When Ancestors speak we should listen. But how often are we quiet enough to hear their whisper or their call or their shout? It comes sometimes in the simplest ways – a comment from a child or elder, a statement on a wall or shirt, a dream. Sometimes it comes so blatant it can scare you immensely. They are everywhere and some people have the gift to see them. It is a gift, yes, that some unfortunately see as a curse.
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Singing in honor of Ancestors |
What makes a gift a curse? Perhaps one’s lack of preparation for a gift might make it a curse. If no one told you or taught you how to use something of value or even informed you of the value of that thing, how would you know to use it properly or appreciate it? Ignorance, then, would make a gift a curse. Not knowing the existence of Ancestors and not being taught to embrace their visions and messages would surely make the ability to see and hear Ancestors become a curse rather than a gift.
Some people have been told that they are crazy and need psychiatric help. Some have been told that they need to be “saved” and demons need to be exorcised from them. They have been overwhelmed with prayers, verses, medication and therapy in an attempt to “heal” this alleged curse that they have. All these things come to no good and a gift indeed becomes a curse when the receiver does not know or does not appreciate the gift which s/he has been given.
We may not all have this particular gift of seeing or hearing Ancestors but we all do have Ancestors. We could not exist without them and that already is a blessing. They are indeed present around us, whether we recognize them or not, and they do impact our lives one way or another. They do speak to us, bring us messages, warnings, guidance. They mean us well. It is for us to sit still more often and listen to the voice of our Ancestors.