7 Ancestor Veneration Practices Every Woman Of Color Should Try To Deepen Their Spiritual Connection

Ancestor veneration is more than a spiritual practice—it’s a pathway to reconnecting with the ones who came before, honoring the legacy of strength and wisdom they’ve passed down. As a woman of color, this practice is deeply personal and transformative, offering grounding in your roots and clarity for your present.

In my blog post, Connecting to the Ones Who Came Before, I shared how I began my journey of ancestor veneration. What started as a simple curiosity about my lineage evolved into a practice that reshaped how I see myself, my intuition, and my place in the world. By creating sacred rituals, I learned to trust the guidance of my ancestors and invite their support into my daily life.

That journey inspired me to guide other women of color in exploring this connection. Whether you’re curious about your ancestry or seeking to strengthen your spiritual foundation, these seven practices offer meaningful ways to build a relationship with your ancestors and carry their wisdom forward.

1. Create A Sacred Altar

A sacred altar is a physical connection to your ancestors, providing a space to reflect, honor, and communicate with them. To create yours:

• Personalize the Space: Add items that resonate with your lineage, such as photographs, heirlooms, or cultural symbols.
• Include Offerings: Incorporate food, flowers, water, or incense to honor and nourish your ancestors.
• Enhance the Energy: Use candles, crystals, or traditional cloth to create a calming and sacred ambiance.

To Begin: Light a candle each morning, take a deep breath, and simply say, “Thank you for guiding and protecting me.” This simple act can shift the energy of your day.

2. Journal Your Connection

Journaling is a powerful way to communicate with your ancestors and reflect on their impact in your life. To deepen your practice:

• Ground Yourself: Begin with a brief meditation to center your thoughts. Visualize your ancestors surrounding you in love.
• Ask for Guidance: Use journaling prompts like:
  • What would my ancestors have me know today?
  • What lessons can I learn from their lives?
• Express Gratitude: Write letters thanking them for their sacrifices and the wisdom they’ve passed down.

To Begin: Dedicate a journal to ancestor work. Even a few minutes of reflection can uncover profound insights.

3. Embody Your Heritage Through Movement

Intuitive movement allows you to connect with your ancestors through the language of the body. This practice is sacred, sensual, and powerful, emphasizing present moment body awareness over looking a certain way. Here’s how to start:

• Set the Tone: Play music from your cultural background or rhythms that move your soul.
• Enter a Sacred Space: Visualize yourself standing on ancestral lands, surrounded by their love and support.
• Let Your Body Lead: Allow your movements to flow naturally, embracing, expressing, or releasing emotions.

To Deepen: Ask your ancestors to guide your movement. Feel their presence as you sway, step, or still your body, letting their wisdom flow through you.

4. Practice Guided Meditation for Ancestral Connection

Meditation provides a gateway to your ancestors’ domain. It’s a time to listen, receive guidance, and feel their support. Here’s a method to try:

• Visualize Your Ancestral Domain: Imagine yourself standing in a sacred space—ancestral lands or a spiritual sanctuary. Feel your ancestors gathering around you, placing a hand on your shoulder and their hearts as a gesture of love and guidance.
• Ask a Question: Simply ask, “What would you have me know today?” and remain open to what arises.
• Anchor the Experience: Conclude with an affirmation like, “I carry the strength and wisdom of my ancestors with me.”

To Deepen: Pair meditation with oracle cards. Pull a card as you ask for ancestral guidance, allowing it to reflect their message for you.

5. Cook Ancestral Recipes

Food connects us to our heritage in deeply nourishing ways. Preparing meals your ancestors enjoyed or inspired by your culture is a meaningful way to honor them.

• Mindful Preparation: As you cook, reflect on the love, resilience, and traditions carried in each ingredient.
• Ubuntu in Practice: Remember the African principle of Ubuntu—“I am because we are.” Acknowledge the interconnectedness between you, your ancestors, and the community they built.

To Begin: If you’re unsure of recipes from your lineage, experiment with traditional dishes or create a new tradition inspired by your heritage.

6. Offer Libations and Words of Affirmation

Libations are a simple yet powerful ritual of gratitude and acknowledgment. To begin:

• Make an Offering: Pour water, tea, or wine into the earth or a ceremonial vessel.
• Speak Their Names: Call upon your ancestors, offering thanks and asking for their guidance.
• Daily Practice: Incorporate this into your morning ritual, grounding your day in their love and protection.

To Begin: Light a candle and say, “To my beloved ancestors, thank you for guiding me. May I honor your legacy with my actions today.”

7. Listen to Your Intuition

Your body is an intuitive vessel, carrying the whispers of your ancestors. To connect:

• Pause and Feel: Spend a few moments each day scanning your body. Notice sensations or emotions that arise.
• Ask for Guidance: In moments of intuitive movement, stillness, or meditation, invite your ancestors to speak through your body.
• Trust the Process: Pull an oracle card or journal about the signals you receive, allowing their wisdom to guide your path.

To Begin: If you’re unsure where to start, talk to family members, research your ancestry, or honor spiritual ancestors who inspire you.

Step Into Your Power with Intuitive Rising

Your ancestors paved the way for your rise. Through their wisdom, strength, and love, you are equipped to live in alignment with your highest self.

If you’re ready to connect deeply with your intuition and honor your lineage, Intuitive Rising, my coaching container, is here to support you. Together, we’ll explore journaling, meditation, intuitive movement, and spiritual practices like oracle cards to help you trust your inner guidance and take inspired action.

Book your clarity call today and step into a life aligned with your truth, guided by the strength of those who came before you.

Dive Deeper:

Ancestor Work: An Introduction For Beginners

Honouring The Ancestors (Insight Timer Course)

Good Ancestor Podcast

Ancestor Tarot Spread