Re. the currently ongoing Rite of Elevation for the Transgender Dead – clarification

There has been quite a bit of questioning and discussion surrounding the currently ongoing Rite of Elevation for the Transgender Dead. Since my work was quoted extensively on the coordinators’ page, and since some of the discussions are being brought to me in various ways, I wanted to take the time to chime in here.

I have been an ancestor worker for over fifteen years. I began back in the early nineties when I was still living in a two bedroom in Astoria with a Lukumi roommate J.B. He and his Lukumi elders were actually instrumental in helping me to further my ancestor practices. He was at the time working with a Brooklyn Lukumi house. He and his teacher explained the rite of elevation to me, and that it was drawn from Espiritismo/spiritism and gave me leave to use and adapt it as I wished for the dead. I have, as you can see, done that.  I was not taught by Laura Patsouris, though we did work together for some time and well, and I wrote the forward to her book “Weaving Memory,” which is an excellent guide to honoring the dead. She is an amazing ancestor worker in her own right.

I would also like to note that I am not the one organizing this mass elevation. I do however, support anything and everything that leads to greater ancestral awareness and respect.

As I noted in my comments here, I find that ancestor work is a really good way to bridge the gap between polytheist and non -polytheist family. I sort of think we’re hard wired to honor our dead, and we all *have* ancestors, and I think people can wrap their minds around the idea of paying respects or praying for them, even if they may not be able to comprehend engaging with them. It’s a good common ground, or potential common ground. Moreover, it needs to be done. Many of our dead are crying out to be heard.

Spiritism, by the way is actually taken from the work of A. Kardec, who was a French teacher who lived from 1804-69. He’s known for his books on spiritism. It’s found it’s way into a number of traditions including the sycretized form of spiritism in Cuba, which is espiritiso. Espiritismo as it’s practiced today is an intact and whole tradition in its own right, but it’s technologies descend from the teachings of A. Kardec who provided a framework and a set of tech. that has been adapted and adopted by many traditions around the world. This is even related to the technology that gives us the classic european seance.

It’s best understood, in my opinion, as 19th century european spiritwork. What he was doing is what led to the 20th century spiritualist movement. There really is nothing new under the sun.

I will also add that while I know folks have been questioning in good faith, and it is right and proper to guard against misappropriation,  I am deeply concerned about attempts to politicize veneration of the dead. At some point or another we need to all get over ourselves and get down to the business of paying homage to our dead, elevating those that need it, and restoring right relationship with our ancestors. by any means necessary. This is a human problem and until we can address it as such, we’re not getting anywhere. There are many other forums to discuss and argue one’s political, social, and economic agendas — and they need to be argued, discussed, and debated, and I think reparations need eventually in some cases to be made, but I will not take one single thing away from the dead in favor of the living ever. I would see the dead be given their due. When that’s done, I believe the rest of it will be easier to sort out.

So while I am not involved in this Rite of Elevation for the Transgender dead, I thoroughly support it as good and holy work.