🪦 Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Ancestor Work

[Phoenix_Fire]

The grand tableau is a spread ive discovered with in both lenormand and kipper card’s. Both systems are 36 cards and this spread uses all 36 cards to answer a question and gives heaps of info on various areas and aspects surrounding the querant abd the topic being asked about. Im still learning but its been an interesting and fascinating jorney so far. This is something or a way jot tried befor with this spread but thought give it a go.

[Phoenix_Rose]

@Phoenix_Fire ounds like a huge spread! That would be a lot of information. So many layers to unpack!

@Ostara that is soooo cool!! I love historical stories like that!

@Aurora_Hestia

I have a lot of trauma to heal from and I would have loved to see where it stemmed from.

I hope you are able to resolve that trauma, regardless of whether you find the source or not!

@Aurora_Hestia

And the rest of your post, I wish I had the words to but it makes me want to give you a big hug

Awwwww!!! Thank you. I will take that internet hug! This may be part of my transition from mother to crone. I am close to entering the crone years. Moving into wisdom helps when we have dealt with so many layers of our lives. I feel like these moments of tears and realization help me be a better person, more of a whole person.

[AileyGrey]

Challenge Entry

I’ve been focused a good bit on working with my ancestors since around Samhain. I’ve had a couple of cool experiences with my grandmother and great grandmother.

My sister is a medium and has also had some experiences with Ollie and Dot too, and apparently, they were witches. Ever the curious, I’ve been trying to figure out “What kind” of witches they were so I could see if my path is similar to theirs. I came across this picture, which reminds me of my grandmother’s long silver hair. I used to brush it as a little girl and she always wore it in a braid.

The caption said:

Most of your Great Grandmothers were magical women. She had an Altar, but she didn’t call it that, back then it was called a Warrior Prayer Closet. She didn’t call it Reiki, she called it Laying Hands. She didn’t call it mediumship, she called it prophesying, or I had a Dream. She did not have a potion, she said “Drink this tea, and you will feel better”. There is nothing new under the Sun. Just reclaim what she did with more information to guide your path.

Can we say synchronicity?

I laughed. My grandma was always handing us tea. She didn’t have a prayer closet, but she always had candles and things on our mantle. She was in a “prayer group” for a long time too and I don’t remember a lot about it, but I remember it scared me sometimes. She had dreams and always knew who was calling on the phone (I do that too!).

My sister said my great grandmother read cards, but used regular playing cards. I have oracle cards and a pendulum that I love, but I think I about ready to try out some tarot. I have plenty of resources here to get me started. I am also reading Badass Ancestors that @Trixie_Thojrne recommended. I’ll be starting that tonight.

I am also working on setting up an ancestor wall in our home. I’m gathering up photographs of our dearest and most special ancestors. I am thrilled to have the photos displayed more permanently in our home. I am waiting on nicer prints (from better quality scans). This is what I have so far.

This is my great grandmother Ollie May. My mom told me recently that she was a weaver and had a loom in her home. I haven’t made it to weaving yet, but I started spinning fiber on a spinning wheel. All my friends tell me that this will lead to weaving… but it hasn’t yet!

This is my grandmothe Dorothy Louise. She helped raise me and was just the coolest person. She used to say “blah blah blah” instead of et cetera when she was speaking… each and everyone of my kids has done the same thing when they were little… and I don’t say that! So I know she’s around. She also loved red birds and I see them everywhere!

I’ve posted a meme similar to this before, but I want to add it to my wall as well. This is part of a poem by Linda Hogan, but it speaks to me so very much!

I am so proud to come from a line of strong women like Ollie and Dot!

[robin77]

For this challenge I decided to use some divination to connect with my ancestors. I have a spread that I found at [TarotTechnique.com](https://Ancestor Tarot Spread Guide: 3 Spreads To Connect with the Souls of Your Ancestors) a little while ago. The one I used was simply called Connecting with Your Ancestors. It was a 4 card spread. Card 1 represented the ancestors that were currently around me (I drew 2 of Pentacles). Card 2 represented the ancestors that were present within me (traits, similarities etc) (I drew 4 of Pentacles), and Cards 3 and 4 were any messages that the ancestors wanted to present to me. (I drew 3 of Pentacles and 2 of Swords)

The spread was Pentacles heavy and after some study and meditation, I believe I’ve gotten the message, especially since there are some traits and habits (good and bad) that I share with an ancestor that is near. I feel like they want to be included and called upon to help me since they’ve been where I am. I can use their guidance and my own informed reason for the best outcomes. I’ll take it!

[Amethyst]

@Aurora_Hestia

Your words were beautiful This spoke to me a lot because my family also rarely discussed their ancestry and now it’s too late to learn.

Thank you. It’s sad to lose that connection, but I feel that my parents must have had a reason, you know?

[Artemisia]

Challenge Entry - Ancestor Work

This was a hard one for me. I’m not close to my family. I know some people have it far far far worse, so I shouldn’t complain and won’t. I always have been a bit of an outlier in my family for various reasons.
Thinking about connecting to and honoring my immediate family, well… I had to try to figure out another way to this challenge.

I started by making a fairly basic ancestor altar.

I chose a black mirror and a candle as I had seen in Crafting for the Ancestors by@MeganB
I don’t know much history on my late father’s side as he was adopted, but from my mother’s side, I am English, Irish, and German. The Celtic cross was a gift from my maternal grandmother.

Then I created an ancestor bottle.

Ingredients:

• A glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
• Dried flowers or herbs - lavender, and rose petals
• A small piece of paper and pen
• Palo Santo
• A white candle
• Salt
• Black ribbon

My supplies

Instructions:

• Selected a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
• Added lavender and rose petals to the jar. These represent love, peace, and comfort and can help to bring the energy of my ancestors into the space.
• Wrote a personal message to my ancestors inviting them into my life and to request guidance and then added it to the jar.
• Added rose quartz (to honor and connect with my ancestors) and clear quartz (for spiritual connection and protection)
• Added a pinch of salt to add to the grounding and protective properties of the bottle
  
  
• Lit the palo santo and allowed the smoke to fill the jar to purify the space and connect you to the spiritual realm.
• Closed the jar tightly and seal it with a red ribbon.
• Lit a white and placed it next to the jar to represent the presence of your ancestors and their divine guidance and protection.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Really love the smoke rolling around inside!

I placed it on my bookshelf where I can see it daily.

I also added a wooden quail that my late grandfather carved.

I did end up taking down the simple altar because…

Apparently, I’m not allowed to take over the cat shelf!

[Shine]

Challenge entry: ancestor work

For this challenge I chose to set up an ancestor altar honoring my Granny & Father; both of which had powers. I incorporated my son as well by using his swaddle as an altar cloth so there are 4 generations represented. Their offerings are coffee (Granny’s preferred drink) and an Oreo (my Dad’s favorite cookie). I have each element represented. Since I follow no deity, I have the Universe represented by the scales balanced with a white marble & a black marble. The belongings of theirs are my Father’s favorite guitar pick and one of my Granny’s buckeye balls.

[Isabella13]

I couldn’t help but chuckle when I read your comment about all things Scottish. LOL. I come from a long line of Scottish Witches, passed to me by my Father. This past Summer, my sister and I took our first trip to Scotland to explore and find places our Ancestors had tread… we had no idea before we arrived that the cottage we were staying in stood on what was once our Families Clan Lands.
I have worked with my Scottish Ancestors and call on them for protection as some had fought in some serious battles. The one Ancestor I would like to work with: I have yet to try to reach. I think it has mostly been just hesitation on my part. But I can say this, my connection with them has been so much stronger since we went to Scotland and came back. There have been several things that have been kind of surreal.

[Jeannie1]

That’s great Soifra Strega thanks for your support I always appreciate your help!! Thank you
I wanted to share my ritual I did tonight for my my cousin son who passed.

First, I did a meditation. It was on Insight Timer, and it was for the full moon.
Second,
Opened a circle and called out to my Goddess Hekate Queen of Witches with many names, Demeter, Persephone, Salene, Artemis, lady Brigid
I had my intention my intention is to bring justice to my family and with the power of this moon so mote it be!
Offering a key to the divine
A egg enchanted to be new and used thyme , rosemary, lavender, yarrow,
Third wrote a letter!
Forth I wrapped different colored candles dressed in oil for Ostara ritual oil! And so my spell will be more potent!
I did a chant and casted my spell!
Orange - Sun light
Ra Sun God
White Candle -Purity
Blue- Healing
Pink- Love
Purple- Wisdom
Green- Ground us
Black- Dispels negative forces
My crystals along with my salt
Malichite
Amethyst
Clear Quartz
Rose Quartz
Tigers Eye
Avertrine
Black Obsidian
Thank you for this challenge I pray that my family will get the healing they deserve! I pray he is in summer land!
Jeannie

[Jeannie1]

@Solasta_Amore

me…

Solasta Amore,
Your alter turned out so beautiful! You enchanted your salt too!
Jeannie

[Solasta_Amore]

Thank you dear love …your entry just touched my heart soo deeply! Yes! I made that pentacle with terracotta clay! I am soo happy you like it my dear!

[Solasta_Amore]

Yess…I guess the little sea salt crystals really did feel magical! Thank youu hun!!

[Solasta_Amore]

Thank you my sweet! Yes, now I am feeling a lot better because I am determined to walk away from the darker side of being an empath! I have downloaded the Insight Timer app too that, once @Susurrus suggested in a conversation for people with anxiety and stress issues. I am glad I came across it Siofra! Thank you for suggesting it as it really REALLY is a wonderful app! It has all sorts of guided meditations, calming music, breathwork guide and soo much more! And thank YOU Aurora, for being so caring and sweet! Love you…take care and be forever blessed!!

[Solasta_Amore]

God, @Jeannie1!! I am absolutely in awe of your entry!! Your knowledge always makes me feel so inspired! And your altar is just…gorgeous!! I can tell your family is blessed to have such a caring person among them!

[Solasta_Amore]

Wow, @Shine your ancestor altar is very bright, warm and elemental! Your Granny and your father are lucky to have you by their side, sweetheart! Blessed be…

[Solasta_Amore]

Oh my goodness, @Artemisia! I guess, I am literally feeling happy that you went with the crafting for ancestors by Megan, as I too had picked this one but unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time and energy… anyways, I LOOVE your little ancestor jar!! And oooh, I adore the black ribbon! I mean wow! All this is just sooo beautiful!! And I think by no means your altar looks simple! Instead, for my eyes, it looks magically classy!

[BryWisteria]

This challenge is now CLOSED

Great job to everyone who explored ancestor and spirit work this week! There is such a heartfelt range of emotions in the entries- from sadness to excitement, gratitude to longing, loss, happiness, and everything in between. It was a difficult theme for many reasons, but you all rose to the challenge all the same- thank you so much to everyone who shared an entry this week!

---

A Props and Presents post will soon appear with shout-outs and prize details for everyone who submitted an entry. Please keep an eye on the main page of the forums.

Note : To avoid confusion, this discussion will be locked until the Props and Presents post appears. At that time, this thread will reopen for discussion for a few more days- comments are welcome during this time, but please note that no additional prizes will be given.

Thanks again for joining in the challenge!

Blessed be!

[BryWisteria]

The Props and Presents Post for this challenge is now live in the forum and badges have been sent to all entrants!

→ Props and Presents for the Ancestor Work Challenge

Thank you once again to all those who joined the challenge! I hope you enjoy your new badge

This thread has been reopened for discussion- feel free to comment on the theme, ask questions or reply to entries! However, please remember that no additional prizes will be given out now that the challenge has officially closed. Thank you!