The Ancestor Altar

The process of working with the Ancestors begins with the construction of an Ancestral Altar. Before I go any further, I’d like to point out that many root-workers are Christian and adhere to God’s commandment in Exodus 20:3 to “have not other gods before me.” Therefore, root-workers do NOT worship the Ancestors inasmuch as they venerate them. The Ancestral altar is the place where this veneration ritually occurs. Setting up an Ancestral Altar is fairly simple and there is no standard layout for one. Like other altars they will often grow and change in relation to your personal belief-system, your understanding of how to put those beliefs into practice, the items you have and/or can obtain, and sometimes by request of the Ancestors themselves. In Conclusion Altars are powerful and highly personal sacred spaces which can be erected for virtually any need or purpose without a great deal of expense. They can be as simple or as ornate as you like and you have a wide variety or choices in regard to altar size, number of altars, deities, and other items placed on the altar. Outside of these general guidelines there are no strict rules when it comes to building your altars and ultimately you will find that what is 'right' is what works for you.