Honoring Ancestors—a Personal Story

I woke up this morning remembering  a deeply moving experience that reminded me of the profound impact of connecting with our ancestral lineage and the transformative power of ritual. Allow me to share this journey with you.

During a sunrise ritual on the sacred waters of Varanasi, I found myself aboard a boat, surrounded by the ancient whispers of tradition. The priest guiding the ceremony offered us a poignant invitation: to honor any ancestors we wished to connect with. In that moment, I called upon the spirits of my father and sister and extended a heartfelt invitation to all ancestors willing to join.

Ancestor Ritual on the Ganges, 2016

As I opened myself to the experience, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and connection envelop me. Despite the cultural differences, I sensed my ancestors' presence, their joy at being remembered transcending time and tradition. It was a powerful affirmation of the enduring bond between past and present, and the profound influence our ancestors continue to hold in our lives.

This experience reaffirmed my belief in the intricate web of connection that binds us to our lineage. Through rituals of remembrance and healing, we can honor our ancestors, acknowledge the patterns—both positive and negative—that have shaped us, and embark on a journey of transformation.

I invite you to explore the richness of your own ancestral heritage, to embrace the rituals that resonate with your soul, and to embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery. Whether you seek to release inherited patterns that no longer serve you or to deepen your connection with your ancestral roots, know that you are not alone.

As a practitioner dedicated to guiding individuals on their path to ancestral healing, I am here to offer support and guidance. Together, we can unravel the threads of the past, restructure the present, and pave the way for a brighter future.

In celebration of my father and mother's birthdays this week, I will be honoring their memory through some of my favorite rituals—a meal of their favorite foods, a bouquet of flowers just because my mother loved flowers, a song or two that we sang together, and moments of quiet remembrance.

May this serve as a gentle reminder of the power of ancestral connection and the transformative potential of ritual in our lives. In this way, we empower ourselves and the future generations.

Watch this video on honoring ancestors in Varanasi with Jai Varadaraj and me.

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With love and gratitude,
Barbara

Honoring Ancestors: Meaning and Ritual

The end of February was always a time to celebrate my parents’ birthdays–February 26th for my Dad and February 28th for my Mom. Although my mother never liked anyone to know how old she was, she still liked to celebrate.

So, this week I will be creating a special ritual for my parents.

Honoring and Acknowledging ancestors is a tradition that has been alive and well for thousands of years. It is understood that the ancestors live within you. By acknowledging the past generations (even if you have never met them), you forge a bond with your spiritual lineage.

I will discuss the science of epigenetics and breaking negative family patterns another time, but for now, let us see how we can honor our ancestors. And I do believe that our ancestors do learn and grow and can become their best selves once they have passed on. That is why we offer prayers and do rituals for our ancestors. 

Remember, even if you had a dysfunctional childhood, your ancestors gave you the gift of life. And that is very precious.

RITUAL TO HONOR ANCESTORS

Create an Altar: This is a way to create a sacred space in your home. Place a photo of your ancestors on the altar. Include symbols of their lives - maybe you have a special candle holder that belonged to your grandmother, piano music that your grandfather played, a ring that your father wore, and/or your mother’s favorite earrings.

Alternatively, you may include symbols that represent where your ancestors originally came from: sand from the desert, a bowl of water if they lived near the ocean, photos of the countries they came from.

Include their favorite food or drink: I like to put a bar of halvah that my dad loved or some scotch that my mother enjoyed when the sun was setting.

Include flowers and incense if that is something that will uplift you. Smelling gardenias always reminds me of my mother and makes me smile.

Light a candle and from your heart, offer up prayers to your ancestors. If possible, open up your heart to forgiving them for anything they did consciously or unconsciously that has harmed you in any way. Ask for forgiveness if you have harmed them in any way by your words , deeds or actions.

Open to receiving back healing, wisdom, and blessings. When the flowers begin to fade, offer them to the earth along with any food from the ritual.

Work with Barbara: 

We are moving into a new season, and it is a great time for a space clearing, tarot reading for clarity, or a ritual to move you forward. 

Some of my most popular rituals include blessing a space, birthday rituals, midlife celebration (Queening ceremony), launching a new project, healing from loss, releasing ancestral karma, calling in love and/or a baby and more.

Hire Barbara for Your Organization: 

• Keynotes and Conferences

• Corporate Events

• Retreats

All events are tailored to your organizational needs. For additional event requests, hybrid options and more details inquire at info@barbarabiziou.com.

Until next time,
Barbara