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INTUITIVE PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT Connecting with Ancestors

There are traditions of ancestor veneration from every part of the world. All of these traditions have similarities and all of them have important differences. The practices described here are drawn directly from what I have learned from practitioners and mediums in the South African Sangoma tradition and the African-American hoodoo tradition, as well as the practices of Spiritualism and Latin American Spiritism. WHO ARE THE ANCESTORS The Ancestors include the blood relatives of your mothers and fathers line, as well as other close friends and loved ones who have passed on. Additionally your spiritual court includes your spirit guides, helper spirits and any other spirits that may be with you as helpers and guides in this lifetime. WHY DO WE CONTACT THEM There are many reasons to contact and work with your ancestors, including:

Emotional and Personal Healing Comfort Spiritual Evolution Guidance

And many more reasons that become clear during the work. Your ancestors are the genetic, karmic and energetic basis of who you are and they are there to comfort, guide and assist you in your life. They are there for you, to help you and assist you in your personal evolution, and by working with them and evolving, you are assisting in their expansion and evolution as well. THE ANCESTOR ALTAR An ancestor altar is an important tool in working with your ancestors. Ideally the altar is placed in a living room, or some area where the ancestors can participate in your and your families day to day life, not hidden away.

The altar may be as simple or elaborate as you like, but make sure everything on it has a meaning. A white cloth is traditional, as are pictures of your ancestors, fresh flowers, candles and incense. It is also traditional to have either a glass of water on the altar, or several small glasses for each spirit or ancestral line; these should be changed at least once a week. While white candles are traditional (either one candle, or one for each ancestor or ancestral line), some traditions also teach lighting a red candle to represent the bloodline. It is also traditional to leave foods that your ancestors liked (e.g. if they had a favorite drink or dish) or to leave a small amount of each meal cooked at the altar. If you do this, it should be placed on the altar before you eat. COMMUNING AT THE ALTAR Time should be spent daily, or at least weekly, at the altar meditating, praying and or simply being with your ancestors. Over time you will develop your own methods with your ancestors, but here is a possible outline:

Sprinkle the altar with purified water (Florida Water cologne is traditional for this, as is Hoyts cologne or holy water) to purify the altar.

Light your candle or candles and incense.

Relax into a meditative state, in anyway that you wish, and visualize a sphere of beautiful white light surrounding yourself and the altar

Pray to God, Goddess, Universe or in any way asking that the altar be blessed

and protected and make a doorway for you to make contact with your ancestors. You may ask also that the light of God shine on your ancestors and yourself blessing you all and guiding your spiritual evolution.

By this point you may well feel the presence of your ancestors very strongly, if not simply smile and know they are there for you and that the altar work is opening the lines of communication.

It is traditional now to say a prayer with the ancestors. Traditional prayers include the Our Father and the 23 psalm, but you may use other prayers from your familys tradition or that resonate with you.

Lastly simply be silent and be in the presence of you ancestors. Smile to them and with them. You may want to tell them what is happening in your life, ask for strength, healing or guidance. You may also want to sing old songs, or share memories. You can also send energy to them; this energy will be received and returned to you amplified and at a higher vibration.

This is also an appropriate time to do divination or mediumship as well as to preform any cleansing or healing work with the aid of your ancestors.

When you feel that the time is up, thank your ancestors, send them love and ask that they stay with you in your life.

Blow out the candle, extinguish the incense and be still for another moment, appreciating the blessings that you have received.

This process can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour or more. It is a good practice to come to the altar regularly, even if just for a minute or two, as well as to have longer times weekly or monthly. At any point during your time at the altar you may receive flashes of insight, messages, feelings or sensations, smells or sounds. Take note of these for they are messages from Spirit.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE ANCESTORS The ancestors can communicate directly through your intuition as well as through any divination. A pendulum is wonderful method, as is skrying (crystal ball) or any other tool of divination you are comfortable with. Simply connect with the ancestors and ask that they communicate with you through the method you are using. BONE CASTING Bone casting is one of the oldest forms of divination. The bones are a direct connection with the spirit world and the realm of the ancestors and bone casting is intimately tied in with ancestor work. Becoming proficient as a bone reader is a long-term commitment, but a rewarding one. The essence can be learned relatively quickly, but regular practice and a deep connection with the ancestors is necessary. Bone casting is not currently something that I teach, but luckily there are two resources that I cannot recommend highly enough, they are: Bones, Shells and Curios by Michele Jackson And Throwing the Bones by Catherine Yronwode Both are available at: Luckymojo.com/bonesshellsandcurios.html Michele Jacksons book is also available directly from her at: Bonesshellsandcurios.com (I dont get anything from either site, but if you visit them tell them Courtney Kolb sent you! J)

For bone readings, sances or mediumship parties, check out: Myintuitionist.com