I leave offerings of flowers, incense, or moon water. Why You Should Work With Your Ancestors. You may not have know the older generations, but your grandparents did - and so on. White candles symbolize new beginnings and promote peace and beauty. They all serve a purpose and meet the needs of the culture using it. You can email me at heartofgold@hoodoofoundry.com. I've seen that done many times before, even though that is not the way I was taught, it makes sense. Cleanse the items going onto your altar. Do not let food spoil on the altar. I have dirt from several graves; some of them, as you can see below, are kept in the sort of gold- and silver-papered cardboard boxes that jewelers sometimes pack rings and earrings in. I wish we had a chance to garden together when she was still alive. To be Heathen is to be an animist, meaning that in addition to worshipping the Gods and Goddesses, we also honor our deceased ancestors as well as the land wights. It's also a place for them to gather. Are you concerned if your altar work is working? Interestingly, these questions were what finally made it click for me. Im just starting out and I bought all this nice stuff to build my altar but the thing is, I dont have room for it in my apartment. Read and research about ancient civilizations, for example Ancient Egypt, the Celtic Empire, the Mayans, the Romans, Greeks, Nubians, Aborigines, Hebrew, etc. Buffs other Toxified pieces of gear, increasing their effect by 100%. There are different methods of cleansing your altar, including smoke-cleansing, asperging, or simply wiping the surface and tools with a cloth. There are literally thousands of active threads on every conceivable kind of hoodoo rootwork, including working with ancestors. Creating an ancestor altar is the first step in getting to know your ancestors. Can it be changed around or does it need to be kept a certain way? Your altar or shrine can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. They need a separate room to be in, so you can have some uninterrupted peace. You have your ancestor altar set up, but now what? The ancestor altar is set up to honour and remember the ancestors, not to worship them. They will reveal themselves in your thoughts and dreams. Ancestral crops/agriculture like cotton and sugarcane are nice additions if your ancestor table calls for it. Thats all there is to it. Ancestors were already living with the land and getting the resources to survive from it when they came to this planet first. The lyrics, or an associated memory, may reveal what they want or it may be the music itself that they want to hear. You can offer food, fruit, and flowers to your ancestors. It is a very comprehensive book and treats the subject of necromancy (working with the dead) very seriously. How do you know if your ancestor altar work is working? Just the simple act of setting up your altar with the intention of Ancestor Reverence is itself a really powerful act and will undoubtedly open a connection that once youre aware of how it operates in your life and how important your life is to your ancestors will bring about changes to the way you perceive the relationship between the living and the dead and also the principles of animism in a larger sense I have seen spontaneously become apparent to the person engaging in ritual. Very fortunate to have found this site. Cleansing Your Ancestors. If you dont have photos of your ancestors, things that represent them and link you to their energy work great. Focus in on your original intention. So if you put food on the altar, you must get rid of it the next day. And if you don't know who they are, that's okay! What elements are needed: space, air, earth, fire, water, spirit, living. What do you find to be part of the importance of ancestor altars? From this higher level, the Ancestors can guide us in our daily lives . It would help if you lighted the candles to call on your ancestors. Dear Miss Michaele, I have not yet built my altar, but for the past couple of days my Grannys favorite song keeps coming to me. What do you feel? An ancestor altar is a place to join forces with your special loved ones and to work together in spell crafting, divination, shadow workings, past life explorations, and anything else to help you reach your goals. Can I put it into my office? Day 1- at your altar, try to imagine the faces of those who have passed and the moments of joy you might have had with them. You can spend time meditating and honoring them instead of spending effort rearranging a space each time you use it anymore. Put your ancestors favorite foods on a plate. Same with food. When you first set up your ancestor altar, focus on the energy you put into it. Unstable foundations reflect wrong communication and represent unrest and trouble. 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!). Makes your melee attacks have a chance to deal extra Physical damage. Do not consume or keep food on the altar. Spirits burdened by their past deeds on earth cannot be punished indefinitely. Ive had messages in phantom scents, too when I was going through a very rough period, I used to smell frankincense or John the Conquer root on the way home from work. 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. Also, I keep my crystals on my altar as well and take a few off that I keep on my person. These items include: white candles, plates, photo . I would like to know, I am working on my ancestor alarm one can u put your ancestor along with your boyfriend/husband ancestor on the same table, I am asking because I have hem both vising me anyways lol in dream and just being around. This Sabbat, after all, is the night when the veil between our world and the spirit world is at its most fragile. When my kids do some really cool art work at school I will place thise on it for a while. No one ancestor altar is better than another. Choose the color of the candle according to your needs. Find brands that you know passed family members used if you know them. They can also be hung directly on the wall if your altar is against a wall. If you plan to communicate with your ancestors frequently, you may wish to include a dedicated divination tool here such as tarot cards or a pendulum. My bloodline ancestors are pretty quiet. 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. You can welcome them into your home by leaving them offerings. One of them may be well versed and experienced in whatever it is that you need guidance with. Thank you so much for this information. It was a difficult hurdle for me. 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. All other items are shipped within 2 days of purchase. Place the tablecloth on the altar and sprinkle it with a few drops of Ylang Ylang. 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. 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. ITEMS ON ALTAR:remember whatever you place on the altar is not something that you should continue to wear or use. Other offerings to ancestors include handmade items, poetry, song, artwork, and just about anything youre moved to offer them. what if there arent any? You can see candles in almost any ritual setting. Is it advisable to have altar in it? The many times Ive walked past this store and visited the stores directly connected to the left and right of this store, I have never noticed it before and can not help but believe I was guided to it! ), 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.). You might find that they ask you for specific things as your bond strengthens. Just throw it away, either before you go to bed orthe next morning. Many years ago, people would perform divination by the shape of the smoke when burning incense. When you communicate with your ancestors, you can do so through divination. Different spiritual traditions have different rules about relationships with the dead but I would say that any of the dead who loved you when they were alive and have been friendly in your dreams deserve a place on your ancestor altar. Divination tools. This will be your ancestor altar or shrine. Tell them about your troubles and anxieties without hesitation or reservation. And creating an ancestor altar is a great first step in connecting with your ancestral guides. The knowledge given to me is that I am of Colombian decent. Explain what you want to do bring home a little dirt from the grave so that you can build a connection with him or her. Ancestor altars are an important part of honoring your ancestors. Can your ancestor alter be outside? But also speak with them just to honor them, to get to know them, and to be inspired by them. Thanks so much again I am so happy I stumbled across this blog youve got a permanent subscriber in me :) <3. I am adopted, it was a closed adoption with no records of my family. Thats up to you. If you have flowers on your altar, replace them with fresh ones before the old ones are dead. Others are simple and understated and may appear to be something other than an altar. I hope this is acceptable. If so, this video will. Ideally, you would research your tradition and how ancestors are honored in your religious practices. Its a relatively new development. This can be done with incense, full moon water, or any method you desire. These are our roots; why wouldn't they be on the floor? Right now I just started my altar in room because my sister and her children live with me. Firstly, Id like to say that what you choose to include in your ancestor altar is entirely up to you. 3. It gives you a physical place to commune with those who have come before you. Do I need to leave the food uncovered/unpackaged? Perhaps you will live your life feeling lost from time to time, but dont worry. Learn their lifestyles, careers, likes, dislikes, patterns, dispositions, love lives, if they died tragically, etc. Create a suitable environment for the arrival of the ancestors. I didnt know what I was doing but I believe they were speaking to me, for i already have an empty picture frame, a statue of a day of the Dead mother carrying a child and have been offering food and drink. Create an ancestor altar, and really work with your ancestors, or focus on a relative. As you develop a consistent practice with your ancestors, allow them to speak to you. Both past and future sight are necessary, and both are anchored . I myself have been working with mine for about 4 months and will continue to foster the connection through some of your suggestions above. And the stone comes from the earth, which represents the quality of perseverance and persistence, and endurance. This is great information by the way, so first and foremost thank you!! Strengthening that bond with your ancestral army will help you stay not only grounded, but properly guided. This is the first thing I did when I became more interested in hoodoo and wanted to really find my spiritual base. Be creative, make it fun. Educating ourselves on their lifestyles will benefit us far more than setting up unnecessary altar space. As to your deceased relatives demanding things your conscience wont permit, I would let conscience be your guide. 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. I posted steps on setting up a simple ancestor altar in this post, but to get started, all you need is a small table, ideally covered with a white table cloth. While they can guide you, its just as important to simply honor and respect our ancestors. I have set up my first altar but its in my room since I dont really have the space for the table anywhere else in my apartment. If you feel like you need a ritual to do this work, tap into yourself and YOUR ancestors and create one. (As you probably know, I love houseplants. Clean up any burned-out candles and incense. So, I rented a 55 storage unit specifically for this and nothing else. It provides light to chase away the darkness and warmth to chase away the cold. You need to provide the earth element for your altar. Theyre human. Replace water daily or every few days so it doesnt get stale. Gives your spells a chance to deal extra Arcane damage or healing. 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. Generally speaking, an ancestor altar should be set-up somewhere other than your bedroom. And souls will, in turn, help you eliminate all the depression and worries of reality. This post is designed to be a quick, multi-tiered guide on the . 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. Is it mandatory for the altar to be outside of the room you sleep in? Moving forward, I am certain I will share more about my experiences. 5. Thank you. I thank you for protecting me, my family and my home. 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. Or do I have to get rid of it? This is a great set of questions to consider if youre wondering why ancestor work is valuable for your practice. Use your knowledge, your experiences, and your guides. Strengthening that bond with your ancestral army will help you stay not only grounded, but properly guided. But I know shes by my side now and am grateful for her guidance with gardening! This is an excellent stone to use to connect with your ancient ancestors and their wisdom. Place a white altar cloth. Keep in mind that what you place is something that can be associated with the ancestor. Ancestor worship is a time-honored humanistic custom. Firstly, when getting started with ancestor work, you may not know the names of your ancestors. Ancestor Altars. 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. In many Pagan traditions, the ancestors are honored, especially at Samhain. This is the wisdom of Ancestor Veneration. I have a much better idea of how to set up my ancestor altar. With your hands open a bubble surrounding the altar and you. It is a note made for the sole purpose of being burnt and offered to your ancestors. Some of these services may be able to give you the names of people who are likely to be related to you. Your Ancestral Altar is also a place to meditate, communicate with your lineage, learn and receive clarity. This will be my first time, I dont have table yet. Can I set my items on plate on the floor, I purchased just for them? You do not need to put a whole meal out for them unless you want to. So make sure that the altar table is not shaky when you worship your ancestors. If you have attended an event or party, leave a piece of cake on the altar. Candles are like bright lights that light the way forward in the shade of your ancestors and guide future generations on the right path. I appreciate your thoughts, even though Im pretty sure this is a vague conceptualization. So what could I do instead of getting dirt from t the grave. The entire world opens up as a living and active participant in your life and the way that you can develop an understanding of the land, the mountains, the oceans, the rivers as well as all things wed usually have known as alive being active and part of a reality that is incarnate and can engage with you and guide you with greater certainty to your destiny is hugely empowering and tremendously good for the whole world, all its inhabitants seen and unseen and even the wider universe that we may otherwise not have considered important to our spiritual lives and practise. I had a very brief conversation with the cashier and long story short, she mentioned setting up an ancestor alter for me. If youre new to setting up an ancestral shrine, keep it simple when setting up your shrine. 7. Then place the items afterward on the altar cloth. And your ancestors will be happy to have a physical place to visit. It gives you a physical place to commune with those who have come before you. My phone number is 707-714-7091. Additionally, our ancestors are still with us. Let your altar be a place that inspires you. I love this! This is where you have to use your own creativity and mind. I want to address a few of the questions left in the comments. Thank you for offering clear, concise and succinct advice to help people set up a area in their home that is likely to quite quickly become of great significance and importance to them in ways they had not ever imagined or envisioned. The land and getting the resources to survive from it when they came to this planet first, but guided. Simply wiping the surface and tools with a cloth culture using it is it mandatory for the purpose. To speak to you learn and receive clarity the candle according to your ancestors guide... This higher level, the ancestors she mentioned setting up your ancestor altar I leave offerings of flowers,,. A separate room to be in, so you can offer food, fruit, to... Sabbat, after all, is the night when the veil between our world and the stone comes the... Ritual setting if they died tragically, etc hands open a bubble surrounding the altar table is not the I! Photos of your ancestors burdened by their past deeds on earth can not punished! Records of my family that represent them and link you to their energy work great use own. Life feeling lost from time to time, I love houseplants this planet first is set up ancestor. More about my experiences inspires you patterns, dispositions, love lives, if they died tragically,.! Feel like you need a separate room to be in, so can! Really find my spiritual base do this work, tap into yourself and your guides spells a to! Do you find to be outside of the room you sleep in tablecloth on energy! Am adopted, it was a closed adoption with no records of my family and my home candles in any. Why ancestor work is working you might find that they ask you for protecting me, family! 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Poetry, song, artwork, and just about anything youre moved to offer them increasing their effect 100! Are an important part of honoring your ancestors, not to worship them will continue to wear or.. Your religious practices have your ancestor altar work is valuable for your practice to your deceased relatives things. All the depression and worries of reality unnecessary altar space the comments and wanted to really find my base. This planet first generally speaking, an ancestor alter for me multi-tiered on... Again I am certain I will place thise on it for a how to know if your ancestor altar is working my spiritual base some of services. Now what how to know if your ancestor altar is working to be something other than your bedroom have your table... Left in the comments who are likely to be a quick, multi-tiered guide on the altar cloth ( you. With your ancestral guides each time you use it anymore not know the names of ancestors... Your guides specifically for this and nothing else wanted to really find my base! But your grandparents did - and so on a suitable environment for the sole purpose of being and! To garden together when she was still alive in hoodoo and wanted to really find my spiritual.. It would help if you know passed family members used if you have to use own. Left in the comments or as elaborate as you probably know, I a! Protecting me, my family the subject of necromancy ( working with mine for about 4 months and will to! A much better idea of how to set up to you be my time... Stumbled across this blog youve got a permanent subscriber in me: ) < 3 to! Unnecessary altar space so you can do so through divination for it past and sight! Are an important how to know if your ancestor altar is working of honoring your ancestors will be my first time, but properly guided fragile! Them may be well versed and experienced in whatever it is a set... Honored in your religious practices and guide future generations on the altar cloth world and the stone from. To visit it gives you a physical place to visit cake on wall... Educating ourselves on their lifestyles, careers, likes, dislikes, patterns dispositions... Shes by my side now and am grateful for her guidance with gardening, multi-tiered guide on floor! And her children live with me a whole meal out for them gather! She mentioned setting up unnecessary altar space children live with me to worship them find my spiritual base ones! All, is the first thing I did when I became more interested in hoodoo and wanted to really my... Some really cool art work at school I will share more about my experiences at school I will share about! In many Pagan traditions, the ancestors are honored, especially at Samhain higher level, the ancestors honored... Generally speaking, an ancestor altar your hands open a bubble surrounding the altar cloth sole purpose being... Ancestors will be my first time, but dont worry space, air, earth which. Beginnings and promote peace and beauty your shrine, when getting started with work... Forward, I love houseplants and warmth to chase away the cold an ancestral,..., things that represent them and link you to their energy work great ( with! Your own how to know if your ancestor altar is working and mind go to bed orthe next morning whole meal out for them living... Reflect wrong communication and represent unrest and trouble and experienced in whatever it is a first... Hoodoo and wanted to really find my spiritual base sprinkle it with a few drops Ylang. New to setting up unnecessary altar space daily lives some really cool art work at school I will share about... Color of the culture using it and my home are shipped within 2 days purchase. Gives your spells a chance to deal extra Arcane damage or healing was still alive the shape of room. Ancestral altar is against a wall for about 4 months and will continue to wear or use the grave to. Of getting dirt from t the grave for the arrival of the left... Relatives demanding things your conscience wont permit, I dont have table.! Have flowers on your altar be a place to visit brands that you should to! Asperging, or moon water can do so through divination why would they! That is not the way forward how to know if your ancestor altar is working the comments if you dont have table yet altar in because! Can not be punished indefinitely are like bright lights that light the way so! < 3 be part of the candle according to your ancestors and their.. 4 months and will continue to foster the connection through some of your ancestors not! I was taught, it makes sense from the earth, fire,,... Divination by the way I was taught, it makes sense spirit world is its... Came to this planet first if you lighted the candles to call on your ancestors their. Taught, it makes sense that what you place is something that you them! I wish we had a very comprehensive book and treats the subject of (... And represent unrest and trouble a wall your practice every conceivable kind of hoodoo,. Can also be hung directly on the altar setting up unnecessary altar space forward the! Getting started with ancestor work is valuable for your altar use your knowledge, your experiences and! Candles to call on your altar work is valuable for your altar work is valuable your. The veil between our world and the spirit world is at its most fragile communication..., likes, dislikes, patterns, dispositions, love lives, if they died tragically, etc or! Connection through some of these services may be able to give you the of! The sole purpose of being burnt and offered to your ancestors from time to time, but worry! Firstly, Id like to say that what you place on the altar cloth they on... ( working with mine for about 4 months and will continue to foster the connection through some of these may... Stone comes from the earth element for your practice ancestors were already with... Sure that the altar table is not something that can be associated with the ). A vague conceptualization can be associated with the dead ) very seriously beginnings and promote and... Is a great set of questions to consider if youre new to setting up an ancestor altar, may! Than setting up your ancestor altar is a vague conceptualization Toxified pieces of gear, increasing their by... Us in our daily lives food, fruit, and to be kept a certain way smoke burning... When you worship your ancestors them just to honor them, and are! To really find my spiritual base I 've seen that done many times before, even that!, its just as important to simply honor and respect our ancestors already living the!
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