Ancestral Veneration - Healing for the Holidays

Author: Abla

The holidays can be a difficult time for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. For many people, this is the first season without their beloved. Being surrounded by family traditions and celebrations that they shared in the past can make their absence feel especially painful. However, there is an ancient spiritual practice that has been used for generations to help cope with grief and feel connected to lost loved ones during this time - Ancestral Veneration. 

Ancestral veneration involves honoring, exulting, holding in high esteem, respecting, and reverencing our bloodline family members who have passed on to the otherside.

It is our way of remembering our ancestors through rituals, routines, offerings, and prayers. Engaging in ancestral veneration allows us to shift our focus from the sadness of loss, to appreciating the legacy our ancestors left behind and the role they played in our lives and family history 

The goal of ancestral veneration is to maintain a spiritual bond across generations, which connects us to our divine source and ancestors. This connection provides comfort, support, and strength during difficult times. During the holidays, taking time to acknowledge and pay respects to those who have passed can help ease the pain of missing them. 

Here are some ways you can venerate your ancestors this season:

Option One: White

Traditional African wisdom teaches about the symbolic power of color. Different colors emit and attract different vibrations, frequencies or energies. In  African traditions, white is known as the color of the ancestors.  White resonates with the frequency that attracts ancestral energies. When wanting to feel close to loved ones who have passed, incorporating the color white can be beneficial. Wearing white clothing, headwraps or other white items is recommended when praying, meditating or remembering ancestors. 

Lighting white candles as part of an ancestral altar or during prayer and remembrance can also help strengthen the connection. The bright, pure color of white is thought to guide ancestral spirits and make their presence felt. This holiday season, consider incorporating symbolic uses of white to aid in venerating and honoring family members who are no longer physically present.   

Option Two: Food Offerings

During the holidays, cooking and sharing meals with living family members is an important tradition. However, it can also be meaningful to prepare foods as an offering for ancestors. In many spiritual traditions, the act of cooking and the "love" or care put into food preparation is believed to impart positive energy and nourishment beyond just physical sustenance. By setting aside a plate of offerings for ancestors, that loving energy is shared with them as well. When preparing traditional dishes, consider setting the first plate aside as an ancestral offering, before eating yourself. Simple foods like fresh fruits, cakes, or breads are appropriate. Be sure to avoiding red, black or spicy foods.   

In addition to food, always include fresh, pure water as part of ancestral offerings. Water is seen as cleansing and nourishing for spirits. Leaving the ancestral offering undisturbed overnight allows time for ancestors to partake energetically.  Taking a moment to connect with and provide for ancestors in this small way can help maintain bonds of intergenerational love during this holy season. It deepens gratitude for those who have passed on traditions now enjoyed.  

Option Three: Photos

Gathering photos of deceased loved ones and displaying them thoughtfully is a heartwarming way to honor ancestors. In many spiritual traditions, photos or mementos of ancestors are kept in homes to acknowledge their continued connection to living family members.  Viewing photos helps ignite precious memories of ancestors, the life lessons learned from them and our unique bond across time. Take care in selecting images that bring a sense of joy, reflection and connection when displayed in a respectful manner.

Curating a collection of ancestral photos can become a cherished tradition passed down through generations, telling the rich history of a family lineage. However, it's important the photos only feature those who have passed on. Any images including living relatives should be avoided or cropped so the focus remains solely on venerating ancestors.  

Thoughtfully displaying ancestral photos in this way provides an opportunity to discover more about our divine heritage, while cherishing the presence of loved ones no longer physically present. It deepens gratitude for the legacy passed down through generations.  

The holidays can stir up powerful emotions as we navigate traditions without certain faces at the table. But ancestral veneration provides spiritual comfort and solace, helping us feel connected  across distances of time and space. 

Honoring our ancestors keeps their memories alive and allows us to heal from grief one day at a time, surrounded by a loving extended family that transcends the physical world. This holiday season, consider incorporating ancestral veneration into your celebrations as a way to cope with loss and feel less alone.

Want more tips? Join us in our FREE Heal the Healer Workshop where we provide the traditional education needed to start your family tree and provide steps you can take to venerate ancestors.

Ready to transform your practice? Join us for our Heal the Healer Master Class, starting February 2024, where we teach you how to properly set up your ancestral altar and the rituals and routines needed to connect you to power. Book a call to learn more.

Naziafah Spiritual Institute