What’s all this about a thin veil?
As the darkest part of the year here in the northern hemisphere approaches, the veil between this world and the next (or the rest, depending on your viewpoint) thins out. It’s one of the reasons that things like Samhainn and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) take place in the next week or so. It’s also the reason that seasons full of ghost stories usually exist between now and when the veil starts to close up tighter again, traditionally thought to occur around the twelfth day of Christmas (or Epiphany/Three Kings Day).
It’s a great time of year to get in touch with your ancestors. That could means the ones you knew in life, who have passed on, or it could include those further back.
If you are going to get in touch with any of them, please practice basic spiritual hygiene.
First, ground and center yourself.
Then clear the energy around yourself with the aid of crystals (selenite or clear quartz work well), or smoke (incense or herb bundles or even woodsmoke), or through sound, such as the ringing of bells, or some other way. You can grab my free Energy Clearing resource here.
Finally, ask your loving and beneficial ancestors to join you. Please be intentional about this, and don’t just welcome any ancestors that might want to come through—some of them weren’t good people in life, and aren’t good company in death. So stick to the ones who want to see you thrive.
If you want to make this a bigger thing, you can create an ancestral altar in your home—it doesn’t have to be a big deal, or an actual altar; it can be as simple as a shelf or section of a table that holds photos of departed loved ones. You might consider leaving them a small offering (or ofrenda), such as flowers, or a small bit of wine or coffee, or their favorite candy. Some people make offerings of tobacco or stronger alcoholic spirits, if those were popular with their particular ancestor. Consider lighting a candle (or candles), maybe some incense, and sit and commune with them. You can either sit silently or speak to them aloud, remembering things about them. You might get the sense that their spirit is wrapping around you as a form of a hug, or you might not sense anything much at all . . . but either way, you are enjoying time with them and with your memories of them.
You could also commune with ancestors and other benevolent spirit guides (which can be human or of some other nature, ranging from fairy to animal to angel and more) by having a “dumb supper”. It is one in which you light some candles on your table, set a plate for your spirit guest(s), and place a bit of the food you have on their plate. Traditionally, you serve your guest(s) first, then yourself, and eat the entire meal in silence, thinking about your ancestors/guides and listening for any messages that might come through. It could be a sudden thought or knowing, though some people see or hear messages as well (and if you do, don’t freak out—after all, you’re the one who invited them to show up!). For me, things turn up as “knowing”, and range from a specific memory to a sudden fixation on a word or idea, to a sudden urge to do something specific (such as put out an offering, or go outside and look at the stars, or make a note to google the meaning of a word or phrase that turns up).
With the moon now in Scorpio, it’s a great time for a tarot reading. And this is especially true in the next couple of weeks, as Samhainn is upon us. Traditionally, it was based on things like the moon cycle, rather than a specific calendar date, and for centuries prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar (the one we all use now), it was observed in Celtic regions on what is now November 15th. So if you would like to book a tarot reading with me between now and November 15th, please know that there are 13 slots available for a special five-card Samhainn reading. My other card offerings are also available, and are currently reduced.