Are your ancestors calling you?

I don't know about you, but I love this time of year, and Samhain is my favorite time of year!

Samhain (pronounced SAH-win) is rooted in ancient Celtic traditions and is celebrated as the beginning of winter. It is also a time when the veil between this world as we know it and the other side is thinnest, which is a wonderful time to celebrate, honor, and connect with your ancestors, and those who have passed over.

Now, of course, this is also a time when many believed that spirits would also cross over and there are many traditions that believe that dressing up during Halloween would confuse or scare these spirits away and leave the living be. This is a tradition that has loosely been carried over to our current times, though I am not sure what the spirits think of people dressing up as Barbie or sexy kitties haha

Your ancestors could be part of your family in this life or past lives, though usually blood-related. Though many of us feel a strong connection to our ancestors, some of us do not, and this may be because we have not thought about it before, or have no idea where or how to start connecting to them. So how can you connect to your own ancestors?

1. Try setting up a small altar with photos, or mementos of those who have crossed over from your family. Light some candles, and include anything else that feels special to you, there are no rules here, trust what feels right to you. Ensure you are undisturbed and close your eyes, play some shamanic drum music, and send a message out either in your mind or out loud that you wish to connect. Sit and listen to what comes through. Be patient though, and trust. Ask questions, ask for guidance, and send them messages of your own, send love.

2. Listen to a guided meditation that is intended to connect to ancestors. Great places to start your search could be YouTube or Insight Timer.

3. Search out a ceremony or guided journey in your community or online, that resonates with you.

4. Try a Past Life Regression session to see if one of your ancestors is one of your spirit guides to deepen your connection to them.

5. Do something your passed-over loved one would have loved, such as making their favorite meal, hiking in nature, standing in a forest, and singing their favorite song. Keep their presence in mind while you do this, and allow any emotion that comes up to come up.

No matter what you try, I would recommend listening to your own intuition and trusting what is right for you. You can connect and work with your ancestors anytime, these suggestions are just to help you start somewhere. And of course, during this time of the year, it is a fantastic time to go inward and create practices and rituals that aid you on your own journey of the soul.

Remember that your personal rituals don't need to be super serious either. Your ancestors, spirit guides, and loved ones have a sense of humor too, so let yourself feel how you want to feel, as you want to ensure you are holding space, and only you know what that looks like for you.

I am off now to do my own ritual, so thank you for being here and I am wishing you a blessed Samhain.