Ancestors

Who are they? What are they? Is there reincarnation or atleast an afterlife?

Those aren't as easy to answer. Death is only the beginning of a journey, to the other worlds. And there are many guides to the otherworld, including Sucellos, Nantosuelta, Ogmios, Setona, The Serpent, ravens, crows, horses, dogs, and your own family members to name a few.

I firmly believe we're remembering ourselves, and where we came from. Getting homesick, I suppose you could say. There are some who believe we are our ancestors reborn, or its all "genetic memory." Is it? Or is it a backlash to a emotionless and concrete jungle in which we live? The man-made concrete slabs have no feelings in themselves, nor do the sad trees locked in a circular hole on the sidewalk. Or maybe it's both. I will leave that up for you to decide.

The Ancestors are our family, whether blood, adopted, or fostered, but family is family. And the bonds of family go thicker than blood. And they can be guardians, or guides in our lives. No, I don't view the ancestors as gods, not exactly. We are all descended from the Great ancestors - such as Nantosuelta and Sucellos, but those who came after Sucellos are mortal ancestors, honored ones whom roam the lands on the nights of November, Aestival, and also on Twelve Nights. I leave food and offerings to them, and remember them in my memorials to them. They are those who've gone before us, and it is with them we return to after death... Among our Ancestors.

The Ancestor Altar (Edited and revised a bit, you can add the bones, skulls, ashes, or grave-dirt from your Ancestors and relatives. But remember what you give to them cannot be used again by the living.)

Take a white, or red cloth, be it thick and stout.

Take a table, used never once, and never again as it serves the dead.

On that table with thus cloth, place four stones from four corners of your property, town, country, or continents - your choice. And in the center of the cloth, make the sacred drink, and place in a chalice/goblet/cup. This cup can never be used for anything but the ancestors. As the stones can never be put where they were.

And a candle is to be placed on the western side - as with the setting sun follows the path of the ancestors. The candle color can be any of your choosing, of which you feel the ancestors would appreciate. Best recommended are novena candles, left burning. After one burns low, use the candle of that candle to light a new-one, similarly to doing with the divine presence candle.

And decorate else-wise to your choosing, using photographs, portraits, jewelry handed down, and a special bowl or plate to place objects that you'd like their blessing on. This bowl should be black or brown, or red, and specifically state what this bowl is for, and anything in it is for their blessings and you'll thank them for any blessings they give.

Be sure to place other plate(s), one(s) that can never be used by living hands, and pets cannot tamper with anything on the altar either, else-wise inviting calamity or death; or if nothing else, the wrath of the ancestors. Place at least one plate, for food offerings. And after the food has been given (at least three nights of being there) give it a proper burial, or burn it.

And anything not placed in the blessing bowl cannot be used by living hands again.

Decorate with flowers, shells, feathers, a potted plant, bouquet, garland, etc. And on other occasions the most vibrant and special of decorations, as well as Aestival or Noël holidays. When the flowers wilt, bury them as well.