Look To The Ancestors To Tame Your Spiritual Unrest

Often we struggle for days, months, even years, seeking something that is missing in our life. Even after attaining what we had always wanted there may still be a void. A yearning for some unknown desire keeps tugging at our hearts. We may feel lonely at times, even when we are surrounded daily by loved ones. We may not understand what this loneliness is or what causes it. This is what I call "Spiritual Unrest".

Native American peoples, as I have often said, have a profound awareness of their own spirituality and in every thing in Nature. From an early age tribal members have gone on spiritual seeking quests, Vision Quests, to find their spiritual strengths.

Today, in this time of uncertainty and concerns about the future of our country, in keeping up with our busy days packed with chores and errands, with trying to stay up to date with the news, and numerous other things we "must do", we do not have as much time to focus on personal growth and needs.

Have we lost touch with our Ancestors? Have we lost faith in them? Has knowledge of our heritage been blocked from our consciousness due to repression? Part of our purpose in life is to teach our youth -- to leave them a legacy of their heritage and to instill in them the importance of their own spirituality. This is not an easy thing to do in this day and age.

In the days of our Ancestors there was more time to focus on the training of the younger generation. A major portion of their life was spent in passing on to the children stories and teachings from their Ancestors. It was of top priority to pass on to the youth the most important things in life: to know they are loved, to know they are an important part of the family, how to survive, how to take pride in their heritage, and give them the gift of spiritual awareness. These are things a child needs so they may grow strong in their beliefs and potential. I do not intend to give the impression this is all a child needs today, but, I feel it is the basics of what a child needs.

I believe that every one, regardless of their faith, needs something to believe in, to rely on, to find comfort in. Spiritual growth is something we all need. My definition of "spiritual growth" is basically: belief in yourself and your faith. To draw comfort and knowledge from what you believe in, to allow yourself to stay true to yourself and your faith, is spiritual growth.

Quite often I get emails from readers, mostly Native American peoples, who are seeking a connection to their past, to their Ancestors. For numerous reasons they have lost touch with their heritage. They seek some knowledge of where their Ancestors came from and who they were, what they believed, and what their traditions were. They seek some connection to their past so they may go forward with renewed energy and pride. For whatever reason this knowledge has been repressed or hidden from them -- then something may trigger a memory or a deep subconscious need and they start reaching for enlightenment to fill that void in their life.

I have been blessed with the knowledge of incredible experiences of many people who have shared their stories with me -- who have suddenly realized what it is they have been missing in life -- to hear or read about a connection they made with an Ancestor. To know that these people have found out things about themselves because they made a spiritual connection to an Ancestor is a very fulfilling experience. To know even little things, like one can carry on a particular skill an Ancestor had, is a tremendous boost to their spiritual growth. It is like finding a lost loved one when a spiritual connection to (knowledge of) an Ancestor is found.

If you feel a void in your life, I encourage you to seek your Ancestors, explore your heritage, find your spiritual path, and grow spiritually.
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© Copyright Phyllis Doyle Burns 2012

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