Embracing Our Ancestors : Connecting for Wisdom and Releasing Limiting Influences

 

As a Witch and Spirit Keeper I have long learned about the influence of our ancestors in our journeys, whether spiritual or otherwise, and since this blog is meant to cover All About Spirits, in this month of November I feel guided to talk about our ancestral connections, and share my knowledge with all of you. 

To begin with, our ancestors are more than family members from our lineage, and any true spiritual seeker or Witch should start their journeys by connecting with Them. Although these connections are not always done at the beginning of one´s spiritual journey from what I´ve noted, they are still as important and as crucial a step for everyone, in order to overcome limitations and gain insight. Now why are the Ancestors so important in one´s journey, is because more than just a Spirit, these are enduring presences, offering us strength, wisdom, and sometimes even unresolved energies, karmic imprints that influence us in our daily lives. It is only by understanding their impact, that we can embrace their knowledge, address any lingering negative influences, and live more intentionally connected to our roots.

In this post I will share how to recognize ancestral patterns, connect meaningfully, and benefit from their gifts while letting go of any limiting influences.

Who Are Our Ancestors and How Do They Influence Us?

Needless to say, our ancestors are those who came before us - individuals from generations back, who lived, struggled, celebrated and ultimately shaped the lineage that we carry forward today. Their influence may show up in our lives quite differently than regular spirit companions, and in various forms, such as:

Inherited Strengths and Traits:  We may recognise qualities like creativity, resilience, or even specific skills that appear as inherited gifts. Take for example a genius child of today`s times. He may be 3 but he plays piano better than one who took over 15 years of classes. We call it Genius, or claim he was born for it, but Perhaps his ancestors worked very hard to learn music and had an innate passion for it, simple as that. Thus, the child continues where his ancestors left off. Like this, there are many examples of people that are either extremely resilient or extremely talented for one thing or another. Where do you think it all comes from?

Unresolved Energies:  Ancestors who experienced trauma or challenges without resolution may also pass those energies forward, appearing as fears or blockages in their descendants. These can be fears of things we have never seen or experienced in any way before, irrational fears with no logical explanation. It does not make any of us insane, this is simply a karmic imprint like any other, left behind from our ancestors who Did Experience it at some point.

Attraction to Objects, Places or Cultures:  Sometimes, we find ourselves drawn to certain places, eras, or traditions we have never personally experienced. These connections can hint at ancestral ties, or influences beyond our personal life experiences.

Recognizing Ancestral Patterns

The first step to positively connecting with our ancestors is understanding how they influence us - especially if these influences are limiting or negative in any way. Here is what to watch for: 

Irrational Fears: Certain fears, like an unexplained fear of water, heights, certain animals or noises could stem from ancestral traumas rather than personal experience. These illogical fears may be passed down, giving us insight into the challenges our ancestors faced.

Unexplained Attractions: Have you ever felt deeply drawn to a particular culture, type of music, flower or even hair type or colour without any clear or particular reason? Or have strong aversions to things you haven`t ever encountered? These responses can be clues about ancestral connections.

Recurring Patterns or Challenges: Financial struggles, relationship issues, or health habits that recur without obvious cause could be inherited from unresolved ancestral energies. We call those stress-eating, bad financial management, bad luck with women or men but in fact and if you carefully look at it, You are the cause, indirectly. And you make it happen to yourself with no obvious intention or reason, one way or another. Well the good news is that you are not entirely to blame, there is an ancestral Pattern, a karmic one, and identifying these patterns allows us to shift them, breaking cycles and ultimately, to heal our own lineage.

Recognising the patterns gives us the chance to work with them. We can choose to either overcome or integrate these traits by making them fully our own, allowing us to honour our ancestors while freeing ourselves from limiting influences.

How to Connect with Your Ancestors

Establishing a respectful, intentional connection with ancestors can bring guidance, healing, and a stronger sense of Self among others. There is no other spirit you may possibly come across that will be more interested, invested in your well-being and quicker to approach than an ancestral guide, this much you should know. And to connect with them there are some meaningful ways that will go a long way:

Set Up An Ancestral Altar:

An altar provides a physical space to honour and connect with your ancestors. Choose items that represent them as best as you can, such as:

Photos or family heirlooms

Objects tied to their homeland or culture

Symbols of qualities or values you associate with them ( like a feather for wisdom or a candle for guidance), or even things that are part of the experiences in which you feared or were brave to take part of - as this is sure to come from them, especially if they are again, illogical, inexplicable.

Offer them Gifts and Tokens:

Offering small gifts helps show respect and gratitude. Consider items such as:

Foods, drinks, or small items they would enjoy or you would enjoy

Flowers or natural items from their homeland

Anything that resonates with the qualities that you Know or Feel they embodied

Engage in Meditation, Prayer, or Rituals

Take time to connect with your ancestors through meditation or prayer. You can create an effective ritual that you can practice every now and then while you have the time, energy and silence you need :

Meditation:  After setting up your altar, you may place their offerings and then sit quietly visualising your ancestors surrounding you as you call upon their wisdom into your life. Open your heart to feel their presence and what they have to say to you.

Journaling:  You may choose to journal each of your experiences while meditating, or simply to write letters to your ancestors sharing your current life challenges or asking for their guidance. This reflective practice not only deepens your connection to these long forgotten souls, but by leaving your journal on their altar, you increase your chances to get the help and assistance you may need.

Divination:  You may also use various tools to communicate with your ancestors such as runes, tarots or pendulums and ask specific questions or simply seek their presence.

Call Upon Ancestors In Times Of Need

This is yet the best and quickest way to commune with our ancestors. When you face a challenge, never hesitate to ask your ancestors ´s support! A straightforward invocation might be : `` I call upon my ancestors, seeking guidance and protection as I navigate this challenge.`` Make it as personal as you can, as detailed as you can and you may be surprised on the result.

Now, keep in mind that as much related to us as they are, our ancestors were also different people, with various beliefs, experiences and fears. They can have the best intentions and influence for us, but they can also have limiting ones. While connecting with ancestors offers incredible benefits and guidance, it is important to release any limiting influences that may hold you back. Especially if you`re a Witch or a spiritual seeker, as your aim should be to remove Karmic imprints, and to evolve on your path. Here is an idea on how:

Recognize and Release Negative Patterns:

Acknowledge limiting influences with compassion. By understanding certain fears or struggles may stem from past generations, you create an opening for healing in your lineage. For example, if you identify a specific fear, try reframing it as an opportunity for courage or transformation. The quickest way to do that is to try and overcome it, not with force but with gentleness, through patience, time and above all, compassion. 

Cleansing Rituals: 

Water Cleansing: Submerge yourself in water or simply wash your hands with intention, visualizing the release of any negative ancestral influence.

Smoke cleansing: Use sage, palo santo, or other herbs to cleanse your space, objects and aura and invite positive, supportive ancestral energy.

Positive Affirmations for Healing: Affirmations can shift ancestral energies toward supportive intentions quite quickly, and you will note this perhaps, soon as you create a routine. For example: 

``I honour my ancestors journeys, but I create my own story and I invite only those before me who will want to share my joy``  

 or   

 ``I release all fears that do not belong to me, as I embrace my own path``   -as these clearly state your current and future intentions for the Self, ensuring your ancestors got your message.

Reframe and Integrate Traits: Reframe all limiting patterns you note, by consciously viewing them as strengths under the guise of Knowledge. For example, if you have an inherited tendency for caution, reframe it as a practice for discernment and wisdom, as after all, that is exactly what it is. This approach, not only helps you heal but also allows your ancestors to trust you, to find peace in knowing you are continuing their work of growth and transformation.

Embrace Ancestral Gifts and Wisdom

Once you have released any limiting influences, focus on embracing the gifts and strengths your ancestors have passed down. Here is how to honour these traits in your life:

Seek Guidance Regularly: Use your connection to call your ancestors during challenging times. A quiet meditation or a simple request in the exact moment you need it can bring clarity, resilience and insight.

Express Gratitude and Acknowledge Their Strengths: Regularly thank your ancestors for their guidance. By focusing on their strengths like wisdom, resilience, or creativity - you deepen your connection and create space for their gifts to manifest in your life.

You like it or not, acknowledge this or not, just as your face and body remembers your ancestors features, so does your spiritual body. Huge part of our ancestors good and bad traits are memorised within our spiritual codes. Thus, our ancestors live on through us, influencing our lives in ways both seen and unseen. The sooner you realise this, the sooner you`ll be able to evolve and thread your own path. By understanding and honouring their presence, we gain valuable wisdom while releasing any limiting energies. Through intentional connection, rituals and mindfulness, we honour our lineage and open pathways for connection, personal and ancestral healing. Embrace your ancestral roots with love, curiosity, and respect to transform the past and create a more empowered present and future!

It is my wish and my blessing for all of you who take the time to read this blog, and I am wishing each of you a wonderful journey and exploration! Much love to all, and see you in my next blog post!

P.S!  If you are new to my blog, I kindly invite you to explore all my other posts, where you may find lots of different, interesting topics regard spirituality and spirit keeping!

Until the next time! Maria - Harmony Collection Boutique