I set up an ancestor altar and one night I had a strange dream. Things that were stressing me were resolved. Later that month I had a trip and was not able to visit the altar so the day before I let them know that I was going away, but would be back soon. Thank you for the video! It was very informative
I identify as Christian but am curious about witchcraft. I do believe the spirit of my great grandfather lives in my house. He passed there. He knows we acknowledge his presence and at times I ask him for help finding stuff when we misplace them. My daughter and I are thinking about making moonwater and a couple witch balls. I have always loved genealogy!
There are plenty of Christian witches. Witchcraft is a secular practice that can be used alone or within a religious or spiritual framework. Try it out!
You should definitely make some! Witchcraft can be practiced by any religion or denomination 🙏 im glad your grandfather is there watching over you and your daughter ❤ blessed be
Another Christian witch here! It's lovely you have this connection with him. A little thanks goes a long way, especially if he helps you out from time to time. Setting a place for him at dinner on Samhain is a tradition you may be interested in :)
I hope you have a wonderful experience learning about witchcraft, and I'd like to say thank you for being so accepting. Some people aren't so fortunate as to have an open mind.
I have an altar that right now is just for my great grandpa. And one thing I knew he loved in life was polka dancing, so sometimes I play polka music as an offering for him. The feeling of giddiness of laughter, joy, and dancing is overwhelming in the space the altar is whenever I do that 😊 I’ve also given him offerings of an espresso shot with cinnamon on top. He usually likes to have one while I enjoy my own coffee. He loves it when my cats walk near his altar as he always loved playing with cats in life. And anything that’s not liked is yeeted unceremoniously off the altar either by the cats, the wind, or just out of nowhere lol
I have a permanent ancestor altar in my bedroom on my mothers antique dressing table. I personally don’t work with or ask for help/guidance from them. My altar is purely an honouring altar to keep their memory alive 🖤
I enjoy how you remind people of respect when it comes to ancestors/dieties. alot of people forget general respect when it comes to stuff like this! it's very refreshing
If you don't have a lot of space and have no altar space try going vertical. The use of photos on a wall and a simple floating shelf from a hardware store for offerings, and items work well.
today was the first year aniversary of my mom's passing. I thought, why not set her up a little spot with the stuff she liked? I havent got room to display her urn yet, and my sister and I are gonna have her ashes worked into a glass pendant anyway; but being able to give her the morning drink i always made her and light a candle she'd like just feels like it'd be a nice thing for me. Personally, i kinda hope she isnt just hanging around me all the time, she'd worry too much and deserves a good vacation after the life she had. These rituals are - in my opinion - first and foremost for the living after all, and i find ritual very soothing. If one day it evolves into some kind of spirit work, all the better.
I'm very active at the Vietnamese Buddhist temple. In the Vietnamese tradition, they have an entire room dedicated to ancestors placed behind the altar to The Buddha. One can display their picture year-round pictures of loved ones. Offerings of flowers and food are placed on the altar to remember those who have passed on and a way of caring for them. Often a stick of incense is burned in remembrance of loved ones and to reverence The Buddhist Earth-Store Bodhisattva. (a bodhisattva is a person who has chosen to be reborn again and again in order to help all living beings relieve suffering. A type of god or goddess) I've placed my Mothers picture in the ancestor's room. I visit her weekly to burn incense and bow in reverence. I bring her offerings of flowers and food. I brought her a Watermelon for the summer solstice, now since it's Samhain month so I placed a plate of pomegranates and apples since they are often brought as food for the dead.
I come from a background of trauma, rage, early deaths, generations of motherless children, and upheaval. I have conflicting feelings about some who have passed. So I have decided to keep an ancestor altar dedicated to healing - mine & theirs. There is a box for photos or items that cause me discomfort. I display photos/ items of those that give me comfort or who I wish to understand better.
My way is highly unconventional..pun intended! I use cannabis by smoking or eating it and then listen to a playlist I have made with music out of where my ancestors are from! I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, S.A PTSD, and depression that comes from both. Witchcraft and connecting with my ancestors for strength really has changed my world!
Funny enough this is my first Samhain and I have had a ancestor alter for a couple months now for my grandmas that passed away when I was in high school. Today I had a huge urge to do pull some cards for my Norse ancestors. I can’t wait to dive into the message tonight: 😊
As a Druid, I only have an ancestors altar,its a shelf on a bookcase with photos of my ancstors, a t light, an incense stick or bowl to burn homemade incense and an offering bowl,that's it,that's all I need
Thank you for another excellent video! I recently purchased the Ancestral Grimoire , and by following the recommended steps, my paternal grandfather reached out to me. We had further communication through a pendulum and I asked what he’d like on his alter, etc. So, I’m setting up my first, and am excited to work with him. I didn’t know him well in life, but I feel he wants to help me in part to make amends for some hurt he caused to his children. In any case, this video reinforces some of the ideas I had just winging it. Thanks again for sharing your wisdom!
I just started working with this book as well and I’m really enjoying the process. It’s an easy to comprehend read. I too just started connecting with my paternal Grandfather that I have always been close to.
I've only ever done this on Samhain a few times and always as kind of sitting down and having a meal together and just talking. I really like the idea of having something up all the time to connect with my loved ones who are no longer with me.
Thank you so much for this video! I know I’m late to the party but I’m going to set up an altar. I’ve been craving communication with my deceased family and this is absolutely perfect to strengthen the connection
I must have missed this video and just now found it. I have it playing in the background. It has me thinking of my dad and as I was walking into another room I smelled his cigarettes like he just left the room. I almost cried....I guess he would like to be remembered. Thank you so much for this video!
Agh I’ve been so conflicted for several years now…I was raised Catholic and the majority of my family is still highly religious. But this time of year I always feel a very strong pull to this sort of spirituality. I want to explore, but I don’t want to mess with things that shouldn’t be let in, and there’s still always that old voice in the back of my head that tells me I’ll go to hell (hooray religious trauma).
Christian witch here! There are entire branches of witchcraft that exist exclusively within Catholicism (i.e. Santeria) and there is absolutely nothing wrong with researching and learning about different traditions than how you were raised. God made us naturally curious, and I say there's only value to be gained in exploring other cultures, beliefs, and ideas. The more you know about these types of things, the more informed decisions you'll be able to make and the more comfortable you'll be experimenting. Best of luck & blessed be ❤
I just found out that my 26th great grandparents are Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. I know that about a billion other people can say the same, but, I thought it was really cool to learn. I am going to include Eleanor!
Katherine, You may want to ask your ancestor these questions: 1) Are you a Ancestor of mine ? 2) Were you a Pagan before you were baptized as a Christian? 3) Would you like to work with a Witch?
@@juliereminiec4937 I know that she is my ancestor (the lineage can be traced back person to person, and from verified sources.) I know that she wasn't a Pagan. But, she might be willing to help her descendant (26 generations away, but, still a direct descendant.)
I have my ancestor altar mixed in with my work altar. I lost my dad who was super into witchcraft, and I love having him there to just see me doing my tarot, working spells and cleansing my stones. He’s always there making sure I’m safe, and I think it boosts my readings for the day and energies for workings. I think he just loves seeing me working my witchy magics
I have recently given my entire house a Witchy makeover, and have a different type of altar set up in every room. I have a small altar dedicated for ancestors in my bedroom.
I am 50% Mexican, I am profoundly familiar with Day of The Dead altars. Basically the late will honor them and invite them over to enjoy the world of the living for a couple days, offering them their favorite foods and drinks. Sugar skulls are a huge part of this. As a solitary eclectic witch I always look forward to setting it up and honoring those that came before me, so they can help guide my footsteps.
Please forgive me but I accidentally pushed 'comment' before finishing. Thank you for your wonderful videos and look forward to many more. Goodnight and Blessed be, my dear.
Definitely good stuff! One of the reasons I *so* enjoy your channel is the very solid real-life advice you give (e.g., the idea of a possible rodent problem or the insane effort required to get an intro right) and your inclusion of information a lot of other sources leave out (e.g., "known dead" vs. "unknown dead").
Thank you for sharing this! I don't know my ancestry at all really , but I have an altar for unknown ancestors that want to work through me or teach me and I have become super connected to it in the last couple years. You videos are always the best
Yesssss I’ve been hoping for ancestor content, I have many animal skulls would it be appropriate to use them on an ancestor altar as a way of connecting with unknown ancestors?
I wouldn't advise mixing animal parts within a human ancestor altar. Those animal skulls would be better suited for connecting with the spirit of that animal who owned it, or that type of animal. Kind of like how Hearth put it, the spirit of the skull is most likely what will show up.
I have been getting inspired to make an ancestral altar, though an outside one due to my ancestry. One thing I have been drawn to do is use the flags of my ancestors nations as representations till I can find out their clans(totems).
I am very interested in Ancestor Work, but as I’m relatively new to The Craft, I’m holding off working with any kind of spirit for now. Thanks for this video, it’s given me a lot to think and reflect on. When I feel ready, I will work with my ancestors.
I have an altar for my Mom, to honor and connect with her. Every morning I set a cup of coffee on the shelf for her before I make my own coffee (she loved coffee just as I do) and then I’ll say good morning and tell her what’s going on.
I've always intuitively felt my ancestors guiding me. I am an adult now and every now and then one will visit me in a dream to give me guidance. I also like to think I was my own ancestor in a previous life.
I have a rough time finding out who my ancestors are due to family not talking to one another or a lot of it being unknown since one side immigrated from Norway. But I love the idea of working with them and connecting to them, and those I’ve chosen as my close loved ones
Video idea suggestions/question: communicating with the dead via portals e.g. using mirrors specifically. How would one go about this? I have a mirror from a recently deceased Uncle, one of the most important people and loved people in my life. He death was sudden and within the month I learned I am pregnant and since he won't be able to be in his Great niece/nephew life physically, I want to begin building this connection as quickly as reasonably possible so he can be there spiritually... He was the best uncle... Anyway, the mirror is beautiful and it radiates his energy so much. I believe because of it's connection to him, connecting with him via this mirror could be "simple" but I'm also wondering if could be used to go further back on that side of my family (he was my maternal uncle)? There are known and unknown folks on my mother's side who I want to learn from and learn more about and I'm wondering if this could be step towards that as well. I hope this question/suggestion makes sense, and I'm open to suggestions from any practitioner who has some experience in this realm.
Right now I'm building 2 altars one for samhain and one for day of the dead cause I was born in Mexico 🇲🇽 so I feel that both altars are going to be good to honor both my deceased family members and my ancestors ❤🔮🧹🎃👻💀🕷🕸🦇
I've had a strong urge to make a permanent space in my home for my deceased dog. She was the love of my life, and she visits me often in dreams. I have a clay impression of her paw print, and a million photos. I'm also going to commission a painting of her. Any tips or ideas on how to work with her or just keep my connection with her strong? She was such an angel in life, and continues to be in death. I miss her every day 🤎🐕
Oh my gosh, you're so right about the intros! They are the toughest part. When I used to do TH-cam videos I would sometimes just sit there in science with the camera rolling for 15 minutes. Then I would start the 20 different takes that is required haha
I've been starting the journey to working with my ancestors. I've got the altar planned and have been digging hard into genealogy research. As a European American, I've been trying to ground myself in the reality of my familial past and breaking past the myth of "white" to help be a better person and ally to BIPOC, unraveling the misty history of my family has helped a lot with that. It's important to have something to be proud of and champion other than being a "white American" (which is only a real thing if you give weight to racist systems). Plus I miss my grandmother. I'd love to have her guidance in my life again.
Thank you ❤️🤍 I was thinking about this the other day! I’ve been learning more about my ancestors and how much they have been helping me….. I wanted to show gradititude torwards them. I’m moving and the new place I can be more open about my craft! 🥰
My personal ancestor Altar has a skull shaped clear glass bottle. Me being Native American , I have filled the bottle with dirt. Dirt from Ancestral homelands , current Tribal Headquarters , Tribal Cultural Center and a couple of Cemeteries where some of my relatives are buried.
I don't have an ancestor altar, but ancestors are a big part of my spirituality. Any time i hand-sew, or bake from scratch, or make candles or carve wooden utensils, i think about my ancestors. Anytime I listen to folk music and sea shanties, anytime I read a work of classic literature, etc. Do these things says to them that I value their knowledge and traditional skills. It says "you were important, and even if I don't know all your names I remember you." I want to make them proud. I would also like to point out, that although I am proud of my heritage, I do NOT think me or my ancestors are superior to anyone else's ancestors. Ancestors veneration is different than white supremacy.
I just set up an altar a few weeks ago. I used a jewlery stand that I already had that was in the shape of a tree. I thought it was a good representation of ancestry at the time because I dont know many of my ancestors and don't have photos or anything, and it has a dish on the botton i can put stuff on. in front of it i have a cup of water and a 7 day candle that has pictures of skulls and flowers on it that I keep burning at all times. I don't let it go out before I light a new one. I read that keeping water in front of the altar can help catch any negativity and it acts as a lubricant to help them come through easier? I like the skull idea. I bought some skull candles already I was going to light them on samhain, but I might run out and get a skull like you have so I have something to talk to. it does feel weird talking to a metal tree. I started leaving fresh coffee out in the morning, and I gotta grab cake cause when I used the pendulum i was asking what type of food they liked it was swinging really hard YES on cake lol.
Very helpful. I really enjoyed this video as it expanded my understanding of Ancestral altars & gave me some ideas. Thank you for sharing your information. 🌺🍏💖
Thank you very much for this video. I'm still very early on in my studies and learning, but I do hope to someday set up an altar to honor my ancestors. I honestly do not know if any of them would approve of my wishing to learn witchcraft. It has been a strong interest for as long as I can remember.
You're the best Hearth, always so informative and knowledgeable. You can tell you have a true passion for the craft, and I really appreciate that. Thank you and blessed be.
Thank you for this video, I really enjoyed it. No related in the slightest, but your earrings are gorgeous! Can I ask where you got them, if you remember?
Just found you! First video I'm seeing and not even half way through I hit subscribe for all notifications. Love your vibe and your space. Thank you for sharing with us!!! 💚 Blessed Be from Iowa, USA.
If a deceased person is a direct ancestor, I figure that they probably already know about me. Living people get excited when their children and grandchildren have children of their own. Maybe people on the other side of the veil get excited, too, and watch their bloodline continue. So, I figure it's okay to respectfully and politely ASK (never demand) for help if you learn of a direct ancestor who may be able to.
Hi. I really enjoy and learn a lot from you. I'm a experienced and practicing witch of over 20 yrs. Though I've known I was one for many yrs before. But I was surrounded by Christians and hid my real self. Now I can research on Wicca, Witchcraft and Witches to my hearts content. I watch all Witches and Pagans, their ways, styles and beliefs. I take what resonates for, with me and make it to perfectly fit me. I'm going to make an ancestor altar along side my first one, started many years ago. And I have questions. Can we lightly cover the food and drink offerings with say.. cling wrap? And I'm thinking that I will need to ask very firstly if any of my ancestors accept my being a witch? Wouldn't want to upset or insult them. I know that most of my family are very religious. You thoughts on that please.
I have wanted to do something with my ancestors. I just haven't known what to do. Doing ancestor work would be so good. Even an ancestor altar would be great to have. Talking with my grandparents especially would be wonderful. But what if you don't know much about grandparents on one side? Yet you really want to talk to them.
I just set up my alter for my ancestors my grandparents things are on my alter and my grandmothers picture and my friends mother who just past recently but I didn't have a picture of her so I wrote her name on a piece of paper ..
I'm looking to build an alter for my pets who have passed on. I want to strengthen their presence in our home. Has anyone else done this and any tips? Thank you for posting this video Hearth! ❤
As a little girl I would hear about the holiday dia de Los Muertos from school than I ever did at home. One year we made Papel picado, I brought it home to show my dad and I asked if we could make an ofrenda. I don't remember why he said no perhaps he wasn't as spiritual or maybe didn't have knowledge about our ancestors. Even if he said no then it was a long time ago and I'd really love to make that ofrenda happen this year. Perhaps my dad would like the idea of connecting with my abuelito and now that the holiday is approaching im trying my best not to cry but I really do want to get in touch with my ancestors to feel their warmth(although i have no idea who they are or if it would be wise to do so) perhaps when we go to Mexico I can ask my relatives about this and learn while I still can But for now a simple ofrenda for my abuelito might suffice
Thank you for this video. But i have a question. Someone i am close to lost his grandmother thos year. I want to include her in my ancestors altar. Where does she fall. All i have is a picture of her ( getting more information would not be hard, but would rather not).
My grandparents were from Italy and france. I really need to find some similarities if there are huge differences. Never really studied my ancestry in the spiritual sense. You would think that would be step one. Hmmm.
First, I'd like to commend you on your work, I find your videos very informative and interesting. Your explanations are concise and easy to follow so naturally, I subscribed. I have a question and not sure if this is the place to ask but, I'll post it here anyway and hope you see it. There's a little boy entity that had been hanging around the house. I really enjoyed his energy but, another entity here who doesn't like dogs, started attacking mine and I had to do something. I enlisted the help of a few mediums and one said I had to move the little boy entity along. As much as I didn't want to do that, I conceded. She said that he could come back to visit but needed to move on. That was is 2021. Since that time, the energy here has shifted and I get less visual but still have evp activity. My question is, is it possible to reconnect with the spirit entity Jeremy and if so, how would I go about doing that? Thanks so much for your time, looking forward.
Hello I really want to connect with my unknown ancestors. I found out that they used to do witchcraft. I don't have any pictures of them. Can you help?
I need some advice I want to talk to my great grandfather because he had a heart attack before I was born but she said we should focus on someone we know first but I don’t know anyone close to me that has died what do I do? Also are you allowed to contact someone of a different faith Because a lot of my old relatives were Christian
I've seen others say that you shouldn't put pictures on your ancestor altar that have those still living in them. Can anyone confirm or deny this take? Sometimes its hard to find a photo with just the deceased person in it. I wouldn't want to cut a cherished photo just to include it on the altar. Any help with this question is greatly appreciated.
Personally I wouldn't put photos of living relatives but if you're able to, scan or photograph a pre-existing photo and re-print a copy, even if it's on printer paper rather than photo paper, so you can cut the copy rather than the original. If you can't do that then adding things that represent the person you are wanting to connect to is a good alternative.
I work with my maternal grandfather. I also wear his jewelry and I share his name. I have things he made on my alter. He gave me a card in my dream last night with $110 in it the other parts of my dream are I always dream that he hasn't moved on. Hes still here, often in an Elvis conspiracy thing that he's alive but in hiding.
Of course! I would look to my grandparents and great grandparents, etc, but I also have a brother who was stillborn when I was 8. I would probably put something on an ancestor altar for him as well. Whoever seems appropriate, or if you feel a connection to them, they can be an ancestor. Some might find that non-familial people feel like spiritual ancestors, as well. If you’re LGBTQ+, then other historical LGBTQ+ folks could be honored. If you’re an artist, other artists whose work inspires you could count. Other people might say someone like that doesn’t actually count as an ancestor. I would probably simply suggest going slowly, one or two people at a time. See how it goes, see how it feels.
I set up an ancestor altar and one night I had a strange dream. Things that were stressing me were resolved. Later that month I had a trip and was not able to visit the altar so the day before I let them know that I was going away, but would be back soon.
Thank you for the video! It was very informative
I identify as Christian but am curious about witchcraft. I do believe the spirit of my great grandfather lives in my house. He passed there. He knows we acknowledge his presence and at times I ask him for help finding stuff when we misplace them. My daughter and I are thinking about making moonwater and a couple witch balls. I have always loved genealogy!
There are plenty of Christian witches. Witchcraft is a secular practice that can be used alone or within a religious or spiritual framework. Try it out!
You should definitely make some! Witchcraft can be practiced by any religion or denomination 🙏 im glad your grandfather is there watching over you and your daughter ❤ blessed be
Another Christian witch here! It's lovely you have this connection with him. A little thanks goes a long way, especially if he helps you out from time to time. Setting a place for him at dinner on Samhain is a tradition you may be interested in :)
I hope you have a wonderful experience learning about witchcraft, and I'd like to say thank you for being so accepting. Some people aren't so fortunate as to have an open mind.
I’m a Christian witch! ❤❤
I have an altar that right now is just for my great grandpa. And one thing I knew he loved in life was polka dancing, so sometimes I play polka music as an offering for him. The feeling of giddiness of laughter, joy, and dancing is overwhelming in the space the altar is whenever I do that 😊
I’ve also given him offerings of an espresso shot with cinnamon on top. He usually likes to have one while I enjoy my own coffee. He loves it when my cats walk near his altar as he always loved playing with cats in life. And anything that’s not liked is yeeted unceremoniously off the altar either by the cats, the wind, or just out of nowhere lol
I have a permanent ancestor altar in my bedroom on my mothers antique dressing table. I personally don’t work with or ask for help/guidance from them. My altar is purely an honouring altar to keep their memory alive 🖤
I enjoy how you remind people of respect when it comes to ancestors/dieties. alot of people forget general respect when it comes to stuff like this! it's very refreshing
If you don't have a lot of space and have no altar space try going vertical. The use of photos on a wall and a simple floating shelf from a hardware store for offerings, and items work well.
I was thinking the same thing. Photos, paintings, and maybe a shadow box
today was the first year aniversary of my mom's passing. I thought, why not set her up a little spot with the stuff she liked? I havent got room to display her urn yet, and my sister and I are gonna have her ashes worked into a glass pendant anyway; but being able to give her the morning drink i always made her and light a candle she'd like just feels like it'd be a nice thing for me. Personally, i kinda hope she isnt just hanging around me all the time, she'd worry too much and deserves a good vacation after the life she had. These rituals are - in my opinion - first and foremost for the living after all, and i find ritual very soothing. If one day it evolves into some kind of spirit work, all the better.
I'm very active at the Vietnamese Buddhist temple. In the Vietnamese tradition, they have an entire room dedicated to ancestors placed behind the altar to The Buddha. One can display their picture year-round pictures of loved ones. Offerings of flowers and food are placed on the altar to remember those who have passed on and a way of caring for them. Often a stick of incense is burned in remembrance of loved ones and to reverence The Buddhist Earth-Store Bodhisattva. (a bodhisattva is a person who has chosen to be reborn again and again in order to help all living beings relieve suffering. A type of god or goddess)
I've placed my Mothers picture in the ancestor's room. I visit her weekly to burn incense and bow in reverence. I bring her offerings of flowers and food. I brought her a Watermelon for the summer solstice, now since it's Samhain month so I placed a plate of pomegranates and apples since they are often brought as food for the dead.
I love this! I’m Mexican and that is what Day of the Dead means to us.
Aww yes 🙌🏼 how wonderful I hope people do this for me.
I’m thinking about an ancestor altar in my house for my grandparents, with an additional space for them in my vegetable garden as they were farmers.
I come from a background of trauma, rage, early deaths, generations of motherless children, and upheaval. I have conflicting feelings about some who have passed. So I have decided to keep an ancestor altar dedicated to healing - mine & theirs. There is a box for photos or items that cause me discomfort. I display photos/ items of those that give me comfort or who I wish to understand better.
My way is highly unconventional..pun intended! I use cannabis by smoking or eating it and then listen to a playlist I have made with music out of where my ancestors are from!
I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, S.A PTSD, and depression that comes from both. Witchcraft and connecting with my ancestors for strength really has changed my world!
Same for me!
Funny enough this is my first Samhain and I have had a ancestor alter for a couple months now for my grandmas that passed away when I was in high school. Today I had a huge urge to do pull some cards for my Norse ancestors. I can’t wait to dive into the message tonight: 😊
As a Druid, I only have an ancestors altar,its a shelf on a bookcase with photos of my ancstors, a t light, an incense stick or bowl to burn homemade incense and an offering bowl,that's it,that's all I need
Thank you for another excellent video! I recently purchased the Ancestral Grimoire , and by following the recommended steps, my paternal grandfather reached out to me. We had further communication through a pendulum and I asked what he’d like on his alter, etc. So, I’m setting up my first, and am excited to work with him. I didn’t know him well in life, but I feel he wants to help me in part to make amends for some hurt he caused to his children. In any case, this video reinforces some of the ideas I had just winging it. Thanks again for sharing your wisdom!
I just started working with this book as well and I’m really enjoying the process. It’s an easy to comprehend read. I too just started connecting with my paternal Grandfather that I have always been close to.
This video couldn't have come at a better time, I've been thinking recently working with my ancestors, and set up a altar for them.
I've only ever done this on Samhain a few times and always as kind of sitting down and having a meal together and just talking. I really like the idea of having something up all the time to connect with my loved ones who are no longer with me.
I’m just dipping my toes into ancestor work so this video is such icing. *rubs hands together* let’s get started
Thank you so much for this video! I know I’m late to the party but I’m going to set up an altar. I’ve been craving communication with my deceased family and this is absolutely perfect to strengthen the connection
Or candy skull with ancestor's name :) This is one of my favorite things to add to my Día de Muertos altar.
I must have missed this video and just now found it. I have it playing in the background. It has me thinking of my dad and as I was walking into another room I smelled his cigarettes like he just left the room. I almost cried....I guess he would like to be remembered. Thank you so much for this video!
Agh I’ve been so conflicted for several years now…I was raised Catholic and the majority of my family is still highly religious. But this time of year I always feel a very strong pull to this sort of spirituality. I want to explore, but I don’t want to mess with things that shouldn’t be let in, and there’s still always that old voice in the back of my head that tells me I’ll go to hell (hooray religious trauma).
I was raised Independent Fundamental Baptist. Yeah, talk about religious trauma!
Christian witch here! There are entire branches of witchcraft that exist exclusively within Catholicism (i.e. Santeria) and there is absolutely nothing wrong with researching and learning about different traditions than how you were raised. God made us naturally curious, and I say there's only value to be gained in exploring other cultures, beliefs, and ideas. The more you know about these types of things, the more informed decisions you'll be able to make and the more comfortable you'll be experimenting. Best of luck & blessed be ❤
I actually like the wide frame format. It makes you more centered in your video.
Thank you for this lovely video, i didnt know much about making an ancestor altar, but now i plan to make one for my older sister who passed recently.
I just found out that my 26th great grandparents are Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
I know that about a billion other people can say the same, but, I thought it was really cool to learn. I am going to include Eleanor!
Katherine, You may want to ask your ancestor these questions:
1) Are you a Ancestor of mine ?
2) Were you a Pagan before you were baptized as a Christian?
3) Would you like to work with a Witch?
@@juliereminiec4937 I know that she is my ancestor (the lineage can be traced back person to person, and from verified sources.) I know that she wasn't a Pagan.
But, she might be willing to help her descendant (26 generations away, but, still a direct descendant.)
I found a tiny-but-detailed rose quartz skull in an antique shop this summer and I just knew I HAD to have to for some reason. Maybe now I know why. 😂
I have my ancestor altar mixed in with my work altar. I lost my dad who was super into witchcraft, and I love having him there to just see me doing my tarot, working spells and cleansing my stones. He’s always there making sure I’m safe, and I think it boosts my readings for the day and energies for workings. I think he just loves seeing me working my witchy magics
I have recently given my entire house a Witchy makeover, and have a different type of altar set up in every room. I have a small altar dedicated for ancestors in my bedroom.
I am 50% Mexican, I am profoundly familiar with Day of The Dead altars. Basically the late will honor them and invite them over to enjoy the world of the living for a couple days, offering them their favorite foods and drinks. Sugar skulls are a huge part of this.
As a solitary eclectic witch I always look forward to setting it up and honoring those that came before me, so they can help guide my footsteps.
Please forgive me but I accidentally pushed 'comment' before finishing. Thank you for your wonderful videos and look forward to many more. Goodnight and Blessed be, my dear.
Definitely good stuff! One of the reasons I *so* enjoy your channel is the very solid real-life advice you give (e.g., the idea of a possible rodent problem or the insane effort required to get an intro right) and your inclusion of information a lot of other sources leave out (e.g., "known dead" vs. "unknown dead").
I would love to see more videos about ancestor altar. Could you show us what an ancestor altar looks like?
Thank you for sharing this! I don't know my ancestry at all really , but I have an altar for unknown ancestors that want to work through me or teach me and I have become super connected to it in the last couple years. You videos are always the best
Yesssss I’ve been hoping for ancestor content, I have many animal skulls would it be appropriate to use them on an ancestor altar as a way of connecting with unknown ancestors?
I wouldn't advise mixing animal parts within a human ancestor altar. Those animal skulls would be better suited for connecting with the spirit of that animal who owned it, or that type of animal. Kind of like how Hearth put it, the spirit of the skull is most likely what will show up.
I have been getting inspired to make an ancestral altar, though an outside one due to my ancestry. One thing I have been drawn to do is use the flags of my ancestors nations as representations till I can find out their clans(totems).
I am very interested in Ancestor Work, but as I’m relatively new to The Craft, I’m holding off working with any kind of spirit for now. Thanks for this video, it’s given me a lot to think and reflect on. When I feel ready, I will work with my ancestors.
I have an altar for my Mom, to honor and connect with her. Every morning I set a cup of coffee on the shelf for her before I make my own coffee (she loved coffee just as I do) and then I’ll say good morning and tell her what’s going on.
I've always intuitively felt my ancestors guiding me. I am an adult now and every now and then one will visit me in a dream to give me guidance. I also like to think I was my own ancestor in a previous life.
I have a rough time finding out who my ancestors are due to family not talking to one another or a lot of it being unknown since one side immigrated from Norway. But I love the idea of working with them and connecting to them, and those I’ve chosen as my close loved ones
Video idea suggestions/question: communicating with the dead via portals e.g. using mirrors specifically. How would one go about this? I have a mirror from a recently deceased Uncle, one of the most important people and loved people in my life. He death was sudden and within the month I learned I am pregnant and since he won't be able to be in his Great niece/nephew life physically, I want to begin building this connection as quickly as reasonably possible so he can be there spiritually... He was the best uncle... Anyway, the mirror is beautiful and it radiates his energy so much. I believe because of it's connection to him, connecting with him via this mirror could be "simple" but I'm also wondering if could be used to go further back on that side of my family (he was my maternal uncle)? There are known and unknown folks on my mother's side who I want to learn from and learn more about and I'm wondering if this could be step towards that as well.
I hope this question/suggestion makes sense, and I'm open to suggestions from any practitioner who has some experience in this realm.
Excellent video as always- Look forward to the book club :) Be well and blessed be to next time.
Right now I'm building 2 altars one for samhain and one for day of the dead cause I was born in Mexico 🇲🇽 so I feel that both altars are going to be good to honor both my deceased family members and my ancestors ❤🔮🧹🎃👻💀🕷🕸🦇
I've had a strong urge to make a permanent space in my home for my deceased dog. She was the love of my life, and she visits me often in dreams. I have a clay impression of her paw print, and a million photos. I'm also going to commission a painting of her. Any tips or ideas on how to work with her or just keep my connection with her strong? She was such an angel in life, and continues to be in death. I miss her every day 🤎🐕
Oh my gosh, you're so right about the intros! They are the toughest part. When I used to do TH-cam videos I would sometimes just sit there in science with the camera rolling for 15 minutes. Then I would start the 20 different takes that is required haha
I've been starting the journey to working with my ancestors. I've got the altar planned and have been digging hard into genealogy research. As a European American, I've been trying to ground myself in the reality of my familial past and breaking past the myth of "white" to help be a better person and ally to BIPOC, unraveling the misty history of my family has helped a lot with that. It's important to have something to be proud of and champion other than being a "white American" (which is only a real thing if you give weight to racist systems). Plus I miss my grandmother. I'd love to have her guidance in my life again.
You are so well spoken🧙🏻♀️Blessings,....(you’re out takes are so funny!)
Thank you ❤️🤍
I was thinking about this the other day! I’ve been learning more about my ancestors and how much they have been helping me….. I wanted to show gradititude torwards them. I’m moving and the new place I can be more open about my craft! 🥰
Ah yes. I'm always delighted when a Hearth video pops up on my feed. Thank you for the information!
Perfect timing, I am just learning about ancestor honoring and this will help. Thank you!!
My personal ancestor Altar has a skull shaped clear glass bottle. Me being Native American , I have filled the bottle with dirt. Dirt from Ancestral homelands , current Tribal Headquarters , Tribal Cultural Center and a couple of Cemeteries where some of my relatives are buried.
Thank you for this insightful information.
I don't have an ancestor altar, but ancestors are a big part of my spirituality. Any time i hand-sew, or bake from scratch, or make candles or carve wooden utensils, i think about my ancestors. Anytime I listen to folk music and sea shanties, anytime I read a work of classic literature, etc. Do these things says to them that I value their knowledge and traditional skills. It says "you were important, and even if I don't know all your names I remember you." I want to make them proud.
I would also like to point out, that although I am proud of my heritage, I do NOT think me or my ancestors are superior to anyone else's ancestors. Ancestors veneration is different than white supremacy.
I'm interested in this and you are a wonderful teacher! Ps love the earrings!
Great information Hearth thank you VERY much blessings always Blessed Be 💜❤️💜❤️
I loved this one and shared it to some friends. Thank you for the great video
Loved this!
I just set up an altar a few weeks ago. I used a jewlery stand that I already had that was in the shape of a tree. I thought it was a good representation of ancestry at the time because I dont know many of my ancestors and don't have photos or anything, and it has a dish on the botton i can put stuff on. in front of it i have a cup of water and a 7 day candle that has pictures of skulls and flowers on it that I keep burning at all times. I don't let it go out before I light a new one. I read that keeping water in front of the altar can help catch any negativity and it acts as a lubricant to help them come through easier? I like the skull idea. I bought some skull candles already I was going to light them on samhain, but I might run out and get a skull like you have so I have something to talk to. it does feel weird talking to a metal tree. I started leaving fresh coffee out in the morning, and I gotta grab cake cause when I used the pendulum i was asking what type of food they liked it was swinging really hard YES on cake lol.
Very helpful. I really enjoyed this video as it expanded my understanding of Ancestral altars & gave me some ideas. Thank you for sharing your information. 🌺🍏💖
Omg I freakin love the bloopers u started doing at the end 😂😂🫶🫶
Thank you very much for this video. I'm still very early on in my studies and learning, but I do hope to someday set up an altar to honor my ancestors. I honestly do not know if any of them would approve of my wishing to learn witchcraft. It has been a strong interest for as long as I can remember.
You're the best Hearth, always so informative and knowledgeable.
You can tell you have a true passion for the craft, and I really appreciate that.
Thank you and blessed be.
Thank you for this video, I really enjoyed it. No related in the slightest, but your earrings are gorgeous! Can I ask where you got them, if you remember?
They’re from river island ☺️
Thank you for sharing, such great advice as always! Love the earrings💞💞
Just found you! First video I'm seeing and not even half way through I hit subscribe for all notifications. Love your vibe and your space. Thank you for sharing with us!!! 💚 Blessed Be from Iowa, USA.
Thank You 🙏🏼 ✨♥️🕊💫 Wonderful Video! Sending lots of love and gratitude. 🪷
If a deceased person is a direct ancestor, I figure that they probably already know about me. Living people get excited when their children and grandchildren have children of their own. Maybe people on the other side of the veil get excited, too, and watch their bloodline continue.
So, I figure it's okay to respectfully and politely ASK (never demand) for help if you learn of a direct ancestor who may be able to.
So OBJECTIVELY TRUE, I TAUGHT A LOT, THANKS!
Perfectly Said 🌿🍃
Hi. I really enjoy and learn a lot from you. I'm a experienced and practicing witch of over 20 yrs. Though I've known I was one for many yrs before. But I was surrounded by Christians and hid my real self. Now I can research on Wicca, Witchcraft and Witches to my hearts content. I watch all Witches and Pagans, their ways, styles and beliefs. I take what resonates for, with me and make it to perfectly fit me. I'm going to make an ancestor altar along side my first one, started many years ago. And I have questions. Can we lightly cover the food and drink offerings with say.. cling wrap? And I'm thinking that I will need to ask very firstly if any of my ancestors accept my being a witch? Wouldn't want to upset or insult them. I know that most of my family are very religious. You thoughts on that please.
I have wanted to do something with my ancestors. I just haven't known what to do. Doing ancestor work would be so good. Even an ancestor altar would be great to have. Talking with my grandparents especially would be wonderful. But what if you don't know much about grandparents on one side? Yet you really want to talk to them.
I just set up my alter for my ancestors my grandparents things are on my alter and my grandmothers picture and my friends mother who just past recently but I didn't have a picture of her so I wrote her name on a piece of paper ..
Awesome video. Thank you!
I'm looking to build an alter for my pets who have passed on. I want to strengthen their presence in our home. Has anyone else done this and any tips? Thank you for posting this video Hearth! ❤
Please I would love to get some more information about alters .
Great video and such clear concise advice and information
Hi sister thanks for ur teachings. Pls slow down so we can understand u well. Keep the kandle alight.
Another great video
I was just thinking about how to do this
Is it appropriate to add representations of your ancestors to your main altar?
As a little girl I would hear about the holiday dia de Los Muertos from school than I ever did at home. One year we made Papel picado, I brought it home to show my dad and I asked if we could make an ofrenda. I don't remember why he said no perhaps he wasn't as spiritual or maybe didn't have knowledge about our ancestors. Even if he said no then it was a long time ago and I'd really love to make that ofrenda happen this year. Perhaps my dad would like the idea of connecting with my abuelito and now that the holiday is approaching im trying my best not to cry but I really do want to get in touch with my ancestors to feel their warmth(although i have no idea who they are or if it would be wise to do so) perhaps when we go to Mexico I can ask my relatives about this and learn while I still can
But for now a simple ofrenda for my abuelito might suffice
WOW! Where can I find that zodiac thing you have behind you!? Also, gratitude for this video! Blessed Be 💚
I use skull shot glasses for some of my liquid offerings. 2 birds, 1 stone...? 🤷♀️
Thanks Hearth
Are Wiccan and Pagans similar in touch with the spirit realms
Thank you for this video. But i have a question. Someone i am close to lost his grandmother thos year. I want to include her in my ancestors altar. Where does she fall. All i have is a picture of her ( getting more information would not be hard, but would rather not).
yay! ❤
is it possible to have pets on this alter.....?
I have a picture of a cat I loved on my altar.
Our animal companions are included on our family/ancestor alter.
My grandparents were from Italy and france. I really need to find some similarities if there are huge differences. Never really studied my ancestry in the spiritual sense. You would think that would be step one. Hmmm.
First, I'd like to commend you on your work, I find your videos very informative and interesting. Your explanations are concise and easy to follow so naturally, I subscribed.
I have a question and not sure if this is the place to ask but, I'll post it here anyway and hope you see it.
There's a little boy entity that had been hanging around the house. I really enjoyed his energy but, another entity here who doesn't like dogs, started attacking mine and I had to do something. I enlisted the help of a few mediums and one said I had to move the little boy entity along. As much as I didn't want to do that, I conceded. She said that he could come back to visit but needed to move on.
That was is 2021.
Since that time, the energy here has shifted and I get less visual but still have evp activity. My question is, is it possible to reconnect with the spirit entity Jeremy and if so, how would I go about doing that?
Thanks so much for your time, looking forward.
My Ancestors were native to Cornwall.
Thank you ❤
Love the outtakes! LOL
Hi everyone
Hello I really want to connect with my unknown ancestors. I found out that they used to do witchcraft. I don't have any pictures of them. Can you help?
I need some advice I want to talk to my great grandfather because he had a heart attack before I was born but she said we should focus on someone we know first but I don’t know anyone close to me that has died what do I do? Also are you allowed to contact someone of a different faith Because a lot of my old relatives were Christian
I've seen others say that you shouldn't put pictures on your ancestor altar that have those still living in them. Can anyone confirm or deny this take? Sometimes its hard to find a photo with just the deceased person in it. I wouldn't want to cut a cherished photo just to include it on the altar. Any help with this question is greatly appreciated.
Personally I wouldn't put photos of living relatives but if you're able to, scan or photograph a pre-existing photo and re-print a copy, even if it's on printer paper rather than photo paper, so you can cut the copy rather than the original. If you can't do that then adding things that represent the person you are wanting to connect to is a good alternative.
@@HearthWitch Thank you so much for clarifying. I'll do that instead.
Thank you lotes love 💖
Thank you 🖤🎃🍂
Just realised the unknown dead lived in Cambodia and don’t know English so can I still communicate with them…?
I work with my maternal grandfather. I also wear his jewelry and I share his name. I have things he made on my alter.
He gave me a card in my dream last night with $110 in it the other parts of my dream are I always dream that he hasn't moved on. Hes still here, often in an Elvis conspiracy thing that he's alive but in hiding.
Hearth,Can a relative who died twenty years before one's birth be considered as a Ancestor?
I would say yes!
Of course! I would look to my grandparents and great grandparents, etc, but I also have a brother who was stillborn when I was 8. I would probably put something on an ancestor altar for him as well. Whoever seems appropriate, or if you feel a connection to them, they can be an ancestor.
Some might find that non-familial people feel like spiritual ancestors, as well. If you’re LGBTQ+, then other historical LGBTQ+ folks could be honored. If you’re an artist, other artists whose work inspires you could count. Other people might say someone like that doesn’t actually count as an ancestor.
I would probably simply suggest going slowly, one or two people at a time. See how it goes, see how it feels.