Land of Spirit Rituals

 Hunters Full Moon- We move between the Worlds

Land of Spirit Rituals are strong this time of the Year. Rituals to connect with loved ones have ruled this Autumn cycle for thousands of years in all cultures. The Veils are thin, so they say. First of all, the Ancient Tribes of the Boedica would create huge bonfires to ‘see’, remember, and connect with their loved ones who have crossed over. The smoke creates a haze over all that allows visions, messages, and love to be seen, felt, and heard. Furthermore, this was a time to sever ties and make peace. Notes or objects symbolic of past emotions are consumed in the burning flames. The Fires also stoked written wishes of dreams, hopes, and desires for the coming year.

I use ethically grown Sage to mirror this ancient ritual of cleansing. Sage smoke flows over my body, mind, and heart. Next, I breath it in deeply, and feel carried back to the bonfires of the Ancestors. The Sage is Earth, the Shell Water, the Candle or match Fire, and the Feather is Air. Therefore, land of spirit rituals ground us in the basic elements of life. Flames burn thoughts, photos, and mementos that may still hold an emotional tie from a time long past. I let the smoke carry them and their emotions to the ethers.

Land of Spirit Rituals honor the Ancestors by remembering their love, actions, laughter and thoughts. We focus our attention completely on them beginning the last day of October into the first 2 Days of November. Setting out a plate of food and a dram of whiskey for the Spirits is another Celtic tradition. Wear a mask to discourage the wild spirits, especially if you do this at Samhain (pronounce Sow-en), Halloween, All Hallows Eve. In addition, many cultures celebrate their loved ones life by holding picnics at the grave site. Blankets are spread, families gather, favorite food is prepared and shared as the lost family member is included in the feast. Also, some families keep an empty chair always at the table to include the Spirit of the beloved.

In addition, when I taught high school, I offered a Day of the Dead project to my students. I reserved an entire counter for Personal Shrines, an altar they made to remember their lost loves. It was always beautiful, meaningful, and profound. They could use any materials I had, but some also chose to create offerings in ways they learned from their childhood. I had wood carvings, soccer shirts, cigarettes, toys, sweets, candles, sweet bread, sugar skulls, drinks, colorful purple & orange paper cutouts, and paper flowers everywhere. ‘Huge symbolic meaning’ imbued each object. But most of all, land of spirit rituals brought them together in a common bond. Especially relevant, my students came from all over the world to this Port of Entry school in Chicago, and for a small time, felt a shared, deeply meaningful experience together.

Land of Spirit Rituals are meant to be done. Therefore, don’t think about it, but actually wave the feather, light the candle, burn the smoke and set aside time to reconnect to your roots. Remember, cry, love, laugh even if just for an evening, with those who are on the other side of the Veil. They are so close. Pets especially are right there with you. Believe it. Know it. Because it’s True.

Join us at Journey to the Dreamtime Mystery School of Art as we create Personal Shrines to those we have lost. Here are the top ten Day of the Dead rituals as compiled by Culture Trip.