Interview: Omari Soulfinger on ancestral work
How does one connect with ancestors in the 21st century?
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What does ancestral work look like and what do folks get out of it?
I’ve been mulling this over and knew one person would have answers. Today’s newsletter is an interview with Omari Soulfinger. Omari and I met doing men’s work together with All Kings, and I’ve seen this man work some magic. I talk to Omari about practicing ancestral traditions in the 21st century, which is something Omari has dedicated himself to over the years, and I look to Omari for guidance on this stuff.
Also, he’s a trained clown. I don’t know why, but that feels important.
By day, Omari Soulfinger is an artist and social work facilitator dedicated to creative advocacy and healing justice. Omari has worked with and for systematically denied communities in various capacities. Omari identifies proudly as a "Fool," and practices with inspiration from social group work theory, internal family systems model, restorative justice circle keeping, and ancestor reverence.
The journey to ancestral work
Johnny: In America, a lot of people seek spirituality from their cultural heritage and struggle because we’re generations removed from practicing those traditions. What has that journey looked like for you?
Omari: Processing my grief. The existential sadness, anger, denial etc, of feeling out of connection and relationship with my ancestors. All the lost names, places and practices seemingly gone. Cos’ like spirituality is given…at the very least the keys to the door are. They are handed down by people who will one-day be your ancestors. I think it's the same across peoples. We have holidays, practices, and rituals that we have taken the Spirit out of.
So for me, the journey has been processing the grief that somewhere down the line we were disconnected from our relationship with Spirit and the Earth, and the grief that we lost those practices, and we lost connection with those who deeply understood them. Taking time to actually process that grief was the birth of my spirituality.
I'm not being sentimental about some bullshit primitive ancient hokey way to think. My feeling is Science is the language code of Spirit. The most interesting thing to me when thinking about ancestors is all the stuff around DNA and epigenetics. There are tremendously determinant patterns given from the dead to the living. All of us have at least 4 major patterns: from our mother’s mother, mother’s father, father’s father, and father’s mother. So let's just assume the following, based on the ancient wisdom of people who lived in closer relationship with the Earth:
An aspect of consciousness continues after death available to the living
The dead and living can engage and communicate with each other
The level of influence we have on each other is is substantial
Healing the memory and the ongoing relationship we have with ancestors (even grieving the disconnection) has tremendous material and psychological impact on the behavior patterns we currently live.
Feel me? So like just go with those four concepts for now. Assume with an open heart aka “have faith or whatever”, that by genuinely seeking a relationship with our ancestors – and that’s everything from researching family history, meditating with them in mind, to leaving out an offering - it will lead to a spiritual practice that brings about material change.
Connecting with ancestors
Johnny: And so what advice would you have for someone looking to have a connection with their ancestors?
Omari: Start with asking yourself: "Can I surrender to the idea that there are higher powers beyond my understanding?” Can you reinvest into that just the assumption that there is a higher power, bigger than you and me and us? No need to rush to your feelings about the ultimate GOD GODDESS CREATOR OF EVERYTHING, just start with your own people as higher power, and when you're ready make a conscious effort, tap in, regardless of how you feel about them.
Ancestor work at first is about creating boundaries, setting intentions and consistency in order to build intimacy…just like any healthy relationship. Drop into your body and pick up on the vibes. Bring your attention to the four directions around you. And let’s say each direction corresponds to a lineage like your mother's mother. I’d say feel out the vibes on your right side and bring to mind your mother…ok now bring to mind your grandmother. …Then bring to mind, even if you don't know her, your great grandmother. And then keep going. And just lean into that and visualize it, vibe it out. How do you feel?
And we go even further. And at some point, you're like, I don't even know who we're talking about. I'm talking about hundreds, maybe thousands of people, millenia ago. The specifics don't matter…but your experience when you center your attention in that direction does. When you lean into it, is it bright? Is it heavy? Do you get a good feeling? Does it feel far? Does it feel right on top of you? Are you angry? What images come to mind? All of that information is helpful to get started - an assessment of the vitality and connection you have with your people.
And then just pick one lineage that you're like, “man that line feels awesome.” I need more of that energy in my life.” Or maybe pick a one direction where shit feels really fucked up and you need to create some boundaries. Through rebuilding the relationship, do you want to work on something or do you want to work with something? There's more to it than that of course…but I’m just sketching out what it could look like.
Why do ancestral work?
Johnny: What do you get from ancestral practices?
Omari: Ok so bet…in life inevitably something too much, too fast, too soon, too little, happens and boom trauma…the spice of life. And our souls start to further fragmented into little pieces stuck in those moments of time, responding to those moments. Johnny at six, Johnny at 16, angry Johnny, fear of lack of control Johnny etc.
Additionally, my understanding is that we inherit some of our ancestors' little trauma parts from lifetimes ago. We inherited their talented/magic/powerful parts too of course. For some people, sometimes, the parts are in conflict with each other, and the behaviors start to not line up with their current needs and desires.
I can’t get rid of the parts of me (and them) that don’t always serve me. However I can change the position and power they have, and be in a better relationship with them so they serve my purpose. I want to be aware of which parts are in charge most of the time. I sit and learn to appreciate, or forgive, and just generally better the relationships and boundaries of all the parts of the system called “me,” including the ancestor inherited ones. I surrender a little self-will and illusion of control to a higher power (in this case Ancestors) and accept what I can change and let go of what I can’t.
I think that's the biggest benefit of spirituality. It is less individualized thinking and freedom from thinking “I run shit in this chaotic world. It's just me out here in this universe and so it’s my fault”. Instead by leaning into the idea that there is an invisible world beyond and before, a world micro and macro influencing so much, there is peace. I think sitting with my ancestors, I start to think more collectively internally and externally.
Finding Omari
Johnny: You got any shit to promote?
Omari: Serenity. I'm all about promoting serenity. I’m currently studying with Dr. Daniel Foor who has a great book called Ancestral Medicine. By the end of the year, I’ll be open to working 1:1 with people who want to start an ancestral practice. Folks can hit me up at www.omarisoulfinger.com and join my mailing list, before I put up the “I can help you talk to your dead peoples and heal” sign.