Fasting and The Ancestors
I don’t know if I ever realized it, but my fasting practice is actually a practice of confronting death on the deepest and most ancient levels of the psyche. It’s teaching those preverbal and subtle parts of the brain to encounter death over and over again and learn not to fear any part of it. To learn to appreciate and value death, to hold it in reverence as a sacred medicine and a sacred presence in all our lives.
I read somewhere that research has found people who fear death less are more compassionate and selfless. This is how I learn to be a better person, straight from the source. This is how I pray.
While fasting this week, clearing out my body and psyche and preparing for communion with the divine, I felt myself connecting with my ancestors and traditions of honoring them. In certain times of year and for certain events and celebrations, we set a place at the table for our ancestors. It can be a sacred and heart opening experience to serve a home made dish or pour a drink for our ancestors. To sit with them and acknowledge them. To let ourselves taste the love, the grief, the remembrance. To offer love and nurturing with them. To allow them to still be part of the family from the other side.
Honoring the Ancestors at MEO
For all potluck events including group medicine ceremonies hosted by my wife and I, we will now be preparing a place for the ancestors. This is an invitation for everyone present to participate, but of course not required.
I am not going to tell you how to commune with your ancestors, as that can be very personal and different for everyone. I will share some ideas based on what I do.
You may:
• Bring and place any photos or objects of ancestors you wish to be present
• Serve them any offerings as you feel called including food, drink, medicine, prayer, song, presence, forgiveness, gratitude, love, silence
• Simply sit with them
• Improvise in whatever way feels right for you
After letting the ancestors continue to feast through the night while we sleep, we will pack up the offerings and food into a despacho (ancestor to go box), and either bury or burn it so they may continue to receive our offerings (not including your photos or objects that you wish to take home of course).
Written by James Cole