Chloe Marie Yoga

I firmly believe that connecting with one’s ancestral heritage is a means of enhancing our spiritual practices while respecting and avoiding appropriation of other cultures’ spiritual traditions. As I’ve delved deeper into my spiritual journey, I’ve noticed that the religious and ritual practices tied to our ancestry often yield more profound results than seeking practices from unrelated traditions. It’s as though these omnipresent spiritual beings understand us and out lineages, even when we may feel disconnected from them.

Take, for example, my experience with the Catholic Saints. Lately, I’ve been invoking the protection of St. Michael Archangel in many of my magical workings and was inspired to create a chaplet dedicated to him. This has led me to contemplate my complex relationship with Catholicism within my magical practice.

I’ve wrestled with my identity as a Catholic and continue to do so. However, what’s undeniable is that the strong influence of Catholicism in my ancestry (I’m Puerto Rican on my Mom’s side and Italian on my Dad’s) has made working with saints an effective and almost intuitive part of my magical practice. What’s intriguing is that I consider myself a non-practicing Catholic. I haven’t attended church in years, and my personal values and beliefs often diverge sharply from the typical Catholic doctrine. In fact, my convictions sometimes contradict what’s written in the Bible. So, why do the saints seem to want to help me?

As mentioned earlier, I believe the answer lies within my ancestral lineage. As it’s currently ancestor season, I’ve taken the opportunity to explore books about the folk magic of my ancestors. Through my readings, like “Burn a Black Candle” by Dee Norman and “Italian Folk Magic” by Mary-Grace Fahrun, I’ve learned that having ancestral lineages associated with specific saints essentially paves the way for a harmonious connection. They recognize you because they know your family. And let me add my perspective – contrary to what some practicing Catholics might assume, saints often aren’t sitting in judgment, keeping a tally of your “sins.” Rather, they are spiritual, ascended masters with a desire to assist in your pursuit of goodness in the world, at least in my own experience.

Moreover, in the traditions of Puerto Rico and Italy, many saints have African or Roman counterparts. Depending on what type of work you are doing, invoking the saints may be a way of simultaneously connecting with their Yoruba or ancient Roman counterparts.

So, irrespective of how others may interpret the practice of magic within the framework of Catholicism, I choose to continuing because it not only yields results but also resonates with my cultural roots. So, I hope you take this as a reminder that not all practices need to look or be a certain way. You can and should adapt what works for you in your magical practice.

Wishing you a joyful ancestor season!