Eight: Healing the Ancestors

Healing the ancestors is a key component of healing from White racism. It’s commonly said that no one is born racist, and this is true. It is also true that we are all born into lineages that have carried racism, bigotry, and hate, as oppressors or victims or both. The disease of White racism comes down the generations. And because we carry the tangled diseases of the kyriarchy in our DNA, healing the ancestors of their White racism heals us so deeply that we can feel it not only on a cellular level, but even right down to the molecular level of our DNA.

So now we embark on another journey, in the company of our spiritual friends and relations, to those of our ancestors who are in need of healing. There’s a number of different kinds of journeys and practices that are good for this, and the option of journeying to learn still more, or using any other good modality for ancestral healing, is always open.

After cleansing the space you’re working in and calling in all the helpful spirits who like to work with you, as well as your own spirit, here’s a simple journey: using a soft rattle or drum, or looking into a candle as described in chapter 4, and in the company of the ancestor or ancestors who have shown up to do this work with you, journey in nonordinary reality with the intention of healing your ancestors of White racism, and then let whatever happens unfold. It might be a ceremony in nonordinary reality, or you might be shown a ritual to do in ordinary reality. (Reminder about ritual: if you find yourself thinking “Uh-oh, this isn’t exactly what I was shown,” not to worry. Your healing intention and the Love will do the healing.)

Here’s a more complicated protocol, which I recently learned from Myron Eshowsky as a practice for freeing ourselves from inherited core beliefs. I’ve modified it somewhat so that it can work as a DIY; it is also something that can be done with others. It includes two journeys, a prayer, and acupressure.