Ancestor rituals and work

[Hærfest Leah]

Someone on here said they had rituals you could do for ancestors. Can someone tell me about this and what you do? Also I have other questions that go along with this like working with spirits that are your relatives. Answer me here or PM me and I'll go into the rest of it.

Thanks :)

[Dio]

Working with ancestors doesn't necessarily require any involved ritual per se, you could always set up a special permanent shrine for your ancestors. On it you could include photographs, or anything that you feel would be relevent.

When you want to work with them you could light a special candle (pillar candles are good) in their honor. Another nice gesture, is if you know of anything in particular that a specific ancestor liked (ex. beer, whiskey, chocolate, cigarettes), you could leave offerings on your shrine for them.

[Hærfest Leah]

Thanks, this is such a newbie question but how are you sure they are aware of your offerings?

[Kendrah]

Well, set up a small shrine for them. Use pictures of those already passed, candles, and offering dishes. I pray to my ansestors everynight. The prayers are simple; I just thank them for everything they had to endure so that I could be there. I wish them protection as they pass through the realms, and I offer any current concerns I have.

I always have a cup that I refill nightly with water. I know they appriciate it. I've only been able to go once or twice, when I was exhausted and forgot to refill the water. Rest of the time if I forget, I wake up in the middle of the night with a "need to refill water". ;)

[Sage Rainsong]

I have a small shrine because of space conciderations. I have a glass that I fill with water regularly a white candle and a white plate with food. I pray regularly to them. Not a whole lot of ritual. I highly recomend a book called Finding soul on the path of the orisa. by tobe correl. Despite what the title suggests most of it has to do with ancestor reverence and how to go about it. It has to be one of the most pure and soulful books I have ever read. Its easily adapted to any path.

[Hærfest Leah]

I have a small shrine because of space conciderations. I have a glass that I fill with water regularly a white candle and a white plate with food. I pray regularly to them. Not a whole lot of ritual. I highly recomend a book called Finding soul on the path of the orisa. by tobe correl. Despite what the title suggests most of it has to do with ancestor reverence and how to go about it. It has to be one of the most pure and soulful books I have ever read. Its easily adapted to any path.

I found the book on amazon, says its for african spirituality.

[Sage Rainsong]

yeah its true that its for african spirituality but it is very vague and easily adaptable to almost any path. The prayers are simple and it helps you to deal with difficult feelings that can come with ancestor reverence.

[Jolantru]

For me, I would honor my ancestors during Samhain which entails me lighting a candle and remembering their deeds, what they had done. I don't really do rituals with my ancestors per se but I do work with them as a healing circle when I do my shamanic journeys.


Jolantru

[Hærfest Leah]

For me, I would honor my ancestors during Samhain which entails me lighting a candle and remembering their deeds, what they had done. I don't really do rituals with my ancestors per se but I do work with them as a healing circle when I do my shamanic journeys.


Jolantru

I found this poem on witchvox once for the feast of the dead and I read it before dinner as we lit a candle on Samhain inviting ancestors to the dinner and to share in our fun evening. We had lots of spirits in the house that evening but its the only time I've ever done it and that was 2 yrs ago. So I guess I did it right.

[Romani Vixen]

If you look into Shamanism, you'll find a lot on how to really work *with* your ancestors.

[Hærfest Leah]

If you look into Shamanism, you'll find a lot on how to really work *with* your ancestors.

I figured as much, thanks. :)

[John_Mischief]

I have a place on my hearth dedicated to the ancestors, and I burn incense for them quite often, usually heather. Honoring the ancestors is a big part of my tradition.

I also honor them in ways a little out of the norm. I listen to my grandfather's big band tapes, and drink tea from my great-grandmother's brown teapot that came all the way from wales. I play songs that I know that they liked on my violin and I know a lot about my blood family from listening to my parents stories when I was little, and genealogical research. There's a whole website dedicated to the Griffiths part of the family, so I always have a lot fun exploring that.

[Hærfest Leah]

I have a place on my hearth dedicated to the ancestors, and I burn incense for them quite often, usually heather. Honoring the ancestors is a big part of my tradition.

I also honor them in ways a little out of the norm. I listen to my grandfather's big band tapes, and drink tea from my great-grandmother's brown teapot that came all the way from wales. I play songs that I know that they liked on my violin and I know a lot about my blood family from listening to my parents stories when I was little, and genealogical research. There's a whole website dedicated to the Griffiths part of the family, so I always have a lot fun exploring that.

The things you do sound nice. My family hardly has any stories, if they do they hardly mention them. I'm finding good things just researching my tree.