The Best Way To Honor Your Ancestors
I always seem to have big things happen in autumn. Job changes, new relationships, the passing of loved ones, windfalls, leases and losses. I used to think it was just random— but now I know that the constellation of your life simply becomes more malleable this time of the year. In part, because the most influential intercessors in our fate have more access to this world. In autumn, the Ancestors of the Otherworld draw close to help us on our journey.
In the Celtic wheel of the year, as well as in other traditions, the autumnal thinning of the veil between life and death is thought to make it easier to connect with those that came before us. When you tune into the Earth in fall, you can feel it. The Ancestors don’t leave, but live right alongside us, affecting our lives as viscerally as autumn winds and the falling leaves. Ancestor honoring has been central to human culture since the beginning. In the West, these traditions are currently surging back into the popular imagination— and for good reason. If ever there was a time when we needed the counsel of the Ancestors, it is now.
For years I’ve collected information about how to honor and work with these loved ones in the Otherworld. I’ve crafted ancestral altars and done family constellations, taken shamanic journeys into the past and made pilgrimages to my own motherlands. But sometimes I still wondered— what was it my Ancestors truly wanted from me?
Then, one afternoon in Ireland, I had the opportunity to sit alone inside an ancient burial cairn. In the near-complete darkness, surrounded by stones carved in spirals and turns, I asked my Ancestors how I could honor them. And their answer, though simple, completely changed the way I practice ancestral reverence.
In this new video I talk about my day inside a Neolithic burial cairn and my Ancestors’ surprising answer to the question— what, truly, is the best way to honor our Ancestors?
Lately, it seems every time I listen to the radio or read the news I hear the same phrase: “we are living through unprecedented times….”
While this is undoubtedly true for us in our individual lives, it is not true for our Ancestors. The tumult we are living through now is nothing new for the ancient ones that guide us. As those who have survived the deep trends of time, our Ancestors know how to weather any storm. Catastrophe, coups, plague and change. We may feel like the world is ending at times… but for them the world has ended many times and begun again. Our Ancestors’ resiliency is awe inspiring— and every drop has been passed down to us.
Honoring your Ancestors is another way to honor, and tap into, this power within you. As the veil draws thin in the midst of this challenging year, the Ancestors are here to say: we are holding you. We are working with you. You have one hundred thousand years of wisdom behind you and we are with you every step of the way.
If you’d like even more support as you walk through this time, come join me for Herbs for the Otherworld— a class that helps you open this gateway to the wisdom emanating from your Ancestors and those denizens of the Otherworld. Because another world is possible, and our Ancestors in the Otherworld are showing us the way.
Thank you for bringing me back to reality. My passion is growing, learning about and using medicinal herbs. We currently use teas and eo’s as our meds and pain relievers. When I went thru my divorce, I called into California Physics… this young girl started telling me about a past life I lived in the woods with a man whose name started with Th or T.. not a normal name. She continued to say I was a star pupil in his teachings of herbs and he was still with me trying to bring me back to learning about the herbs of the land. She stopped and asked, “Does any of this make sense to you?” I whispered in awe to say, ” my entire office if filled with a hundred books about herbs!” She said, “Are you serious?” Lol. My great grandfather was a mountain doctor here in the hills of KY. Although I was not raised in KY, I moved here 22 years ago, I’m now 57. And I am at peace here.
Being a single mom, making a living on my own, I had no idea how to work with my passion. This year, out of the blue, my husband, of 7 years, bought me a huge greenhouse… we just have to put the plastic up now. I have all the time in the world to go full speed ahead into the herbal realm since 2 of 3 kids are out of college and they all have their own apts….. I will hold tight within my heart your message of our ancesters, embrace it and move forward with a new found confidence and no longer feel lost. My prayers will be different now. Thank you!
You have set me a wonderful task! To name my gifts. Thank you so much for this urging. I am searching for clarity on this very thing. ✨🌿✨
Wow! I also did not expect to be crying as I watched this!! The message of the ancestors totally surprised me. I was expecting them to want me to honour them in some way – but accepting and embracing and being grateful of my own gifts that they worked so hard on … speechless ❤️
I have a dual calling towards being a mom (I’m a mom of two and almost 40 but constantly debating a third), and also a call to the healing arts, especially homeopathy…
I am beyond thankful for your ability to communicate – with the past and to us now ❤️ Thank you for all you do!
I already left a brief comment yet I felt I didn’t honor my ancestors, I’ve been blessed with the DreamTime, meeting ancestors in my dreams and receiving messages .. like an herb I need or a literal move that I will make. My mother honored the Dreamtime and nurtured my dreams. My Great Granny would walk with my mom through the woods and teach her what plants helped to heal. I’m looking forward to your class connecting with the ancestors and your information on Ireland, which is 49% of my DNA including Scotland, Many Blessings!!
My gift/ talent is Psychic Mediumship and I do share readings. It’s time to step out completely!
I resonated so much with what you shared, I have been often to the Appalachian hills where I’ve connected to my Ancestors, I long to go to Ireland & Scotland & England too, and walkabout with them! Many Blessings
Touching and working with pearls is my first deep feeling w/ the sea as a Mediterranean girl, Decorating, Sewing, Knitting comes from my Paternal Spanish Andalusian grand father and ancestors that use to make the red whole hates. Cooking comes from my Greek maternelle grand mother , Belly dancing comes from my maternal siciliano grand father and being a mother is my biggest challenge with my 2 autistic sons
Beautiful Yousra. Thank you for sharing. Sending you a lot of love!
This video has touched me deeply, I didn’t expect to have my throat get tight and to have tears rolling down my cheeks ! I am a talented abstract painter, and I’ve never had a doubt that this was my path…however, I’ve been fantasizing for years about sharing my voice and singing, as I also have a great voice, and I’m a fantastic dancer! I would also be one heck of an amazing DJ! (It feels very strange to say all this, but I am, quite multi-talented, when it comes to art…) I am also the mother of two young daughters, and sometimes (oftentimes!) it’s tough to find my balance and it’s not possible to find the time and energy for all those pulls and yearnings… One Step At A Time…Thank you for this video, whatever it has done, was right !!! I would love to honour my Ancestors as best as I can in this lifetime! Merci Asia!
Seeing you in all your amazing artistic talents Alexis!!! Thank you so much for your bravery in sharing here. I can feel the ancestors clapping.
I smiled broadly when I watched your video this month, Asia. Why? Because I had read the newsletter first and thought to myself, “Oh gosh, but she is such a beautifully talented writer… I hope she knows how well she conveys the natural world to us on the other side of the screen.” And then I listened to your message from the Ancestors. And smiled. Now you’ve heard it in stereo… or would that be multi-phonic? 🙂
Oh, thank you dear heart! Yes, I am feeling that stereo love immensely. I am so grateful you took the time to share with me 🙂
i think the ancestors have both needs and gifts to communicate to us… if we heal ourselves, if we work to make this world a better, kinder place, that honours our ancestors. using our gifts to do this work helps us and others, and i believe that it can have a healing effect on our ancestors as well. especially for those of us who come from a lineage that was part of a great wrong-doing in some way, working to right the lingering effects of those wrongs may create not only more justice in our current world, but heal a karmic disharmony in our ancestors. they can rest more peacefully knowing that we have worked to undo any harm they did; and by facing our ancestral shadow side, we–and they—are made whole. the ancestors want us to use our talents, for our own good and fulfilment, and to see their work carried forward, and just possibly also for bringing them peace through our honourable and kindly actions.
I absolutely agree dear heart, healing is always a two way street.
The gifts my ancestors have gifted me are healing, protector of others ,nurturer,
I am a strong willed creature that has always had a strong inner pull to heal, i have been a RN for over 30 years and self taught herbalist through relearning to listen to the earth and her many gifts she has to offer , thank you for the above video we all need to have reminders and the a-ah moments Blessings
I see these gifts in you Sherri! Thank you for sharing them with us here!
Thank you from my heart to yours for your lovely, warm, inviting, informative message.
Much love to you Jeannie!
I think gifts I had ignored were my art and the family tradition of herbalism that I really feel so close to now. I had an experience with a spirit guide from my family a few years ago and he told the same thing, to honor and work with the things that I’m good at and feel closest to. The Herbs for the Underworld course was great and I’m looking forward to taking more of your courses in the near future!
How profound Tania! Thank you so much for sharing this with us here.
Hi Asia,
Glad you have embraced your gift of writing (and videoing) as a way to share your wisdom.
Interesting subject this week; I just ordered a native american flute and signed up for a class to learn how to express with it. Hadn’t made the connection with Samhain but it’s one of those synchronicities that make life so real. My thanks for bringing the ancestor aspect to my attention; I feel musical expression has been in my lineage for a long time and is ready to carry on.
Jeff
Thank you Jeff! I deeply appreciate it and am honoring you in the expressing of your gifts.