Recently, I attended a magnificent workshop on ancestor magick and communication led by the well known author Silver RavenWolf.  Here I would like to share what I have learned from that workshop as well as some of my own successes at reaching and creating that link with my loved ones. 

First off, lets define the term loved one.  Now this can be a relative, either one you knew in this lifetime or one that passed before you got to know them or it can be a friend.  Often, I have found the need to communicate with my ancient family members who lived long before I was ever born.  I have found my methods and those that I learned from Silver RavenWolf to be extremely helpful.  Second, lets define the word communicate.  Communication from a passed loved one can and does come in MANY forms.  Of course, we would all love to be able to actually sit down and have a conversation with our passed ones, but more often than not that type of communication really does not happen.  It takes a person who is quite adept or gifted in this area for that type of communication to occur. But it CAN happen!  With practice you may be able to achieve this type of gift and if you do please let me know!  Write and share your experience with me for I would love to hear!  For those of you who never do reach this level, that’s ok. Each of you will communicate on the level that is best for you!  You have to keep that in mind and into perspective here. 

Working with the dead is not for everyone on every level.  Other forms of communication with your passed love ones come in various forms.  Our olfactory senses can be quite strong when doing communicating excersises.  For instance, if you are trying to communicate with grandma and she often wore the scent of Lilacs, then it is very likely that you will smell that fragrance when contacting and "talking" with her.  Our sense of smell usually tunes in before the rest of the senses follow.  Perhaps your communication will only come in that form with her and that is wonderful in itself.  Others may hear specific sounds that they associate with their loved one.  At one workshop I attended, one woman who had been trying to communicate with her past aunt said that she had been unsuccessful thus far.  Then she began describing always hearing a phone ring hours after trying to communicate with her aunt.  It was not her own phone ringing
yet she had never tried actually picking up the phone.  After we talked at length about her hearing of the phone, together we decided that the next time she heard it she should answer it.  And behold the feeling of peace and love swept over her.  She heard no voices, just the drum of the dial tone, but it was the feeling of absolute love that overwhelmed her.  Now she knows whenever she hears that phone ringing that her aunt is near and still comforts her with peace.

From my own experiences I do not hear bells ringing or smell Lilacs but I do hear the words sent from my loved ones. I can hear their voices and feel their presence.  For a long time one person I contacted on a regular basis would say simply in her own voice, "I love you and I am here."  At that time, that was all I needed and it was enough.  Through working and practice and as my need for more grew, so did my level of communication with her.  When I was trying to
have my first baby,  I  went  to  this particular loved one,  this person whom I held closest to my heart when I was child myself and talked with her about my need for a baby girl.  I asked her to find a loving kind soul to send to my womb and bless me with her very presence.  I made all sorts of promises as to how I would love this child like no other child was loved.  Then I heard my loved ones voice say that I needed not to define my love for it was already known and then she congratulated me on the upcoming birth of my daughter.  True to her word, my
daughter was born and appropriately named Joy. 

I do not claim here that all your wants and desires will be met by your past loved ones. What I do claim, is that you will be heard.  Not always is it in the best interest of the divine realm of things for you to get everything you want and desire.  I have heard stories from women who have lost their mothers at early
ages and then in their adulthood still communicate and ask for guidance from their mother.  Success stories are numerous and it is an incredible feeling to know that there is help from the other worlds and you are not alone in your life’s endeavors.  There is no harm in seeking aide as long as your aide is for the
good and your intent is positive.  I would not suggest or recommend that you use your new gifts in working with those who have passed that you have unfinished quarrels with.  Its not a good idea, in my opinion, to seek negative energies back out.  Let karma take its own course where they are concerned and remember the law of three!  Now let's get to the working of ancestral magick!

Tools you might want to gather prior to beginning:  Altar of some fashion…this can be one you erect solely for this purpose, one you have established in your home or yard, a portable one such as slate or boards or if you are really in a bind then you can use a towel.  (at the workshop Silver RavenWolf did she used a
green towel …so that goes to show you that just about anything works as long as you make it work for you.)

One each of the following candles colors:  purple, white and black.  A picture of the loved one you are trying to communicate with.  If you do not have a picture of them anything that they owned will work.  If you have neither a picture or a item they owned you can draw or find something that you associate with them. 

Any other tool you might find helpful for you.  I often will chose a stone or gem that I can keep with me in my purse or pocket to hold my memory of that loving feeling that I got during open communication.  A rattle or other noise making instrument: shakers, bells, tambourines, etc.  If there is more than one person doing this at the same time, which is ideal, then also include drums in your supplies.  Some people would like to add incense to their alter and this acceptable of course, but usually I do not recommend it mainly because of the likelihood of the olfactory sense being used during contact.  We don’t want anything to be in the way.

Begin by setting up your altar, and light the candles. (Your candles should have already been cleansed and consecrated for this purpose alone and should be new and not used for any other type of magickal workings.)  Now is the fun
part.  Take some time and go for a walk.  Make sure your candles will be safe while you are away…no children left unattended and no flammables around etc. Use common sense!  On your walk focus on the person whom you would like to open the communication channel with.  Your walk can be however long YOU need it to be.  While you are walking, choose some items that you feel bring you closer to your loved one. 

We will assume for ease of explanation that you are trying to reach grandma. So hence forth in place of "your loved one" I will simply say "Grandma." So while you are walking and focusing on grandma think of things that remind you of her.  Your walk can be in your back yard, down a city sidewalk, through your living room,
on the beach, just about anywhere!  You might  feel things "call" you to chose them.  You should keep in mind that you will not keep these things for yourself as they will be your gifts to grandma.  So don’t pick your $15,000 china vase
unless you no longer want to keep it!!  I am purposely not giving you ideas here of things to pick as some folks would just simply pick what I told them too and not be creative and chose what calls them.  And they might think that what I picked was the one right thing to pick.  By no means, do I claim that my way is the only
way!  It is "A way"  that works for me, it may or may not work for you.  You may choose as many or as few things as you feel you want as there is no set limit, there is no special number, if you listen to your heart you will not chose poorly anyway.  Have faith in yourself and what you are about to do and it will happen. 

Now that you have chosen your gifts for grandma return to your altar and place your presents on it.  If there are several of you form a circle around the alter.  I should make a note here to let you know that each person in the circle can be contacting a different person and have their own gifts to give, but the alter can be one that everyone uses.  If it is just you, then sit in front of your alter. Designate one person to be the spirit caller and give them the loudest rattle.  If you are
alone this is you.  Have the drummers tap a slow, steady, quiet beat while the spirit caller begins to shake the rattle.  Each person should have something to create noise with and should also join in.  Begin at one point in the circle (I like to have the person to the left of the spirit caller go first) have each member state what they brought and who it is for aloud.  If this is a working coven or many who are very comfortable with each other then they may also state why they picked those certain gifts for their loved one.  If you are not comfortable stating it aloud
then simply think it to yourself. 

Move around the circle in a clockwise fashion until each person has spoken. While each are speaking focus on your grandma while continuing to play the instrument you have. This is when you will most likely begin to feel, hear, smell or whatever form of communication you will obtain this time with your grandma. The music will remain steady for some time, then crescendo as the cone
of power rises.  Let if fill you!  The music viturally will stop on its own and time
sometimes will seem to stand still while each person enjoys that feeling that only they themselves will know and understand.  Yelp, holler and howl and GROUND if you need to!  Grounding can be simply connecting your hands to Earth Mother.  It is done and so mote it be! 

If there is the need, desire or want, some folks might want to share what they heard, felt, smelled, etc.  While others will want to sit quietly and ponder what just transpired within their soul and hearts.  It is good either way.  I have been through this ritual with some folks who just simply sit there and cry their eyes out with the overwhelming feelings that run through them.  If this happens to you, know that you will be okay and its very normal and if you see someone else over there crying they just might need a hug or two. 

Often the clean up of the supplies is left out of a ritual and some folks are left with
wondering...now what do I do with this stuff on my altar.  You have several choices.  If you created your altar for this purpose alone and it is outside, then leave it as it is.  Let your candles burn out or snuff them and simply walk away.  If you placed these items on your permanent alter, then I would let the candles burn themselves out, then take my gifts to grandma and toss them to the wind. Bury the candles close to your home on your own property or if in an apartment in a flower pot.  No harm will come to your precious plants.  If you do not want your candles to burn out then you may always snuff them and then take them and your picture or symbolic item of grandma and create a sacred place in your home for them.  This can be a special spot on your dresser or table.  Just place the picture and candles there and whenever you want grandma to feel especially close to you then you can light it and enjoy her warmth.  If none of my ideas sound good to you, then please do what you feel is best for YOU.  Keep in mind, there is no ONE way that is correct.  Whatever works for YOU is the BEST way for You!

Brightest Blessings! Tia