My ancestral work started with a cup of cacao. I first became interested in the heart opening power of cacao over a year ago. I discovered the reverence indigenous cultures had for cacao, how they used it to open their hearts, deeply connect with themselves, others, and a higher power.
After more research I bought my own ceremonial cacao and began experimenting with different recipes. When I sat down with my first cup, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I truly have a heart-opening experience?
I quickly learned that the answer to this question was yes. As I slowly sipped my cacao, I felt a full body sensation. It’s difficult to put into words. It was like my body was silently buzzing, gently vibrating, slowly waking up in a way I’d never experienced. It was like my whole body was smiling and bathed in a loving warmth.
I felt my heart gently crack open. I felt joyful tears slide down my cheeks. It was a beautiful and emotional experience. I felt deeply connected to myself, my body, the earth, the ancestors who came before me. I understood, I felt, that I was not alone. This knowing shifted something inside of me. It made me long to connect with my loved ones, past and present.
I felt a deep desire to find other ways of connecting with my ancestors. I wanted to let them know I love them, those known to me and unknown. I wanted them to know I was grateful for them, for all they had been through, their joys and their struggles. I wanted them to know I desired to make them proud, that I desired to be a good ancestor to the generations after me.
This longing for connection led me to begin asking my ancestors for guidance and support. One day before a feminine embodiment coaching session, I was flooded with anxiety. I knew I needed to ground myself so I could hold sacred space for my client. I sat down in front of my altar, closed my eyes, and focused on my breath. I placed a hand over my heart.
The image of my mother came into my mind. I imagined her standing behind me, with one hand over her heart, and her other hand on my shoulder. It was as if she was lovingly guiding me forward, letting me know I was safe, that I could move through this difficult moment. I imagined her five sisters standing next to her, hands over their hearts and on each other’s shoulders. Then came both of my grandmothers behind them, and on, and on, and on, back through the generations of women in my family.
I felt surrounded in love, courage, and wisdom. I felt them supporting me, cheering me on, and reminding me of the strength that flowed through my blood. I became rooted in this knowing:
I am divinely guided and protected
I am held by many
There was no need to let fear, doubt, or worry keep me stuck. My ancestors had my back. They always had, they always would.
A few days after connecting with my ancestors, I reached out to my parents and told them I wanted to create an ancestor altar. We looked at family photos together and reminisced about my dad’s parents. We read letters he had written to my grandmother before they were married. Reading his words of love for her reminded me that I come from love. I am love. I didn’t realize how much I needed to remember this, that I have love flowing through my veins.
We also found a picture of my third great grandfather, who was born in 1823. Looking into his eyes, I saw my uncle. It was incredible to see how much they looked alike. I wondered about what his life must have been like as a black man in America at that time. I felt such gratitude for all that he had endured so that I could be here now, creating the life of my dreams, helping others to step into their full power so they can do the same. I whispered thank you to him, and told him I was happy that we had the chance to connect.
Connecting with my ancestors has been deeply healing. I can’t wait to see how the rest of this journey unfolds. My hope is that you are inspired to connect with your ancestors and allow them to give you guidance and support. These may be biological ancestors, spiritual ancestors such as teachers or mentors, or ancestors from the land you live on.
Remember, you have so many who have come before you who are cheering you on.
Dive Deeper:
Ancestor Work: An Introduction For Beginners
Honouring The Ancestors (Insight Timer Course)
Good Ancestor Podcast
Ancestor Tarot Spread
