[Replay] "At the Heart of the Mystery": The Ancestor Cult

The ancestor cult holds a prominent position within African societies, particularly in Benin, necessitating a specific and dedicated form of reverence. This practice involves a structured set of rituals designed explicitly to forge a connection with the past lineage. Without this spiritual anchoring, individuals are likened to trees lacking roots; while rooted trees withstand severe weather, those without sufficient grounding are easily uprooted by adversity. This foundational connection underscores the necessity of acknowledging those who preceded the current generation.

The fundamental goal of the ancestor cult is establishing a link with the past through specific rites. This practice is essential because it grounds the living within their collective history. The connection ensures that the foundation remains strong, preventing the dissolution of identity and purpose when faced with external pressures or societal challenges.

A critical distinction must be drawn between individuals merely classified among the dead and those recognized as ancestors, especially given modern religious perspectives that sometimes prohibit ancestor worship. While every ancestor was first a deceased person, the transition requires achieving a specific state of awareness. Many elderly individuals pass away without possessing the necessary wisdom or conscience to become effective spiritual guides.

Classification as an ancestor occurs only when the deceased attains a level of consciousness where they acknowledge their own death. Upon reaching this state, a cult can be appropriately directed toward them to benefit from their perpetual awareness. This contrasts sharply with those who die without such realization; invoking them yields only their limited, pre-death consciousness, offering no elevated guidance.

A profound filiation exists between the living and the deceased, meaning the link between those who preceded and the current generation remains unbroken under any circumstances. This connection is not arbitrary; it is biologically verifiable through DNA, confirming membership within a specific family unit. Spiritually, this manifests as inheriting both assets and liabilities, mirroring material law where debts and possessions transfer upon death.

The human body does not retain memory in any specific location; instead, memory resides within the universal Akashic memory, which is linked to one of the subtle bodies. When recollection is needed, this internal body connects to the Akashic sphere, retrieving necessary information rapidly. Consequently, deceased ancestors who are conscious of their transition retain awareness of past events at this universal level.

The memory akashique is this universal memory which comprises everything that we do, everything; there is not a single thing that does not exist in this memory.

The Akashic memory functions like a vast computer system containing all necessary information across multiple drives, even if the physical interface (the screen) is discarded. This universal repository is held by the divine source, existing as immense libraries where every action is cataloged. Therefore, consultants who communicate with the 'double' of a deceased person are actually accessing this memory through the double, which acts as a search mechanism.

The concept of honoring the meritorious dead is reflected even within Christian traditions. For instance, November 1st is often designated as All Saints' Day, and November 2nd as the commemoration of the departed. This linguistic shift from 'ancestors' to 'saints' and 'departed' suggests an acknowledgment that not all who die possess inherent virtue. Three systems govern human existence: ignorance, passions, and virtues.

When the Catholic Church requests prayers from Saint Joseph, this is functionally the cult of the dead or ancestors, though the terminology differs. Ancestrality is considered a spiritual grace, attained through living correctly to become a meritorious ancestor. The goal is to root oneself deeply, drawing strength from this lineage to prevent collapse when facing life's inevitable storms.

Spiritually speaking, ancestors inhabit the astral world. For the spiritual man, all initial work commences within this astral domain. This concept is illustrated by the biblical narrative where Jesus ascended a mountain for the Transfiguration; this ascent symbolizes the necessary climb to the astral realm to meet enlightened predecessors like Elijah and Moses, rather than invoking spirits from below.

Cerebral ceremonies performed for ancestors vary based on the practitioner's level of spiritual development. For the common person, simple offerings such as water or strong drink suffice, as the ancestors respond on the terrestrial plane from which they originated. However, those dedicated to the path of light must actively seek encounters in the astral world, requiring specific work on the bloodline.

To truly benefit from ancestral connection, especially concerning lineages affected by historical trauma like slavery, the first step involves liberation. Ancestors carry the residual energy and consciousness of being tortured and deported. If the living fail to consciously address and release this collective trauma, they perpetuate the ancestors' enslavement, keeping them chained within that negative awareness.

Continuous nourishment of the 'predator's egregore' keeps both the living and the ancestors in chains. Therefore, the crucial action is to turn inward, connect deeply with the self, and establish peace within the lineage. Without this internal reconciliation, ancestors remain bound by the consciousness of their suffering, and invocations will be ineffective or even detrimental.

We must return within ourselves, connect to ourselves, go to the very depth of ourselves without this, we will always serve, we will always maintain our ancestors in slavery.

Practices that rely on archaic methods, such as animal sacrifice, are strongly advised against in the current Age of Aquarius, where the dimension of the blood must evolve. While the blood tie is essential, the methodology must advance beyond practices that involve killing animals, as these actions only feed the lower physical and etheric planes.

When considering rituals, the focus shifts from what should be avoided to what is recommended for spiritual elevation. While some practices involve simple libations like strong drinks or lighting a candle, offering the blood of a sacrificed animal is discouraged because it actively pulls the ancestor downward. Blood represents the lower soul, sustaining only the physical and etheric realms, thus hindering transcendence.

The superior approach involves offering light through meditation and providing water, an elemental substance. This offering helps ancestors become more conscious of their state, allowing them to release energy back to the living through the blood connection. To achieve higher spiritual planes, practitioners must unify the four elements (water, air, earth, fire/light) with the fifth element, the Word or divine speech.

The primary request directed toward ancestors should be for increased anchoring and solidification with the lineage. When this bond is strong, external attacks are less effective, as the defense encompasses the entire line, similar to protecting one's own child. Once solidified, the lineage can assist in navigating experiences toward virtue, leveraging their past successes on the path of truth.

Selection of ancestors for invocation requires careful observation of their earthly lives. One must start from the top of the lineage, invoking those who demonstrably pursued truth, justice, and love. Invoking an ancestor who spent their life serving ego or engaging in malicious actions will yield objectives aligned with that negative experience. This mirrors the process where religious bodies canonize only those who lived virtuous lives.

When ancestors who lived virtuously are invoked, they work on behalf of the living, just as saints intercede in other traditions. The current enslaved consciousness, often stemming from colonial history, falsely suggests that non-African saints are superior. African ancestors are equally meritorious; recognizing this truth requires rejecting inherited inferiority complexes and nourishing the correct ancestral egregore to receive their wisdom and protection.