Samhain 2007

REVERENCE ©
by Lady Raven Ariana

Here we are in the time of the year known as Samhain. In Northern latitudes winter is descending and we see the longer nights reign. It is said at this time of the year that the veil between the worlds grows thin and it becomes appropriate to contemplate the world of the Ancestors and our relationship to them.

Do you have troubled relationships with those who have crossed the veil? Are there familial patterns that are negative? Are you uneasy with or unsure of your place in the world? Do you know why you are here? Are you comfortable with your place in this life and all that shares it? These questions and many others lead us to "The Great Work".

What is "The Great Work"? My answer would be that this is the work of truly getting to know your self and the place and relationship that you hold in this world and to all its beings. One of the wisdoms inscribed at the Oracle of Delphi was to “know thy self”.

Part of the journey to self -knowledge and your balance with all of life is finding connection with the Ancestors. When you develop a real relationship with them you find your place in the Line. “The Line” goes backward and forward and is your place within the culmination of the hopes, dreams, fears, phobias, skills, knowledge, and damages of your genealogical heritage and all that has gone before.

We all carry within ourselves the seed of what has gone before. We also have the ability to tap into the wisdom of our Ancestors. This might sound incredible to modern society. Experiential knowledge has shown me that there is more to Ancestral relations that meets modern sensibilities.

Relationship is the key to working with the Ancestors. An individual needs to develop tools and skills that foster a positive relationship. Reverence is a key in these relationships. If one scorns and hates them, positive relations will fail.

How does one go about developing reverence? I feel that first one must work with an Ancestor that one admires and has positive feeling for. This might even be someone that is not a blood relation. From there a person can work on more difficult issues. One also needs to approach this work with a great deal of respect. If you are confused about the differences between the words “reverence” and “respect”, it might be enlightening for you to look them up in the dictionary. I say this with gravity, because in the world of words it can be helpful to use tools like the dictionary to gain clarity.

Another important skill dealing with Ancestral relations is listening. Many people living in modern societies have lost the skill of listening. You might notice that when individuals have conversations or debates, there is a tendency to speak then formulate the next response while the other is speaking. When you are inside of your head putting words together to convey your next idea, you are no longer listening. There is an old Cherokee saying that goes, “Listen, or your tongue will make you deaf!” The Ancestors had the focus and ability to truly listen. This skill would have been necessary for survival.

If you choose to ask the Gods/Goddesses/Spirits for aid you might gain powerful allies in the work of Ancestral connection. If one have never had a relationship with the Ancestors one might not have a practical clue how the work might go. Your allies can help if you have had a prior relationship with them. If you have yet to work with Spirits, Spirit helpers, Animal Guides, or Deities, you may need to get help from human teachers and peers.

There are things you must keep in mind when you set out in to the world of Ancestral relations. Reverence and humility are paramount. Keeping an open mind is critical. If you come with a mindset that says "I KNOW", you will effectively block all new knowledge. If you walk in a position of superiority and judgment you will also constipate positive relations.

Understanding your own ignorance is an opening into knowledge. Respect for what has gone before is a humble acknowledgement to those who have experienced that which you have not. Without these attitudes you will be unable to listen, let alone learn.

With reverence in your heart, respect in your attitude, diligence, practice, patience, and humility a person can gain entry into the world of the Ancestors and begin to learn. You might begin your journey on the path of "The Great Work". What might be healed within your self and your own familial lines will be up to your own desire, will, and the blessings of the Gods, Goddesses, Spirits, and Ancestors. I wish you great success in your Ancestral workings.

Reverence copyright © 2007 by Lady Raven Ariana, all rights reserved. Used with permission.