How to Connect with Your Ancestors Spiritually Through Ceremony
The desire to communicate with our ancestors is an innate part of the human experience. We intuitively sense their presence in our wisdom bodies, and it begs the question: can we communicate with them?
Through daily prayer, meditation, creation of art, music, food, and ceremony, the ancestor spirits can communicate, guide, protect, and heal the living. Ancestral communication has been a spiritual practice in every wisdom tradition throughout time. Your ability to connect with your ancestors is always available.
In particular, the days on and around October 31 to November 2 are a transformational portal on the wheel of life. It’s the mid-point between fall and winter, the death and dying season. Therefore, it’s a powerful time to communicate with one’s deceased family members. Read on and receive intuitive guidance on how to create a beautiful ceremonial journey to communicate with your ancestors.
The Traditions of Ancestral Communication
Ancestral communication is an ancient and daily practice found in many cultures around the world, including Mayan, Celtic, Aborigine, Native American, Ancient Greece, Ancient Eurasia, African Tribal, Tibetan, and the Vedic/Yogic traditions. Some major religions, such as the Catholic faith, honor the deceased on All Saints Day and All Souls Day with prayers, candles, incense, chanting, ceremony, and offerings. In Mexico, they celebrate the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos). In the Celtic tradition, Samhain observes the transition time between the two worlds.
In our culture, we are familiar with Halloween or All Hallows Eve. However, much of the essence and spiritual wisdom connected to these ceremonial days – meant to honor and communicate with one’s ancestors – has been lost.
Through ancestral communication, you’re able to open your heart, experiencing a deeper love within yourself, due to the connection you have with your family tree. Through this practice, people have been able to reconcile deep wounds and karmic patterns that stem back from past life trauma and even issues between the deceased and living families.
Ancestral work can transform the karmas of past generations, as well as work into the current and future generations for healing.
Halloween and The Day of the Dead
These two celebrations are traditionally considered ceremonial days and nights to honor and communicate with one’s ancestors. This is a time to create family altars, perform ceremonies with the ancestors, and lay out offerings of flowers, incense, crystals, art, and food. Halloween or All Hallows Eve literally means Holy Night or All Saint’s Night. It is a time to honor and communicate with those who have taken their spirit walk, ancestors, and the holy or saintly ones. The Day of the Dead maintains the spiritual essence of ceremony, honor, and communication in the deeper regions of Mexico.
Imagine dozens of families from surrounding villages joyfully creating altars, cooking and sharing food, lighting candles, putting up photos of their deceased, and playing music all around the central plaza. It is a very moving experience that observers can truly feel through their intentions and offerings to their familial ancestors.
Elements of these beautiful ceremonies and altar practices can be observed in our modern Halloween by way of candles in jack-o-lanterns, candy offerings, and festivities. If you choose, you can mindfully reconnect to these veneration practices while the veil between the two worlds is open this time of year.
Who is an Ancestor?
The Lakota say Mitakuye Oyasin, “All are my relations”- the tree, water, sky, earth, animals, brothers, sisters, and those that have taken their spirit walk. There is a sacred hoop, a medicine wheel, and a mandala of life. All is connected. All is life, and all have the essence of love. All are children of the Great Mother and Father – in spirit and physical form.
An ancestor is one who took a physical body and experienced the loves, sorrows, joys, and pains of being human. They are your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents. Anyone who has taken their spirit walk. Anyone who is in your soul tribe.
The ancestors are the ones who intimately know what it is like to take the human incarnation and share your spiritual and/or physical DNA. They can have great empathy, compassion, and sensitivity for what it is like to be on a personal earth journey. They can provide helpful teachings, guidance, protection, healing, and forgiveness from the spirit dimension. Ancestors may also have their own continued healing work and evolution to do as a spirit and are still considered part of the sacred hoop of life.
There are other types of ancestors, from Territorial Ancestors (aka Land Ancestors) to Spiritual Ancestors. Territorial or Land Ancestors are beings that incarnate on a piece of land and are now connected to the land as spiritual guardians and stewards. Your family ancestors can also be your Territorial Ancestors if you are living/working on ancestral lands. Your Spiritual Ancestors are lineages of spirit beings that your soul repeatedly chooses to work with. This could be Archangel Michael, Buddha, Quan Yin (aka Guanyin), White Buffalo Calf Woman, Star Beings from the Pleiades, or the Egyptian wisdom spirits- the sky is the limit. There are infinite possibilities and a particular ancestor could be in multiple “categories.”
For our ceremony on how to communicate with your ancestors, we are going to focus on your soul tribe ancestors. It is perfectly all right to invite your other ancestral lineages to be present and assist as well.
Why Practice Ceremony to Communicate with Your Ancestors?
There are many ways to communicate with your ancestors and eventually, it may become a daily practice and dialog for you. Simply calling them into your heart and having a quiet moment can be perfect. However, a ceremony can help to amplify the communication.
Spirit is energy and uses high vibration frequencies to access the earthly realm. A ceremony is a high-vibration event. The difference between offering a ceremony and personal prayer is like the difference between playing guitar amplified or playing guitar acoustically. They are both beautiful and appropriate for different needs, but one has a stronger resonance and reach. Just as it is easier for us to hear the amplified guitar, it is easier for spirits to communicate with us using the higher vibration of ceremony.
People have held ceremonies many times personally, in groups, at our yoga studio, on retreats, and with people of varied faiths and beliefs. We have found that most people have an innate remembrance and connection to ceremony even in their first experience.
What is Ceremony?
There are many ancient wisdom traditions on our planet that share the gift of ceremony, and there are many ways to do ceremony individually or in groups. While the specifics of the ceremony may vary, there are three essential pieces that apply anywhere, anytime:
- Intention: In the yoga tradition, this is called Sankalpa, which translates to “vow of the heart”. Declare your purpose. It can be a positive affirmation, asking for an answer to a question, or healing.
- Attention: Be Present. Or, as Ram Dass says, “Be Here Now.” Get grounded in your heart and clear your mind. Energy flows where your attention goes.
- Purposeful: Make sure what you are doing is meaningful to you. When you are in a group ceremony, there may be aspects that don’t connect to you at that moment. That’s okay. Keep your attention on your inner intention and what you are offering up from your heart. When you are creating your own personal ceremony, create a ceremony that inspires you and has meaning for you.
How to Create an Ancestral Ceremony
Once you’ve completed the essential three, now you are ready to create your Ancestral Ceremony and open up the communication lines. Here is a tutorial and list of elements that may be part of your ancestral or any ceremony.
Create an Ancestor Altar
Find a sacred space that is conducive to your ceremony: being outside in nature is highly recommended or a quiet place inside. Create an altar for your ancestors. This may include:
- Lighting incense, copal, sage, or palo santo to clear the energy and open the portal
- Elements of nature, such as fire (candle), flowers, a bowl of water, crystals, shells, feathers, tobacco, corn or grains
- Ancestral Memorabilia, such as photos, personal heirlooms like a ring, a pocket knife, a book, or favorite foods of the ancestors
- Spiritual relics like your favorite deity, prayer flags, or anything that represents the Spirit to you
- Rattles, drums, bells, gongs, or singing bowls to open up the portal through sound
Asking Permission and Giving Invitation
Ask for permission, guidance, and protection from the Spirit to do your ceremony. Call in your Spirit Guides and Angels to assist you and invite in your ancestors that you would like to be present by name at the ceremony.
Call in the Directions
Ask the spirits of the Four Directions, Mother Earth and Father Sky, to be present at the ceremony.
Make Offerings
Offer a handwritten letter to the ancestor(s) that can be burned and carried to the Spirit through smoke. Or make a statement to the deceased out loud. Follow your words with an offering of the items you chose for the altar.
Take a Moment
Sit quietly and be in the energy of the Spirit and your ancestors. Focus on your original intention. Listen with full attention in your heart, mind, and body for any messages. You may receive an instant knowing, an image, a feeling, inner light, love, or even words. Or, it may just be a peaceful repose. The Spirit answers in divine time. More may be revealed in dreams, nature, and future interactions.
Mantra and Music
You can choose a song, a mantra, or a chant that feels right to you. It can be accompanied by your voice or instruments of drums and rattles to bring the primordial heartbeat of Mother Earth.
Guided Journey (Optional)
Try a guided journey: this is often performed by a shaman or someone trained in guided meditations.
Close the Ceremony
Close the Four Directions, Mother Earth and Father Sky. Thank your Spirit Guides and Angels for their assistance, and send out a final blessing to your ancestors.
Celebration and Reflection
Share some food, water, music, and/or discussion with loved ones, and record your feelings and experiences in your journal.
Be open to whatever comes. The Spirit can come as a whisper or as a cosmic smack upside the head. And sometimes it comes immediately, and sometimes it comes when you least expect it. What matters most is your intention, attention, and purpose. The seeds you have planted will grow if tended with an earnest heart. Trust the process. May the ancestors be with you.
Learn more about co-author Katrina Gustafson.
Who are our spiritual guides and how do they manifest?
Spiritual guides are beings that accompany us and offer guidance on our life path. They can manifest in different ways and through various signs that help us make decisions and find our purpose. In this article, we explore who these guides are and how we can recognize their presence in our lives.
Table of Contents
- What are spiritual guides?
- Types of spiritual guides
- How many spiritual guides do we have?
- Are our spiritual guides always with us?
- How do our spiritual guides manifest?
- Can we communicate directly with our spiritual guides?
What are spiritual guides?
All human beings have spiritual guides who accompany us throughout our lives. These guides can be permanent, continuously supporting us, or they may appear at specific moments to offer particular assistance. Their main objective is to help us grow spiritually and overcome the challenges we encounter on our path.
Spiritual guides are entities that exist in the spiritual plane and are dedicated to our evolution and well-being. They can be ancestors, angels, or nature spirits who have attained a high level of wisdom and compassion. Each guide has its own way of communicating and a specific mission in our lives.
In addition to offering guidance, spiritual guides help us stay connected to our spiritual essence and life purpose. They accompany us in moments of doubt, protect us from dangers, and inspire us to move forward when facing difficulties. Their presence reminds us that we are never alone on our journey.
Types of spiritual guides
Spiritual guides can vary widely in their nature and purpose, offering support in different areas of our lives. They can be ancestors, guardian angels, nature spirits, or other types of light beings. Each of them provides a unique and valuable perspective on our spiritual path.
Master Guide or Primary Spiritual Guide
The Master Guide or Primary Spiritual Guide is the main spiritual being that accompanies us throughout our entire life. They have deep knowledge of our mission and purpose and offer constant guidance, helping us stay on the right path. Their wisdom and insight are essential for our spiritual growth and decision-making.
Ancestral Guides
Ancestral guides are spirits of our ancestors who belong to our family, even if we have not met them in this life. They offer their wisdom and protection based on their connection with our family and cultural roots, helping us understand and heal generational patterns and find strength in our heritage.
Guardian Angels
Guardian angels are celestial beings assigned to protect and guide us. They are always near, ensuring that we are safe and directed toward our highest good. Their presence is a constant reminder of divine love and protection, offering us comfort and support at every step of our journey.
Nature Elementals
Nature elementals are spiritual beings that inhabit the natural realm, such as fairies, gnomes, and tree spirits. They help us connect with the energy of the Earth and harmonize with the natural environment, teaching us to respect and care for our planet while providing a deep sense of peace and connection with nature.
Animal Totems
Animal totems, also known as “power animals,” are spiritual guides that appear in the form of animals, symbolizing specific qualities we need in our lives. Each animal carries a unique message and lesson, connecting us to ancestral wisdom and the natural cycles of life.
How many spiritual guides do we have?
The number of spiritual guides we have varies significantly throughout our lives and depends on many factors, including our spiritual and personal needs. Generally, we have one primary spiritual guide who accompanies us throughout our incarnation, offering constant guidance and support. Additionally, it is common to have one or more guardian angels.
There are also other spiritual guides who may enter and exit our lives at specific times, providing their assistance in particular circumstances or during periods of transition and growth.
Are our spiritual guides always with us?
Yes, our personal spiritual guides are always with us. These guides accompany us constantly, offering us support, protection, and wisdom at every stage of our lives. However, there are other light beings, such as angels, archangels, and ascended masters, who may appear at specific moments to provide their assistance according to our particular needs.
These entities come to offer their help in special situations and, once their mission is fulfilled, they may withdraw, leaving space again for our permanent guides.
How do our spiritual guides manifest?
Recognizing the signs from our spiritual guides requires being attentive to the various ways in which they try to communicate with us. These signs can manifest through synchronicities, repeated numerical sequences, messages in dreams, and the use of divination tools.
Being receptive and aware of these signals can help us better interpret their messages and feel their presence in our daily lives.
Signs through synchronicities
Synchronicities are meaningful coincidences that seem too perfect to be mere chance. These situations indicate that our spiritual guides are trying to communicate with us and guide us on our path.
For example, thinking of someone and receiving a call from them shortly after, or repeatedly seeing a specific symbol in different contexts.
Repetition of numerical sequences
The repetition of numerical sequences is a common way in which spiritual guides send us messages. When we frequently observe numbers like 111, 222, 333, and other similar sequences, it is a sign that our guides are communicating with us.
Each numerical sequence has a specific meaning, offering guidance and particular messages about our decisions and actions.
Messages through dreams
Dreams are a powerful channel for communication with our spiritual guides. During sleep, our conscious mind relaxes, allowing guides to send symbolic and direct messages. These messages can provide clarity on difficult situations, offer answers to important questions, or simply bring comfort and support. Keeping a dream journal can help us remember and analyze these messages.
Divination tools
Divination tools such as tarot, oracle cards, angel cards, and pendulums are useful methods for receiving messages from our spiritual guides. These practices allow us to establish a more direct and structured connection with our guides, making it easier to interpret their advice and warnings.
Using these effective tools to communicate directly with our spiritual guides with an open mind and receptive heart can deepen our understanding and relationship with them.
Can we communicate directly with our spiritual guides?
There are practices that allow us to develop the ability to receive and transmit clear messages from spiritual guides. We can try these connections ourselves through techniques such as meditation and visualization, or seek an experienced channeler who has cultivated this skill.
Meditation and visualization
Meditation and visualization are effective tools for communicating directly with our spiritual guides. Deep meditation allows us to quiet the mind and open ourselves to subtle energies. By entering a state of calm and receptivity, we can mentally ask our guides to manifest and send us clear messages.
Guided visualization complements meditation by allowing us to imagine an encounter with our guides in a safe and sacred environment. We can visualize a peaceful place, such as a garden or a temple, and invite our guides to appear. This practice can be enriched with automatic writing, where we allow our hand to write freely without conscious intervention, thus channeling the messages from our guides.
Channeling and direct messages
Another way to receive direct messages from our spiritual guides is to seek an experienced channeler who has developed the ability to receive and transmit clear messages from spiritual guides. By consulting a channeler, we can obtain more direct and specific guidance that may be difficult to access on our own.
A common practice in this context is the reading of Akashic Records, where the reader connects with our spiritual guides, who, in addition to sending us their own messages, also transmit messages from the Akasha.
