When I did the Four Winds shamanic training, the Healing the Light Body training consisted of the four directions of the compass plus some masterclasses and a trip to Peru. One of the topics covered in the West direction was the Ancestral Altar.
I was surprised by how lovely it is to do and how powerful and comforting it can feel. It can just look like a standard photo gallery to visitors to your house, or you can make it something very much more striking.
What is the west compass direction about?
The west is the direction where we work with Jaguar, where shamans learn to journey beyond death, become free of death, and to part the veils between the worlds.
In this part of the training, the shaman learns how to disengage the luminous body from the physical body so he or she can experience life as a luminous body briefly. This was done in groups of five shamans and was a liberating and humbling experience that gave me a completely different perspective on life and death.
Jaguar’s practice is to live beyond anger and beyond fear, to live in a practice of peace. To be able to step beyond anger and fear.
The shaman learns the way beyond death which allows her to understand that we are a spiritual being on a biological journey, and no longer stalked by death. Anger and fear are our response to a world Alberto says is stalked by fear of death.
The practices of the Jaguar shaman are non-engagement, non-reactiveness, of being completely negotiable yet uncompromising. The way of the luminous warrior who has no need for violence, no enemies in this world yet speaks the truth. She cannot remain silent. She has to walk and speak her truth.
Protecting all life, practicing truth, and speaking the truth even at the cost of no life. Non-engagement. Non-reactive behaviour.
Who am I? is the big question we ask. We are told to ask from the heart not the mind because ‘the mind is mad’.
Why create an ancestral altar?
Many cultures practice ancestral worship. It is misunderstood. The villagers aren’t worshipping the ancestors, they are putting them on the altar in their house for practical reasons so they know where they are! I thought this was hilarious when I heard Alberto say they are putting them there “so they are not running about the house loose amongst the living family.”
“…so you know where your ancestors are!”
The ancestral altar allows us to elevate, honour and celebrate them. In the West, we tend to blame our ancestors and hold them responsible for our issues.
If we don’t honour our ancestors they will continue to live through us, haunting us and impacting our lives.
By elevating them to this altar and honouring them for the gifts they gave us, we are detaching from them and allowing ourselves to live more freely.
“…allowing ourselves to live more freely”
This isn’t necessarily easy. You might be surprised by what comes up when you start doing this.
Finally, when you are at peace with your ancestors and comfortable that they are lovingly supporting us and available to call upon for help the power can truly be perceived.
There is something very nice and comforting about having one of these altars – give it a try!
Creating an ancestral Altar
Where?
You need a quiet spot in your house where you will be able to spend some time (daily or a few times a week) honouring your ancestors. It doesn’t have to be grand.
Don’t put it in your bedroom.
A small table or cupboard would work as well.
What goes on it?
Select artefacts that are linked to, or will signify to you, particular ancestors that you would like to work with. A photograph or something else that the person used/gave you/would have liked or something else that reminds you of him or her.
Note that the people you select as ancestors can be from way back or just those who you knew and lost in this lifetime.
Spend some time getting your ancestral altar populated with everything/everyone you feel you need there at the moment.
I also like put photos of departed friends and animals on mine so I can remember them and honour them too. They could easily go on separate ones too.
Decoration
Next, you decorate it. Make it really nice. Perhaps add a bowl of water, rice, flowers, and crystals. Anything you can find that will make it a pleasant space.
Ceremony for the ancestors
Light a candle and, one by one, thank each of them for something they gave you. It could be a talent or gift you have or wisdom you gained through knowing him or her. You might have to think very laterally to find something if your relationship is distant, poor or fleeting.
This allows you to remember each in the way you choose to remember them.
If there are other feelings that have not been cleared such as you feel you need to apologise to him/her then this is the time to do that as well. Keep going until you feel at peace with your relationship.
This practice/ceremony can liberate us from the curse of our ancestors and stop us from transmitting harm to our children. It also frees us to be available to our own calling in life.
Showing this respect and appreciation cuts the harmful ties to them. You are no longer being oppressed or haunted by them.
You have chosen the “heroic path” instead, as Alberto calls it. Now you choose how you remember your ancestors and elevate them to a place of honour.
Alberto described a woman who was abused by her father for seven years and she said she hated him, very understandably. Alberto explained to her that until she could thank him for the lessons he taught her (not to excuse his behaviour) then she wouldn’t ever be free of him. She would be haunted by him and also attracted to men who would continue to abuse her. She managed this after a lot of hard work.
