Image by Jose Guadalupe Posada
Beauty & Tears: A Celebration with Ancestors
Sunday, October 30th, 6pm
Many cultures around the world recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with ancestors that have transitioned from this life. Ancestors are common to every living being on the planet. We were all born from some people, some place and without them we would not be who we are today.
In Japan people express gratitude for their dearly departed in the celebration of Obon. In Scotland the veil between worlds becomes thin as Samhain is widely celebrated. And in Mexico, El Dia del Los Muerto (The Day of the Day) is cause for a national pause as people blend ancient Atzec with modern Catholic rituals that honor, celebrate,and even light the way for the dead to return home.
Many of these celebrations are based in the belief that death is another rite of passage we all must undertake and that our work does not end when we enter the ancestral realm. Another essential belief is that relationships between the living and the ancestors are reciprocal - that what we do here affects our ancestors and vice versa. Our ancestors have the potential to be an ally in healing and living authentically by guiding us, repairing wrongs from their time on earth, and blessing our life. For our ancestors to be helpful from the other side, we must help them successfully cross the final threshold and continually feed our relationship with them.
One such way of creating and feeding a relationship is through a ritual of beauty-making, story-telling, and grieving. This evening we will gather to gift our ancestors and community with food, flowers, art, music, stories, poetry, laughter, and tears. Join us for an evening of enlivening a healthy relationship with the life-death-life cycle. Honor and celebrate your ancestors in a open-hearted community ceremony.
In Japan people express gratitude for their dearly departed in the celebration of Obon. In Scotland the veil between worlds becomes thin as Samhain is widely celebrated. And in Mexico, El Dia del Los Muerto (The Day of the Day) is cause for a national pause as people blend ancient Atzec with modern Catholic rituals that honor, celebrate,and even light the way for the dead to return home.
Many of these celebrations are based in the belief that death is another rite of passage we all must undertake and that our work does not end when we enter the ancestral realm. Another essential belief is that relationships between the living and the ancestors are reciprocal - that what we do here affects our ancestors and vice versa. Our ancestors have the potential to be an ally in healing and living authentically by guiding us, repairing wrongs from their time on earth, and blessing our life. For our ancestors to be helpful from the other side, we must help them successfully cross the final threshold and continually feed our relationship with them.
One such way of creating and feeding a relationship is through a ritual of beauty-making, story-telling, and grieving. This evening we will gather to gift our ancestors and community with food, flowers, art, music, stories, poetry, laughter, and tears. Join us for an evening of enlivening a healthy relationship with the life-death-life cycle. Honor and celebrate your ancestors in a open-hearted community ceremony.
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This gathering is donation based. If you feel called to reciprocate, donations are accepted to cover the cost of materials. Everyone is welcome, with or without donation.
Participation is limited to 10 people. Registered people will receive details on how to prepare, what to bring, and location the week prior to our gathering.
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*A little bit about my own ancestral influence*
As far as I can trace, one ancestral lineage leads to Guadalajara, Mexico. My great-grandfather, Teodoro Lopez, immigrated (very likely, illegally) to the US when he was young and family lore is that he was a message runner for Pancho Villa. He settled in St. Joseph, MO and had a bevy of children with his wife, Gertie. At an early age, I was drawn to the El Dia de Los Muertos ritual and believe it is because my ancestors are asking to remember them. I have been practicing the ceremony for several years and some themes from it will infuse our evening.
As far as I can trace, one ancestral lineage leads to Guadalajara, Mexico. My great-grandfather, Teodoro Lopez, immigrated (very likely, illegally) to the US when he was young and family lore is that he was a message runner for Pancho Villa. He settled in St. Joseph, MO and had a bevy of children with his wife, Gertie. At an early age, I was drawn to the El Dia de Los Muertos ritual and believe it is because my ancestors are asking to remember them. I have been practicing the ceremony for several years and some themes from it will infuse our evening.