Ancestors, Help a Sista Out!

   ​Since I was a little girl, I have seen and talked with dead people. I call them ancestors. Before I knew that some people believe you can’t talk with dead people or others believe that such connections are “of the devil,” I was enjoying visits from my Grandmother Carrie who died before I was born.
   The first time I traveled to Africa, I felt surrounded by hundreds, even thousands, of ancestors as I stood in the ocean waters at Cote d’Ivoire. They urged me to let go of the rage I was carrying about racism and to live my life guided by love for all people. The ancestors who surrounded me were from around the world. When I left the beach, my tour guide told me that my face was glowing. Something transformative happened for me that day with ancestors from every race, tribe, and language.
   Yet, it wasn’t until I was working on my doctoral dissertation that the thought really came to me to ask for their help. Just as I was finishing my dissertation in time for my defense, my Mother died. Grieving her death took so much energy from me that I didn’t have any energy to get the last of my dissertation written. So for the first time, I asked my Mom and other ancestors for help. My words were, “Please help a sista out.” And help they did. Since then, my life has been greatly enhanced by the amazing support, guidance, insight, and more that I receive from ancestors. They were waiting for me to ask for their help.
   I felt the presence of a lot of ancestors during my most recent travels in South Africa this July. I felt their longing to help the all people of South Africa to heal from the gripping, generational impacts of the dehumanizing system of Apartheid that affected all races and tribes.
   Given the presence of so many ancestors waiting to help South Africans to heal, why is there so much pain in the air and soil? Because most Christians have been taught that connection with ancestors is “of the devil.” As a result, whether in South Africa, U.S.A. or elsewhere, many of us sit alone on island of pain despite access to a sea of ancestors surrounding us who are ready to help us heal. Not all theologies lead to liberation.
   Like the collective pain in South Africa, many situations in our lives are so complex we cannot figure them out or fix them with our intellect alone. Good news, we don’t have to. There are incredible spiritual resources available right now.
   Many of us sit on gold mines of spiritual resources that can transform our lives. Truth is God has already provided everything you will ever need – to be healed, to be whole, to be free. God speaks and manifests in many ways – ancestors, angels, dreams, and more – to bring love and freedom, peace and joy, healing and restoration.
   I’m grateful for Grandmother Carrie and all the others who have guided me through the years. The ancestors are waiting for us, individually and collectively, to ask for help. Watch and listen for them to come amazing spiritual resources for our journeys.