Over the next few days, in the Northern hemisphere, we will gather to honour our beloved dead with Halloween, Samhain, All Souls’ Day and Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Far from the ghoulish pranks of mainstream Halloween, the origins of these holidays are ancient and sacred. It is at this time of lengthening nights –…
Guest post by Fran Riley for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. I’m Fran and I’m proud to be guesting here, and honoured to know the lovely Jo, wise spiritual woman that she is. I’m going to take you through how to make a mini table top shrine to honour an ancestor. I made…
Guest post by Michelle Millichip for Crafting the Sacred’s Ancestral Threads series. Two years ago I lost my mum to breast cancer. I’m still working through my loss and finding ways to live with the sadness, while also to honouring the amazing woman my mum was. One way I did this was through the tattoo…
Guest post by Jackie Stewart for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. We each have a family Soul that yearns to experience divine love, acceptance and wholeness in the same way that our individual Souls do. As individuals, when we experience painful or challenging situations and emotions, our Souls call us to accept them…
This links round-up focuses on connecting with those who have gone before through creativity. Mexican-American artist Jorge Rojas gives oracle readings using corn tortillas as his divination tool. In this insightful interview, he shares how his corn tortilla practice is deeply rooted in the corn-honoring traditions of his ancestors. It wasn’t until…
Guest post by Anu Athanikar for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. Every once in while a strange, old family story invades my memory. The mysterious tale begins like this: Before being married off to my aunt, my uncle allegedly had a passionate and tumultuous relationship with a woman who was clearly deemed unsuitable for…
Guest post by Sherri Lynn Wood for Crafting the Sacred’s Ancestral Threads series. I drew this picture of my mother, Linda Susan Wood, only a few hours before she died on Christmas Eve day, 2003. Notice the journal entry to the left and the last line which reads: I was thinking of rage and grief……
Guest post by Elise Allen for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. I have kept an altar for many years, even before I knew what to call it. I would set an intention and place an item where it would catch my eye each day; or I would hang onto something special from a…
As I mentioned before this month’s Ancestral Threads series is born from my personal ancestral healing journey. Through this journey I embarked on a sleuthing expedition to get to know my ancestors and the healing needed – through family lore, historical records, internet searches and shamanic workings. Along the way I uncovered triumphs and traumas…
Guest post by Zion Free Johnson for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. It wasn’t until I attended my mother’s 63rd surprise birthday party earlier this year that I really understood where I come from – Texas! I am from a long line of hard working, humorous, and philosophical people. I have had many…
Guest post by Kristen for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. My independent spirit came down The maternal line. An ancestral song Passed from one generation to the next. Married At sixteen years old My grandmother followed the trend of her time. Always a mother Always a nurturer Birthing seven along…
Guest post by Little World Traveler for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. Little World Traveler explores the movement and grace of her ancestors’ journey in her multi-media performance piece, The Dance of Life. Little World Traveler is a descendant of generations of Chinese emigrants who have had to leave their birth…
Guest post by Katrina Martin Davenport for Crafting the Sacred’s series on Ancestral Threads. On April 28, I embarked on a journey to visit the lands my ancestors came from. One intention I set was learn more about myself. Along the way, I have consistently asked the ancestors for help through ritual, meditation, and dreams….
If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people. Thich Nhat Hanh I love this quote as it sums up…
Hi, I'm Jo Crawford of Crafting the Sacred. I help creatives manifest the work they love with equal parts intuition and practical know-how.Read More About Jo »
