Honoring Your Roots on Your Spiritual Journey

In many African and diasporic traditions, ancestral altars are a sacred space for honoring those who came before us—our ancestors. For Black women embarking on a spiritual journey, creating an ancestral altar can be a profound and deeply transformative practice. It offers an opportunity to connect with the wisdom, strength, and guidance of those who paved the way for us, providing a tangible way to honor the past while manifesting a spiritually empowered future.

What is an Ancestral Altar?

An ancestral altar is a physical space where we honor and remember our ancestors—those who passed down wisdom, protection, and love through generations. Altars provide a sacred area where offerings, prayers, and communication with ancestors can occur. For many Black women, it’s a spiritual tool that helps build a bridge between the material and spiritual realms, reconnecting us with our roots and the energies that continue to guide us.

The Significance of Ancestral Altars for Black Women

Many Black women, especially those in the diaspora, feel a profound sense of disconnection from their ancestral heritage due to colonization, slavery, and the erasure of cultural practices. The practice of creating an ancestral altar can help mend this disconnection, offering a space to reclaim our spiritual identity.

• Connection to Roots: An altar serves as a bridge to your lineage, reconnecting you with the wisdom and strength of those who came before you. It’s a reminder that you are never alone and are part of a vast, powerful ancestral lineage.
• Healing: Many Black women carry generational trauma—wounds passed down from one generation to the next. An ancestral altar is a sacred space where you can actively work on healing not just yourself, but your lineage, clearing generational blockages and honoring the strength it took to survive.
• Guidance and Protection: Ancestors offer spiritual guidance, protection, and support as you navigate your life’s path. Regularly communing with them through an altar opens channels for receiving wisdom and blessings from the unseen realm.
• Honoring Divine Feminine Energy: For Black women, creating an ancestral altar also connects us with the divine feminine energy that has been passed down through our matriarchal lineage. It’s an act of honoring the sacred feminine power within ourselves.

How to Create an Ancestral Altar

Creating an ancestral altar doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. It is a deeply personal process that reflects your relationship with your ancestors. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started.

1. Choose a Sacred Space Select a quiet, undisturbed area in your home where your altar will be placed. It can be a small table, a shelf, or even a windowsill. The space should feel sacred and intentional.

2. Cleanse the Area Before setting up your altar, cleanse the space energetically. You can do this with sage, palo santo, or any other tool that resonates with you. This helps to clear out any stagnant or negative energy and prepares the space for spiritual work.

3. Add a Cloth Lay down a cloth or fabric as the base for your altar. You may choose a color that has significance to you or your ancestors. White is often used to symbolize purity and spiritual connection.

4. Place Photos or Mementos Place photographs or items that represent your ancestors. If you don’t have photos, you can use something that reminds you of them or items that connect you to your heritage, such as family heirlooms or symbols of your culture.

5. Offerings Offerings are an important part of honoring your ancestors. You can include food (such as fruits, sweets, or foods your ancestors loved), flowers, water, or wine. Many ancestors enjoy indulgences like scotch or cannabis. These offerings acknowledge the presence of your ancestors and invite their blessings.

6. Candles Place one or more candles on your altar. Lighting candles represents the illumination of spirit and can be used as a way to call in and honor your ancestors. You can use white candles for purity and protection or use colors that resonate with your ancestors.

7. Incense or Herbs Burning incense or herbs such as frankincense, myrrh, sage, or lavender is a way to cleanse the energy and invite peaceful, harmonious vibrations to your space. The smoke serves as a vehicle for communication with the spirit world.

8. Personal Items Add personal items that are meaningful to you. These could be crystals, spiritual books, or symbols that represent your spiritual journey. These items will help ground you as you connect with your ancestors.

9. Prayer and Intention Once your altar is set up, take a moment to speak your intentions and prayers. This can be a simple “thank you” for their guidance or a request for protection, wisdom, or healing. Allow yourself to be present in the moment as you connect with your ancestors.

Daily Practice

You can visit your altar as often as you feel called, whether that’s daily, weekly, or during significant moments in your life. Spend time sitting in front of your altar, offering prayers, meditating, or simply being present with the energy of your ancestors. Refresh offerings as necessary and keep the space clean to show reverence.

Downloadable Checklist: How to Build Your Ancestral Altar

To make it easier for you, we’ve created a simple, step-by-step checklist that you can download and print as you begin building your ancestral altar. This guide will help you stay organized and mindful throughout the process. Click below to download your free checklist!

[Download Your Ancestral Altar Checklist]