I wish to connect with my ancestors who, based on what I've read, practiced a shamanic belief system in Neolithic Britain. What I'm concerned about is opening myself up to ne'rdowells, who exist in all ancestry. I've got Catholic terrorists (related to one of the Gunpowder Plotters), a 17th century hedonist (has his own wikipedia page) and a number of women burnt as witches (likely they were just unpopular) so I know I have a mixed bag. I don't want to be vulnerable to attack, so what would you do? Or am I even coming at this from a totally wrong direction?
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Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
I'm not one to ever pray for mercy
Or to wish on pennies in the fountain or the shrine
But that day you know I left my money
And I thought of you only
All that copper glowing fineTags: None
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Opinionated
- Jun 2013
- 2447
- Northern Tradition Shaminist Demonolator. Or something along those lines...
- female
- Adelaide, Australia
Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Originally posted by Briton View PostI wish to connect with my ancestors who, based on what I've read, practiced a shamanic belief system in Neolithic Britain. What I'm concerned about is opening myself up to ne'rdowells, who exist in all ancestry. I've got Catholic terrorists (related to one of the Gunpowder Plotters), a 17th century hedonist (has his own wikipedia page) and a number of women burnt as witches (likely they were just unpopular) so I know I have a mixed bag. I don't want to be vulnerable to attack, so what would you do? Or am I even coming at this from a totally wrong direction?
Having said that, Ancestor work is not quite the same as working with other sorts of spirits. I'm also never a fan of 'opening yourself up' to anything unless you have the systems and guides in place to protect yourself from astral nasties. The good thing about Ancestor work is that we have identities and names to start working with, so don't have to go into it blind. The foundation of Ancestor work is usually an altar, where you can place photos, genealogy notes or things that represent your ancestors. Then meditate on your ancestry and the lessons that you can learn from those who came before us. Ancestors will sometimes come forward after you start a regular veneration practice. If you have a shamanic practice it's possible to journey to meet them, but discernment is necessary to ensure that you aren't being tricked by opportunistic entities.
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
You can "connect" with them by simply recognizing the fact that they are your ancestors and might be able to contribute something to you based on their experiences in life ... How that happens is up to them and you ...I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them ... John Bernard Books
Indian Chief 'Two Eagles' was asked by a white government official; "You have observed the white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done."
The Chief nodded in agreement.
The official continued; "Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?"
The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute and then calmly replied.. "When white man find land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver, clean water. Women did all the work, Medicine Man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing; all night having sex."
Then the chief leaned back and smiled; "Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that."
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Silver Member
- May 2013
- 2847
- Shamanic Practitioner & Green / Hedge Witch with Hellenic leanings
- West Virginia
- Can't never did nothing till it tried!
Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Ancestor work to me gets into an iffy realm. Iffy in that are you referring to the biological and bloodline ancestry? Are you referring to the cultural ancestry? Are you referring to a geographical ancestry? Realistically even considering are you considering the factual ancestry of your lineage or perhaps almost an egregore construct of what you think your ancestry and history are.
I know when I work ancestry I tend to work bloodline ancestry which gives it a different feel. Yet at times I also work the total ancestry that includes all my family and those influences as well as the clan, tribe, etc that equally contributed to and molded them. BY total I refer to the notion of people descending from a single blood ancestor but are not my direct blood lines such as those formed through siblings and their descendants.
Protections? For me it seems if I am called to seek out an ancestral contact then someone has already tried to narrow the scope and placed protections and safeguards in place. BUt I have to admit my own experiences and such seem to suggest that ones ancestry and concern / attachment to it only goes back a couple of generations before they no longer relate to your lineage. Well unless there is some pressing commitment or attachment that is passed down through the family and continues to affect / effect multiple generations.I'm Only Responsible For What I Say Not For What Or How You Understand!
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306
- Aug 2012
- 2553
- animist hedge witch.
- female
- Wilmington DE
- Even if you're only a boy, you can fight like a girl!
Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Wording and intent matters. Be specific about what you are opening yourself up to. Don't just roll with the flow, though it can be tempting, maintain your intent and maintain your control be fluid and open to explore but keep your specific goals in mind. Be sure of yourself and what you're doing mental walls and barriers up until you're sure you know exactly who and what you're dealing with.http://catcrowsnow.blogspot.com/
But they were doughnuts of darkness. Evil damned doughnuts, tainted by the spawn of darkness.... Which could obviously only be redeemed by passing through the fiery inferno of my digestive tract.
~Jim Butcher
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Hi, thank you everyone. Given me a lot to think about. I am in the process of designing and building an offering shrine. Primarily I seek to find my regional (southern England) ancestors. I do not buy into the 'Celt cult', ie that these ancestors were Celts, they weren't. I want to recognise them for what they have achieved in bringing this civilisation to where it is which has been abused by historians of the last few centuries. Thankfully this is changing but I want to continue their identity because they have been largely forgotten, whitewashed, and they deserve better, deserve thanks. The more I read the more I realize how industrious and advanced they were. So I want to revive the shamanic culture that was around before (annd after) the early Iron Age when Celtic groups settled that achieved most of our prehistory. I don't have a problem with the settled Celtic polytheistic hustory, I just don't connect to it. I am the child of immigration, so I am largely paying homage to the regional/cultural ancestors who in my opinion make Britain fascinating to me.I'm not one to ever pray for mercy
Or to wish on pennies in the fountain or the shrine
But that day you know I left my money
And I thought of you only
All that copper glowing fine
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Your ancestors could have been Celts, Anglos, Saxons, Irish or even Romans ... Or all of them ...I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them ... John Bernard Books
Indian Chief 'Two Eagles' was asked by a white government official; "You have observed the white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done."
The Chief nodded in agreement.
The official continued; "Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?"
The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute and then calmly replied.. "When white man find land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver, clean water. Women did all the work, Medicine Man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing; all night having sex."
Then the chief leaned back and smiled; "Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that."
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Originally posted by magusphredde View PostYour ancestors could have been Celts, Anglos, Saxons, Irish or even Romans ... Or all of them ...I'm not one to ever pray for mercy
Or to wish on pennies in the fountain or the shrine
But that day you know I left my money
And I thought of you only
All that copper glowing fine
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sea witch
- Oct 2005
- 11651
- relational theophysis and bioregional witchery
- coastal Georgia
- *a little bad taste is like a nice dash of paprika*
Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
I want to recognise them for what they have achieved in bringing this civilisation to where it is which has been abused by historians of the last few centuries. Thankfully this is changing but I want to continue their identity because they have been largely forgotten, whitewashed, and they deserve better, deserve thanks. The more I read the more I realize how industrious and advanced they were. So I want to revive the shamanic culture that was around before (annd after) the early Iron Age when Celtic groups settled that achieved most of our prehistory. I don't have a problem with the settled Celtic polytheistic hustory, I just don't connect to it.Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryPagan Devotionals, because the wind and the rain is our Bible
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Thanks. I was going to do wood carvings, alcohol and stonework, like flint knapping ornate shapes and useful tools.I'm not one to ever pray for mercy
Or to wish on pennies in the fountain or the shrine
But that day you know I left my money
And I thought of you only
All that copper glowing fine
Comment
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sea witch
- Oct 2005
- 11651
- relational theophysis and bioregional witchery
- coastal Georgia
- *a little bad taste is like a nice dash of paprika*
Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Originally posted by Briton View PostThanks. I was going to do wood carvings, alcohol and stonework, like flint knapping ornate shapes and useful tools.Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryPagan Devotionals, because the wind and the rain is our Bible
sigpic
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Originally posted by Briton View PostI wish to connect with my ancestors who, based on what I've read, practiced a shamanic belief system in Neolithic Britain. What I'm concerned about is opening myself up to ne'rdowells, who exist in all ancestry. I've got Catholic terrorists (related to one of the Gunpowder Plotters), a 17th century hedonist (has his own wikipedia page) and a number of women burnt as witches (likely they were just unpopular) so I know I have a mixed bag. I don't want to be vulnerable to attack, so what would you do? Or am I even coming at this from a totally wrong direction?
As far as ancestors who would take an interest in you, they'd go back only 3 generations to your great-grandparents, if you even knew them. As a Heathen I am ancestor-deprived. I did not know my paternal grandparents at all, I hardly knew my maternal grandparents, and I did not have the best relationship with my parents. I put that aside and honor them nevertheless with a small shrine, but I don't do much else with them. I do keep in mind everything about the past cultures that made me. Knowing where you came from, learning about the culture, collecting and displaying a few items representing that past honors ancestors even though you didn't know them.śivāya vishnu rūpaya śivaḥ rūpaya vishnave
śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Double post! Sorry
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Originally posted by Thorbjorn View PostAs far as ancestors who would take an interest in you, they'd go back only 3 generations to your great-grandparentsI'm not one to ever pray for mercy
Or to wish on pennies in the fountain or the shrine
But that day you know I left my money
And I thought of you only
All that copper glowing fine
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
Originally posted by Briton View PostHow come? Is this from your experience?śivāya vishnu rūpaya śivaḥ rūpaya vishnave
śivasya hridayam viṣṇur viṣṇoscha hridayam śivaḥ
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Re: Safeguarding when contacting ancestors
I'd say the reasoning itself is that for the most part, those are the ancestors who would have had a chance to know you, or at least have been aware of your presence in both your and their time while alive. It would be much easier to establish a connection with someone with whom you had had some physical contact, even if it was for a short time.
I'd also think though, that the generational rule could be suspended for those family members who were "famous" or "infamous", so to speak. Through stories constantly told, retold, and handed down from generation to generation, one could feel as though you "know" that ancestor, thus creating a link to that individual.
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