Last night, several of us gathered at the Institute of Traditional Medicine on Queen Street for an Ancestor (Jiibay) Ceremony, led by Diane Longboat and her pipe-carriers.  It was not only a meaningful ritual, it also helped to raise money for Soul of the Mother, a cause that promotes indigenous wisdom.  The drumming and singing, the prayers offered through the pipe smoke, the dimly lit space, the presence of spiritual peers, and the gentle scent of sweetgrass all took me into a deep place of connection with the first ancestors, the ones who were entrusted with original wisdom.  They asked, “Are you committed to life?, to which I responded, “Yes.”  They then declared, “Prove it!” 

Here’s a tarot layout for you to try.  Lay them in any pattern that feels right.

1. Who are my most ancient ancestors?
2. What essential life-affirming truth did they believe and live?
3. What is their principle message for me at this time?
4. How can I best honour these ancestors?

Let me know what messages you receive when you do the reading.  It’s important for us all to know who we are, where we come from, and what we’re being asked to do.