Ancestors and Shadow Work — Side Notes
Ancestral work and shadow work both begin the same way: with something unfinished asking to be noticed. A story that doesn’t quite add up. A pattern that keeps repeating. A feeling that didn’t start with you, but somehow lives in your bones anyway. These practices aren’t about dwelling in the past—they’re about understanding what’s still active in the present.
The Side Notes in this section approach that terrain carefully, without theatrics or forced catharsis. They explore how people engage with lineage, memory, grief, inherited habits, and the so-called underworld—not as a place of punishment, but as a space of reckoning and guidance. These are lighter, accessible pieces meant to open doors gently rather than tear them off their hinges.
This is reflective magic. Quiet work. The kind that asks better questions before it offers answers.
Featured Side Notes
You can also find these articles—and many more—within the main Grimoire Blog.
From Ancestor Veneration to Spirit Festivals: Death Beliefs Around the World — From lantern-lit rivers in Japan to drum-thundered funerals in Ghana and solemn ancestral rites in Korea, discover how cultures worldwide honor the dead. These rituals are more than tradition—they are conversations with the beyond, where memory, fear, and love blur the line between life and death.
How to Start Honoring Ancestors in Your Witchcraft Practice — Ancestor work is a cornerstone of witchcraft, connecting you to your lineage through offerings, rituals, and remembrance. Learn how to start honoring your ancestors with simple yet powerful practices, from building an altar to inviting them into dreams, and discover how ancestral healing can strengthen your magical path.
Lucid Dreams & Dream Journals: Why 2025 Witches Are Tracking Their Sleep — Witches in 2025 are reclaiming their nights with dream journals, lucid dreaming, and even TikTok decoding circles. From ancient traditions to modern apps, the dreamscape has become a sacred space for spellwork, self-discovery, and collective insight. Sleep is no longer passive—it’s a realm of magic waiting to be harnessed.
Night Visions and Omens: Ancient Dream Symbols for Today — From serpents and floods to flickering flames, dream symbols have guided humanity for millennia. In 2025, witches blend ancient interpretations with digital dream-sharing communities on Reddit, decoding omens that feel as timeless as they are urgent. The night remains a theater of prophecy, mystery, and transformation.
Pathworking for Deep Spiritual Growth: A Guide to Inner Mysteries — Uncover the secrets of pathworking and how it can lead to deep spiritual growth. A journey of self-discovery awaits you!
Rituals for the Departed: Funeral Practices That Bridge Worlds — Across continents, funeral rites do more than mourn—they bridge worlds. From sky burials to lantern-lit rivers, explore mystical ceremonies that honor the dead and invite their presence among the living.
Shadow Work 101: TikTok’s Trending Guide to Facing Your Inner Self — Shadow work—the art of facing the hidden self—has exploded on TikTok. With journaling prompts, guided meditations, and therapy-inspired trends, millions are diving into their subconscious. But is this viral practice true healing or just digital ritual? Step into the candlelit unknown and find out.
The Dark Mirror: Exploring Ancestral Shadows Through Modern Witchcraft — Witchcraft is casting its gaze upon the past, unearthing ancestral shadows buried in bloodlines and silence. From altars to dark mirrors, modern practitioners are confronting inherited trauma and family patterns through ritual, blending psychology with mysticism. The question lingers—what whispers wait in your lineage?
Ancestor work and shadow work aren’t about blame or absolution—they’re about clarity. About seeing what was handed to you, deciding what to carry forward, and choosing what ends here. The Side Notes exist to make that process approachable without making it shallow, and thoughtful without becoming overwhelming.
Some entries here may feel grounding. Others may feel uncomfortable in useful ways. That’s appropriate. This work isn’t meant to be rushed or performed—it’s meant to be integrated slowly, with honesty and care.
Light a candle if you want. Write things down. Pay attention to what keeps surfacing. The underworld doesn’t ask for devotion—it asks for acknowledgment.
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