How many of you are comfortable with the idea of worshiping your ancestors? and if you are, does it replace a religion for you?

Lady Bastet

A while ago my mom was practicing Yoruba. My sister and I had pretty much grown up in the church and my mom was heavily into church too. We were in high school at the time that she started practicing Yoruba and she introduced us to it. My reactions to the religion was that it scared me. I worried that I was going to go to hell or that God would be angry at me for practicing this religion with my mom. I wasn't really into it, but when we went to do certain rituals, I did as I was told. At home we were supposed to set up an alter and offer the ancestors (egun) some of our food, water, and alcohol. After a while, we no longer practiced it.

For a long time after that I became agnostic, not atheist, there's a difference. I felt confused about Christianity. I had questions that no one could answer and that people were angry at me for asking, so I left the church and stopped practicing Christianity. It wasn't until about a year ago that I started back. Someone had hurt me and I decided to make a positive cd that would remind of my fabulousness. lol I was listening to Faith Evans' song Keep the Faith and I just felt God. I broke down. I can't describe to you how I felt, but I just cried a lot and I prayed a lot and it was WOW!

Recently, as I've told others, I am on my spirtual walk with God. I don't subscribe to a religion and who knows, I may never, but I am a firm believer in God. The God that is described by Christians is not my God. I don't feel that God is a separate entity from me as I was taught in church. I don't think that I will burn in hell for my beliefs. I set up an alter, I give food offerings to my ancestors, I pray to them and thank them for their contributions to my life, because had it not been for them coming and struggling before me, I wouldn't have the life that I do. At first, I felt a little weird about it, because some of the teachings of Christianity is still within me, but then I became comfortable with it. It doesn't replace a religion for me. I don't practice a religion. I am spiritual. I plan to learn more about Afrikan spirituality as well as other religions like Buddhism and I plan to incorporate some of the things that I learn into my life.

Sapphdia!

I want to thank you for replying to my post. Not many women come in here!
I am supportive of your journey in finding your spiritual path. I was too a Chrisitian many eons ago it feels like. I turned away from those beliefs entirely about a year ago. I wasn't doing anything. It was upon a experience I had in my life that I found my true spiritual path. It is far from over. I pray and give thanks to my ancestors, I have begun to set up alters for them. I have been visited by them in dreams.

I am still banishing old christian ways of thinking and brainwashing everyday. I do believe in a God and that God has both male and female attributes, not just male. There are so many contridictions in the bible that its scary to me, I had to walk away. Many other factors led me to this decision as well.

Although, I am not Yoruban, I do identify with the Orisha's and do pray and set up alter for them now. Nothing elaborate as of yet, but its increasing.
I am also studying wicca,( although I do not consider myself a wiccan, I have been bound to study this new "religion") herbalism, astrology and tarot.
I have not subscribed to any "religion" but am on a spiritual walk and I have found it edifying and uplifting.

I support you in your search and am proud that you could share your experience with us.

Blessing and peace be unto you!

Shadow walker

Greetings All,

With all respect and love for other's position, opinions and truth, I have a question... Yoruba beliefs are very popular in this country, but unfortunately, many of our ancestors were not Yoruba and many of us are not Yoruba, in regards to our spiritual lineage. I was wondering have anybody looked into other Afrikan forms of beliefs, e.g. Akan, Ewe-Fon, Lebu, Igbo and so forth?

I believe if you don't have Yoruba as your spiritual lineage, your soul will not recognize it, resonate with it or at least to full capacity and potential. Instrinic to our own spiritual paths is our quest for collective identity as a people and to draw on any ancestral solutions to our present problems. It's Sankofa.

We have the concept of ancestral soul, once again y'all. Our ancestral soul can not reach its full capacity in any spiritual tradition which it was not born in. We have to center this aspect of self in order to have a foundation in anything we endeavor to do or be. On another note, your spiritual lineage maybe European-based, meaning the European ancestry (if you have such) is more dominant than the Afrikan in you, and you may have a strong inclination to Western-based forms of spirituality. It is a deep search, very complex, but I think due to our lack of knowledge of certain concepts, we over-simplify everything. My ancestral lineage, as I've stated many times, is Ewe and as such my ancestral soul resonates within a Vodou context. Ultimately, the choice of my spiritual beliefs (religion, if you will) was not mine, but my ancestors. The Vodou are in my blood and there's no getting around that. I could practice Buddhism or mix-up beliefs to form my own coherent system, but I would to have eventually come to terms with my purpose for incarnating with Ewe Vodou blood. Does that mean I don't look into other systems or respect them or incorporate them in my overall spiritual regimen? No. But I do this only within the context of Vodou, as my over-riding outlook on life.

Yes, at the core, these various beliefs are the same, but we also incarnate in this world with a specific function to perform and that function is informed by the spiritual lineage one possesses. Every spiritual belief sprang from a culture and every culture has its own worldview. When incorporating spiritual beliefs, we are also incorporating various elements of different cultures (some which may be, essentially, diametrically opposed in worldview) and this could eventually cause a problem, in regards to ancestral soul orientation. Just as the human body may reject another person's organ, so it is with the soul. As above, so below. In issues like this, I advise wisdom and for the traveler to tread lightly. Said in love and light.

Ase!
Blackbird

Greetings All,

With all respect and love for other's position, opinions and truth, I have a question... Yoruba beliefs are very popular in this country, but unfortunately, many of our ancestors were not Yoruba and many of us are not Yoruba, in regards to our spiritual lineage. I was wondering have anybody looked into other Afrikan forms of beliefs, e.g. Akan, Ewe-Fon, Lebu, Igbo and so forth?

Blackbird


Blackbird your post was deep and taken with nothing but love and consideration. I think I have stated to you before that I do not feel a connection with Yoruba. However, the Orisha have visited me on several occassions, maybe I am confusing them with another belief system?

I have looked at maps of Africa during the slave trade and its hows the regions that were heavily taken into slavery. Yoruba is one, Kongo, Alergia.... if our ancestors did not come from the west coast of Africa, then where? and how in the world does one go about finding it?

I have not looked into the other belief systems... but I will now. Do you have any suggestions on how to get started?

Shadow... searches for the truth which is in the light!

Greetings,

I disagree with the post about needing an ancestral link to Yoruba.
I think that the intent to establish a link with an ancestral tradition is important. Yes, Yoruba may be well known as opposed to other traditions, but that certainly does not mean that each person involved in Yoruba has that ancestry.

Let me state that I am not Yoruba, I am Akan. I know many people that are Yoruba priests, but there was something about the Akan that I liked. That is not to say that perhaps there was some ancestral link, but that it not as important to me as having the sense of spiritual fulfillment from being involved in African spirituality.

I also was raised in the church, but some things simply made no sense to me - they did not resonate in my soul. When soemone believes that they will go to hell (!!!) because they don't believe, honestly, that is not love, that is real jealously.

I understand that our people may have been forced to accept the christian way simply to survive. I understand that. Yet I feel it is also an indication of our continued bondage when we are convinced that the system that was forced on us when we were on the auction block is the only way to salvation. What an introduction to God, any God.

When I encounter people that want to preach, I politely decline. I know not a single Akan priest that has to preach to someone that there way is the right way. As is said in Yoga, there is 'one truth, many paths'. I find arguments about religion to be a waste of time, and I believe that God (Nyame) is amused that humans fight over the way the Creator speaks to each person's heart.

BTW, I have also posted a notice about an event our temple in NY is having. Our members from the VA/MD/DC area will be traveling by bus to our event.

Gye Nyame (God is Omnipotent)
Abena Anum

Thank you for your words. I commend you on your path. I am not familar with other African traditions other than Yoruba and some Egyptian. Tell me a little more about Akan?

lady

The Akan tradition is the traditional culture of the Akan of Ghana, W. Africa. The Akan are also in Togo.
It is similar to Yoruba, in that in the cosmogony, you have Almighty God (Onyame, or Nyame, or Onyankopon).

Proverbs about Onyame's benvolence:
If an evil minded person knocks over your cup, God will fill it up for you.

The deities (abosum) are who we communicate with. They are the intermediares between us and Onyame. The deities assist us. The priests (okomfo) are the interemediares. They are taught how to communicate with the abosum. People come to the okomfo for assistance.
Also, we acknowledge the ancestors (nsamafo). Every 40 days, we have Holy Sunday (Akwesidae) where we make a meal for them and offer prayers to them. Our last Akwesidae was March 28.

Abena

Medase Sister Abena,

I welcome you and your refreshing appearance. I think we all can benefit from having a better understanding of Akan spirituality. When I go back to New York, I will definitely visit some house services. My path is Vodou.

Sister Shadowwalker:

Many of our ancestors came from the Congo/Angola region of Africa. Some estimates are at about 50-60% and in the South, where I'm from, you can find many Congo retentions, in terms of vocabulary, cemetary burials and "spirit" trees. My home state of Louisiana is literally riddled with Congo influence from the infamous Congo Square in New Orleans to the town of Angola, Louisiana (name for the point of origin for resident captive Africans) to "African House" on Melrose Plantation in Natchitoches, Louisiana (which is the only Congo-inspired architecture in North America). I know without a doubt Congo ancestry runs strong in my veins.

South Carolina, whose trading sphere influenced southern North Carolina and Georgia, was also heavily populated with Congo/Angola people. The Seminole Indians of Florida have been influenced in varying degrees by Congo people, as well. Congo blood, along with my Dahomean lineage, definitely called me to Vodou and rootwork. The old rootworkers of the plantation days and the early 20th century were virtually the magical descendants of Congo nganga (priests).

Lastly, my daughter was born this past Saturday, April 17th. Her mother is Akan from the Fanti people of Ghana (Cape Coast) and her father, yours truly, is of mixed Pan-African and Indian heritage. My daughter is truly Pan-African, like most of us - where blood from various African groups flow in our veins. Ase!

Ayibobo,
Blackbird

Lastly, my daughter was born this past Saturday, April 17th. Her mother is Akan from the Fanti people of Ghana (Cape Coast) and her father, yours truly, is of mixed Pan-African and Indian heritage. My daughter is truly Pan-African, like most of us - where blood from various African groups flow in our veins. Ase!

Ayibobo,
Blackbird

Thank you blackbird for your insight. I was told that Congo were my ancestors from someone who practices vodun and who is in love with the Orisha. I want to find out for myself. How do I do this? I am curious to know.
My mother has done some minor geneology and I know that we have ancestors from her paternal side from south carolina. My father's is heavily west indies. I am curious to know.


Congrats on the birth of your baby girl! I wish you and yours many blessings as you walk the journey of raising one of the most precious gifts the universe can give us!

Take care and enjoy your family

Shadow

Greetings Shadowwalker,

Got Kongo ancestry, huh? Doing a hit and miss method, many of us have it. Funny, though - the Yoruba people were not particularly strong in North America as in other regions of the diaspora. Keep searching, pounding away at the records while lighting a white candle alongside a glass of water for your ancestors. Maybe you could go to a misa and see if any of your ancestors are your spirit guides. This can provide some insight.

Where in the West Indies, be ya line from? I found out I got some unknown Haitian ancestry which explains my connection to Vodou.

Blackbird

Greetings Shadowwalker,

Got Kongo ancestry, huh? Doing a hit and miss method, many of us have it. Funny, though - the Yoruba people were not particularly strong in North America as in other regions of the diaspora. Keep searching, pounding away at the records while lighting a white candle alongside a glass of water for your ancestors. Maybe you could go to a misa and see if any of your ancestors are your spirit guides. This can provide some insight.

Where in the West Indies, be ya line from? I found out I got some unknown Haitian ancestry which explains my connection to Vodou.

Blackbird
I do not know were in the west indies. I need to ask my cousin that and I will get back to you on that one!

Peace...how's dat baby?

Shadow

Hello. I have been reading the posts on this particular thread and it sounds very interesting indeed. Lately, I have been getting deep into afrocentrism. Its strange how it happened because I was just surfing the web and came across something interesting and all of a sudden I couldn't get enough. I have been searching for spiritual Truth and experience for a long time but for some reason I never really looked into african spirituality as I believe that all from the diaspora should at least look into with a fairly open mind.

Anyway, my main question is, for those of you who are practicing african spirituality, whether it be Akan, Vodou or any others, I want to ask.... what does it do for you personally and how were you drawn to it? During ancestor worship has there ever been anytimes that you heard them or seen them manifest themselves, either in dreams or in sight? Does your spiritual practices just fill you with a big feeling of peace, protection and/or serenity?

Forgive me for asking many questions, but I'm just wondering how it makes you all feel to practice african spirituality as opposed to orthodox religion and how it helps you all personally. Me, what originally drew me on a more mystic path was the desire to EXPERIENCE spiritual things. And certain christian verses like when "Jesus" said something to the effect of "These things you've seen me do, you can do, and greater things than these shall you do" stood out to me and I wanted to do what I could to actually be able to DO those things. I also have this inherent desire to KNOW. Modern day religions stress having an ignorant form of faith (just believe what they say, or else).

So now that I've been lead into looking into african spirituality I was wanting to hear from others who already practice these things and understand how real it feels to you all. I'm considering reading up on practices such as santeria, voudoun, ifa, obeah and palo mayombe (but I prefer to just read on that....I hear they get into some pretty dark stuff...). Anyway, to all those who have posted on this thread, I thank you for peaking my interests in african spirituality a little more. May you and yours be blessed.

Greetings Shadow,

It's amazing how this search or this path leads us into the deepest core of understanding ourselves. Sometimes, I think we get caught up into the "ego" or "individual self" of being - never realizing or understanding that our essence is composed of various entities and layers. Sometimes, an ancestor may be passing a "gift" on to another or what have you. While talking with a friend, a santera, we were discussing white people and their ever-increasing involvement into the ATRS. I told her I was sad more white folks were getting into these things than the people who have the birthright. I fear that the tradition(s) will lose a vital essence and undergo radical transformations to suit European (centric) tastes. She said she believe white people get into it as a spiritual path, while we on the other hand, experience it at a deeper soul level. I agreed. Many white people, I think, don't have the ase like us, which resides in our bloodlines and is concentrated stronger by centuries of ancestral participation and cultivation. For me, embracing our traditions is like sankofa, a re-anchoring of myself to my past and re-membering what is vital but forgotten. As this journey continues, I am recreating my family's story, codifying it for future family generations, reestablishing family traditions and spirits for not only my daughter, but other children in my family. The ATRs are about "lineage and family" and they are helping me to reconnect what was broken. Enjoy your journey, as you search for your family's past - it will be revealed to you in timely fashion. Wait and see.

Sorry for the verbiage. I guess I felt alittle passionate. My daughter is fine. Her name is Sataya-Nefertari Ora-Anno Davis.

Peace
Blackbird

Greetings Nero Angelo,

I will try my best to answer some things.

What has Vodou done for me, personally? Hmm, it has helped to slowly erode old habits of procrasination, indecisiveness and weakness. I feel more empowered knowing that the spirits are on my side and walk with me in whatever I do. I have protection and can walk or go anywhere without fear or distrust. My life is more guided by the spirit than ever before and I can make more informed judgements based on the information my spirits give me which is usually in my best interests. I have the foresight now. I have the stability. I have the balance in my life. I know by taking care of my spirits I will never go homeless or hungry. Things happen now in mysterious ways.

During ancestor worship has there ever been anytimes that you heard them or seen them manifest themselves, either in dreams or in sight?

The spirits are real, Real, REal, REAl, REAL. There is no imagine in your mind's eye or visualize and try to feel their presence. You will feel and see their presence whether you want to or not, if they have been called. You may even be overtaken by them, where your soul leaves the "building" and your body becomes the living house of the divine entity, performing acts that defy logic, even physics. This is one thing that draws white people to it, especially those that practice Wicca. During parties, they come down and dance with us, drink with us, eat with us and physically talk with us, giving advice. During what is called a misa, the ancestral spirits will come down and speak. The most common form of communion is via dreams because people dream everynight. Your spirits or ancestors may come in your dreams to warn you or tell you what you need to do to resolve some conflict or crossroads position in life.

For most people into the ATRs, they wouldn't have it any other way. Many believe it was the best thing that ever happen to them because the fact of knowing you have a spiritual family, that is concerned about your physical and spiritual well-being or knowing that your life and direction is guided by spirit and you are being protected and watched over. These beliefs, these African beliefs, are strictly about mutual service - we serve each other and work for each other. Many AAs are called to the ATRs because of their bloodline and ancestry. We say you are "born into it." You have no choice.

Some of the symptoms of calling are dreams, meeting people into it and developing an interest, an unexplained illness, injuries, or a string of problems, including near-death scenarios. Dreams happen first. I was having dreams but I wasn't listening or paying attention. I didn't want to be in Vodou. Next, I came down with an illness the doctors couldn't identify (to this day I don't know what it was). Afterwards, I cut my head and had to get staples in it. While of this was going on, I was having serious family and financial problems. I couldn't think straight, I was dealing with stress and depression. I had suicidal thoughts and whatnot. Nothing was going right. Some people end up homeless, losing almost everything in life, or go hungry. Some people end up in prison.

Usually, by time all these real bad things are happening, you are know what you are supposed to do, but you just wasn't paying attention or didn't want to do it. Once initiation happens, all these things end or get better. If you lost everything, the spirits will give you back what you lost.

The ATRs are aren't for everybody and everybody is not called to be a priest(ess), but at least, honor and acknowledge your ancestors and guardian spirits (spirit guides) because they help you in life.

Ase!
Blackbird

Hello Blackbird. Thank you for replying to my questions. I'm glad that things turned out alot better for you after you were going through all those problems. It sounds very interesting to know that the ancestral spirits can actually commune with their descendants just as easily as we can talk to other people we pass by daily. I guess it sounds so amazing because we all know that in religions practices such as Christianity and what not, we rarely have a spiritual "experience". I also read the post you put up before you responded to me and I agree.... I think that it is sad that more non-black african people are into this more than black people in the diaspora (particularly America) are. If I were a conspiracy theorists I would imagine that they deliberately offered us a paganised religion to be deeply imbedded in our peoples mind so that they can understand our naturally spirituality and thus disempowering us from the true source that gave us our power in the first place. Of course, that could be an extreme idea.

In any case, I just wish that there was a way that more blacks could be exposed to african spirituality and be able to expand their mind to at least....understand things pertaining to our heritage as opposed to just blindly following something. For those who turn away from orthodox christianity because they feel that it wasn't quite right usually just turn to some form of Islam. I'm not sure what to think of that either. Make no mistake, I have nothing against christianity. In fact, I have read a good book from online that gives good evidence that blacks are more than likely the "lost" nation of Isreal and that the modern-day Jews could be, at worst, imposters and at best, of only 3 tribes (originally black) that intermarried with alot of Europeans so as to look white-like now. I just think that the modern-day christianity is a little mixed up....thats all.

Well, again, thank you for allowing me to understand your personal spiritual walk. And if as you say, its in the blood, then I'm confident that with a little seeking, I'll understand my roots and find my particular niche. Be blessed.

Greetings Nero Angelo,

You wrote: "In fact, I have read a good book from online that gives good evidence that blacks are more than likely the "lost" nation of Isreal and that the modern-day Jews could be, at worst, imposters and at best, of only 3 tribes (originally black) that intermarried with alot of Europeans so as to look white-like now. I just think that the modern-day christianity is a little mixed up....thats all."

I wouldn't count on it. I have wrestled with this idea for awhile, but something is telling me not hardly. Why? Because the spiritual logic and worldview that permeates most ATRs is very different from Judaism. Many of the writers I've seen that propose such a theory know very little, if anything, about African tradition beliefs. There are concepts found within these beliefs that have no precedence in Judaism.

Personally, I believe the ancient Hebrews were a mixture of earlier remmants of African Cu****ic people in Mesopotamia and Eurasian Indo-European invaders that came down from the Central Asian steppes during the right before the so-called Abraham went westward from Ur. Everyone has their own theory. At the time Abraham was supposedly living, our ancestors were already cultivating sorghum in West Africa and were building stone masonry villages like at Dhar Tichitt, Mauretania. This complex of people were the Mande, the progenitors of the Empire of Ghana and Mali. To say our ancestors were Jews or Hebrews is to fly in the face of evidence of the anteriority of our ancestors.

Besides this, I say keeping searching. You are already on the path. Let your heart guide you to where you need to go.

Ase!
Blackbird

Greetings Shadow,

It's amazing how this search or this path leads us into the deepest core of understanding ourselves. Sometimes, I think we get caught up into the "ego" or "individual self" of being - never realizing or understanding that our essence is composed of various entities and layers. Sometimes, an ancestor may be passing a "gift" on to another or what have you. While talking with a friend, a santera, we were discussing white people and their ever-increasing involvement into the ATRS. I told her I was sad more white folks were getting into these things than the people who have the birthright. I fear that the tradition(s) will lose a vital essence and undergo radical transformations to suit European (centric) tastes. She said she believe white people get into it as a spiritual path, while we on the other hand, experience it at a deeper soul level. I agreed. Many white people, I think, don't have the ase like us, which resides in our bloodlines and is concentrated stronger by centuries of ancestral participation and cultivation. For me, embracing our traditions is like sankofa, a re-anchoring of myself to my past and re-membering what is vital but forgotten. As this journey continues, I am recreating my family's story, codifying it for future family generations, reestablishing family traditions and spirits for not only my daughter, but other children in my family. The ATRs are about "lineage and family" and they are helping me to reconnect what was broken. Enjoy your journey, as you search for your family's past - it will be revealed to you in timely fashion. Wait and see.

Sorry for the verbiage. I guess I felt alittle passionate. My daughter is fine. Her name is Sataya-Nefertari Ora-Anno Davis.

Peace
Blackbird

You are so right! I know I will find my ancestory in time. I am very curious about it indeed.

I have to agree with you on our atr's being spoiled by white folks. It seems they have the need to take over every single thing on this earth. Including things that aren't their's in the first place. We know all to well how they do that boldly and without apology!

I am looking into many african religions. I need to incorporate that into my spirituality. It might be just that I have a relationship with the Orisha right now. They seem intent on being apart of my life, they keep showing themselves too me in many ways! I think as I grow more in time I will be able to embrace voudon. Right now I am not feeling it spiritually but feel in an odd way that it is apart of my path some how. I am still on my search and lovin it!


As for the white folk. In my opinion no matter how hard they try to taste our religions or spiritual paths they will never truely feel it or connect. It is of our people and our struggle and it just is not theirs. I feel that some may be able to emphathize with our struggle and our ancestoral lineage, but will not truely be spoken to by our ancestors because they are not our ancestors. Spiritually the creator will allow them to be sensitive to it, but not our ancestors.

Hope this makes sense.

Your daughters name is beautiful and I commend you on bringing a strong understanding and concrete evidence of you and your family's history to the children in your family. They will thank you for it when they are olde.

Peace my brother!

Shadow

Greetings Nero Angelo,


Usually, by time all these real bad things are happening, you are know what you are supposed to do, but you just wasn't paying attention or didn't want to do it. Once initiation happens, all these things end or get better. If you lost everything, the spirits will give you back what you lost.

The ATRs are aren't for everybody and everybody is not called to be a priest(ess), but at least, honor and acknowledge your ancestors and guardian spirits (spirit guides) because they help you in life.

Ase!
Blackbird


I can say that I am very happy with leaving orthadox religion.
I am very happy to be on the WICCAN PATH at this moment in my life. I am not a wiccan per se, but I do like a lot of their tenents, especially the theory of their being a GODDESS AND A GOD that made all. I also know that what they now call Wicca is really our ancient african religions, its just dooped into a euro form.

I am a witch/priestess/sage. I don't really like labels but it makes others feel comfortable then fine. I like performing spells to release potent energy into my prayers. I ask my ancestors for their guidance and I have conversations and take lessons from them all the time in my dreams. I walk many places in my dreams and speak to relatives who have passed on. I am loved with great passion and power by my ancestors!

I believe very strongly in the spirit, ancestors, spirit guides and the female/male aspect of creation. I believe that this walk that I am will have the power to touch many positively and I look forward to it!

Keep searching and studying and they will reveal themselves to you!

Peace

Spirit Shadow walker