Working With The Ancestors — Part One
. . . altars, food, music & letters
*Sections of this post were adapted from a previously published post on the Agora at Patheos Pagan.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing everything a witch wants to know about ancestor work, beginning with reaching out through altars, food, music and letters.
If you haven’t already set up your ancestors’ altar, today is the most favorable time to do it. The October full moon rises tonight, harkening the Season of Samhain and the thinning of the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead.
The practice of creating an altar to honor ancestors is not exclusive to witchcraft. Many people display a year ‘round photo gallery of deceased loved ones somewhere in their home, as a remembrance and way to honor those who have passed.
As a practicing witch, creating a specific altar to honor your ancestors is a meaningful way to revere your family lineage and strengthen your connection to their eternal spirit. And, it’s as simple as arranging photos on a mantle, shelf or side table.
Include candles, personal artifacts, and an offering dish or vessel for libations. Add a vase for flowers in season, or a potted plant; tending to the living element is symbolic of tending to your ancestors’ spirits.
My ancestors’ altar includes my grandmother’s rosary, my father’s watch, a gold pin my mother wore, coins from my grandparents’ homelands and other small trinkets with special meaning.
If you’re short on space, or prefer a minimalist approach, or even if you keep your practice on the down low, slip your ancestors’ photos into an album. A crafty witch might even consider a scrapbook, where items like birth certificates, marriage licenses, letters, postcards, notes and even recipe cards can be included along with photos.
Open the album to any page when you want to connect with a specific ancestor. Or hold the album in your hands while meditating, to hear whichever ancestor wishes to come forth. Keep the album on display during the season of Samhain, along with the items mentioned above.
There are many ways to create an ancestors’ altar. Gather photos in a container, such as a basket or file box . . . or display them on your refrigerator! How you manifest your altar is entirely up to you. Do what feels meaningful, and engage with it in some way every day—lighting a candle, meditating, or pouring a libation.
Read more about libations to the ancestors, here.
Alternatives to Altars
A soul supper is another way to honor your ancestors. Choose favorite foods from your family’s culture. Planning your meal, writing your shopping list, selecting ingredients and finally preparing the food, helps recall memories of the loved ones you are honoring. Set an empty place and light a candle to guide your ancestors to the table, that is if they haven’t already been led there by the aroma of all their favorite foods.
Recite a simple invocation that honors your loved ones beyond the veil before partaking of the meal. If you wish, fill the plate you set for them, and pour a glass of wine (or other beverage). When you’ve finished eating, bury their portion of food and drink outside, at the base of a tree if possible. Offer a blessing for their eternal souls. If you can’t bury the food outside, wrap it in brown paper (earth element) before disposing as you normally do.
Cemetery visits are another common activity for the observance of Día de los Muertos, or Day Of The Dead. You can adopt this practice respectfully and without appropriation by enjoying a simple picnic at your loved one’s graveside. Take time to clean and tidy the area and wash the headstone(s) if necessary. Leave fresh flowers, or an arrangement of evergreen with branches of willow, or rowan berries that will last through the winter months ahead. Evergreen represents immortality; willow and rowan are pleasing to the Goddess.
If you want to get your ancestors’ attention, try making a play list of favorite songs, or the cultural music of your heritage. Play it often in the days leading up to Samhain. Sing, dance, clap along—however the spirit moves you. Invite your ancestors to join in the dance.
You might also try writing letters to individual ancestors. Share family milestones and events that have happened since their passing. Recall fond memories of days when they were with you. Tell them the things you never got around to saying before they were gone—even ask them questions, and then pay attention; answers could come in dreams, something you read or see, or even just a thought that pops into your head.
A Quick Full Moon Note
The October full moon is known as the Hunters’ Moon, Drying Rice Moon, Falling Leaves Moon and Freezing Moon (expect first frosts in colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere). If it happens to be the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox, it is considered the Harvest Moon. Interestingly, the full moon in September and this one in October, are both 15 days from the equinox.
Despite what some sources might say, this moon is neither larger nor brighter than usual. It rises fairly soon after sunset and can be seen lower on the horizon, making it appear as a super moon. It may also have a reddish glow due to the light refraction in the lower atmosphere, but do not mistake this for the witches’ Blood Moon—the full moon nearest Samhain.
Halloween or Samhain?
Halloween and Samhain tend to flow together for modern witches, with many celebrating Samhain on October 31st. However, Halloween while originally based in folkloric practices has evolved into a much more commercialized, secular event, second only to Christmas in the U.S.
Samhain is a cross quarter sabbat, the third and final harvest, occurnig when the sun is at the exact midpoint between the fall equinox and winter solstice. However, we shouldn’t forget that The Wheel of the Year was devised less than 100 years ago, by Alexander Gardener, for modern witches and pagans. Traditional harvest celebrations were likely not pinned to any specific calendar date.
This year, Samhain falls on Nov. 7th, two days after the November full moon.
For more about this full moon, visit Moongiant
I’d love to hear how you observe the season of Samhain in your practice.
Until next time ~
Blessed Be and Journey Well
Working With The Ancestors — Part Two
when your ancestros were awful, or mostly unknown
Working With The Ancestors — Part Three
into the shadows of Samhain
Greetings from Daughter of Oz
Check out my paper shrine titled
The Woman behind the mask
It pairs well with your theme- enjoy
I like to honor forgotten ancestors. Everyone has them and I know they like it. I also like to dive into mythology and folklore related to family roots.