As November 2nd approaches, I am preparing to celebrate All Souls’ Day, a special time of the year when we remember and honour our loved ones who are no longer with us.
It is meant to remind us of the importance of honouring not only those family members who walk beside us now, but also the ones who came before us many generations ago, who helped shape the people we are today.
In Poland, where I’m from, this tradition holds a very special place in our hearts. For those who choose to, the day begins by going to Catholic mass. You are invited to remember your loved ones who have passed on and say a prayer for them. After this, families visit the graves of their relatives, carefully clean them, bring fresh flowers, and light candles. Cemeteries become filled with beauty and the sacred glow of thousands of candles, each one carrying a memory, a prayer, and a light that represents eternal life.
I believe that remembering our loved ones is about more than visiting their graves once a year. It is about the little things we do to acknowledge them every day. Because of that, I choose to honour my ancestors throughout the year, not just on All Souls’ Day. Their presence is part of my life, my practice, and the traditions that I continue to carry forward. In fact, I will often invite my and my clients’ ancestors to assist me in the healing session.
They don’t always come through, but I let them know they are welcome in the room if they choose to.
Lately, I have felt deeply connected to my ancestors. They have taught me so much, and I’ve realized how important it is to include them in the spiritual work that I do. It doesn’t always need to be a grand gesture; sometimes a simple thank you is enough. Through my grandparents especially, I have been able to learn so much more about card reading, going out into nature to forage, and working with plants to make natural remedies.
Most people don’t realize that their ancestors’ incredible wisdom is passed down several generations and that we literally carry them in the very cells of our bodies. Our soul is able to connect to this divine blueprint and help us establish a direct, ongoing relationship with them. I am realizing more and more that our ancestors are the foundation of everything we do and everything that we are in life, and they can help us evolve into the people we hope to become in the future.
To my grandmothers, Barbara Szymanska and Irena Klim, and the rest of my ancestors: I thank you.
Thank you for the lives that came before mine. Thank you for the knowledge, the memories, and the traditions you taught me that continue to guide me to this very day. Thank you for being my roots and my anchor. Thank you for writing yourselves into my story forever.
I will continue to remember you and honour you, and carry forward all that I’ve learned.
And so, in this spirit, I invite you to light a candle for your ancestors and loved ones on the other side. I encouraged you to do this not only on All Souls’ Day but on any day of the year. I am confident you will find this to be very healing and therapeutic.
Na Zdrowie,
Agnieszka
