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As witches, an important thing to remember with ancestor work is that reverence is only *part* of the work. Yes, it's important & yes, it's a big part of the work. But it's not the entire show. As witches -mediators between the spirit world & physical world- the work goes deeper.
One of the most common concerns people have regarding ancestor work is what to do about their "bad" ancestors. How do they engage in ancestor work knowing they had ancestors who did bad things, who had bad lives, & who didn't die well?
There is an assumption here that this is a problem, that it somehow prevents someone from having a vibrant & rewarding ancestor practice.
But, that assumption ignores the fact that your ancestors were & are people. And that life is complicated.
But, that assumption ignores the fact that your ancestors were & are people. And that life is complicated.
We all do good things in life. We all do bad things in life. It is the same with our ancestors. They made the choices they made just as we make the choices we make. Ancestor work isn't about judging our family for their choices, even when those choices continue to hurt us.
As someone with no connection to living family because of abuse, I know how that sounds. Please understand I'm not negating your pain, I'm not negating my pain. That pain is real & valid, & cutting people out of our lives is the best thing that we can do for ourselves sometimes.
But ancestor work provides an opportunity to break cycles of pain. That's the deeper work we must engage in as witches. No, this isn't some bullshit forgiveness thing: this is direct action to resolve energy that hurts our ancestors, hurts us, and hurts future generations.
Ancestor work provides an opportunity to break patterns created by our ancestors that are enacted through us and, thus, affect the people around us. The deeper part of ancestor work is focused on healing, on resolving energy.
And, as hokey as it sounds, that healing benefits the entire community.
The work we each do, individually, to heal our dead serves to heal our community. It absolutely ripples.
The work we each do, individually, to heal our dead serves to heal our community. It absolutely ripples.
So what do you do about those bad ancestors that have you apprehensive about beginning ancestor work? Heal them. Reach out to them & loosen the residual energy from their lives that keeps them bound, clear that energy away, and cross that ancestor over. You can do this, witch.
In cutting your ancestors free from that energy, you release them from pain & allow them to continue their spiritual journey. You resolve that energy, breaking energy patterns that rippled forward along your family line & fuck up your life & hurt you.
Remember, too, that you don't have to begin this work right away. Your ancestor work can start slowly, making time & space in your life for them. You can choose who of your ancestors you approach. And you have so many ancestors to choose from.
You have 1000+ ancestors in just 10 generations. Grandmas, grandpas, not to mention so many more aunts, uncles, & cousins
You can simply reach out to see who reaches back. Someone will reach back. Even if your skills aren't honed enough to discern their presence, someone's there
You can simply reach out to see who reaches back. Someone will reach back. Even if your skills aren't honed enough to discern their presence, someone's there
