This season, I’m answering your most frequently asked questions about tarot, witchcraft, and divination.
Today’s question: How do I connect with my ancestors?
Our ancestors walk with us. They are in our DNA, our gestures, our voices, and even our dreams. But for many of us, the idea of connecting with ancestors brings up big questions: What if I didn’t know them? What if my family history is painful? What if I’ve lost touch with my cultural roots?
Ancestor work is not about perfection or recreating the past exactly as it was. It is about relationship. In this episode, we'll talk about how to connect with your ancestors and consciously invite them into your spiritual practice.
Who Are Our Ancestors?
When we talk about ancestors, many of us think of grandparents or relatives we knew in childhood. But ancestor work goes far deeper than family trees. Ancestors can include:
Immediate loved ones - parents, grandparents, or relatives who shaped your life.
Ancient ancestors – humans who lived thousands of years ago, whose lives were rooted in land, migration, and survival.
Cultural ancestors – people of your heritage or tradition who carried stories, songs, and rituals.
Spiritual ancestors – those connected through practice, belief, or chosen lineage.
Chosen ancestors – communities of care and resilience we inherit outside of bloodlines.
The truth is: you are already connected. Their choices, stories, and legacies live in your body and spirit. Ancestor work simply brings that connection into consciousness.
Here are some everyday practices to try:
Create an altar – Let it be a place of remembrance and conversation.
Cook their food – Prepare recipes they loved or meals tied to your heritage.
Tend heirlooms and objects – Use your grandmother’s teapot, your grandfather’s books, or family tools in daily life.
Offerings and rituals – Light a candle, pour a cup of tea, or leave flowers at their photo or grave.
Tell stories – Go through family albums, watch old home videos, or simply speak their names aloud.
Dreamwork – Invite ancestors into your dreams by placing a photo, token, or dream pillow under your pillow. Record what comes through.
Nature connection – Spend time in places your ancestors lived, or honor plants and animals they would have known.
Ancestor Work When Family Is Complicated 🖤
Not everyone feels safe or ready to connect with family lines directly. For those of us with family trauma, estrangement, or cultural displacement, ancestor work can feel overwhelming.
Here are some gentle ways to approach it:
Start with distant ancestors
Work with cultural or spiritual ancestors
Invite your healed and benevolent ancestors
You get to decide who to connect with, and boundaries in sacred work are important too!
💭 Today's Tarot Pull:
From Ophidia Rosa Tarot deck, I pulled the Seven of Cups.
The richness of ancestor work lies in choice and possibility. You are not limited to one path of connection, because what matters most is the intention behind it.
Reflective prompts on this card:
What everyday practices help me feel closest to my ancestors?
Where do I feel tension in connecting with my family line, and how might I gently begin with safe, supportive ancestors?
Ways to Connect & Support
Tarot Card Creation Workshop: Get the recording, examples of cards I’ve created, journaling, and PDF walk through for $33. Purchase now!
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Book a Consultation: I’m a sex & relationships therapist and coach working virtually from my home office. Let’s see if we’re a fit: camilleasaunders.com
