Ancestral Healing: Connecting With the Wisdom of Those Who Came Before Us
Have you ever noticed certain patterns that seem to run through your family?
Perhaps it’s a way of responding to conflict, a belief about money or relationships, or a tendency to put everyone else’s needs before your own. Sometimes we recognize these patterns in our parents or grandparents. Other times, we find ourselves responding to situations in ways we don’t entirely understand.
But our ancestry isn’t only about the struggles, beliefs, or patterns that have been passed down through generations.
It’s also about the strengths, resilience, wisdom, and experiences of those who came before us.
In shamanic healing, ancestral work offers an opportunity to explore these connections. Sometimes that means looking at what we’ve inherited and no longer wish to carry. Other times, it’s about reconnecting with the supportive qualities and wisdom within our ancestral lineage.
And we don’t necessarily need to know our ancestors personally to begin exploring that relationship.
What Is Ancestral Healing?
From a shamanic perspective, ancestral healing is a way of exploring our connection with those who came before us and how their lives, experiences, and patterns may continue to influence our own.
Think about the generations that came before you.
Each person lived through their own circumstances, relationships, challenges, and experiences. They developed beliefs about themselves and the world around them. They learned ways of coping, protecting themselves, surviving, and navigating life.
Some of these ways of being were helpful. Others may have been shaped by fear, loss, hardship, or circumstances that left little room for choice.
And sometimes, these patterns continue through families, even when the original circumstances are long gone.
For example, perhaps an ancestor lived through a time when speaking openly wasn’t safe. Keeping quiet, avoiding conflict, or not expressing emotions may have been necessary for them.
Generations later, someone in that family may still struggle to express their needs or speak up for themselves, even though their circumstances are very different.
This doesn’t mean every difficulty we experience comes from our ancestors. Our own experiences, relationships, and choices also shape who we become.
But exploring our family history can sometimes help us understand why certain patterns feel so familiar.
Ancestral healing invites us to become curious about these influences rather than simply repeating them.
We Inherit More Than Our Wounds
When people hear the words ancestral healing, they often think about generational trauma, family wounds, or patterns that need to be broken.
And yes, these can be important parts of the work.
But what about everything else we’ve inherited?
The courage of someone who started a new life in an unfamiliar place. The compassion of a grandmother who cared for everyone around her. The determination of someone who kept going through difficult times.
Our ancestors weren’t defined only by their struggles. They also carried gifts, strengths, abilities, and wisdom.
Within some shamanic traditions, we work with what we might call supportive ancestors — ancestors who embody qualities or experiences we would like to bring more fully into our own lives.
Perhaps you’re learning to trust yourself, find your voice, establish healthier boundaries, or move through life with greater confidence.
Through shamanic journeying, we may seek a connection with an ancestor who represents these qualities.
Rather than asking only, “What have I inherited that needs healing?” we can also ask:
“What wisdom and strengths might be available to me through those who came before?”
I think both questions are equally important.
Connecting With Our Ancestors Through Shamanic Journeying
In my shamanic practice, there are different ways we can explore ancestral connections.
One approach involves journeying to meet an ancestor we’ve known during our lifetime, perhaps a parent, grandparent, or another family member who has passed away.
Within the spiritual experience of the journey, we may have an opportunity to connect with them in a different way.
Sometimes there are things we never had the chance to say, questions we never asked, or experiences we still struggle to understand.
The intention isn’t to blame, shame, or excuse what happened.
Instead, we approach the connection with curiosity and an openness to understanding.
Within shamanic belief, an ancestor who has passed beyond physical life may be experienced as having a different perspective from the one they held while living.
A journey might offer insight into their experiences, the circumstances that shaped them, or the patterns they carried.
Whether someone understands this as spiritual communication, symbolic imagery, or an experience arising through their own inner wisdom, the journey can create space for reflection and a different relationship with the past.
And sometimes, that shift in perspective is meaningful in itself.
Understanding why someone behaved a certain way doesn’t mean we have to agree with their actions or dismiss the impact they had on us.
We can hold compassion and healthy boundaries at the same time.
Meeting the Ancestors We Never Knew
Not all ancestral work involves connecting with someone we knew personally.
In my Celtic shamanic training, one of the practices involves journeying to meet an ancestral guide who represents a wider family lineage.
Rather than meeting a specific grandparent or distant relative, we connect with a spiritual representative of our ancestry.
This guide may become a point of contact as we continue exploring our ancestral connections through journey work.
We can also work with the maternal and paternal lineages separately, recognizing that each may carry different histories, experiences, and qualities.
I find this particularly meaningful because not everyone knows their family history.
Some people were adopted. Others have lost contact with their families, have little information about their biological ancestry, or come from lineages where stories and traditions were never passed down.
And for some, family relationships have been painful or complicated.
You don’t need to know the names, faces, or stories of your ancestors to explore your relationship with ancestry through spiritual practice.
Within shamanic journeying, we can approach the experience with an intention to connect with the supportive wisdom of our lineage, even when its history is unknown to us.
The images, feelings, or impressions that arise may offer a personal sense of connection, belonging, or understanding.
It’s not about proving who our ancestors were. It’s about exploring what that connection means to us today.
Samhain: A Time to Honour Our Ancestors
As we move through autumn, we come to a particularly meaningful time in the Celtic Wheel of the Year: Samhain.
Samhain, pronounced SOW-in, is traditionally observed from the evening of October 31 into November 1.
It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, a time when the natural world begins to turn inward.
In traditional Irish folklore, Samhain was associated with the Otherworld and the belief that spirits of the dead might return to their family homes.
In contemporary Celtic spiritual practices, Samhain is often described as a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds becomes thinner.
For those who work with these traditions, it’s an opportunity to honour those who have passed, reflect on the cycles of life and death, and acknowledge the connections that continue beyond a person’s physical lifetime.
But you don’t have to practise shamanism or hold a particular spiritual belief to find meaning in this time of year.
Samhain can simply be an invitation to remember.
To think about those who came before us, the lives they lived, the things they endured, and the ways they contributed to the lives we have today.
It’s also a time of transition.
As the trees release their leaves and the days grow shorter, we can reflect on what we’re ready to release, what we’ve learned, and what we wish to carry forward.
Samhain Ritual: A Simple Practice to Honour Your Ancestors
You don’t need to create an elaborate ceremony to honour your ancestors.
Sometimes a small, intentional gesture can be just as meaningful.
This practice can be done on the evening of October 31, on November 1, or whenever you feel drawn to connect with your ancestry.
Creating a Space of Remembrance
Find a quiet place where you can spend a little time without being disturbed.
You might gather:
- A candle
- A photograph or meaningful object representing an ancestor
- A small plate of food or a favourite drink
- A journal, if you enjoy writing down your reflections
If you don’t have photographs or objects connected to your ancestors, that’s perfectly fine. You might use a stone, a leaf, or another object from nature to represent your lineage.
1. Begin by becoming present.
Sit comfortably and take a few slow breaths.
Feel your body supported beneath you and allow yourself a moment to settle.
You don’t need to make anything happen. Simply bring your attention to the present moment.
2. Light a candle in remembrance.
As you light your candle, bring to mind someone you would like to honour.
It might be a loved one who has passed, a distant ancestor, or your wider ancestral lineage.
You could quietly say:
I honour those who came before me. Those I have known and loved, and those whose names and stories I may never know.
I acknowledge the lives you lived, the challenges you faced, and the wisdom and strengths that have travelled through the generations.
3. Make a small offering.
You might place a favourite food or drink beside the candle.
Perhaps it’s something your grandmother loved, a cup of tea your mother always enjoyed, or a food that reminds you of your family’s traditions.
If you don’t know your ancestors, a simple piece of bread, fruit, or another meaningful offering is enough.
The offering is a gesture of remembrance and gratitude.
There’s no need for anything complicated. What matters is the intention behind it.
4. Take a moment to reflect.
Close your eyes if that feels comfortable, or simply sit quietly.
You might reflect on these questions:
- What qualities or strengths do I recognize within my family or ancestry?
- Are there patterns I’ve inherited that I would like to approach differently?
- What wisdom or support would I like to welcome into my life?
- What would I like to carry forward for the generations that come after me?
You don’t need to find answers to every question.
Sometimes simply asking creates an opportunity to notice something we haven’t considered before.
5. Close with gratitude.
When you feel ready, take another breath and bring your awareness back to your surroundings.
You might close by saying:
Thank you to those who came before me.
I honour the lives you lived and the path that brought me here.
May I carry forward the wisdom, love, and strengths that support my journey, while allowing myself to create a different path where one is needed.
Extinguish your candle safely and return to your day or evening.
If you’ve made a food offering, you can respectfully clear it away afterward.
A Gentle Reminder
For some people, remembering family brings warmth, love, and gratitude. For others, it may bring grief, sadness, anger, or complicated feelings.
There is no right way to experience this practice.
You don’t have to honour harmful behaviour, force forgiveness, or feel connected to someone who caused you pain.
You can choose to focus on ancestors who represent safety, kindness, resilience, or qualities you wish to welcome into your life.
And if connecting with your family history feels difficult, you can simply honour the generations before you without focusing on any particular person.
The practice is an invitation, not an obligation.
Ancestral Healing Is Also About What We Choose to Carry Forward
One of the things I appreciate about ancestral healing is that it allows us to look at our history without feeling that we must remain defined by it.
We can acknowledge the experiences that shaped our families while recognizing that we have choices in how we live today.
Perhaps there are patterns we want to understand more deeply.
Perhaps there are old beliefs, protective mechanisms, or ways of relating that no longer support us.
And perhaps there are strengths within our lineage that we’ve never fully recognized.
Through reflection, awareness, and shamanic journeying, we can begin exploring these connections in a different way.
Not everything needs to be released.
Some things are worth remembering, honouring, and carrying forward.
And sometimes, ancestral healing is as much about discovering what we want to keep as it is about letting go of what we no longer need.
Exploring Ancestral Healing Through Shamanic Journeying
Ancestral connections are one of the many areas we can explore within a Shamanic Healing session.
Depending on what you’re experiencing and what feels appropriate for you, our work may include exploring inherited patterns, connecting with supportive ancestral wisdom, or journeying to meet an ancestral guide.
Each session is guided by your individual needs and intentions.
If you’re curious about how shamanic healing might support you, you’re welcome to explore my Shamanic Healing sessions, available in Ottawa and online.
