Proverbs

Honor your ancestors by being true to yourself!

"If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise. Folly is the cloke of knavery. Shame is Prides cloke."
-- William Blake

Halloween is just one of many traditions that honor the dead. Death is, of course, a reality of all living beings and human cultures around the world typically ponder on this cycle of life through special observances and traditions. The majority of these traditions focus on remembering lost friends and family members and honoring them for the impact they made in the lives of the living.

Indigenous peoples and cultures all over the world honor their dead ancestors in one way or another. In fact, many indigenous cultures invoke their ancestors daily through ritual. This is because without our ancestors, none of us would exist at all! Our ancestors also hold great wisdom; they each lived and learned before us, and we can call upon our ancestors to guide us with that wisdom.

These types of celebrations are an important part of various – if not all – cultures, as it reminds us of our human connection to the natural cycle of life and death. In our daily life, it is easy to forget and even harder to accept that death is a natural part of life; scientific advances and efforts to contrast natural processes instill in us a fear of death.

This week, take time to remember the friends and family who have died. Think about how much they have contributed to your life and remind yourself of their role in your life and the community. Celebrate our ancestors who have paved the way for us to be present where we are today, and honor them by being a positive force in your communities.