Conceptualization of Communication with Ancestors in ancient Shang Religion through the Ritualization of Offerings
Though the communication with Shang Di and ancestral spirits may have been perceived as transactional and often associated with fear of divine retribution, it is undeniable that Shang religion conceptualized and prioritized a strong bond with Shang Di and past ancestors.
Within Shang cosmology, rulers and royals made offerings for Shang Di and ancestral spirits not only to ensure fortune and avoid misfortune, but also sought for their guidance and support in face of hardships and uncertainty.
Whether they sought guidance about the prediction of rain, or to attain knowledge about natural disasters, or seek support in face of war, the bond with Shang Di and ancestral spirits was important and deeply ingrained into the religious life and landscape of the Shang Dynasty.
this is an acronym from Laura Tempest Zakroff's book Weave the Liminal: Living Modern Traditional Witchcraft. it is applicable for rituals and spellcrafting, from low to high levels of complexity.
Roots: ancestry, origins, identity
✨ Inspiration: influences, appealing practices
🕑 Time: schedule, auspicious timings
🌳 Environment: location, landscape
🌟 Star: personal code of ethics
in practice, this acronym can work like this for a ritual. for example, as i am currently using this acronym to create a motivational morning ritual for myself, i'll describe some of it here:
Roots: i will likely call upon two specific ancestral spirit guides of mine for this task, as i know they are helpful with tasks of willpower and energization. many morning prayers are found in Carmina Gadelica, such as Morning Prayers: Supplication, Morning Prayers: The Three, & Invocations: Morning Prayer.
Inspirations: i love the cute vanity-type aphrodite altars i see on tiktok, and i am trying to do something similar in my own style. i also like the idea of the mirrors where people collage motivational quotes and pictures onto the borders. i may attempt this if i have the nerve!
Time: i've got to make sure this ritual for myself is very short to ensure that i'll actually do it. i could do it sundays or tuesdays, but ill probably do it tuesdays because sunday is supposed to be for resting.
Environment: i'm going to make a charged solar oil with various energizing plants (cinnamon, bay leaf, citrus, acorns).
Star: this motivation is not to overwork myself, or to distract from self-care or cues. any hard work is to be followed by proper nourishment—this is necessary for proper gains! it's important in all of my interactions with spirits to be reciprocal and maintaining respect. motivation has no punishment, and any lack of motivation does not equate to failure. the ritual will work again even if it is missed prior.
so at this point i might reorder this information into a simple ritual idea.
prep beforehand: herbal oil – cinnamon, dried citrus peels, dandelion petals, (dried from fresh) oregano, in jojoba oil. vanity altar – where i've already got a mirror, i'm going to relocate my enchanted jewelry, my makeup and hair products, and maybe some pertinent crystals that i already own: chrysocolla, aventurine, tigers eye, etc. prayers – print out supplication morning prayer from Carmina Gadelica. set up new madonna print on vanity altar.
plan for: tuesdays after waking up. open the window before, and face east.
read supplication morning prayer while applying motivational oil on the head, heart, and navel in a cross, with the right hand pinky finger.
i hope this framework serves useful to someone else!
candle divider by @uzmacchiato // star divider by @strangergraphics
Myths are the stories that take you into the unknown. To places where you won't be in daily life. Places that transcend your experience and give you a taste of what reality or life is and does. It can be penetrating through your soul in a search for connection. Myths are important and are forever applieable into the human consciousness.
