Discover Your Ancestral Promise

Most people have a very generalized understanding of the ancestors. If you're like most people, you just consider an ancestor to be anyone who has died. That is, unless you have had a direct and personal relationship with a deceased family member, you probably find it difficult to understand who your ancestors are and the importance of their influence. The ancestors have one purpose; to guide and protect your family lineage. Unlike the orisa, who are universal principles that are accessible to all people, the ancestors are dedicated to your lineage and your lineage alone. More importantly, perhaps, whereas your devotion to orisa will likely be forgotten by the larger community, what you contribute to your family will be remembered, repeated and celebrated by your descendants. Stated differently, what you do for orisa is absorbed into the cosmos. But what you do for the ancestors in concentrated and stored in your family inheritance. 

But how, exactly do you tap into the ancestors? How do you call upon them and deepen your relationship to them? The first step is to discover your lineage's Ancestral Promise, which is traced through what is called your IDILE. While it is true that idile is correctly understood as your family's ancestral home, in the context of spiritual development, idile defines the agreement your family's founding ancestor made with Olodumare before establishing the lineage here on earth. It is that agreement that informs your family's Ancestral Promise. 

Do of the following:

Set up an ancestral altar. This is a place where you will go to call upon your ancestors. The purpose is more for your internal development and awareness than anything else. The role of the objects on ancestral altars is to construct memory and affirm social identity. 

Materials: 

• A small table or shelf 
  
• Cloth (i.e., a family quilt or simple white cotton cloth)
  
• Pictures and belongings of deceased family members (I even include a small bundle of raw cotton with my shrine)
  
• An image of your family tree
  
• Sacred texts (i.e., your ancestors' favorite Biblical verses, prayers or songs)
  

Instructions 

1. Place the table in a safe place, where it will not be knocked over
2. Cover the table with the cloth (if you have a quilt, try hanging it on the wall behind the table)
3. Place the pictures and belongings on the table
4. Open the Bible or other Holy book to a favorite passage. Bookmark others and refer to them as needed. 
5. Hang the image of the family tree on the wall above the table

Usage (At least once a week)

1. ALWAYS be sure you're clean when you approach your altar. 
2. Place a clean glass of cool water on the table. 
3. Select a sacred text to recite or sing. 
4. Call upon your ancestors by name, one by one (i.e., "I pay homage to Mr. Williams, the Constable of the Ville.")
5. Give thanks to your ancestors for your family, your life and your future (i.e., "I give thanks to you for my family, my life and my future.")
6. Sprinkle just a bit of water onto the floor. 
7. Beg your ancestors for guidance regarding your family, your life and your future (i.e., "Please help me to be a better parent and sibling)
8. Sip some of the water and leave the glass on the altar. 
9. Whenever you eat a meal, leave a morsel on your plate for your ancestors. 
10. Make at least one home-cooked meal and prepare a small plate for the ancestor shrine BEFORE you eat. After 15-20 minutes you can eat it, either immediately or the next day. 
11. Be attentive to the ways in which your ancestors are communicating with you as a result. 
12. Encourage your siblings and other family members to set up altars in their homes. This is very important. 

For more activities like this, please join the Orisa Lifestyle Academy MEMBER SITE. 

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