Wild Ancestors: An Unexpected Ancestral Call
The ruins of the old church at New Cumnock, Ayrshire, where many of my ancestors would have congregated and are buried.
This past weekend, I found myself utterly captivated by my ancestors. Typically, this sort of ancestral presence would emerge most strongly during Samhain, when the veil between worlds is thin, when much of my practice centers around honouring those who came before us. However, as I began developing new ancestral healing work for the Spiritual Rewilding course, I was unexpectedly sideswiped by a powerful call from my ancestors, held captive for days, urging me to understand them more deeply.
Delving into Family History
What began as a focused task quickly transformed into an enthralling journey. I felt compelled to trace my ancestral lines deeper, uncovering their stories and piecing together the lives they led. It was amazing to read the records and discover the diverse roles my ancestors played—farmers, mothers, tailors, coachmen, shepherds, shoemakers, and more. One particularly striking revelation was learning that my six-times-great-grandfather was married in a church just 500 meters from my home - a place I have walked past hundreds of time. Naturally, I visited it at the first opportunity, seeing it a new light with its connection to my family’s past.
Connecting with Ancestors
Through shamanic journey practice, ceremonies, and maintaining an ancestor altar, I regularly connect with my ancestors. These practices, along with other ancestral healing methods, help me feel their presence and gain insights from their lives. This recent deep dive into my lineage, however, has intensified my understanding and appreciation for their stories, and an understanding of the challenges, struggles and pain along the way.
Understanding our Collective Ancestral Wounds
One area that this relates to on the journey of Spiritual Rewilding is the concept of epigenetic wounds—cultural and collective traumas that we inherit from our ancestors. These wounds are the pain and suffering experienced by our forebears, held within our family lines and passed down through generations. Addressing and healing these wounds on an individual level creates ripples of healing throughout the collective, helping to mend the fabric of our shared history.
The ruins of the old church at New Cumnock, Ayrshire, where many of my ancestors would have congregated and are buried.
Integrating Ancestral Wisdom and Spiritual Rewilding
The stories and experiences of my ancestors significantly influence my current work and teachings and I am excited to expand the Spiritual Rewilding course to include more practices around "Wild Ancestors." This will provide students with even more tools to connect with and heal with their ancestral lines. By integrating these practices, we can collectively address the collective wounds of separation from nature and each other.
Wild Ancestors at Into the Wild
At the upcoming Into the Wild Festival, I will be speaking about our Wild Ancestors and Spiritual Rewilding. I hope to grow a community dedicated to ancestral healing, addressing both personal family wounds and collective ancestral traumas. By reconnecting with our roots and healing our relationship with nature, we can foster a deeper, more harmonious connection to the world around us.
Engage with Your Ancestral Journey
How do you connect with your ancestors?
What stories or traditions have been passed down in your family that strengthen your bond with the land?
How do you honour your ancestral heritage in your daily life?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Wild Ancestors and Spiritual Rewilding
If you're inspired to delve deeper into the practices of ancestral healing and Spiritual Rewilding, I invite you to join the Spiritual Rewilding online course. This comprehensive program offers a wealth of insights, practices, and community support to help you reconnect with your ancestors, heal ancestral wounds, and restore your bond with nature.