs that continue to influence the living. You can spend time meditating and honoring them instead of spending effort rearranging a space each time you use it anymore. If your ancestral line is active at night, they might keep you up. 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. If you want to honor ancestors whom you dont have photographs of, you can have a list of their names. Have you been giving regular offerings, prayers, and burning ancestor money? This post is designed to be a quick, multi-tiered guide on the . Gives your spells a chance to deal extra Arcane damage or healing. Dont forget to cleanse your ancestor altar every once in awhile. The lyrics, or an associated memory, may reveal what they want or it may be the music itself that they want to hear. As to food offerings: If you have a craving for a food you dont normally eat, it might be a request from a family member who has passed. It would help if you lighted the candles to call on your ancestors. While others might only give once every other week. This is an excellent stone to use to connect with your ancient ancestors and their wisdom. This Sabbat, after all, is the night when the veil between our world and the spirit world is at its most fragile. It is a great way to connect with your ancestors as well as yourself. You can energetically clean the table, cloth, and area if you'd like with your preferred medium. When the cleansing process is completed, you are ready to construct your altar. There are literally thousands of active threads on every conceivable kind of hoodoo rootwork, including working with ancestors. And how to maintain it. Keep in mind that what you place is something that can be associated with the ancestor. If you are ever so inclined, work with and talk to your ancestors about any small special offerings in that can be included. For water, be sure to refresh the glass regularly. Make sure these words are heartfelt. An Ancestor Altar is a sacred space that can be dedicated to specific energies/realities for rituals, spiritual expressions, evolution, prayer, divination, etc. From this higher level, the Ancestors can guide us in our daily lives . I have cats who might get into a glass of water. a few people works very well. An enjoyable soul exchange should take place in an atmosphere of solidity and comfort, and the life energy provided by food can also satisfy this. In many Pagan traditions, the ancestors are honored, especially at Samhain. If I place treasured Jewelry, can I still wear it? So make sure that the altar table is not shaky when you worship your ancestors. It's easier with Ancestors. Take joy in the journey and allow these experiences to reveal new truths and information. Next, its time to set your ancestor altar up. The underlying principle is that of letting go of an unconscious identification with the ancestors and assuming instead a stance of relationship. The difference between using a shrine for your ancestors and the altar is that magickal workings are done at the altar. The purpose of this is to create a space for your ancestral line to commune near you, but not necessarily on top of you. These are our roots; why wouldn't they be on the floor? If so, this video will explain to you some common things that happen once you've established a consistent altar practice.FREE Spiritual Growth Course http://www.salimyers.com/contact/mailing-list/Deity Linkage Manual: How to Find Your Gods \u0026 Goddesses Using Numerology (Paperback \u0026 Kindle available on Amazon) http://www.amazon.com/Deity-Linkage-Manual-Goddesses-Numerology/dp/1508957150/ref=tmm_pap_title_0Website http://salimyers.comOnline Store http://EL9SHOP.COMWORK WITH ME:Spiritual Mastery Accelerator Program http://www.salimyers.com/accelerator/MasterClass http://www.salimyers.com/masterclass/1-on-1 http://www.salimyers.com/1-on-1/ This will attract them to come and connect with you and allow you to communicate with your ancestors in a fulfilling environment. Some people give daily offerings. Lady J, start with a white candle and a glass of water and an empty photo frame. I also just set up my first ancestor altar and would love a detailed post. Check out our ancestor altar work selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. I have a relative that passed in the summer of 2022. If you have questions about a specific aspect of your life, from love to starting a project, ask your ancestors. Is it advisable to have altar in it? And the stone comes from the earth, which represents the quality of perseverance and persistence, and endurance. An ancestor altar is a place where you can connect with your ancestors. It's also a place for them to gather. Talk about folk medicine. 2: How do you handle the presence of the decease if your children become afraid? So what could I do instead of getting dirt from t the grave. If you feel like you need a ritual to do this work, tap into yourself and YOUR ancestors and create one. ITEMS ON ALTAR:remember whatever you place on the altar is not something that you should continue to wear or use. 8 01 2016. landofkam (01:46:16) : Hetep Martha. Find brands that you know passed family members used if you know them. Keep at least . Bronzed Grip Wrappings. Get a white tablecloth. The process is more or less the same for either one, though. Creating an ancestor altar that you regularly work with is a powerful ritual that NourishingBurdock & Potato Hash Browns These Hash Browns are so delicious, and easy to Green juice is one health food trend where people swear they are being healthy, As a black American, I find myself spending a lot of time working on What does it mean to be a wild woman? The bowls and plates at my ancestor altar are all from my grandma actually! Other trinkets, mementos, and objects that represent your ancestors. Connecting with our ancestors can literally change, protect, and better our lives on a substantial . Choose the table, mantle, dresser, etc. What is the proper way to clean up after an offering? Do you have a practice of ancestor veneration? Like its 2:17 and here I am. Because they can and do touch our lives, ancestors should be treated with respect. As you cleanse, visualize white light from above illuminating the altar surface and each item. Personally, I feel a deep connection to my grandmother who passed away years ago. This space is where you can honor your ancestors, communicate with them, and meditate with them. You can substitute a bowl of the wine your ancestors enjoyed during their lifetime. Ask about Bible verses, too. Many Root-Workers start out working with spirits of the dead in the form of the Ancestors, the spirits of the dead connected to them by blood. A family crest, motto, or other symbols that represent your family. Also for those wondering about an altar in the bedroom, its where my altar is and its totally fine. Make sure this area has a table or other flat, sturdy surface. The space can be a particular building, a special room, a special table, or, in the simplest way, a clean cloth to provide this space. What do you find to be part of the importance of ancestor altars? Sometimes your ancestors just want to hear their favorite tunes in your house. Cigarettes, Chewing Tobacco, Cigars, and other Tobacco Products. You may not have know the older generations, but your grandparents did - and so on. TW: Domestic Abuse. Although our ancestors have died, their spirits still exist and influence the present world. You start by making offerings. It is a very ancient element that contains powerful energy. I smell a strong cigar scent very, very frequently, sometimes so strong, that i have difficulty breathing. Your altar or shrine can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. You do not want to put an altar where you sleep, because they need a separate area away from you. You need to provide the earth element for your altar. Once youve dedicated the space, its ready to be used! I have a marine spirit Ring to attract money please can you help me to activate it and how to talk to him. I need to know. Many evangelical Christians love to use the Prayer of Jabez to safeguard themselves, their families and their financial well-being. I feel a connection to her as I have dreamt of talking to her, but I have no idea how to go about it when it comes to an altar. Thanks so much again I am so happy I stumbled across this blog youve got a permanent subscriber in me :) <3. Congratulations! There is an art to getting that dirt in a respectful manner. The obvious point is that they gave us blood and life. Create an ancestor altar, and really work with your ancestors, or focus on a relative. How do i go about doing this, Ms Michaele?..Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks, I have a question my ancestors are not buried close to me. An important step in your ancestral work journey is dedicating a small space to your ancestors. Hoodoo Foundry for helping me with Because a messy and dirty place is a disrespect to your ancestors. ), A drawing of your family tree(this is a great idea you can use with the activity I discuss later when learning more about your ancestors.). A tip is that you can serve seasonal fruits to your ancestors, making the atmosphere more pleasant. Keep in mind you can make this as elaborate or understated as you like or need given your current situation. I sleep in it,bath in it. Closeup of a Petrified Wood Slice. Thank you. Garrido: First and foremost, ancestor veneration begins inside us, not [only] on an altar. The first step is of course to cleanse the space. So, if you cant find a space in your home for this, then its totally fine if you choose to set one up for Samhain in your room. If you want to continue wearing a piece of jewelry on a regular basis, I would not recommend putting it on the altar. Digital products deliver immediately via email. FOOD DISPOSAL:Food should be disposed of by the very next day. Each time you sit down for a meal, portion out a small amount of your food with which to feed your dead. Let me know in the comments below. It also serves as a daily remembrance of those close to you who have crossed. Speak to them when you need guidance. Sometimes people erect ancestor altars outside of the home, and sometimes the grave acts as an ancestor altar. This is a great set of questions to consider if youre wondering why ancestor work is valuable for your practice. Because on my altar is for my dad, grandparents and my partners parents. The pictures I have are the ones I and my partner known personally. Instead of complaining about the pressure of time and fewer holidays, we should incorporate the happiness and power of our ancestor worship into our daily lives. Ask your grandparents to exclude any nasty ancestors from your circle. Having a place to honor the dead can function as a kind of depossession. The aroma of incense will drive away the bad and unlucky dirt around. Say a prayer out loud to them. If you put jewelry on the altar, you should avoid wearing it unless absolutely necessary for a ritual of some sort.