KRT: The Blessed Dead and how I Honor Them

Because just a little after 3am on the day of strikes me as the best time to write this.

Akhu basics: Do akhu play a role in your practice? How do you work with the akhu (shrines, rites, etc)? How do you set up an akhu practice?

I’ll be breaking down the questions so I can have a more structured post (and contain my thoughts more efficiently since I tend to go on, and on, and

Okay, first question. Do akhu play a role in your practice?

Yes, I think I can easily say that the Akhu play a role in my practice. When I originally started the beginner’s class in KO my first time around they did not. I was actually incredibly intimidated by the idea of ancestor veneration coming from a christian religious background. By the time I started going through the beginner’s class for a 2nd time (and actually completed it) I had a much different view of ancestor veneration and my own Akhu.

Currently my Akhu have an active role in my practice, but I don’t think it comes off as evident as with other people. I’ll describe that under the next question.

How do you work with the akhu (shrines, rites, etc)?

I do indeed have an Akhu shrine. A small wooden box that contains letters to my Akhu as well as a list of them. I would like to have pictures of them and some of their belongings in my shrine at some point, but those possessions are currently owned by my mother, and I highly doubt she’ll be handing them over to me any time soon. So my shrine for my Akhu is very, very simple compared to some of the Akhu shrines I have seen.

Outside of human veneration, I also have a separate space set up for veneration of my deceased pets. They are family to me, and I personally choose to honor them in their own space separate from my human Akhu shrine.

I pray to the Akhu, although I could honestly pray to them even more frequently. After my RPD I am learning just how intimately my Akhu have been involved in my life, and this has led to a desire to become more open with them about my problems in day to day life.

Also I participate in HoN’s Akhu Duas when I can. I’ve always found the experience quite wonderful.

Eventually I would like to get a more formal shrine set up so I can present more offerings as well as have pictures up of my Akhu. This past year I finally found a book compiled by my maternal grandmother with information about my mother’s side of the family and I have been absorbing the information like a sponge. It is amazing to read and touch something she has worked on, and I have never felt more connected to her as I do now.

How do you set up an akhu practice?

Okay, please bear in mind these are just my personal recommendations. All of these things I have done to help my practice.

Personally, I have:

*Prayed and asked certain ancestors if they would be okay with me venerating them

*Set up a space for those ancestors who I choose to venerate

*Offered various things to my Akhu (to be perfectly honest the majority of my offerings are not physical, except for the cool water and incense I offer them)

*Strived to get to know them better (how they were in life, and how they are now as Akhu)

*Participated in Akhu Duas

*Written letters to Them

*Prayed, prayed, prayed and oh yes, prayed to them for guidance with life (life decisions, housing help, financial help, wisdom, guidance, and etc)

So obviously, each person’s individual practice varies. Some of these things might work for you, others not. These are YOUR Akhu, do what makes you feel comfortable and personal to you. If you don’t feel comfortable honoring certain ancestors, don’t. If you feel like you want to incorporate your deceased pets into your veneration, do. I cannot stress this enough: it is your practice, do what feels comfortable and right to you!!!!!!!