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The different steps in the entire ritual
The different steps in the ancestor ritual are:
At home:
1. Choose an ancestor ritual and communicate your choice (at least two weeks before the appointment);
2. Choose a symbol for yourself and a symbol for your inner child, possibly selecting stones yourself;
3. Prepare questions for your ancestors
During the appointment:
4. The facilitator introduces the ritual;
5. Laying out the stones and symbols;
6. Your short introduction;
7. If applicable: tuning into the field and determining the stones;
8. Tuning in and representing;
9. Thanking your ancestors;
10. Releasing the stones from their task.
At home:
11. Making a place for your ancestors and maintaining the connection.
1. Choose an ancestral ritual and communicate your choice (at least two weeeks before the appointment)
The ritual begins at your home, once you know which ancestral ritual you would like, and in the case of a thematic ancestral constellation, which ancestral line you would like to set up. We allow at least two weeks between the moment you inform me of your choice and the appointment. This is because, from the moment you make your choice, spiritual helpers, ancestors and other energies involved can begin to prepare, perhaps together with you. You need not be aware of this.
I ask you to read the entire section on ancestors on this website so that you are well informed about the ritual. If you have any questions, please ask them in advance and do not wait until the appointment itself. We will use the time of the appointment for your ritual.
2. Choose a symbol for yourself and a symbol for your inner child, possibly selecting stones yourself
You choose something that symbolises yourself and something for your inner child. You take both symbols with you for the ritual.
Are you selecting your own stones? They certainly do not have to be large stones, but they should not be too small either, so that they are comfortable to hold in your hand. The suggested general ancestor constellation has 38 stones, the suggested thematic ancestor constellation has 25. If the constellation is modified, count the stones.
3. Prepare questions for your ancestors
Prepare your introductory questions for the ancestors. If you need to, for example if you are unsure about certain questions, you can also submit your questions to me in advance. See the heading ‘Your questions for ancestors’. There you will also find a format for your introduction and questions.
4. The facilitator introduces the ritual
The facilitator explains what your ritual will look like, as agreed in advance, and goes through all the steps of the ritual once more. The description of the ritual design for laying the stones and the order in which this is done, which you have already received digitally, is printed out and ready for you.
Two mobile phones will be used to record the arrangement. If you can bring two mobile phones yourself, that would be great.
5. Laying out the stones and symbols
You lay out the stones in the order of the agreed ritual. See the heading ‘Two ritual constellations’ for more information. (Other ritual forms will be presented later.) Place the symbol for the inner child on one side of you and the symbol for yourself on the other side. You sit on a chair and look at the stones in front of you.
The inner child is represented by the symbol as energy in the ritual. Nothing else happens with it. Similarly, nothing happens with the symbol for yourself. It represents you at the moment when you stand up to tune into a stone and are not sitting in your place for a moment.
6. Your short introduction
When you are sitting quietly and feel ready, you introduce yourself by your first name and invite your ancestors to be present. You welcome them and present your questions to them. You may have written down your introduction, or you may prefer to do it from memory.
7. If applicable: tuning into the field and determining the stones
This part only happens when there is no fixed order for tuning into and representing the stones. I repeat from the heading ‘Two ritual constellations’, section ‘The general ritual ancestor constellation’:
“In the ritual of picking up, tuning into and representing the stones, there is no set order. We limit the number of stones picked up to the number of the thematic ancestor constellation, which is ten. That is sufficient for processing. We choose the stones together by sensing the field. You don't have to do this alone. We are happy to help you if you wish. If you are not used to this, it may seem very difficult or almost impossible to do, but you will probably really feel something, and a stone will attract you. All three of us have sheets of paper, each with its own colour. When a stone catches your attention, place a sheet of paper next to it so that afterwards we know which stone is linked to an ancestor who wants to be represented and who chose this stone. It may be that all three of us feel a certain stone. In that case, we will all place a sheet of our colour next to it. If you feel a particular stone very strongly, you can indicate this by placing several sheets of paper next to it. It may be that someone feels very happy about a particular stone, or has a worrying feeling about it. To remember this, a white or black piece of paper can be placed next to it. Perhaps together we will feel more than ten stones that demand attention, perhaps fewer. That doesn't matter. Perhaps another stone will be added along the way that wants to be seen. It may also be that you do not feel a particular stone pulling at you, but that you choose that that stone should be tuned into and represented, for example your parents or grandparents. You can indicate this with a card stating exactly who you mean.”
8. Tuning in and representing
This has been explained earlier in the sections ‘Tuning into and representing stones’ and ‘Your questions to ancestors’. Up to ten stones are tuned into and represented. In the thematic ancestor constellation, the order is fixed and is the same as when laying the stones. In the general constellation, you choose the stones yourself. From the section ‘Two ritual constellations’, part ‘The general ritual ancestor constellation’:
“When we feel that we have finished tuning into the field and we have marked the stones that require attention with a piece of paper, we sit down again and you decide which stone you want to start with. There is no specific order. So you can also start with a stone from the tenth generation, if there are sheets of paper next to it. It makes sense to start with a stone that has many sheets of paper next to it, because that means it is important in the ritual. But it is up to you.”
When an ancestor is represented, this is indicated with a black or white pawn. The black pawn represents a male ancestor, the white one a female ancestor.
9. Thanking your ancestors
At the end, you thank your ancestors for coming, for what they have shown of themselves, for their help.
10. Releasing the stones from their task
The ancestors are linked to stones. To allow a stone to be just a stone again, the stones are released from their task. You can leave this to the facilitator, but you can also do it yourself if you wish. The stones may also be thanked. You do this by focusing your attention on them and saying aloud: “Stones, thank you for representing, you are now just stones again.”
If you wish, you may take a photograph of the constellation.
11. Making a place for your ancestors and maintaining the connection
To ensure that the contact has a lasting effect, it is important that you create a place for them in your home afterwards and that you regularly connect with them by thinking about them.