I mentioned a few weeks ago about having a breakdown while talking to my dead Nana. I have also - at times - muttered a bit ruefully. That there are times the problem is getting the ancestors to shut up. Maybe it's just that I have talkative ancestors, or maybe I just pay a bit more attention. But I've never had issues in connecting with them. Even if there are some I'd prefer I didn't connect with at all.

Yeah, none of us have purely innocent and perfect family trees, there's always a few bastards hidden away in there. And - in the extended tree, even in my own family history (well, my family names anyway, I can't prove these people were or weren't directly related to me and mine) - we have rogues, outlaws, criminals, slave owners, pirates, etc, etc, etc. We also have victims as well. It's not at all one sided. And we have magic, even if it isn't portrayed as such. So possibly, my ancestors just have a lot to say.

But it's worth getting their most urgent messages out of the way outside of an Imbolc ritual. And with Samhain coming up, it's a perfect time to do a quick check in. And maybe give them notice you're going to be busy around Imbolc. You can indeed give them information and say look. I'm out of office as far as you're concerned about these dates…. It doesn't always work, but it mostly does. Clear boundaries are essential with family, living or dead, y'know?

But if you want to know more about your family, it's worth learning about the actual history. Not from social media, as tempting as that is, but academia, history, genealogy - and learning why everyone in Ireland has a good laugh at people claiming descent from the Four Masters, or Gráinne uí Mháile, or Queen Medb. It's likely the whole island is related if you go back far enough. But equally, a direct line of descent is impossible to prove. Most of us are lucky to trace family back to the Great Famine, for, well… reasons.

Ancestor work is important on most people's journeys. If only to understand where you came from and why certain decisions were made. You don't actually have to have a nervous breakdown with a departed loved one. But it's not the end of the world if you do, either.

Bríd libh

Órlagh

P. S P.S. Yes, I'll be doing more on ancestor work in the Kindling Brigid's Flame course, starting in a few weeks. (No pressure - just wanted you to know it's coming.)

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