In his book, The Four Insights: Wisdom, Power and Grace of the Peacekeepers, Alberto Villoldo highlights some of the ideas we have been discussing in our most recent blog posts. He stresses the importance of honoring our ancestors in order to heal our family lineage and break destructive patterns.
“If you want to get rid of your historical baggage, it’s important to honor your ancestors; if you don’t, they’ll continue living through you and haunting every endeavor and relationship in your life. But if you respect and celebrate them, no matter how awful their legacy, you can move on … and so can they. You change your ancestral story and break the curse for them, your children, and your children’s children.“
Villoldo shares the story of how his family karma repeated itself through his male lineage until he recognized what was happening and took steps to change his ancestral story. His grandfather was 49 when he lost all of his money during the Great Depression. At about the same age, his father fled the Communist Revolution in Cuba with little more than the clothes on his back. His brother died at the age of 49, and Villoldo himself lost his wife and children at about the same age when they went to live in a different state.
Fortunately, the karmic patterns ended when Villoldo learned that the way out of the destructive cycles was to honor his ancestors and thank them for their gifts, even the painful ones. He feels certain that his own son will not suffer the same fate as those who came before.
According to countless ancient traditions, Villoldo has it right. We can only be free of our family karma by honoring our ancestors and even creating an altar in our home for them. If we don’t, they may be running rampant through our homes, unbeknownst to us. Villoldo puts it this way.
“If you don’t honor the ancestors with an altar you build for them, they will run amok in your house. That is, it’s better to know where they are than to ignore their legacy, kick them into the psychological gutter, and cling to the story of being a victim of their actions.“
If you feel inspired to create an ancestral altar in your home, all you need is a small area, preferably in an out-of-the way spot. The idea is to keep their energy contained and set boundaries between their lives and yours. Ideally you should be able to close the door behind you when you are not working with them.
The specifics of the altar are up to you. You could place a ceremonial cloth in the space you’ve designated. It can be white or even red to symbolize the healing of your root chakra. You can display pictures of your ancestors on the altar, if you have them. And if not, you can put the personal items that they owned there. Choose ancestors whom you feel can guide you or those that you need to connect with to heal family trauma.
If the memory of a particular ancestor causes pain, consider using photos when they were children. That may help you remember that they too were once innocent and untouched by the world. As you visit the altar each day, remember that you are choosing to do things differently, and take time to thank them for their gifts and the lessons that their lives offer.
Some people decorate their altars with flowers or other offerings from nature, such as shells or rocks. Candles can help cultivate light energy and a glass of water can invite spiritual energy. Food offerings are sometimes placed there as well in order to attract their presence.
But be prepared for the unexpected, at least at the beginning. Johanna, who was part of the first Rebirth Journey, describes her experience this way.
“I was so excited to speak to my ancestors and see what they had to say, but then I became overwhelming sick and this lasted for a few weeks. I didn’t appreciate at the beginning that it was coming from the ancestral work that I was doing. I was losing my voice and having all kinds of digestive issues to the point where I was bed-ridden for a week.“
As part of her healing, Johanna saw an acupuncturist who intuitively helped her understand what was happening. He revealed that it wasn’t malevolent energy. On the contrary, her ancestors were so excited to speak to her that they were coming all at once.
“I realized this was all coming from the work I had been doing. I let them know I was overwhelmed and needed to create my own boundaries and reach out one on one. It has been an incredible experience, and now I feel more balanced again. I feel more at ease and am approaching it in a different way. It’s all coming from a good place.“
Luisah Teish, author of Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals, says you don’t know how much your ancestors are willing to help you until you invite them to contact you. “The ancestors function as guides, warriors and healers. The guides are our travel consultants on the road of life. They help us to make major decisions, advise us on what to do when and with whom.”
Do you have an ancestral altar or would you consider creating one? Share your personal experiences in the comments below.
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