Ancestor Veneration As Adoration
Let’s talk about an obvious, and absolutely delightful, form of adoration we can incorporate into our lives. Ancestors!
Ancestor Veneration As Adoration
Let’s talk about an obvious, an absolutely delightful, form of adoration we can incorporate into our lives.
Ancestors!
If you are pagan of any flavour, you probably have already at least considered getting to know your biological Ancestors. Let’s shelf that for a second and go with a lesser travelled path.
Ancestor Veneration: Thinking outside DNA
Our Ancestors are those who came before us in terms of religion, craft, sexuality, ideology. Not just biology.
If you are a lifelong knitter, have you ever researched the first knitters? Knitting in the context of your cultural region? Famous knitters?
Perhaps you are Queer. Do you know who came before you? Did you know that most cultures pre-colonization were utterly non-pressed about sexuality and gender outside of the het/cis box? Why and how did that change? Why and how is it changing again for the better?
There are so many overlooked aspects of our lives where we could be calling on Ancestors to guide our steps!
Anarchist Ancestor…. Veneration?
I personally identify as an Anarchist.
We’re a group not prone to the vernation of our leaders, for obvious reasons!
As a Pagan though, honouring the messy, imperfect, WHOLE humanness of those who walked before us is an important part of Ancestor veneration.
Our Gods and Goddesses, Little Folk and Mythos of all ilk are full of ridiculously flawed individuals.
In fact, the very thought of completely mimicking any of them seems first laughable and second terrifying!
I think of “heros” and “leaders” and “influencers” in that same way. Imperfect and messy people overflowing with insight and lessons to be learned from their lives.
When you are building relationships with your Ancestors, DNA or otherwise, please do not cancel them if they were a total dumpster fire in certain aspects of their lives. We surely could also be seen as total dumpster fires from certain angles too!
Take what serves your values.
Observe, find context for and learn from what doesn’t before tossing it out.
If they are still alive, engage with their unfavourable aspects with a “call in culture” mindset, not an “incarceration culture” one.
Do this for all “heros”.
Ancestors and You
What are some unusual paths you’ve tread in terms of Ancestors?
Tell me all about it!