Some Westernized faith traditions teach us that communing with the dead is not only wrong, it’s demonic and ungodly. Not only do those beliefs alienate us from the spiritual practices of our foreparents, they also prevent us from connecting to our ancestors. Many traditional African religions teach us that our ancestors maintain a connection to their living descendants. That connection includes working on our behalf, offering guidance and assuring us of our worth and reminding us that we are loved and safe. It’s beautiful to think of a team of people pulling for you on the other side. Most of us haven’t been taught to engage in this way spiritually. But if you’d like to link up with your lost loved ones, here are five ways to connect with your ancestors.
Build an Altar
In some Latin countries, they call it an ofrenda. You see them around Dia De Los Muertos. It’s an area dedicated to your late relatives. You can place a pictures of them, their belongings, candles, and other things that remind you of them on the ofrenda. Building and maintaining an altar for your ancestors is a physical manifestation of the legacy they’ve left for you in the material world. Not only does an altar serve as a way to tribute them, it is also a visual reminder of the angels you have working for you in the spiritual realm.
Invite Them to Communicate with You
Whether you want to call your chats with your ancestors prayers or simply reaching out, feel free to let them know that you want to hear from them. You can even get specific about how you’d like for them to show up. You can ask for signs that might tell you which road you should take when facing a tough decision. Ask that they appear in a dream to let you know that they’ve transitioned safely and they’re doing alright now that they’re no longer here with you.
Write Them Letters
If you feel a little odd speaking to late relatives out loud, try writing. In your letter you can tell them the things you would like them to help you with. Thank them for the lives they led and the challenges they’ve made. Express your appreciation for the ways they’ve already communicated with you and ask that they continue to make their presence known.
Invest in Your Own Healing
There’s a saying that when you heal yourself, you heal your ancestors. Many of us are living with trauma from generations back, whether we recognize it or not. When you do the work to address those wounds, the people who experienced them first, your ancestors, are proud of you for breaking the cycle. They recognize that the quality of your life will improve because of the work you put in. But more than that, it is healing for them to witness the end of painful chapters as well.
Thank Them for Generational Gifts
We’re quick to point out the ways in which our ancestors have passed down trauma. But we often neglect to thank them for the good things they’ve given us. It’s important to thank them for the strength of spirit that allowed them to survive some of the most horrific times in human history. We can thank them for the courage they may have shown in taking risks. We should appreciate the boldness with which some of them lived their lives. If you recognize those qualities in yourself, thank the people who passed them down.