Honoring the Ancestors: A Ritual and Tarot Journey
Connecting With Your Beloved Dead During Samhain
Happy Halloween! As an American, today marks the start of my Halloweentide celebration, which ends on astrological Samhain. I know some pagans and witches avoid Halloween for its Christian connections. For me, Halloween is a cultural holiday I observe in a secular way. Samhain is when I approach the time with a spiritual focus—much like how I celebrate “Santa Xmas” in a cultural and secular way, not “Baby Jesus Christmas,” with Yule being my spiritual observance. Astrological Samhain, one of the Greater Sabbats, falls this year on November 7th at 15º Scorpio. As I write in my book:
”Many witches work with a concept called the Wheel of the Year, which marks the eight sabbats. Sabbats are days of magickal celebration honoring the cycles of the earth and the sun. The four Lesser Sabbats are marked by the two equinoxes and two solstices, which occur at the start of the cardinal zodiac signs. The four Greater Sabbats are astrologically marked by calculating the exact midpoint between each sabbat, and these occur during fixed signs.”
— Mat Auryn
Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch
At this time of year, as the leaves turn and the nights grow longer, we arrive at Samhain—the threshold where the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. Samhain is a sacred moment when the boundaries separating us from the spirits of the departed are more permeable, making it an ideal time to reach out to our ancestors. It's a season steeped in ancestral communion, reflection, and honoring those who have passed on. Embracing this energy, we can more easily connect with our ancestors, receive their guidance, and offer our respects.
Ancestry isn't just confined to the bloodlines recorded in our family trees. It also embraces the mentors, guides, and kindred souls who've influenced us along our journey. These are the friends, the wisdom keepers, the trailblazers, and the inspirational figures whose teachings and actions resonate deeply within us, even if we're not connected by genetic lineage. By recognizing this broader spectrum of ancestors, we open ourselves to a wealth of knowledge and experience that transcends genetic ties.
Connecting with our ancestors allows us to honor their legacy and seek the wisdom they offer. By engaging in a simple ritual combined with a tarot spread, we can deepen our relationship with those who came before us. This practice creates a bridge between the past and present, enabling a dialogue that enriches our spiritual journey. I'd like to share a ritual that blends ancestral reverence with the Ancestral Altar Tarot Spread, designed to strengthen that connection.
Side Note: If you’re curious about the witch’s perspective on how ancestral work, reincarnation, necromancy, hauntings, and mediumship can all be simultaneously true, check out chapter 6 in my first book Psychic Witch.
The Heart of the Ritual
This ritual is about remembrance and communion. It invites you to sit with the spirits of your lineage, to listen to their stories, and to seek their guidance. By offering simple gifts of water and candlelight, we express our respect and gratitude. Combining these heartfelt offerings with a tarot reading, we open ourselves to a dialogue that transcends time, allowing ancestral wisdom to illuminate our path.
Gathering Your Sacred Tools
For this journey, you'll need:
Photographs of Your Ancestors: Visual representations that serve as tangible links to your lineage.
A Glass of Water: An offering symbolizing life and the connection between worlds.
Candles: Offerings of light representing the enduring wisdom of your ancestors.
Your Tarot Deck: A familiar tool for spiritual exploration.
A Journal and Pen: To record any insights or messages that emerge during the ritual.
The Steps of the Ritual
1. Setting the Space
Choose a quiet, comfortable area where you won't be disturbed. This could be a dedicated altar space or a simple table in a peaceful corner. Cleanse the area if you wish—light some incense, use sage, or play soft music. The aim is to create a space that feels sacred and inviting.
2. Creating Your Ancestral Altar
Arrange the photographs of your ancestors thoughtfully on your altar. Place the glass of water at the center as an offering, acknowledging it as a symbol of life and connection. Position the candles around the photos and water, recognizing the candlelight as an offering of warmth and guidance. Ensure they are safely placed away from flammable items.
3. Grounding and Centering
Sit comfortably in front of your altar. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Feel the support of the ground beneath you. Envision roots extending from your body into the earth, anchoring you firmly.
4. Lighting the Candles
Light each candle one by one. As you do, offer the light to your ancestors. You might say, "I offer this light to honor you, ancestors who have gone before me." Allow each flame to serve as a beacon, inviting their presence into the space.
5. Offering the Water
Hold the glass of water for a moment, feeling its coolness. Offer it to your ancestors by saying, "I present this water as an offering to you, a symbol of life and the flow between our worlds. May it nourish our connection."
6. Invoking Their Presence
Speak from your heart to invite your ancestors. You might say, "Beloved ancestors, I welcome you into this space. I offer you light and water as tokens of my respect and gratitude. Please share your wisdom and guidance with me."
7. The Ancestral Altar Tarot Spread
The Layout
The Positions
The Ancestral Guide: The ancestor stepping forward to connect with you.
Inherited Strengths: Gifts and positive traits passed down to you.
Inherited Challenges: Patterns or lessons from your lineage that you may face.
Message from the Ancestors: Guidance they wish to offer you now.
Healing the Past: Ancestral wounds that seek resolution.
Embracing Gifts: Talents within you ready to be developed.
Deepening Connection: How to strengthen your bond with your ancestors.
Your Role: Your place and purpose within your family's story.
Legacy for the Future: What you are cultivating for future generations.
Ancestral Blessing: A gift or blessing from your ancestors.
Conducting the Reading
Shuffle your tarot deck with the intention of connecting to your ancestors. As you handle the cards, feel their presence supporting you. Lay out the cards in the order of the spread. Turn over each card slowly, taking time to observe and reflect on its imagery and how it relates to its position in the spread.
Card 1: Consider whether the imagery reminds you of a specific ancestor or evokes certain feelings.
Cards 2 and 3: Reflect on how these strengths and challenges manifest in your life.
Card 4: Pay attention to the immediate thoughts or emotions it elicits; this is the message they want to convey.
Card 5: Approach any sensitive revelations with compassion, acknowledging any healing needed.
Cards 6 to 9: These offer guidance on embracing your gifts, deepening your connection, understanding your role, and shaping your legacy.
Card 10: Receive this ancestral blessing with gratitude, allowing it to inspire you.
Keep your journal handy to note any insights, emotions, or messages that come through during the reading.
8. Reflection
After the reading, spend some time in quiet reflection. You might meditate, focusing on your breath and the feelings that have arisen. Allow the messages and insights to settle into your awareness. Acknowledge any emotions without judgment, recognizing them as part of your healing and growth.
9. Words of Gratitude
Express your appreciation to your ancestors. You might say, "Thank you for accepting my offerings and for your presence here. I carry your wisdom with me." Feel a sense of connection and gratitude flowing from your heart.
10. Closing the Ritual
When you feel ready, gently extinguish the candles, perhaps leaving one lit if you wish to maintain the connection a bit longer. You can keep the water on the altar for a day before returning it to the earth, pouring it at the base of a tree or into a garden as an offering back to nature.
Feel free to adapt the ritual to suit your personal beliefs and practices. Incorporate items or traditions that hold special meaning for you. Consider repeating this ritual regularly, such as on ancestral anniversaries or cultural festivals, to maintain and deepen your connection. Pay attention to your dreams in the days following the ritual, as your ancestors may communicate with you through them.
For those interested in deepening their ancestral work, spirit work, and mediumship, consider reading these books, all of which I personally recommend:
Auryn, Mat. "The Psychic Art of Tarot: Opening Your Inner Eye For More Insightful Readings"
Auryn, Mat. "Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation"
Auryn, Mat. "Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch"
Dionne, Danielle. “Magickal Mediumship: Partnering with the Ancestors for Healing and Spiritual Development”
Dominguez, Jr., Ivo. “Spirit Speak: Knowing and Understanding Spirit Guides, Ancestors, Ghosts, Angels, and the Divine”
Hendrickson, Nancy. “Ancestral Grimoire: Connect with the Wisdom of the Ancestors through Tarot, Oracles, and Magic”
Hendrickson, Nancy. “Ancestral Tarot: Uncover Your Past and Chart Your Future”
Hunter, Devin. “The Witch’s Book of Spirits”
Illes, Judika. “Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses”
Miller, Jason. “Consorting with Spirits: Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies”
Mortellus. “Bones Fall In A Spiral: A Necromatic Primer”
Mortellus. “Do I Have to Wear Black?: Rituals, Customs & Funerary Etiquette for Modern Pagans”
Mortellus. “Necrobotany: The Morticulture of Death” (Pre-Order)
Penczak, Christopher. “The Mighty Dead: Communing With The Ancestrors of Witchcraft”
Stimpson, Ben. “Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Building Ancestral Veneration Practices”
Swain, BJ. “Living Spirits: A Guide to Magic in a World of Spirits”
Vaudoise, Mallorie."Honoring Your Ancestors: A Guide to Ancestral Veneration"
Other News & Updates
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