4d (edited) • Ancestor Veneration
Food
Many people give their ancestors food offerings. While it is a beautiful gesture and show of appreciation, it should be handled with careful consideration. Food is an energy source that attracts ancestral spirits. However, always be mindful of the type of food you give and when and how you dispose of it. Generally, living foods are excellent choices for our ancestors. Living foods carry a higher vibration than cooked foods. Fruits are ideal offerings because they are sweet and maintain a high vibration in their natural state. However, cooked meals carry a certain layer of authenticity and cultural connection that is likewise beneficial. When cooking meals for your ancestors, you can share a portion of your meals with them or cook something special for them.
If you give your ancestors cooked food, be sure it is something they liked when they were alive. In today’s world, vegan, vegetarian, and alternative diets are ubiquitous. However, we must remember that many of our ancestors consumed meat, fish, poultry, etc. Even more, those who may have enjoyed a primarily plant-based diet didn’t generally consume the types of food that we now consider to be vegan or vegetarian. As such, if you decide to cook for your ancestors, you should cook meals they would have actually enjoyed. Remember, the offering is for them and not for you. Suppose you have ethical, spiritual, philosophical, or other aversions to preparing the types of foods that your ancestors ate. In that case, it is best not to give them cooked food offerings. You can simply give them fresh fruits and vegetables as an amicable compromise.
Also, remember that whatever food offerings you present to them should have a purpose. Even when cooking their favorite foods, you should select foods that hold significance and meaning in some way. This concept is similar to the observation of Passover in the Bible. The annual feast of Passover was ordained to commemorate when the Most High passed over the children of Israel and killed all the firstborns of Egypt to provoke the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Therefore, the Israelites were instructed to maintain an annual feast unto the Most High to remember this event. Every part of the meal held significance and purpose. The lamb represented the sacrificial lamb they offered for protection against the Most High’s wrath. The bitter herbs symbolized the bitterness that the Israelites experienced during their sojourn in Egypt. And symbolism was assigned to the rest of the meal in kind. It is beneficial to prepare meals for your ancestors in a similar manner. Every part of the meal should have significance. It doesn’t need to have deep meaning like the Passover meal, but each part of the meal should serve a purpose. You may use your grandmother’s fried chicken recipe because that
was everyone’s favorite. Or, you could make your mother’s peach cobbler because it reminds you of your family’s summer gatherings in the south. When you present food to your ancestors, it should be given on a white plate or bowl. Enamelware is commonly used for this purpose as it embodies the vibe of the old times. Whatever dish you choose, you should reserve it strictly for the use of feeding your ancestors. Avoid using it for other purposes, if possible. You can give food offerings as frequently as you desire. Just be sure that doing so doesn’t become a burden. Otherwise, you may become indignant and frustrated after so long. Weekly food offerings are the standard in many cultures. However, you can do it as frequently as you desire. Some people give their ancestors daily, monthly, quarterly, or annual food offerings. You can place food offerings on your ancestor altar, outside, or in other locations. You can even leave a portion of your meal on the side of your plate during your meal. This is commonly done at every meal within some cultures while it is only done on special occasions within others. Either way it is a great alternative or compliment to setting offerings on an altar or other dedicated space. Perishable food offerings should only be left on the altar for a few days. You can leave unpeeled fruits such as oranges or apples for longer periods.
Food for your ancestors should never be left to spoil or rot on their altar or other dedicated space in your home. Humans should never consume ancestral offerings. It is best to discard food offerings when removing them from an altar or other space. If you have issues with throwing away food, you can leave the offering under a tree when you remove it from your home. Animals generally consume offerings that are initially or subsequently placed outside. Thus, it is best to leave food offerings far away from residential or commercial dwellings. Forests or wooded areas are generally better places for leaving such offerings. Coffee Coffee is commonly given as an offering in ancestral rituals and ceremonies. This aromatic drink has significant meaning in the spiritual realm. Due to its high caffeine content, coffee acts as a potent stimulant - it initiates and maintains a wakeful state. It has a similar effect when used as a conduit for connecting with our ancestors. Typically offered once a week in many spiritual traditions, coffee keeps our relationship with our ancestors strong, alert, and lively. Sugar is often added to this stimulant as a gesture of maintaining a sweet, amicable relationship with our lost loved ones.
When offering coffee to your ancestors, it should be appropriately filtered and served piping hot. The steam from the heat serves as a channel for transmuting spiritual energy. It is best to prepare your ancestor’s favorite brand of coffee for such offerings. If you don’t know what brand they liked, try to find a coffee derived from their native homeland. Otherwise, you can buy whatever brands are available to you in your local area. As mentioned, properly filter the coffee through a coffee maker or other appliance designed for this purpose. Once the coffee is ready, add some sugar (generally 3-4 teaspoons is sufficient) and place it on your ancestor altar. Speak to your ancestors and tell them that you are offering the coffee to them, tell them why you are offering the coffee, and explain the significance of each component of the coffee. Typically, you can leave coffee offerings out for one to three days. You never want it to grow mold or start to mildew. If small children or animals can access the coffee, you may want to place the coffee on a high, sturdy table to avoid spills or unintentional human or animal consumption of the coffee.
You can discard the remaining portion or use it in a spiritual bath when you finish with the coffee offering. Ancestor offerings should not be consumed internally. Gratitude You should also offer your ancestors prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving. You can say, write about, or meditate on the things you are grateful for. Expressing gratitude for something they did while they were alive or since they have passed on is acceptable. You can also give thanksgiving for specific blessings that you have received from them.
For instance, I often tell my ancestors that I am grateful that they pressed through the hardships that they endured. By doing so, they have paved the way for my family and me to enjoy a better life. I also thank them for continuing to give me wisdom in my day-to-day journey. Gratitude is best served hot. It can and should be expressed in the moment that you feel appreciation for something your ancestors did for you. Also, offer gratitude when you are genuinely thankful. You can reserve specific days or times for giving gratitude prayers. However, it is much better to do so when you truly feel grateful. It should not feel like a chore or simply be lip service. Keep in mind that our ancestors can easily recognize when we are not honest or genuine.
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