When I talk about the ancestors, what comes to mind?
Many years ago I wrote a prayer to the ancestors, let's think about it and let it guide our discussion.
Ancestors Song (or poem):
Ancestors, we call to you, Oh Ancestors, we honour you, The well is silvered and we sing, Oh please accept our offerings...
May they appease you, May they sustain you, May they bless you, Oh ancestors we call to you...
Mighty and beloved dead, Ancient wise and talented, Members of our families, Teachers and celebrities...
Arise and awaken, The gates are thrown open, Our love we're expressing, We ask for your blessings,
Oh ancestors we call to you... Fondly we remember you... Join us as we worship here, Come whisper wisdom in our ears.
What does it mean to call to the ancestors? How do you communicate with your ancestors?
What does it mean to honour your ancestors? What do you do to live in a way that respects, represents and pays tribute to your ancestors?
What does it mean to 'silver the well'? First of all, the Well is seen in Druid cosmology as the gate to the ancestors and their wisdom. Silver is a purifying agent. How do we keep our passages to the ancestors clear? What do we do to keep our connections to the ancestors?
What does it mean to make an offering to the ancestors? What kind of offerings do we make to those who have gone before? Why would we want to appease our ancestors?
Who is considered an ancestor? Do you consider any of the Mighty Dead, the legendary heroes and wise-people of your time, or throughout history to be ancestors? Do both cherished friends and family members become Ancestors when they walk ahead into the unknown? What about famous figures who were influential in some other way, who may have carved a path for you to do what you now do in your life?
What does it mean for the ancestors to 'arise and awaken'? What do you think is happening when we call out to our ancestors and want to talk with them or hear their wisdom and evoke their memory? In what ways do you keep the memory of your ancestors alive?
What does it mean for the 'gates' to be 'thrown open'? Another idea here is that at Samhain, the veils between the worlds are thin and we can reach and see or sense through, or cross over more easily. Some folks have dreams or visions, because if we can be more sensitive to the other world, so too can the ancestors be sensitive to ours. That is why often pagan folks will have something called a dumb supper, where they set out a plate of food during a silent meal, to feast their ancestors. How do you know when an ancestor has been visiting?
What other kind of experiences of the ancestors have you had?
Are there any final thoughts about ancestors or ancestor veneration?
I'm here if you wish to discuss these or some of the other important Kindred Beings in our lives.
♥ Jacki