Ukuphahla is kind of the Art of opening yourself up to your Ancestors. Imphepho is used which was the original Human Bedding, you can also start to study Xhosa Tea and things along with this. In Ukuphahla ceremonies you will Burn the Imphepho not different than a White Sage smudging, the Sage Burning can be seen as Cleaning an area for Rituals and things, to send away Bad Spirits. The Imphepho on the other hand is used for Ukuphahla which is to call the Ancestors closer you could say.
Usually in modern Times Candles are used, but I have before made different mixtures of Wax and Imphepho, Beeswax and Saponification is what I have found to be kind of the most effective for calling Ancestors and things.
A kind of technique to maybe practice during Ukuphahla or after would be to look into Puddles of Water and things at Light, Particularly the Moon, and kind of ask for Answers to Questions.
I am not trolling here, but why should I assume my ancestors have any particular knowledge? This as compared to the plethora of other entities out there---gods, demons, etc.At least a few authorities suggest that the dead know little indeed and that, seeking to contact the dead, one is liable to conjure up the astral equivalent of online trolls gaming you.
I suppose there are a couple of ideas to draw from in this.
First, if 'with age comes wisdom' then those who lived many years ago, and have since continued to exist and experience as a soul, then they have had more opportunity to obtain more wisdom. Plus, having left the physical behind, the connection to 'divine' energy and consciousness has fewer barriers. So the potential for greater access to greater knowledge is there.
Second, not all 'dead' are equal. Indeed there are some who learn little in life, and possibly disconnect even more in death. There are also those who 'move on' or 'move forward' and might not even be able to be contacted. Some 'dead are merely shadows of what once was, not the soul and consciousness itself but more an impression left behind, or a 'recording' of actions and emotions with no actual consciousness at all. But then there are also those who learn and explore their whole life. Those who dedicate themselves to teaching, or protecting, or healing. Perhaps they have done so for many lifetimes. Perhaps they do the same while between lives, or, have reached a point where they choose to remain outside of the cycles of incarnation and dedicate themselves to new levels of experience.
Another thought; 'ancestor' does not mean the same thing as the dead or ghosts. It simply means 'those who have come before us'. Be it our mother or father, or the energy of a wise-woman healer who lived a hundred generations ago. Heck, it could even refer to the collective knowledge and experience of -every- individual who came before like a big ol' melting pot of information.
I suppose, to turn your question on it's head as food for thought, Why would one assume that they are any smarter or more experienced than the people who have been here before us? Even going to 'ancient' times and technologies, people did things back then using simple tools, manpower, and thought that we can barely (if at all) achieve using computers, machines, and science.
However, to question whether the dead are worth consulting, is not to claim that oneself thinks oneself smarter than those before. (Personally, I'm a deliberate anachronism.) I was simply playing off ancestors vs. gods/demons.I tend to try and go direct to the latter. I can imagine reasons to try it the other way.
Definitely fair, and I would say here is indeed no reason not to go to the proverbial source.
I suppose after some additional thought, it could maybe be a comfort thing to some capacity. After all, we connect best to the things (in general) which we relate to as individuals. It makes a sort of sense to me that a person would feel more confident communing with/praying to a friendly relative who could 'put in a word for you' rather than having to try and appeal to a deity that could potentially have little regard for mundane people.
Perhaps it could be influenced by what a person might be after as well. Want power? Appeal to the powerful. Want wisdom? Appeal to the wise. Want a connection to your roots? Get in touch with them.
This is one of many ancestral worship rituals. Thank you for sharing. I think there is something to be said that more indigenous beliefs worldwide see a major connection with the moon and conversing with one's ancestors.
For Tainos, we use copal like y'all use imphepho. Cleans the bad energies, keeps the good.
