The Silent Supper

[F]amilial and/or blood ancestry...is not the only form of ancestral work. Many people tend to think of familial or blood ancestry when they think about these practices. Certainly this is very powerful, particularly for those individuals dealing with ancestry that has been hidden or erased. However, there is also communal and/or cultural ancestry. There are ancestors to social justice movements, ancestors to artistic traditions, ancestors to local communities, and many more powerful souls you can call upon for support and guidance. In the end, no one knows all of their ancestors, familial or otherwise, but recognize that you always have a choice of who to let into your practice. 
~ANAIS PARADA

Cultures around the world have holidays and rituals dedicated to honoring departed loved ones. For Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches, one such ritual is the Silent Supper. Many variations of the Silent Supper exist, but at its core, it is an invitation to the ancestors or other beloved dead to share a meal with the living.

It's a wonderful practice. But what do you do if circumstances make it impossible or unsafe to host a full-meal Silent Supper? Maybe you have roommates who come and go at all hours. Maybe you need to stay in the broom closet because you live with family who don't share — or approve of — your beliefs.

What I present to you here is an alternative that you can adjust to suit your own needs. You can do this as a simplified solo Supper, or as a journaling experience. In either case, it provides an opportunity to remember, honor, and visit with departed loved ones.

Silent Suppers are most often held on the night of October 31 (May 1 if you're in the Southern Hemisphere) — Samhain, a profoundly sacred time that our Celtic forebears believed the veil between the worlds to be at their thinnest; on this day, the spirits of the dead can most easily cross over into the land of the living. However, one can hold a Supper at any time of great significance, such as the anniversary of a loved one's passing.

Cover image by Image by Simon Berger (8moments) from Pixabay. Page background by Pexels from Pixabay. Page art by wertyfy2 from Pixabay.

Dedicated to my paternal grandmother Eleanor, who crossed to the other side on October 31, 1997, and to my Dad, who crossed unexpectedly on September 26, 2022.

What is remembered, lives.