Ancestors, Angels, and Asking for Help by Rev. Carson Hawks

   I think most of us were taught, somewhere along the way, that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In my own life, I lived that out as truth for decades. But, while I was in seminary I began to understand a new truth - that asking for help was a sign of strength and courage. I watched my friend, Brook, ask for help with a personal issue that came really close to taking her away from her dream of completing seminary and being an ordained minister. What began as single request for help turned into a weekly covenant group between Brook, myself, and our friend Sophia. The group was a chance to check in and support each other as well as hold each other accountable so that we could all continue to move forward. Those weekly meetings helped all of us get through seminary and we still continue to meet bi-monthly to support each other.

   Although Brook's ask was a specific request to specific people, sometimes asking for help does not take a specific ask. Sometimes, we just need to speak our truth, or simply say it out loud, in everyday situations. One day, I was talking to an acquaintance at work. She and I were just chatting a little about our lives when I mentioned that I was looking to find a person who did energy/Reiki work or possibly a Shaman but I hadn't decided between the two yet because I knew I couldn't afford to go anyway. She mentioned having the same longing, and challenge, but was looking for a Spiritual Director. Little did we both know that I was (am) a Spiritual Director and she was (is) a practitioner of both Reiki and Shamanism. The conversation led to both of us getting what we needed and bartering our services.

   I have friends who are deeply connected to their angels and others who are deeply connected to their ancestors. Angels and Ancestors are their go-to's when they need help. And most of the time, they get immediate help! And of course, sometimes it takes some time. Cari and I have had conversations about how important ancestors are in her life and how she has benefited from those connections. Lately, I have been drawn to and wanting to connect with my ancestors.  Probably, in part, due to my chats with Cari and partly because, back in January, I attended a free Ancestral Healing Summit that has been gnawing at me internally - in a good way- ever since. Yet, I didn't realize on a conscious level that gnawing was there until this past weekend.

   This past weekend, I was a teaching assistant for 3 days of classes for the Chaplaincy Institute, where I received my Spiritual Direction certification back in 2017. One of our classes "happened" to be on Honoring (and connecting with) Ancestors - which is almost funny because I had been asking for help, in my quiet time, for help in getting started with connecting to my ancestors and asking the question of what has been holding me back from doing so. The class was super helpful in naming the gnawing and longing I have been feeling - and - in teaching me what has been holding me back from pursuing that connection. The teacher of this class, Taya Ma Shere, spoke about the different kinds or sets of ancestors you could talk to - "ancestors of blood or family (like if you have been adopted), ancestors of place, ancestors of vocation, ancestors of spiritual tradition or cultural community" (Taya Ma Shere). So, they don't have to be your in your particular blood line. That was new information to me! And if there is particular traumas that you don't want to get entangled with in your immediate blood or family ancestors, like parents or grandparents, etc., then there is a way you can create boundaries around those folks and go even further back to connect with ancestors who are more healthy, loving, and wise as a source of blessing, support, guidance, and healing. I learned a great deal in this class. And, I learned a great deal about my own life. I think the motto of the story is: Be careful when you ask for help, you might just get it! HaHa :)

Blessings and Peace,

Carson