My ancestors have lived on American soil for nearly 400 years. They arrived in the 1600s, a group of Pilgrims and travelers in search of an uncertain future.
Some of them were English, but many were Welsh, and I often wonder about the way they lived before they ventured across the sea.
I’ve been especially curious about their traditional ceremonies and rituals, and the way they lived before they came into contact with Christianity.
In other words, when my ancestors were living closely attuned to the land, what were their lives like? Who were the indigenous Celts and Anglo Saxons?
Although those of us with European ancestry may never truly know our indigenous ancestors’ ceremonies and rituals, we may be able to remember aspects of them through dreaming.
In January 2011, I dreamed a detailed explanation of how my ancestors passed down their power from generation to generation.
In the dream there is a bar of soap in front of me.
I am told about a Welsh myth that details how men use this soap to capture their own power.
When the soap is nearly spent the small remains are incorporated into a new bar of soap. This soap is passed along to the next man who will use it to connect with the previous owners’ power in order to integrate it more strongly into the lineage so he can in pass it along to the next man.
It’s interesting to note that my dream used the term “myth” to describe this tale. This may be a dream clue that the soap aspect is not to be taken literally, but metaphorically. If so, then what might the soap represent?
When I mentioned this dream to Robert Moss he suggested viewing it in three ways:
Use etymology and explore the history of your dream words
Looking up the original meaning of words is one way to plumb the depths of your sleeping dream imagery.
The word “soap” is associated with the Old English “sape” which was originally a reddish hair dye used by Germanic warriors to give a frightening appearance.* I also have Germananic ancestors so this is a notable reference.
Review the ingredients and possible uses
Another way to delve into the deeper meaning of dream is to explore the ingredients in dream images. For instance, soap is traditionally made of ash. Some indigenous cultures, like the Yanomamö of Brazil, consume the bone and ashes of their deceased loved ones as an aspect of their death and grieving ritual.
Ash is also used to create a boundary around sacred space, especially where a ceremony and ritual will take place.
Contemplate a more literal perspective
Of course, the most common use for soap is cleaning. In indigenous cultures around the globe, cleansing and purification are practiced prior to entering into ritual space. Perhaps my dream is a call to cleanse myself in order to reconnect with the power of my ancestors.
Dreaming of Your Ancestors
As we near Samhain, I encourage you to incubate ancestral dreams. Simply create a question or statement like, “Ancestors, please share a message with me in my dreams.” Or “Ancestors, please tell me a story about Grandma.” Or “Ancestors, how can I heal _____ part of my life?”
You might also incorporate an ancestral altar into your incubation process.
Note, your dreams may not have actual ancestors in them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t responses to your question.
So, what will your incubation question be? Feel free to post it below.
Then, if you have any dreams, you can “reply” to your original question and share your dream.
Be creative and have fun with this incubation.
Ancestors, please give me guidance for my golden years.
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Ancestors please share wisdom that has been forgotten.
What a great way to invite our ancestors to be with us on this Blessed Samhain! The traditional Wiccan “Dumb Supper” has never resonated with me but your suggestion to incubate a dream does. Mine is “Ancestors, please show me your hidden and forgotten ways so that I can incorporate them in my life.”
I have been asking for ancestral support for my upcoming new family — my wife being 8 months pregnant.
2 nights ago I had a dream in which a baby was nestled in a thick green carpet. It was like the baby was being held in an indention, with the carpet supporting all around. The baby seemed so safe there.
Upon awakening, I remembered that I have had dreams in the past with the color green that have been ancestral in nature. In waking life, I still own a blanket of my grandfather’s, who passed away 30 years ago. Same color green.
Beautiful, Ryan! Thanks for sharing.
I dreamed my family was facing a strange container of enormous, yet life sized, alligators. Not sure if it was an ancestral dream or not, but it was a bit scary.
I dreamed last night that I was instructed by a friend to take a special soup to a beach where dead people (sort of zombie-ish) crowded together, milling around on the shore. I climbed over logs, and walked up to one dead man. I handed him the soup, and he looked at me as if he wanted to say something, but I ran away, leaping back over the logs, away from the beach.
I didnt have a dream with my ancestrals…at least knowing it for real…what I feel in my inner soul and heat…and same vague flashes from my childhood is me running in open fields …mountains…horses…me …barefoot…happy…running…that’s all I got in memories…strong feelings of belonging are in me…also have been in asheville and at cheroke village…although I didnt get anything for real…I knew I was called to flight there…cause I never had the interest in go to US…something happened surely…but not yet acomplished…maybe next time who knows?…but also a strong belonging in Goa (India) II had and still remains after some years…
walk in beauty…the elementals will be guiding me and us!
Many thanks for your beautiful post and website. It’s wonderful to connect with another person who so clearly sees and knows how important our ancestors are and how much support they have to offer us. Thank you again.
All blessings,
Lisa
author of Ancestral Blueprints: Revealing Invisible Truths in America’s Soul
Nice to meet you Lisa. Welcome to the Dream Tribe!
the soap can be the dna too!
[…] research ancestral practices. You might be surprised to find that many cultures honor their dead with specific rituals. For example, in the fascinating book, Dreams that Matter: Egyptian Landscapes of the Imagination, Professor Amira Mittermaier explores dream incubation as practiced in Egypt today. […]
[…] simply help with reframing a situation with a deeper significance. Other times, they can lead to unconsciously held information embedded in your own dream […]