Connecting with Ancestral Wisdom: A Guide for Pagan Women

Connecting to Our Pagan Ancestors as Women

In one of my previous articles, I shared a little bit about one of my ancestors – a woman who worked as a midwife, herbalist, and doctor in the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains. She was respected and honored, but she would have likely been horrified to have been referred to as a witch. The Southeastern United States is heavily steeped in Protestantism, and the main religions during her time and mine were Baptist and Methodist. However, she practiced the craft of the wise when she healed her neighbors and brought new life into the world. I am proud to have her blood running through my veins.

Our ancestors, whether they be by blood or spiritual ancestors, pass down their knowledge to us. If they are blood ancestors, it’s in our DNA. My maternal grandmother was also someone who had second sight. She passed it down to my mother and I.

This got me thinking about how, as women, we can connect to and channel our ancestors and their knowledge. Our ancestors—both of blood and of spirit—hold wisdom, strength, and guidance that can help us navigate our own lives. For pagan women, this connection can be especially meaningful, offering insight into the feminine lineage of power, resilience, and sacred knowledge.

Many traditions honored the divine feminine, and women who were midwives, healers, wise women and priestesses were revered. For example, another part of my bloodline, the Cherokee people, had a matrilineal society. Elder women, especially grandmothers, held decision-making power over family and clan matters. They kept the peace among the tribe. One of the highest honors a Cherokee woman could receive was being named Ghigau, meaning “Beloved Woman” or “War Woman.” She had a voice in tribal councils, could pardon prisoners, and performed ceremonial duties.

The Didanawisgi, or the Cherokee medicine woman, used herbal remedies, practiced energy work, and communicated with spirits for guidance. Family rumor has it that we had one of these special women in our line.

However, we don’t have to confine ourselves to blood ancestors. Spiritual ancestors can be just as important. They were the women who came before us, who shaped our traditions, who walked a similar path, such as witches, healers, priestesses, or wise women. Depending on which tradition you may follow, you might adopt the spiritual practices of the Norse Völvas, the Ban-Druí (female Druids), the Greek Hekataen priestesses, or the African Sagomas. There are so many more I could name, but doing some research on your preferred path can connect you to the women who came before.

So, how else can we connect with them?

Create an Ancestral Altar

• Photographs or symbolic representations of your ancestors.
• Candles, incense, or offerings like flowers, herbs, or food.
• Ancestral relics, such as jewelry, letters, or heirlooms.
• A small dish of water or earth to ground the connection.

Spend time at your altar daily or on special occasions, lighting candles and speaking to your ancestors as if they were present.

Look for the sacred feminine in your ancestral traditions and honor them through:

• Working with goddesses, spirits, or deities that were important in your lineage.
• Learning about the herbal and healing traditions passed down by women in your ancestry.
• Performing rituals or rites that celebrate the wisdom of ancestral women.

Celebrate Ancestral Festivals and Rituals

Many pagan traditions have special times of the year dedicated to honoring the dead. Samhain, Día de los Muertos, and other ancestor-focused festivals offer the perfect opportunity to reach out. You can:

• Set up a feast for your ancestors and leave offerings.
• Light candles and recite prayers or poems in their honor.
• Perform divination to seek guidance from your ancestral spirits.
• By aligning with these sacred times, we can walk in harmony with the cycles of life and death.

Embracing Ancestral Guidance in Your Daily Life

Your connection to your ancestors doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions. Carry their presence with you by:

• Asking for their guidance in daily decisions.
• Wearing jewelry or symbols that represent your lineage.
• Speaking their names and keeping their stories alive.

Our ancestors walk beside us, offering wisdom and strength. As pagan women, embracing this connection allows us to reclaim our heritage, honor the past, and step forward with power and purpose.