Unwrapping the Gifts of Criticism

Beyond the initial punch-in-the-gut response we feel when someone expresses criticism and judgement about us, if we can steady ourselves emotionally as a first step, then we are well-positioned to glean the gifts wrapped in the messy packaging of criticism.

People’s ability to express their disapproval always seems to land at exactly the wrong time; when we are totally overwhelmed with life, emotionally raw, or venturing to try something new. Alas, there never is a good time to be criticized, and I may pose the possibility that it may actually arrive at the exact time its meant to. Let’s be clear though: I am in no way advocating to be critical of someone because they “need” it, nor am I suggesting that someone stay in an unhealthy/abusive situation for this same reason. I am speaking to the random judgements that shock our system.

And criticism IS a shock. Seemingly out of nowhere someone feels the need to drop their “truth bomb” on you. Whether it’s crass or wrapped in sophisticated packaging, we often feel it in our body first. Our energetic systems feels a disturbance in the force (yes, to quote Star Wars) and our emotions act as first responders. The spectrum of what we may feel is broad and wide: anger, defensiveness, shrinking into smallness, shame, etc.

After the dust of criticism has settled and our emotions are less acute, how can we salvage anything worthwhile from an experience of being overtly judged?

Observation

Ya, we have to take a step back. This is where we consciously facilitate some emotional and psychic distance. We allow ourselves to move out of the microcosm of hurt we feel so we can take a broader look at the criticism event. This takes discipline. We have to breathe into a space larger than ourselves so we can consider the criticism as objectively as possible. For example: an action occurred, something was said, perhaps a retort occured, and the whole experience was left in a particular way. Just see it for what it is. By doing so, we allow ourselves to be removed from the situation temporarily and observe the interaction from the outside, rather than from the devastating inside.

Reflection

Okay, going out on a limb here…but first, a disclaimer: you are NOT responsible for other people’s unhealed wounds that are perpetuated via criticism. You do not have to believe their judgements or buy into their assessment of you.

You do NOT.

The thing about reflection is that it gives YOU, not them, the ability to evaluate yourself. It is super easy to simply say you did nothing to warrant such criticism and perhaps that is entirely true. But, how will you know it IS entirely true if you do not actually consider for a moment that there maybe something important to see here? The choice to take time to reflect is actually a gift of growth we give ourselves. By reflecting and self-evaluating, we may learn something new or better yet, become reaffirmed in who we truly are.

Sovereignty

We have a right to our own sovereignty. What does this mean? Sovereignty is defined as the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies (Wikipedia). In the context of fielding criticism, we have power over ourselves to not be swayed by the judgements of others. After we have observed and reflected, which is SUPER adulting by the way, we can then make a thoughtful assessment of our experience; take in what is necessary to learn, and toss out the rest.

Knowing that we are solely responsible for governing our actions, responses, and growth mechanisms, we can stand more fully in the truth of who we are and who we are not.

Being criticized sucks. It just does. But ultimately, when we unwrap the judgements coming at us and employ observation, reflection, and sovereignty we can find gold. Adopting these action steps affords us an opportunity to challenge ourselves to stay grounded, self-evaluate, and walk a path of empowerment. Nudged by the universe, we can choose to see that self-assessment often needs a catalyst to generate evolution.

We evaluate and evolve.

Pretty darn empowering. Likewise, we are given an additional opportunity to remember deep in our core who we are when criticism arises. We are offered a chance to pull up from our subconscious the memory of where we have come from and the work we’ve done to get us to where we are. Where we are headed may come into sharper focus.

Again, pretty darn empowering.

So the next time judgement and external assessment lands in our laps, we can feel all the feels but know that criticism won’t own us. We can choose to SUPER adult, embody our sovereignty, and move forward with pockets full of gold.

Jen Hudziec is Ritualist, Ancestral Lineage Repair Practitioner, Death Doula, Fire Walk Facilitator, and Dagara Diviner.  As an animist she has spent decades integrating Earth honoring practices with her former Catholic upbringing while reviving the traditions of her Slavic ancestors. She is a student of the Dagara tradition and credits her mentors Malidoma Some and Ann Sousa for passing on the elemental wisdom of the Dagara. Jen offers online private sessions, public rituals, education, and group circles. She can be reached at Jenhudziec.com

The Magickal Egg

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When I visited my Grandparents as a child, I remember being drawn to a wooden cabinet with glass windows in the corner of their living room. Kept safely inside were all of my Babushka Hedwig’s valuables; hand carved wooden plates, large painted spoons, and braids of dried palm fronds from church visitations. 

And eggs. 

Brilliantly painted eggs with intricate designs perched on brass stands. 

I was mesmerized by them. Who could put such tiny drawings on eggs in repeating patterns with such precision?

I fell in love with them. 

I cherished them. 

In my innocence I asked my Grandmother if I could have them when she died. Her hazel eyes transformed into the shape of crescent moons that expressed her happiness and she  smiled as she murmured something under her breath in Polish. 

The art of pysanky, or egg “writing” is a tradition from the lands now known as the Ukraine (as well as other Slavic areas). This ancient practice involves using a tool (kistka) made from copper and a wooden stick to heat beeswax with a candle flame. When the wax is melted, fine lines are then drawn on the surface of the egg in patterns and motifs that date back thousands of years. The egg is then bathed in dyes to create striking colors that tell the stories of families, history, and hope. 

Why did our ancestors choose the egg as the canvas for such elaborate designs? Is it any coincidence that spring, holy week, and eggs all converged in one giant metaphor for fertility and rebirth? 

Of course not. 

The egg has been revered for thousands of years as a symbol for the potential of  life. Egyptian creation stories positioned the egg as the origin of the cosmos. With no beginning and no end, the shape of the egg represents the unyielding continuation of consciousness beyond form. 

Our ancestors were keenly aware of life’s fragility and the delicate veil between  the living and the dead.

The shell of the egg embodies this veil while within its confines, it holds the mystery of the universe. The yolk represents the sun, while the albumin represents the moon.  As we embrace the myriad of metaphors, meanings, and symbolism associated with the egg, how can we incorporate this powerful item into our ritual arts? 

Pysanky

You do not have to be an artist to learn the art of pysanky. Here is a great Beginner Pysanky Video to get you started. You can buy quality supplies at Pysanky USA. Try your hand at designs that speak to you or create your own. This ritual writing is deeply relaxing and nourishing (like a mandala coloring book). During the forty days of lent, many Christain Slavs will write one egg a day until Easter and then place the eggs around their home and land as an invocation for fertility and abundance while also feeding local nature spirits. 

Egg Clearing

Eggs have been used cross culturally for cleansing and clearing negative energy, spells, curses, and energetic trauma. For a general clearing take a fresh chicken egg and drag it from the top of your (or someone else’s) head all the way down to your feet. Work counterclockwise from the front of the body to the side, to the back, and finish with the other side. The egg absorbs the energy that needs to be cleared and may then be buried in the earth, placed in a river, or in cases of very heavy energy may be thrown at a rock outside. 

Gifts for the Dead

In ancient times, both Greeks and Romans would leave eggs at the gravesites of loved ones as an offering to honor them in the afterlife. At a time of rebirth and rejuvenation, why would we honor the dead? By consistently paying homage to our ancestors, no matter the time of year, we more fully embrace our own mortality and tend to those who gave us life. Take eggs to your loved ones' graves, or place them on your ancestor altar as a way of including them during this precious time of year. 

Egg Shell Magic

Egg shell powder is a powerful tool to use in your ritual practice. Use the powder to cast circles, place protective lines at doorways or on driveways, add to a bath for purification, or sprinkle it around your  garden as a blessing. You may also use it like chalk to draw sacred symbols or sigils wherever you feel drawn. Consider grinding specific herbs into the powder to add additional medicinal/spiritual properties.  

To make the powder, place empty egg shells into a pot of boiling water for ten minutes. Drain the shells and leave them out overnight. Heat an oven to 200 degrees (F) and place the shells on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or tin foil. Bake for 10 minutes and when cool, use a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder (for a finer texture) to crush the shells into a powder. Store in a special jar or container. 

That day in my Granparent’s home was the beginning of my love affair with egg ritual.

I write pysanky as a way to connect to my heritage, honor my ancestors, and to remind myself of the sacred cycles of life, death, and rebirth. I give my pysanky as gifts, offer them to my ancestor shrines and altars, and make powder out of  broken shells for ritual use. I have used egg clearings in my private practice and to clear my children. The sacred nature of the egg is infinite, timeless, and full of hope. 

Personal note: Please consider making a donation to Pysanky for Peace. This project aims to help the ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, and to share this important cultural tradition of the Ukrainian People.

Jen Hudziec is an Ancestral Lineage Healing Practitioner, Death Doula, Ritualist and Teacher. A first generation American, her ancestral roots are Eastern European (Polish, Russian, Czech, Ukrainian), Germanic, and Scandinavian. She stewards traditional Abanaki lands in NH where she practices Celtic and Slavic Earth honoring traditions. She is also a student of the West African Dagara tradition. She may be found at jenhudziec.com

Photos via Unsplash

Obsidian Path: Exploring The Underworld

“For every world, there is an underworld."

~ Krassi Zourkova

October ~ the most witchy time of the year!

Every month is the time of the witch, but October is extra enchanting. In the pagan calendar it is the final month in the wheel of year and culminates with Samhain, the “Witches New Year’s Eve.” I have felt for a very long time that the four seasons of the year leaves something to be desired. In my bones I feel a fifth season; the dark time between Samhain and Yule when we descend into the dark womb of the Earth to reflect and regenerate. When Winter Solstice arrives, we are gently guided towards the light until we are rebirthed during the Spring Equinox in March.

Thus, October is a beautiful month to begin a descent into the underworld. The underworld is not synonymous with depression, isolation, or hardship. Rather, it is a rich environment where we can explore our relationships with the wise dwellers of the dark; gods and goddesses, spirit animals, mycelium, and microbes. The underworld is teeming with relational opportunities if we enter the crystal caves below with a sense of curiosity….

questions for reflection

• What have been your assumptions about the underworld? Is it a metaphorical place in time and space that has a dark, edgy connotation and if so, is this a place that you feel drawn to or fearful of?

• Have you ever traveled to the place of the under or lower world? Meaning, have you either journeyed, astral traveled, or dreamt of the underworld OR have you physically been to a place like a cave that reminded you of the lower world. What was your experience there and what wisdom did you glean from experience this place?

• Think of a few times in your life where you felt that you were dwelling in the lower world. This could reflect a difficult time, but it may also symbolize a time in your life when you were very contemplative, needed rejuvenation, or felt quiet and reflective. Does this re-frame of the underworld change how you felt about that time in your life? If so, write about this re-frame and notice how your story about that time may shift.

“Any ritual is an opportunity for transformation.”

~ Starhawk

ritual

This ritual arose from a combination of experience, divination, guidance, and natural cycles. Create the time & space to bring regular ritual into your life using these pdf’s as guideposts.

“The queen of the underworld, the goddess of chaos,

 is also the force that eternally renews.”

                                                  — Jordan B. Peterson

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One of the central aspects of the shamanic Lower world is that it has a deep relationship with power and transformation. The spirit helpers of the Lower world often have the shape of animals: the so-called power animals that shamans worldwide work with. But there are also spirit helpers in the form of trees, the wind, ancestral healers or guides… There is no restriction on the form that the helpers can adopt to share their strength with us.

~ Roel Crabbe

Growing up I was obsessed with the Greek Goddess Persephone. She fascinated me as traveler between the worlds, not by choice, but by circumstance. She was an archetype that I felt strongly connected to. Perhaps it was my often overly dramatic plight as a teenager feeling confined by people who did not understand me. Like Persephone, I too felt trapped in a foreign world; a world of misunderstanding, judgement, and materialism. My underworld of teenage-dom felt akin to Persephone’s and within her I found companionship.

Fast forward into adulthood when one aspect of my spiritual exploration took a turn towards core shamanism. It was during my studies in core shamanism and the mode of the drum journey that I discovered the realm of the underworld (or lower world). What I learned in my continuous journey’s to this magical and mysterious place was a topography of a living landscape, an abundance of allies waiting for connection, and a womb of comfort and restorative energy.

The underworld is a place where guides of a denser vibration roam. Dense in this case does not mean difficult or afflicted; rather, it simply means that the vibratory nature of such beings is a slower cadence. Angels vibrate at a higher cadence then animals. This does not indicate heirarchy, it just indicates a difference in frequencies. The underworld is home to animal spirit allies, gods and goddesses that embody the healthy shadow and those beings whose energies just move slower.

Everyone’s experience of the underworld, both as experience and metaphor, has similarities. I invite you to explore the underworld for yourself in a ritually safe way. Perhaps you will meet Persephone. If you do, give her my regards !

~ Jen

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Ritual Invitation

Take some time to make art in relation to the underworld! Consider drawing, using pastels or charcoal, mixed media, painting, etc.

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”

~ Joseph Cambell

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RESOURCE ARTICLE

This article outlines some misconceptions about the Underworld and although I disagree with the author the that gateway to the underworld is through Shadow Work, I do appreciate the points he makes. This is a good, quick read!

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Ancestral Aspirations

“TO FORGET ONE’S ANCESTORS IS TO BE A BROOK WITHOUT A SOURCE,                                              A TREE WITHOUT A ROOT.”

~ Chinese Proverb

The veil is thin. Keep your aspirations high.

This season of the year is historically when the “veil is thin,” meaning that our dealings with the spirit ‘world’ may be heightened, accelerated, or amplified. Cross-culturally it is a time when one’s ancestors are venerated and rituals and offerings are made as a show of love, respect, and remembrance. If you already have a practice with your vibrant ancestors, this is a time to continue to nourish and feed those connections.

If you are new to ancestral relationships, a great starting point is to entertain the idea that beyond the last 5-10-15 generations of people whom you may know something about (or nothing about!) that there is a deep well of goodness in your lineages. This can be a difficult thought to entertain given that so much unmetabolized intergenerational trauma can land within and around us. As my mentor Daniel Foor says, “let it be aspirational.” This simply means, let us aspire to the idea that just as we are benevolant, so were our people. Considering this idea is a first step into opening lifelong relationships with your ancestors.

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questions for reflection

• Who are your ancestors? What is your best sense of where they originated from (area, region, country)? How does knowing or not knowing effect you? Do you hold a sense of pride, shame, indifference, or ALL of this about where your people came from?

• Consider that your ancestry extends thousands and thousands of years back into time. You are more than just a child of your parents, you are a child of 40,000 to a million years plus of evolution. How does reflection shape the way you view your ancestry now?

• Make some time to take stock of your hobbies, interests, passions, and curiosities. Do you ever wonder why in the world you are interested in some of the things that you are? Does your passion for certain causes hold a level of intensity that feels overwhelming or unfounded at times? Reflect on the idea that you are your own person AND you are an incredible composite of ancestral energy that may hold the origins of what intrigues and motivates you.

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Season Ritual PDF

An opportunity for continuous ritual..

“Any ritual is an opportunity for transformation.”

~ Starhawk

monthly ritual

These rituals arise from a combination of experience, divination, guidance, and natural cycles. Create the time & space to bring regular ritual into your life using these pdf’s as guideposts.

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October meditation

October 2023 Monthly Meditation

~ Jen Hudziec

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Journeying with the Ancestors

Use this paritally guided drum journey to safely connect to your wise ancestors.

Ancestor Realm

Jen Hudziec

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audio Book Recommendation

I wanted to recommend a fabulous audio book this month by Sobonfu Somé. It is available on Audible and (maybe) through your public library’s online resource (it is NOT in print).

About the Women’s Wisdom From the Heart Of Africa:

For the first time, Sobonfu shares the essential principles and practices of African feminine wisdom in a complete audio learning course.

In 12 intimate sessions, listeners will learn universally applicable teachings to claim their unique gift; engage their dreams; honor transitions; reclaim their ancestral lineage; identify power places in nature & in their body; & open the gateways to intimacy.

Highlights include:

• 7 hours of rituals, reflection, and stories to immerse yourself in the traditions of the Dagara tribe and expand any spiritual practice.

• Use ritual to discover “power places” in nature—and in your body

• Form a council of women to initiate growth and change in your community

• Leadership as seen through the eyes of Dagara women: a different way of using your power

• How to create a shrine in your home to call in the divine

• Your unfiltered intuition: a guide you can always trust

• Call in the “spirits of the elements” to create balance and harmony

• Reclaim your ancestral lineage to learn who you are and what are your greatest strengths

• How to use grief and mourning to restore, renew, & regenerate your spirit.

Jen Hudziec is Ritualist, Ancestral Lineage Repair Practitioner, Death Doula, Fire Walk Facilitator, and Dagara Diviner.  As an animist she has spent decades integrating Earth honoring practices with her former Catholic upbringing while reviving the traditions of her Slavic ancestors. She is a student of the Dagara tradition and credits her mentors Malidoma Some and Ann Sousa for passing on the elemental wisdom of the Dagara. Jen offers online private sessions, public rituals, education, and group circles. She can be reached at Jenhudziec.com

Phoenix Rising: From Fire To Nature

“She was the heir of ash and fire,

and she would bow to no one.” 

- Sarah J. Maas

2017, 2022, and 2027 are years of the firebird, the famed phoenix who looks out from its meticulously constructed nest upon the wide expanse that surrounds it. Living close to the sun and embodying the solar energy of transformation, this winged symbol for our inner fire accompanies us during fire years. We may find ourselves comfortable at one point, but the elemental surge of fire that fans the flames of change in our lives began to grow stronger and gain strength as our visions, dreams, and intuitions are no longer denied.

During fire years, personal pockets of resistance are targeted by the spirit world as opportunities for purification; the resulting cleanse may not be pretty and yet absolutely necessary. Fire years embody an amplification of ancestral energy which push us forward despite our best efforts to stay safe. A sense of being torn, confused, or ungrounded may dominate our lives as one choice becomes glaringly clear: move  through the flames or be consumed. 

“Nor shall this peace sleep with her; but as when

The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,

Her ashes new create another heir

As great in admiration as herself;

So shall she leave her blessedness to one,

When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,

Who from the sacred ashes of her honor

Shall star-like rise as great in fame as she was,

And so stand fix'd …”

(William Shakespeare & John Fletcher from Henry VIII) 

As we emerge from the fires of transformation and into Nature years (2018,2023,2028) we are given a breath of fresh air, a break from the flames, and a time to engage in the mysterious potential that awaits us as “maiden phoenixes.”  We now understand that the fire in our lives was choreographed to initiate us into new dynamics of a fresh elemental cycle that will expedite our growth. In nature years we become the muse of all things magical as we embrace new endeavors that will elevate us.  We realize that coming out of a fire year, we are capable of ANYTHING because planted within us are seeds that required the fiery flame to regenerate. 

the call of the creatrix

Nature years ask us to embody the energy of rejuventation and reinvention as we channel the archetype of the creatrix and creator. The visions of the previous fire year are now within our grasp if our choices and decision making paradigms are oriented towards practically anchoring our dreams into this reality. We will be required to “take the high road” and not allow ourselves to get distracted or compressed with extraneous drama or self sabotage.

A nature year can be fraught with wily, trickster energy that will try to push us off course if we are not vigilant. Phases of negative self talk and apathy can work their way into our lives if we fall out of alignment with the essence of nature. Therefore, we will need to direct our energy with laser sharp focus if we are to stay in the stream of manifestation.

Nature years implore us to put aside the masks we hold up that shield our authenticity from the world. If we engage the element of nature as mentor and muse, we can embody pure, unadulterated expression. 

Nature does not conceal itself.

 Nature is unapologetically resilient.

Nature takes up the space it needs to assume its rightful place within a community ecosystem.

reaching upwards

Within our global community, Nature years ask us to raise each other up, center the voices of the most vulnerable, and to tend to the animal and plant kingdoms in new relational ways. We are called upon to extend ourselves beyond our individuality to hold a community based consciousness. Shrinking into victim mentality (the shadow side of nature) allows opportunistic weeds to take root, hijack our nourishment, and prevents us from blooming. We must keep our vision directed upwards for this is the motion of nature. We need to stand tall like trees stretching ourselves to new heights by extending towards the moon, the stars, and the cosmos. In a nature year of rewilding may we hold nature as our advisor, guide, and elder. May we welcome expansion on all planes of consciousness and continue to elevate ourselves to bring fruition to our dreams. 

Rooted I stand 

Tall I expand 

Reaching out to meet myself 

I am alive 

I will strive 

To expand beyond my own limitations 

And live my dreams 

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Jen Hudziec is Ritualist, Ancestral Lineage Repair Practitioner, Death Doula, Fire Walk Facilitator, and Dagara Diviner.  As an animist she has spent decades integrating Earth honoring practices with her former Catholic upbringing while reviving the traditions of her Slavic ancestors. She is a student of the Dagara tradition and credits her mentors Malidoma Some and Ann Sousa for passing on the elemental wisdom of the Dagara. Jen offers online private sessions, public rituals, education, and group circles. She can be reached at Jenhudziec.com

Photo credit: Benny Rotlevy

The Invitation: An Ancestral Calling To Come Home

Who Are our Ancestors?

The first time I heard the word ‘ancestor’ I was baffled. If I had a dictionary on hand, I would have immediately looked up the definition of the word. Finding myself dictionary-less, I relied on the expressions and body language of the people around me for a sign as how to give off the perception that I knew what ‘ancestors’ were. It was a spiritual “fake it til you make it” moment. When I finally could sneak a google search, the reality hit me: oh, they meant dead people. Not just any dead people though, my dead people.

I felt time slow to a grinding halt as all my synapses began to contort around the concept of the thousands and thousands of people who had made my life possible. 

In that same moment, the reality of how utterly disconnected I was from a massive part of who I am came flooding in. All my life I just thought of me, my immediate family, and my Grandparents. The tiny little autonomous bubble of pervasive individuality I had been living in had just been popped. I was still warming to the concept of ancestors when I found myself at a three day ceremony dedicated to none other than, you guessed it, the ancestors. 

Let’s pause here for a moment and consider how things like this happen. How did I end up in a place where I would spend 3 days honoring my ancestors at the same time the reality of them was settling in? How do things like that happen for any of us?

There are so many explanations for synchronicity, but one I find particularly fascinating is something called sympathetic resonance.

Wikipedia defines it as “a harmonic phenomenon wherein a formerly passive string or vibratory body responds to external vibrations to which it has a harmonic likeness.” In this instance I like to consider myself as the “formerly passive vibratory body” (it's not a super flattering description, but I am okay with that). The key word here is formerly, because I responded to the external vibration of my people, my ancestors. Their likeness to me (because I am them and they are me) is what brought us together in a very conscious way. And my awareness of them was about to get even more real. 

Releasing Ancestral Grief

When the ancestral ceremony commenced, I approached the unknown with curiosity and openness. As night fell and our group sat together in a circle, a question was posed to us; were any of us willing to release inter-generational ancestral grief through a ceremonial head shaving? I peered at the circle to see the reflection of my facial expression pasted on those around me; wide eyes with mouths dropped open. What happened next, I will never forget. A feeling deep inside my body began to take root. It was as if electrical impulses were making my internal organs quiver.  As the feeling grew in intensity, I tried my hardest to deny I was having a response, but it was indisputable. Overwhelm engulfed me as I felt my head begin to shake back and forth with the thought; “Oh no….ohhh no.” Then the realization came over me that if I denied THIS, this intuition, this invitation, that I would be denying something primal and necessary. Thoughts flooded my mind as I imagined my family freaking out, my clientele thinking I was insane, and the public sneaking curious looks at me.

Slightly dissociated from my body, I heard my voice utter “YES.”

When we broke for a break, I found it hard to speak. I could not latch onto clear reasoning or understanding. In passing, a friend mentioned her fear of being perceived as a Neo Nazi if she had a shaved head. I felt the blood leave my face and tears well up. My Grandparents has been detained in Nazi detention camps for four years during WW2. That is when the knowing came; my hair was a minuscule offering that I could make to honor the suffering my Grandparents and so many others had endured.

The long, blonde hair that my Grandmother would brush, braid, and twirl into ovals at the nap of my neck was a gift for these ancestors.

In the woods that evening, with song and prayer, a group of men and women took my hair. They gently cut every strand down to my scalp while a razor erased the rest. I sobbed as I felt the intention and care behind their craft, all the while knowing the atrocities that were enacted in the camps. The grief of generations streamed down my face and I felt oddly at ease. The quivering in my abdomen subsided as I sat on a tree stump, my bald head caressed like that of a newborn baby. My hair was my offering to them and the beginning of a lifelong journey with my people.

Our ancestors know how to get our attention in ways intrinsic to who we are.

Connecting with our ancestors does not have to be an intense experience like the one I had, but it was what I needed at that time. They know us and they know how to grab our attention. There are many ways that we can revive our relationships with them, and yet I have discovered over the years that there are techniques that will ensure ritual safety, healthy connection, and address intergenerational trauma in a gentle way. Since that time in the woods I have repaired my relationships with all of my lineages; despite the fear of what I might discover or my dislike for some of my deceased relatives, my connection to the thousands of vibrant beings within the energetic field of my DNA has been profound. With ancestral healing our sense of who we are deepens, incessant patterns that can hinder our evolution are addressed, cultural amends to heal systemic inequities can be made, and we find ourselves assuming our rightful place among a history of powerful people.

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see you parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive at this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people. “

~ Thich Nhat Hahn

Jennifer Hudziec is a Certified Ancestral Repair Practitioner with the Ancestral Medicine Organization. She is a Ritualist, End of Life Doula, and Fire Walk Instructor. The ceremony she references is an Ancestralization ceremony brought to the West by Elder Malidoma Somé.

Jen offers private sessions & group work and may be reached at jenhudziec.com

Photo Credit: Om Prakash Sethia via Unsplash

Following Our Roots Home

As a diviner in the Dagara tradition, the lens from which I view life is framed by this West African tribal cosmology. The indigenous wisdom translated and shared by Elder Malidoma Some, has been in invaluable gift to the world and it is via this gift that I offer my own reflections. Let us turn towards the element of Earth (years 2020, 2025, 2030). At its essence, Earth years call us to find our way home.

We are invited on a pilgrimage to return to ourselves. When we accept the invitation of homecoming it is more than “an instance of returning home,” as defined by Oxford. We are guaranteed an unforgettable journey, one that is not always accompanied by rainbows and unicorns.

my homecoming required an excavatio into my ancient roots, but where was I to begin? With the earth, of course.

Earth connection

Considering my connection to the (literal) Earth as a starting point, I formulated some questions to ask myself:

Am I in right relationship with the land we live on?

Do I know who inhabited the geographical area I call home long before colonization took place?

Do I maintain connections to the spirits of the land and nature?

Do I source vitality from my connection to the great mother and if so, how do I reciprocate?

When we consciously tend our connection to the land with Earth honoring actions, we establish a sense of place. With a sense of place intact, we can go deeper and wind our way through the story of the Earth to the people who inhabited these beautiful lands: our ancestors.

Our Ancestors

I used to have no clue as to what this word meant. I was not brought up in an environment of ancestor reverence, but thankfully I learned through my experience with a Dagara Elder. There are various types of ancestors according to Steven Farmer, but I am speaking here to our blood ancestors; the people we are genetically related to over millennia. If ever there were roots to a tree, then these be them. Unearthing the story of our people is the ultimate homecoming. If you cut off the roots to a tree, it will die. As humans, we often cut off our own roots because we either don’t like what we see and/or it is too emotionally difficult to manage the pain of the last few generations. I totally get this, BUT it is important to remember that our roots go wayyyy further than just our remembered people. Our lineages are ancient. And those folks have some pretty amazing wisdom to share with us.

Our Identity

By this I am not referring to the social constructs that we often equate with our identity. What I am getting at here is the cultural heritage of our genetic make up. Our DNA holds vast stories upon which we are built. Checking into the epic tales of those amazing little double helix spirals can fill in the blanks of who we are and where we came from. With this knowledge and understanding we empower ourselves, not from an egoic or nationalist place, but from a place of activating a collective consciousness within ourselves.

We all long to belong.

When we unravel the mystery of who we came from, our sense of belonging matures and our identities expand into the macrocosm of human evolution. This understanding provides us a deep well to tap into when life requires courage and resilience.

Our roots give us resilience.

Without roots to anchor us, it makes it more difficult for us to grow strong and withstand storms.

Here I offer a possible framework should you feel called home.

Everyone’s process looks different, this is just one way to get started.

Ancestral Work

By using guided meditation, the drum journey, or whatever means you prefer to drop down into an altered state of consciousness (try substance free!) you can access some pretty powerful ancient beings along your lineages. Using your intuition to connect to a healthy ancestral guides is very empowering. The beauty of this process is not getting trapped in the misgivings of generations that are most recently deceased. By calling on the older, wiser, and healthier ancient ones to help heal your lines you’re:

1. Not going it alone and,

2. Helping to elevate your lines in general so you and future generations can have a solid, healthier root system.

DNA Test

Ahhh, the ongoing saga of DNA tests. I cannot recommend one over another, because honestly, I just picked one and submitted it. I didn’t want to expend energy toiling over comparing products. I went with Ancestry (it’s half price every November) and got my results broken down into percentages of ethnicity with regional mapping. I personally appreciated that the results came with a brief historical overview of each particular region. These snippets of historical information and ethnography are what you can use to dive deeply into the identities of your people.

Curiosity and Tenacity

These are two of my most favorite companion words (like how peanut butter and fluff go together if you’re from New England). I highly recommend mustering up lots of curiosity and tapping into a great well of tenacity to do this next task: getting super detailed oriented with the snippets of generic history provided by the DNA test.

Write down every word you do not understand.

This more than likely will apply to regions, time periods, and groups of ethnic peoples. By the time I had picked through one snippet of my heritage there were words, lines, arrows, and circles scribbled all over a pad of paper that made some sort of crazy sense. You too will be able to see aspects of your hobbies, interests, and vocation as reflections of your lineage. Further confirmation of your ancestral identity may arise from your body wisdom; chills, waves of heat, and sobbing are all indicators that your DNA is jumping for joy at your homecoming.

Paradoxically, as we unravel the tangled roots of our ancestry we concurrently weave together a stronger foundation to hold us up.

We spend so much of our lives looking forward wondering who we are, where we are going, and what we should do with our lives. In constantly looking forward, we often overlook the gifts from our ancient past. As interesting and amazing though they be, the revelations we receive along the way are not always fun. Our ancient past also includes travesties; our people have been both the oppressors and the oppressed. Acknowledging this part of our root system is difficult, but it is a part of us and is healthier to integrate than suppress.

The road to home takes us to a place where we stand in reciprocity with the land which holds us and our indigenous roots. Our homecoming is a journey to our elevated ancestors who are willing to offer guidance and inter-generational healing. It also takes us down a path to connect with the identity of our heritage and the story of our peoples. Our homecoming is not an instance. Rather, it is a lifelong process that, if undertaken, will strengthen the core of who we are so we can weather any storm.

Jennifer Hudziec is a Certified Ancestral Repair Practitioner with the Ancestral Medicine Organization. She is a Ritualist, Animist, and Fire Walk Instructor. Jen can be reached at jenhudziec.com

Credits

Ancestral Medicine: Daniel Foor PhD
Photography: Nick Fewings