December 22 - Day 3 of Yule: The Day of Ancestors
This post is part of my 12 Days of Yule series, inspired by the seasonal framework outlined by Pagan Grimoire. Day of Ancestors expands family gatherings beyond those who are with us in the here and now, to include those who came before.
Today, we take time to recognize those who came before us. I’m sharing the oldest photo I have of a known ancestor. This is Marsha, photographed around 1860.
Marsha is just one link in a chain of men and women whose lives intersected to create my family tree. And mine is as twisted and full of nuts as anybody’s. When I look at Marsha—her direct stare down the lens—I feel both connected by history and disconnected by time. She’s my ancestor, yet a stranger to me.
It reminds me of the other ways we name our ancestors. Whatever directions we choose in our careers and interests, we walk paths cleared by those who went before. When we stand tall, it’s on the shoulders of giants. These are our ancestors, too.
Who do you include as an ancestor for commonality rather than blood relation?
Who influenced your most important life choices?
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