The way the spiritual world works in my cosmology is that it is broken up into three sections. The Spiritual realm is as complicated as the human one, more so because it contains more things than our limited human understanding can comprehend. I’m narrowing it down to make this one aspect easier to grasp. When we are born and live life, we are in the first section. After we die, there is a transitional space where we can still connect to our loved ones for a bit, then move on to the third section, which is returning back to Source/God/The Universe. Whether or not an ancestor from several generations back has gone through the doorway of light and returned back to Source is something that affects you directly.

How is that possible?

We get much more passed down to us than grandma’s silverware. We get their genetics and their values. We also get their beliefs. Some we know about, and some we don’t. Right now, you could be carrying a belief that money is evil from an ancestor ten generations back and not know it. That belief is a contributing factor in why you struggle with money. Think of the area in your life where you have the most trouble. Finances, relationships, health, etc. The chances are there is a belief in place preventing you from achieving what you want in that area. That belief could be something you inherited from an ancestor; if you are still carrying it, it means your ancestor is stuck.

Why do I care?

A stuck ancestor holding onto a belief spreads that belief to the rest of the family. That includes you and your kids and their kids. Even if there are no kids yet, as soon as there are, they come with pre-loaded software. They carry the burden of their dead ancestor from day one and will be saddled with it until the day they die. For most metaphysicians, that alone is enough to forge into the world of the ancestors. Life is hard enough without having to carry a limiting belief from someone who died hundreds of years ago.

It’s possible that a belief came from someone who passed away that you knew, but the issue is the same. Whatever strongly held belief, fear, grudge, or hate can anchor a soul to the place in between our world and Source. They are in a trap of their own making, but it can also trap the living. Their beliefs, anger, and fear become an anchor that holds down the rest of the family.

How is that resolved?

When a stuck ancestor goes through the door of light and returns to Source, they release what they were holding onto. That energy then transmutes into healing energy that can be brought through time to release everyone else from the burden of carrying it. That belief will no longer have the energy to affect their lives.

It’s not as easy as it sounds. People get stuck in between for various reasons. Some don’t know they are dead. Some know but refuse to acknowledge they’re dead and are looking for some way to get back to living. Some know but are afraid to continue their soul’s journey. They fear a form of retribution. They’re afraid of going to Hell. Whether or not there is a Hell is a discussion for another day.

The point is that it’s important for a soul to continue its journey. Incarnating from Source, returning to Source. That is the path. For those who get stuck, they impede themselves and everyone to whom they are genetically related.

How do I get my ancestors to move along?

Sometimes, it’s as easy as opening a door of light for them and watching them walk through it. Then there are those who adamantly refuse, and getting them to go is tough. Unless you’re a shaman or know one, this process can be daunting, and it’s hard to be sure they crossed over.

The easy ones to get to cross over are the ones who are lost or don’t realize they’re dead. These are the ones who died so suddenly or quickly they haven’t figured out that they are no longer alive. Most of them are so confused that they don’t know that all they have to do is express a desire to move on, and the door to the light will appear to them. Even if they are fearful, their loved ones stand on the other side waiting to welcome them, and they make the transition smoothly.

The ones that are harder to get to cross over are the ones who are afraid of what lies on the other side. They think they know where the door goes and refuse to move. They would rather sit in between as they think it’s a safe and comfortable place to be. It’s not, but I won’t go into why right now. For now, your ancestor thinks that if they stay where they are, they won’t become extra crispy, roasting in Hell. They also fear that their loved ones will never forgive them for whatever they did in life.

If a soul has crossed over, for the most part, whatever grudges they hold were not enough to keep them from crossing over. It could result in a belief that needs to be dealt with in their future lives, but that is also a topic for another time. The bottom line is if a stuck soul crosses over, their relatives won’t be jerks about it.

A tough group to get to cross over are the ones who are committed to staying where they are. The hatred and fear they hold for something is so strong that they vow to never give it up or let it go. They don’t care that they are holding back their descendants. It’s more important to them to hold onto their prejudices and fears than their family’s well-being.

I mentioned earlier that the middle isn’t safe. The reason for it is that this is also where other things hang out. In the area of the in-between is where other beings can affect the living as well. Demons walk here. They can also prevent souls from moving on, trapping them there and causing havoc through generations of the person’s family.

While traveling to see a particular soul, I have seen small groups of souls corralled by the power of a demon. I have also seen a single soul gripped by the shoulder while a demon harshly whispered in their ear. Those with demons are the hardest to cross as the demons have to be dealt with first before we can begin to assess the soul’s status and how willing they are to cross over.

I have taught others how to “walk” to the other side to speak to their ancestors. My usual advice is to leave the stuck ones alone unless they are willing to take on the responsibility of clearing something from the family line. Some don’t want that kind of responsibility, and that’s okay. Doing this work doesn’t mean you have to take on things you don’t want to, but it does mean you are choosing to live with someone else’s burdens. If that is your choice, that’s okay too. No judgment here. Everyone has to decide what is right for them.

For those who want to relieve themselves of the burden of someone long dead and to prevent that package of misery from being passed on to their loved ones, getting the ancestors to cross over is in your best interest. As I said, it’s hard to do if you’re not a shaman or working with one, so I recommend you find someone who is a shaman or a shamanistic practitioner who works with ancestors to advise you through this process.

With the easy ones, you can’t get it wrong. With the ones who are stubborn, sometimes all that is needed is an explanation of how they are affecting the living, and they cross without issue. A few are so angry or frustrated that all it will take is for someone to listen to them. Once they have had their say, they are usually willing to leave.

The ones that don’t care that they are affecting the family and those who have demonic attachments are best left to shamans and other people of power. The intensity of their desire to stay is powerful enough to disturb your energy should the protection you’ve placed on yourself not be strong enough to withstand it.

In general, unless there is a good reason and you have help, leave your ancestors where they are. Yes, getting them to cross over is in your best interest, but unless you can be certain they do, you could find yourself with a bigger spiritual problem than when you started. Instead, focus your time on speaking to the ancestors who have crossed over and who choose to come back when called to assist the living in whatever way they can with wisdom, support, and protection.