If you were dead right now, will the people you love and care about think about you? If the answer is yes, you are very fortunate. Many deceased people yearn for the feeling of somebody caring for them and yet not all of them have crossed over to the other side. Anybody can become an earthbound spirit for a lot of reasons, but nothing is more sadder than picturing a family member who died tragically and becoming one. Sure someone can always become one with a good reason to watch after their love ones, but sometimes your long lost relatives are the ones on the other side of a loose string. What I will be dissing here is ancestor worship and its benefits toward you and your deceased loved ones. Please feel free to comment if you practice ancestor veneration or have any ideas on how to practice it.
I call this thread kindling the flame for a reason and the reason is this. Imagine yourself as a log, not just any kind of log, but firewood. Now imagine your blood as fire, as it represents your family bloodline. Each time someone is born in your family a new log gets added to the fire, which makes the fire last longer. You are a log that is still burning with power, you could waste this power or put it to good use. This power is called the current. The current is the fire and you can take care of that fire by honoring it. Don?t let the fire burn out, remember your ancestors and let their wood burn just as well as the day they were born, even if they are long gone. Since they are dead it is your duty as an ancestor worshiper to kindle their flame for them.
You may have ancestors who have been murdered or even committed suicide, I know I have, Some may be lost and confused because there fire has been burnt out. Don?t let that happen. When a person becomes an earth bound spirit, also known as a ghost, they need energy to survive or they become slow and lethargic. Make an altar for them. This does not need to be fancy, just a small dresser and a few pictures will do the trick. Now light a candle in there name as a representation of their wood still burning by your love for them, even if you don?t know them. As you light that candle leave some water and some food, so they can feed on those instead on energy. Most ghost get energy from people and some can do this in some very mischievous ways. Giving them a place they know that they are remembered and will be cared for will show them the light and they may cross over.
Now that you know how to handle the fire of your ancestors, remember that if you are their for them, that they will be there for you. You may notice that some may cross over and still watch over you from afar. This is a sign of respect for the love you gave them and they may even assist you for daily needs if you pray to them. Don?t tread on the dead and ask for frivolous task, because that is disrespectful. Dead people are not dogs and they don?t play fetch. If you think you can do something without their help do not ask them.
Since we have reached the end of the thread I hope you learned a thing or two about the dead and take my advice. Just remember if you somehow end up dead, you?ll want people to remember and love you just as much as they did when you were alive. Always respect the dead and treat them with love and care.