Lavender is used in traditional practices for calling in ancestral wisdom. Its role is not to act as a direct summons, but rather to create the ideal conditions—a sacred, purified, and peaceful space—that makes it easier to connect with and receive guidance from one's ancestors.
Here’s how lavender is traditionally used for this purpose:
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Purification of the Space and Self: Before attempting to connect with ancestors, it is considered essential to purify the space and oneself. Lavender's name, derived from the Latin lavare ("to wash"), speaks directly to its use in cleansing. Burning a lavender smudge stick, using a lavender-infused room spray, or taking a ritual bath with lavender is believed to clear away any unwanted or stagnant energy that could impede the connection. This purification creates a clear, high-vibration environment that is more welcoming to benevolent ancestral spirits.
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Creating a Calming and Receptive State: Connecting with ancestral wisdom often requires a quiet mind and a calm, receptive heart. Anxiety, stress, and mental clutter can act as a barrier to receiving subtle messages from ancestors. Lavender's renowned calming aroma helps to soothe the nervous system and quiet the "monkey mind." This allows a person to enter a meditative or prayerful state with greater ease, creating a clear channel for communication and insight.
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Protection During Communication: In many traditions, when a person opens a channel to the spiritual world, it's important to have protection. Lavender is traditionally used as a protective herb to ward off negative influences or unwanted entities. Placing sprigs of lavender on an ancestral altar or in the space where the practice is taking place is a way to create a sacred boundary, ensuring that the connection is safe and that only benevolent ancestral wisdom can come through.
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Anointing for Intuition: To enhance the ability to receive messages, some practitioners use diluted lavender essential oil to anoint their body, particularly the Third Eye Chakra. This chakra, located between the eyebrows, is the center of intuition and spiritual insight. By anointing this area, a person can clear away mental fog and heighten their intuitive perception, making it easier to "see" or "hear" the wisdom being offered by their ancestors.