Working With Ancestors 101

Connecting with your African ancestors (Ancestral Reverance)
Most people call upon the ancestors to build a relationship, much like the relationship one would have with a physical person. However, the relationship is based on honoring and taking guidance, just as you would regarding highly esteemed elders. Ancestors are perceived as elders that are capable of sharing wisdom and guidance. You can invite ancestors to be your spirit guides, but somewhat in the way that psychic mediumship occurs. Specifically, you can ask them to give you signs, make you feel and sense things that help to guide you. Of course, you must select the ancestors that are appropriate because of their knowledge and wisdom.

The interaction with ancestors can take several forms. For instance, in many African traditions, ancestors are invited to attend major functions with libations during the birth of a child, weddings, funerals, before major interviews, speech engagements and so on. However, do not wait for big community level events, African people should connect with the ancestors alone in the privacy of an altar at home


 
Dr Mumbi's YouTube video 'Why we call on our ancestors'

If you develop a close relationship with your ancestors, they can download knowledge and wisdom to you that is beyond your normal human capacity, this is especially the case when you have a special mission and they have chosen and gathered around you very specifically in accordance. 
  • Dr Mumbi gives the example (at 07:47) of an effective healer with wisdom beyond his personal knowledge and understanding. When faced with a client needing help, the ancestors gathered around and told him what ingredients to use. Dr Mumbi's YouTube video 'How do our ancestors give us our superpowers'
  • @11:36 in her video, Dr Mumbi uses the example of a old president in Burkina Faso, Ibrahim TraorĂ© who, at 34 proceeded with strength and wisdom beyond his age or normal to the extent that he may even be a reincarnated ancestor at least in part from ancient times. The reincarnating spirit can be likened to the way in which physical characteristics, illnesses, gifts and otherwise are passed down through bloodlines. His bloodline may come from a lineage of powerful people in the past. His trailblazing abilities make him untouchable by his enemies. This is because his ancestors gather around to protect and help him while dumbfounding his enemies. His ancient ancestors transform his current day weaker self into his more powerful ancient self, as a means of correcting the imbalances currently facing the planet. It is likely that, when ancient ancestors reincarnate today, they pull the attention of others also because human life has been almost like a forgotten part of their existence that now draws their attention again
    .
  • What examples do you have?  

To be clear however, this reverence for the ancestors is not worship. It is meant to be like a conversation or relationship. 


Who are ancestors? ... or which ancestors are you calling?
Much like the physical world in which we can not reasonably expect any single person to be capable of meeting all of our needs, so too is the spiritual world. I will therefore discuss the different types of ancestors so that you can figure which you need.

Ancestors may be passed blood relatives (recent or from more ancient times), adoptive family and or significant role models who have followed a path which you now choose to emulate. Examples of the latter may include figures like Buddha, Haile Selassie, shamans, Christs and so on. High level work on the planet often attracts and gets the attention of ancient ancestors, ie ancestors with more psychic power and wisdom, untainted by modern life adulterations. These powers often involved agreements with the living planet that allowed our ancestors to have close collaborative relationships with the plant and animal kingdoms. This is why they often knew healing herbs and so on.

When entering into a new environment, you may address its ancestors. This is much like the respectful act of requesting entry from a doorman. If he lets you in, you are more likely to have a safe and peaceful stay.

Your ancestors of interest may even include those before you who have passed on their negative karmic debt, aka ancestral debt. As in the physical world (like when your parent dies before paying off for an item they bought), passed on debts refer to unresolved issues that you inherit because of your association with the ancestor(s). Debts may show up as family cycles of certain kinds of (social) traumatic situation or particular physical or mental diseases. For instance, there is a statistically significantly higher incidence of diabetes among oppressed people of color, a fact that also correlates with physiological forms of suffering involving increased stress hormones and significant spikes in blood sugar levels (Dr Dawn Elise, aka on YouTube as Doc Snipesher video on C-PTSD). Part of your mission may involve breaking generational curses and clearing those cycles from your lineage. For this reason, like a loving family member, you may call upon those ancestors to clear their ancestral debts. (Needless to say, hopefully, the same may be done by those whose families have caused the trauma.) See more about ancestral debts (below)

Getting back to my discussion on calling on the appropriate ancestor, you will want to call upon ancestors with ancestral debt to help to clear their debt before meetings of groups, like family or other group members. These might include shamans that have unfinished business because they were killed off but you will finish their work or restore their glory. Ancients who conquered illness or other problems that you face may be the ones to call upon and so on. 


Not All Ancestors Are Worthy !!!
Before calling upon any ancestor, find out as much as you can about them. 

This is particularly important because not all ancestors are good and worthy, just as living family members are not all good. For instance, your uncle Paul who molested children will not be suitable in your home with your little children. This is because the energy of someone in life is transferred into their death. 

BTW, if you have conjured negative ancestors, banish them just as you might negative relatives or people who are psychic vampires and against whom you wish to cut the psychic cords (See how to perform this ceremony) and even use a banishing prayer (See a commonly used banishing prayer).


How to Choose & Summon Ancestors
Know what you want from the relationship with the ancestors. After all, this is likely ... or should be how you approach new relationships in your life. You approach the baker for bread, not a mechanic.

In other words, be clear in your mind about who and why you wish to invite ancestors. Then be highly specific when inviting ancestors into your life. Here is an example of steps to take when inviting ancestors into your life. 
  • Do not embark on this process with fear.
  • Make a ceremony of this invitation. Be in a quiet space. Visualize white protective light around you.
  • Explain your goals. 
  • State that you want only those willing and able to support you to meet those goals to come through. 
  • State your conditions. For instance, you may demand that they come through only if they come in the spirit of love and healing.


How to Commune with Ancestors
  • Do not embark on this process with fear.
  • Set up an altar. Thoughtfully personalize the space to you and your ancestors. Here are some examples.
    • If you like incense, include that element.
    • Include elements of their heritage.
    • If the ancestors like blue, place gifts in a blue plate that no one else uses
  • Awaken the ancestors by pouring libations. Do so as a loving child would to a sleeping parent; gently. libation is the ritual and sacrificial pouring of usually liquid, commonly alcoholic beverages in memory of the dead
    • An additional tradition is to use noise makers like
      • shak shaks (which are very typical in African spiritual practices)
      • maracas
      • bells
  • When time allows, build the relationship by connecting with your ancestors from time to time, just as you would a loved one in the living world.
    • As with any guest, thank the ancestors for coming
    • Have regular, heartfelt conversations. Do not go through the motions.
    • Play music that your ancestors liked or was part of their heritage. Cook traditional foods, while listening to the music of your ancestors' heritage.  
    • There is no need for fancy speeches. You are among family!
    • Be a loving relative; connect purely for the sake of doing so and not only to ask for something.
    • They are your elders. Seek their help and guidance. Your ancestors may be the solution for when you are unsure of who you can discuss certain problems. Allow your ancestors to act as a shoulder on which to rest and release burdens.
  • Carry gifts. Do not meet your ancestors empty handed. Here are some gift ideas. However, be guided by what they like, even if it is to speak to them in their language or play music they like.
    • Libations with wine, water or other liquid
    • Offer items the ancestors enjoyed in life. In other words, you would not want to offer meat to people who were vegan. Fruits are a common example, especially those that will not rot or create problems if left out on your altar like uncut apples. (Food is for the ancestors and not for your consumption afterwards. You can offer the foods to the garden, especially if they can be easily composted).
    • Gifts may be used to commemorate special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
    • You may offer your talent like music, poetry and so on.
    • Your prayers, as for 
      • the completion or at least furthering towards completion of missions that, for some reason or other, they were unable to complete. 
      • breaking generational curses against your ancestors. Here is a declaration by YouTuber Chhavi Zaine Tarot Investigator. Chhavi explains to write the following onto paper and then burn it with fire (a transformative energy).

I declare and decree

that all generational curses

over myself, my ancestors, my offspring, the parent of my offspring

are now destroyed in spirit and in flesh

Thank God and your spiritual team for helping you to destroy the energy of the generational curse and restoring the rightful inheritance of gifts, talents and so on. Then write a personalized version of the following onto the holder of or directly onto a white candle with permanent marker. Allow the candle to burn through. 

I reclaim 

__my inheritance, birthright and sovereignty__

on behalf of myself and my lineage

in spirit and in flesh

...

YouTuber clip by Chhavi Zain Tarot Investigator 'Chosen: your enemy has driven themselves into insanity doing spellwork against you.' (Clip above: @21:45 to 23:00 only)

  • Visit daily if you can, even if you can not make a full ceremony of the encounter. Consider how, when life is hectic, you might only have a chance to rush in to the home of a loved one only to say 'hi' and 'bye' with a kiss. Keep the relationship with your ancestors alive in the same way. It counts.  

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What to expect?
  • After you have begun to invite ancestors into your life, they may appear to you. A common way in which this happens is in your dreams.





CONTENT RELATED TO ANCESTORS

Yeyefini Efunbolade's YouTube video 'Demystifing the ancestors'


YouTuber HomeTeam History video 'The African queen who stood against Rome'. This is a story of the Queen Amanirenas.


YouTuber HomeTeam History video 'The Greatest African queen the world forgot'. This is a story of the Queen Amanirenas.



YouTuber Nourishment 101 video 'Ancestral debt explained' (video immediately above)

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