Dear Reader,

November begins and end with days set aside for gratitude and remembrance. November 2 is a day to honor the ancestors. November 24 is Thanksgiving, a day devoted to giving thanks for the bounty of the earth. These holidays bookend a month that I am committed to being mindfully grateful for the gifts I have been given and the lessons I have learned.

Honoring the Ancestors

Whether you celebrate Samhain, Dia de los Muertos, All Soul's Day, or any of the countless other spiritual days around the world, November 2 is a day to honor the ancestors, when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is at its thinnest.
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The funny thing about ancestry is, who really knows the extent of our physical relationship to one another? Scientists have discovered that, if you trace back the DNA in the maternally inherited mitochondria within our cells, all humans have a theoretical common ancestor. She is known as “mitochondrial Eve” and lived between 100,000 and 200,000 years ago in southern Africa.

Quantum mechanics also tells us that we are all composed of connected particles of entangled energy. What that means is that we all came from the same energy source, and we are all connected by an energy field even though we appear to be physically separate. Einstein, among others, discovered that quantum entanglement enables particles to affect each other instantaneously across any distance, even on opposite sides of the Universe.

So it makes sense to me that when it is time to honor our ancestors, we share our gratitude for all the people who have come before us, gifting us with their knowledge and wisdom.

Although I grew up with the Catholic tradition of All Souls' Day, this year I went back to my roots to celebrate the Celtic pagan ritual of Samhain. I lit candles of remembrance, said prayers, and asked for messages from three important women in my life who left the earthly plane during the past year--my mother, my godmother, and a favorite cousin.

If you would like to read about a ceremony and writing prompt to communicate with your loved ones who have left the earthly plane, you can read more in my latest blog post.

Who else are you grateful for? When you think about the people who have shaped your life, it probably includes many honorary ancestors from other cultures and even other centuries. People you admired from afar. Cultural icons who inspired and enlightened you. Teachers and mentors who guided you to become who you are today.

For me, it begins with the indigenous peoples of the lands where we live. I give thanks to them for tending the earth. From them I have learned that we cannot own the land, we can only serve as caretakers for the next generation.

Next are all the cultural icons I admired in my youth. Like most young people, I idolized many of the “stars” who dominated TV and movies when I was growing up. I wanted to look like Cher, sing like Joni Mitchell, and kick ass like Lynda Carter (aka Wonder Woman).

As I grew older, my cultural icons shifted to more literary and political figures. I wished I could write like Anais Nin, organize like Gloria Steinem, and speak truth to power like bell hooks. I carried their words around me like a personal coach to inspire me to do greater things.

Finally, there are the personal teachers and mentors who have guided me to pursue my dreams and live my purpose. They are too numerous to mention, but they will each be honored with a candle or a poem or a letter thanking them for their gifts.

Writing prompt for giving thanks

Begin by brainstorming a list of the honorary ancestors who have guided your path. Choose the person you feel most compelled to honor today and write them a letter or poem. Let them know what you admired about them, what lessons you learned, and how it has changed your life. Thank them for their wisdom and guidance. Ask them if they have any messages for you. Wish them blessings on their journey and thank them for being a part of your spiritual path.

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My hope for the future

I am praying for the world to take a break from its divisive politics, from Russian missiles and Korean nuclear tests, from schoolhouse shootings and violent attacks on elderly people in their own homes.
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Let's have a month of peace and gratitude, when we acknowledge that we are all connected and the welfare of our planet depends on our mutual goodwill and cooperation.
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Let's heed the lessons of history and evolve to a more spiritual society where our love for one another outweighs our individual interests.
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I know it sounds like a pipe dream, but as John Lennon said,
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Blessings,

Laurie

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