Serving Our Ancestors
The serving of our ancestor’s is not a religion in and of itself, but a part of religious expression; the basis of serving our ancestors stems from the belief that the spirits of the dead continue to dwell in the natural world and have the power to influence the fortune and fate of the living. It is also believed that ancestors can assert their powers by blessing or cursing. They are also regarded as the intermediaries between the living and the divine
powers. In general, ancestors are believed to wield great authority, having special powers to influence the course of events or to control the well-being of their living relatives. Protection of the family is one of their main concerns. The serving of our ancestors consists of the lighting of candles, prayers, presenting gifts, and making offerings.
The serving of ancestors has been found in various parts of the world. All societies give ritual attention to death or to the souls of the dead, but not all of these practices are called serving our ancestors. Our elders are always regarded with respect, and we continue to have a bond with them even though they have passed on. We still love them and feel joy when we think of them. We miss them. The bond was not severed when they passed on
because we have our memories of them. The spirits see, hear, feel, understand, and communicate with the living; they make moral judgments; they are wishful, willful, joyful, angry, stern, permissive, kind, and cruel. They have all the other emotions and traits of human beings. If they were loving when they were alive they will still hold that trait. If they were cruel and heartless, those emotions will still be there. Just because they have passed on doesn’t mean they have changed their ways. That’s why it is important that you call on the ancestors you now who loved you and will be happy to help you with your needs. Below is the prayer I use for my ancestors.