Indigenous People's Day

Like everything else in our sleepy robotic lives today we are forced, because otherwise we probably wouldn't even care to think, about something that is a part of our history and daily life. With all the stimulants and desensitizers we are forced to partake in every day and all the tasks and deadlines we have there is rarely a chance to think about things that really matter, like where we actually are and where it all came from...for example. Somehow, you can research on your own exactly why today, we are forced to think about and supposedly celebrate and commemorate Indigenous People...and yet it seems still not that important to the masses...it's only just another thing we are forced to deal with. Most of us humans want to escape, a lot of us do. Let's come back to reality, today, at least for a moment. If you have today off of everything or if you have any day off this week or month please do a ritual I have in this blog. There are actually a few ways to give thanks and pray and be grateful and connect and remember. I've added some info I have gathered online, if there are any mistakes I'de like to know so I can correct them. This info is mostly about San Francisco, CA, please research where you are at and give thanks, praise, compassion accordingly. San Francisco sits on unceded ancestral land that carries centuries of complex history. Grounding your spiritual work according to the land you reside on honors both the ancestors of the soil and the living stewards who remain today.

The True History of the Land (Yelamu / Ramaytush Ohlone)

• Original Stewards: The San Francisco Peninsula is the ancestral, unceded territory of the Ramaytush Ohlone people. Specifically, the local independent group residing in present-day San Francisco was the Yelamu, who maintained seasonal villages including Ahamut (near Mission Creek), Chutui (near Mission Dolores), Tubitinte (near Visitacion Valley), and Sitlintac.

• Reciprocal Relationship with the Ecosystem: Long before colonization, the Ramaytush Ohlone managed the peninsula's coastal scrub, oak woodlands, and tidal marshes through controlled cultural burns, wild seed harvesting, and sustainable hunting/fishing, acting as active stewards rather than passive inhabitants.

• Sacred Shellmounds: Across the Bay Area, native peoples built thousands of shellmounds—massive, sacred monumental structures constructed from shells, soil, and ceremonial artifacts that served as sacred burial grounds and ceremonial centers. Many in San Francisco were systematically flattened or paved over during 19th-century urban expansion.

• The Spanish Mission Era (1776–1820s): The founding of Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) forcibly disrupted Indigenous ways of life. Forced labor, intense psychological and physical trauma, and brought-in diseases reduced the Ramaytush population by over 80% within a few decades.

• Mexican & American Eras (1820s–1850s): Following secularization, promised land grants were withheld from Indigenous survivors and given to prominent Mexican families. The California Gold Rush and subsequent state-sanctioned violence (including the California Act for the Government and Protection of Indians) legally permitted forced labor and systematic displacement.

• Living Continuity: Despite generations of erasure, the Ramaytush Ohlone community is active, vibrant, and working continuously toward land rematriation, cultural preservation, and ecological restoration across the Peninsula.

Earth-Honoring Rituals for the Land & Ancestors

Performing spiritual work on unceded land requires permission, gratitude, and tangible reciprocity.

1. Land Permission & Silent Offering:

Somatic grounding and verbal permission.

Visit a natural area on the Peninsula (such as Lands End, Mission Creek Park, or Glen Canyon).

• Remove your shoes or place your palms flat against the earth or a native oak tree.
• Quietly introduce yourself: state your name, your intentions, and acknowledge that you are a guest on Ramaytush Ohlone soil.
• Offer pure water or leave a small hair strand or drop of breath—avoid leaving non-native herbs, seeds, or non-biodegradable items.

2. Active Limpia & Reciprocal Stewardship:

Cleansing through physical restoration.

Combine energetic cleansing (limpia) with physical action:

• Perform a beach or trail cleanup along coastal points, gathering plastic and trash while reciting prayers of gratitude for the waters and soil.
• Channel your spiritual energy into clearing physical density from the earth, treating environmental cleanup as a sacred act of devotional service.

3. Spiritual Reciprocity (Shuumi Land Tax / Tangible Support):

Material alignment with land rematriation.

True energetic balance requires material action.

• Pay a voluntary land tax or make direct financial contributions to local Indigenous-led organizations (such as the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust or the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone).
• Dedicate a percentage of proceeds from your spiritual practice or crafts toward local land back and rematriation efforts.

Spiritual Insights & Energy Shifts for October

October carries a profound energetic shift as autumn deepens, the veil thins, and nature pulls its vitality back into the root system.

        EQUINOX HARVEST
                │
                ▼
      SHADOW & ROOT DWELLING  ◄── October Axis
                │
                ▼
       ANCESTRAL INTEGRATION

Key October Themes

• Ancestral Communion & The Thinning Veil: As October progresses toward Samhain and Día de los Muertos, the line between physical and spirit realms softens. It is an optimal window for honoring lineage—both your personal blood ancestors and the ancient spirits of the land where you reside.

• Root Chakra Recalibration: October's energy demands grounding. The season calls for shifting away from high-reaching, airy expansion and moving toward stabilizing your foundation. Focus on root chakra work, physical boundaries, and bone-deep nourishment.

• The Harvest of the Shadow: October invites honest introspection. Look at what you have cultivated throughout the year, gather the wisdom from your challenges, and compost what no longer serves your path so it can enrich your spiritual soil for the coming winter.

Setting up an ancestral altar in October aligns with the seasonal thinning of the veil, offering a dedicated focal point for ancestral reverence, protection, and somatic grounding.

Key Elements for the Altar

Element	Item / Symbol	Purpose
Ancestor Focus	Photographs, handwritten letters, or personal belongings	Establishes a direct connection to known lineage.
The Unseen Lineage	A bone, fossil, or dark stone (e.g., obsidian, tourmaline)	Honors nameless or forgotten ancestors and ancient soil stewards.
Light & Illumination	A white candle or oil lamp	Serves as a beacon to guide spirit communication safely.
Offerings	Clean water, black coffee, dark bread, or seasonal fruits	Delivers simple, uncorrupted nourishment and hospitality.
Boundary & Cleansing	A bowl of sea salt or a small obsidian mirror	Absorbs stray static and maintains clear energetic boundaries.

Step-by-Step Altar Setup & Dedication

1. Clear and Elevate the Space:

Location and physical preparation.

Select a clean, stable surface away from high-foot-traffic areas or electronic distractions (a small table, shelf, or mantlepiece works best).

• Clean the surface physically using water infused with a splash of salt or lavender.
• Place a dedicated cloth (traditionally white, dark grey, or black for October) down to define the sacred boundary.

2. Arrange Photographs and Personal Tokens:

Establishing the ancestral foundation.

Position photos or mementos of loved ones who have passed away.

• Rule of Order: Keep the altar reserved strictly for those who have departed—do not place photos of living people on an ancestral altar.
• If you do not have photos of your blood lineage, place a dark river stone or piece of bone in the center to represent the ancient ones.

3. Set the Four Elements & Offerings:

Placing active offerings.

• Water: Place a fresh, clear glass of pure water in the center as the primary vessel for spirit connection.
• Fire: Place a white candle nearby to act as a light source.
• Earth/Food: Add a small dish with simple offerings (bread, salt, apples, or coffee).

4. Perform the Dedication Ceremony:

Intentional boundary and connection.

Light the candle and stand firmly grounded with both feet flat on the floor.

Speak aloud to state your clear intent:

"I dedicate this space to my elevated, benevolent ancestors of light, and to the well spirits of this land. May only truth, wisdom, and peace enter here."

State your boundaries clearly: declare that no uninvited, mischievous, or heavy spirits may feed on or inhabit this space.

5. Maintain the Sacred Rhythm:

Ongoing October upkeep.

• Daily/Weekly Care: Refresh the glass of water every few days (pour old water into outdoor soil or house plants with thanks).
• Lighting: Light the candle when you sit to meditate, journal, or offer prayers, and extinguish it when leaving the house or going to sleep.

Core October Offering Botanicals & Energetics

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): The quintessential herb of ancestral memory and fidelity. It clears mental and energetic fog while honoring bloodline connection.

• Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris): A threshold herb tied to intuition, divination, and the thinning veil. Used sparingly to open lines of spiritual perception.

• Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): Known historically as "graveyard dust" or "Hecate’s torch," mullein acts as a protective guide through dark or unfamiliar spirit realms.

• Star Anise & Cloves: Warming solar and Jupiter herbs that ward off negative entities while bringing comfort and honor to benevolent spirits.

• Elderberry & Pomegranate: Underworld plants associated with Persephone, marking seasonal death, hibernation, and ancestral wisdom.

3 Traditional Ancestral Tea & Simmer Recipes

Make sure these herbs do not interfere with your medications...ask your physician first before consuming. Instead, you can also make smudge sticks with these herbs...ask me how.

1. "The Remembrance & Clarity" Altar Tea

*Best used as a direct liquid cup offering placed on your ancestral altar next to candles or photographs. Do not drink or personally use, this is an offering.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp Dried Rosemary (Remembrance & Purification)
• 1 tsp Dried Thyme (Affection & Courage)
• 1 Star Anise pod (Spirit Communication & Luck)
• 1 tsp Honey (Sweetness and Honor)

Preparation: Steep the herbs in boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain into a heat-safe glass or ceramic cup dedicated exclusively to your ancestors and altar. Set it hot on the altar while speaking your ancestral lineage aloud, give thanks and recognition, pray for compassion and healing to the passed and living.

2. October "Veil & Hearth" Simmer Pot

Simmer pots should not be left unattended and forgotten...these are not for consuming.

A fragrant, room-cleansing simmer pot offering fills your home with warm, welcoming energy while creating a protective boundary.

Ingredients:

• Slices of 1 fresh Red Apple or Orange (Harvest & life force)
• 2 Cinnamon sticks (Warmth & spiritual elevation)
• 1 sprig fresh Rosemary or Cedar (Ancestral protection)
• 1 tsp Whole Cloves (Banishing static)
• 1 dried Bay leaf (Inscribed with your family name or gratitude note)

Preparation: Combine ingredients in a small pot filled with water. Simmer on low heat during altar work or meditation. Top with water as needed. Once cool, pour the remaining liquid and fruit into outdoor soil as a ground return.

3. "Thinning Veil" Intuitive Brew (For the Practitioner)

Make sure these herbs do not interfere with your medications...ask your physician first before consuming. Instead, you can also make smudge sticks with these herbs...ask me for how.

A tea brewed for you to drink before ancestor meditation or altar work to sharpen intuition and ground your energy.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp Dried Mugwort (Intuition & spirit vision)
• 1 tbsp Dried Chamomile (Somatic calm & psychic peace)
• 1 tsp Dried Rose Petals (Heart-centered connection)

Preparation: Steep for 7–10 minutes. Drink slowly while sitting at your altar.

Note: Mugwort should be avoided if pregnant or nursing.

*Ritual Protocols for Offering Teas

1. Dedicated Vessels: Never use a chipped or discarded cup for ancestor offerings. Use a dedicated vessel reserved only for altar spirits.

2. Temperature: Serve offerings hot or warm—heat releases volatile essential oils into the air, which act as the physical carrier for the spirit realm.

3. Disposal: Do not drink tea that was offered directly to spirits. After 24 to 48 hours, return the liquid to the earth outside or pour it over a potted plant with a word of thanks.

I love doing ritual. This is a time for you to connect to your Self, to the past, to the present, to the future, to the plants and animal kingdoms, to the Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, Galaxies, Universe! How far have you gone? What takes you there? I would love to feature your story here. Contact me for more support on ritual, we can also do it together in person or online. I will now receive a Tarot card for the Indigenous ancestors from the land I reside in: I am deeply saddened. Two cards came together, both stuck as I drew from the top of the deck. The 9 of Swords and The Hierophant. All the blood drawn, tears and pain...all in the name of who and what??? So much grief and anger. I am feeling so much today because today is also my full on first day of menstruating. I feel so much from this message from the Ancestors of this land. These cards are what they wanted to tell me...what They wanted me to tell you. Why? Why have you all done this? Why do you continue to all do this??? How many more trees are we gonna tear down, in the name of who and what? How many more lives are going to be slain, in the name of who and what??? This is not how we are supposed to be living and definitely this is not how we are supposed to be dying. Who and what do you all do this for???