Merry meet!
Thank you once again to everyone who joined in for last weekâs Weekly Witchy Challenge - Circles in Magick
Itâs time to close your magickal circles and step into a circle of a different kind- your own circle, forged by blood and time.
This weekâs challenge honors the ancient Parentalia Festival and isâŠ
Working with Ancestors
Blessed Parentalia! This ancient Roman festival is a multi-day occasion that calls on us to take time to honor our ancestors and lost loved ones. A bit like Samhain in February, this is a time for reflection, respect, and spirit work
In ancient Rome, the Parentalia (or dies parentales, âancestral daysâ) was a nine-day held in honor of family ancestors, beginning on 13 February.
Ovid describes sacred offerings (sacrificia ) of flower-garlands, wheat, salt, wine-soaked bread and violets to the âshades of the deadâ (Manes or Di manes ) at family tombs, which were located outside Romeâs sacred boundary (pomerium) . These observances were meant to strengthen the mutual obligations and protective ties between the living and the dead, and were a lawful duty of the paterfamilias (head of the family). Parentalia concluded on 21 February in the midnight rites of Feralia, when the paterfamilias addressed the malevolent, destructive aspects of his Manes .
From Wikipedia: The Parentalia Festival
The Parentalia festival began this week and will last until next Tuesday, February 21- the day this challenge concludes.
With the New Moon (a time of reflection and recollection) and beginning of Pisces Season (the final sign of the Zodiac, attuned with otherworldly matters) this week, this Parentalia is a particularly auspicious time for working with spirits
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This weekâs challenge is all about working with ancestors- but as always, how you do so is up to you!
So are you ready? Because itâsâŠ
CHALLENGE TIME!
Please note that you do NOT need to focus on your blood kin ancestors for this challenge if that is not something that feels right to you. Please see below for other challenge suggestions and ways to explore this theme.
Picture from Spells8: Ancestor Altar Ideas
STEP 1 : Doing Ancestor & Spirit Work
This challenge is all about ancestors and spirit work- but how you choose to take on this theme is up to you!
Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few ways in which a witch might approach this challengeâŠ
One of the most popular ways to honor, remember, and potentially work in magick with your ancestors is by creating an altar or shrine dedicated to them. An ancestor altar could be for one or more members of your heritage, or dedicated to all those who shared your blood before you.
If you already have an ancestor altar, consider taking the time to cleanse, tidy it, and make offerings. You might also meditate or attempt to communicate with your ancestors at your altar space.
Draw on the connection you have with your ancestors- blood or otherwise- and try reaching out to them with some Spirit Work this week.
How to Talk to Spirits: Mediumship and Physic Connection
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Explore Your Heritage
Have you ever explored your heritage? For this challenge, consider digging into your familyâs past- what are their stories, who where they, how do they relate to you? You might talk with living relatives to gather information, use databases to search for your name, or do one of the many ancestry DNA tests to learn more about where your ancestors came from
Inspiration from the coven:
- Does your ancestry affect your Craft? (sacred space)
- Discoveries and exploring DNA
- Just found out more about family heritage
If working with your blood kin doesnât call to you, consider looking into your witchy heritage- for this challenge, you are welcome to explore and learn about any of the witches in history who paved the path for us witches here today. Though we may not share blood, we share our magick!
For ideas and historical figures in witchy history, consider checking out your fellow coven memberâs entries to the previous History of Magick Challenge
There are many ways to honor, celebrate, and even draw on your ancestors in your practice. Here are some ideas and rituals that you might use or find inspiration in.
- Ancestor Water Recipe
- How to make a spirit bottle for your ancestors
- Tips for beginning work with ancestors
- Calling ancestors
- Ancestors Invocation/Spirit Connection
- Crafting for the ancestors
Astrologists and fans of Moon Magick have additional opportunities for this challenge with the New Moon and beginning of Pisces Season
Consider using the New Moonâs energies to reflect, recollect, and meditate on your ancestry, heritage, and personal history. You might also consider exploring Pisces and the energy of The Fish for this signâs intuitive and otherworldly abilities
The suggestions above are just that- simple suggestions! If you feel called to explore ancestors and spirit work in another way, please feel free to do so!
As always, all witches are encouraged to embrace their own unique practice with how they explore the theme
STEP 2 : Share Your Experience
Click here for notes about challenge inclusivity
Everyone is welcome to join the challenge by practicing magick in line with the current theme. For lurkers and those who donât feel comfortable sharing, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge but keep your entry personal. Feel free to join in spirit and do what feels most comfortable for you!
That being said, please know that if you would like to receive a prize and a public shout-out, it is required that you share your experience.
Getting Your Credit
In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!
Where Should I Share My Entry?
Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry
You are welcome to post it right here- just click âreplyâ to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!
Alternatively, you could create a new thread in the forum (doing so keeps your entry separate and is a good option if you have a lot to share)
Note : If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the âchallenge-entryâ tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!
Deadline
This challenge will close in 6 DAYS
To join in, please share your experience by:
Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 AM CET (Central European Time)
( Time Converter: 2023-02-21T06:00:00Z)
(Note that the time zone is CET- if you donât see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)
Prizes
For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!
Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums on Tuesday.
After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.
A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice
If you have any doubts about if something is acceptable to post or say, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team .
And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways
Picture from Pixabay
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The wisdom of ancestors is there for you
By their guidance and grace, theyâll help you through.
For those who have walked this path before,
Watch over and guide us forevermore.
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Blessed Be!