Ancestor veneration in some form or another is found almost wherever and whenever there are people who remember their dead. While the specific cosmologies and means of veneration vary considerably between religious and magical traditions and philosophies, properly attending to one’s ancestors is always important: whether ensuring appropriate funerary and remembrance services and memorials, making offerings on certain holidays, attending an ancestral shrine in one’s home, etc. Crucially, in the folk cosmo-visions where the dead can help the living, it is often considered that such properly venerated ancestors may certainly continue to aid and protect us beyond death.

Ancestral veneration articulates various core cultural, social, and interpersonal values in the families, traditions, and communities which practice it. Such familial engagements reflect deeply personal interactions between the living and the dead, and offer folks considerable aid in navigating the tensions and terrors of living and dying in the world. They also source a wellspring of shared joy, pride, and celebration at the great victories, loves, and delights of a life well lived in strong nourishing familial relationships. Even – perhaps especially – when living relations estrange or mistreat us, we may all seek and find ancestors who care and who love us.

In this three-part modular series, Ancestor Veneration for Beginners, diviner, historian, and contemporary cunning man Dr Alexander Cummins will take us through starting, troubleshooting, and deepening an ancestral practice.

July 23rd 2021, 7PM - Class I of III: Fundamentals: 

In Fundamentals, we will assess the foundations of what and how (and why, when, and where) people do their venerating of their dead; presenting a range of options for engaging with your own ancestors through observances, simple offerings, shrines, and services. We will survey some different approaches to acknowledging, remembering, venerating, and serving one’s ancestors, and discuss some of the ways and means we can begin to get a better sense of how such a practice feels and functions.

August 27th 2021, 7pm - Class II of III: Troubleshooting

In Troubleshooting, we will discuss attending to the various issues that can arise as a result of an ancestral practice. These include, but are certainly not limited to: engaging with genealogical records and family information that often comes to light when we start serving our dead; what to do about an expanding ancestral shrine in a shared domestic space; what to bear in mind about attempting to heal or navigate tensions between living family members as these difficulties come to the fore; and especially drawing firm(er) boundaries with problematic ancestors.

September 17th 2021, 7pm - Class III of III: Ever-Deepening

In Ever-Deepening, we will consider ways that our ancestral practice may further nurture us as we nurture it. Chiefly, we will consider the ways in which we can draw on the stability, wisdom, and aid of especially strong or ‘elevated’ ancestors, as well as how we may assist our dead in their own journeys of elevation. We will also reflect on more formal means of ancestral communication through divination, and of working with our dead to more directly aid us in specific matters and through particular difficulties.

Through these modular classes, we hope to foster excellent consideration and discussion of our ancestors and how to venerate them, and foster access to further resources and understanding for ever-developing stable and loving relationships with one’s dead.

About the Presenter:

Dr. Alexander Cummins (@grimoiresontape)    is a professional diviner, consultant sorcerer, and historian of   magic.  His work focuses on grimoires, divination, and folk necromancy.   He  co-hosts Radio Free Golgotha, and can be booked for talks, workshops, readings, coaching and consultation at www.alexandercummins.com/. His recorded classes can also be obtained from The Cauldron Black archives.

THIS CLASS IS ONLINE ONLY! This recording will be available for 30 days after purchase.

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This Agreement is between The Cauldron Black (“OWNER”); and the Purchaser (“RECIPIENT”). WHEREAS, OWNER has developed through substantial effort, research, time, and expense certain inventions, design concepts, methodologies, technical know-how, copyrightable material and trade secrets directed and related to this class. (“INFORMATION”); WHEREAS, OWNER desires to disclose the INFORMATION on a confidential basis to RECIPIENT. The OWNER wishes to maintain the confidentiality of the INFORMATION and the protection of OWNER'S intellectual property rights. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, and conditions contained herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows: I. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION A. OWNER agrees to disclose INFORMATION to RECIPIENT for the purposes of an online class. B. RECIPIENT agrees to receive such INFORMATION and to refrain from  copying, disclosing, using, selling, or offering for sale any and all of  said INFORMATION. RECIPIENT agrees to keep confidential and refrain from disclosing any and all of the INFORMATION, and to take all necessary and reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized disclosure or use of any and all of the INFORMATION. Failure to uphold this NDA may result in legal action.