E385 - Ben Stimpson - Ancestral Whispers, A Guide to Building Ancestral Veneration Practices

Episode 385 - Ben Stimpson - Ancestral Whispers, A Guide to Building Ancestral Veneration Practices

Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Building Ancestral Veneration Practices
(Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd, 2023)
Build a strong, healthy relationship with your ancestors using this guide to the concepts and considerations of ancestral veneration. This tradition non-specific book presents historical and cultural examples of veneration from around the world, the ins and outs of ritual practice, and inspiring stories related to grief and building community. 

Ben Stimpson shows you the role ancestors can play in daily life and encourages you to explore deeper questions about the living and the dead.  Sharing meditations and journal prompts, Ben helps you connect with your ancestors and develop an authentic, living practice. He introduces you to the various types of ancestors, such as blood, adoption, and affinity, and discusses the physical elements of practice, including sacred space, props, and offerings. This book encourages you to explore your beliefs and create a legacy for current and future generations.

Ben Stimpson (He/They/Them) is an integrative therapist, spiritual director, author, podcaster, and  scholar of folklore and history.  Originally hailing from North Wales, UK, he has lived much of his life in Ontario, Canada.

Ben’s academic and professional record is varied with focusses in social work, counselling, and the humanities.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies minoring in Classical, Medieval and Religious studies (University of Waterloo, 2023); a Diploma in Spiritual Psychotherapy (Transformational Arts College, 2019); and, a Diploma in Social Service Work (Humber College, 2007).  He is professionally associated with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as a Registered Member, working towards Accreditation.

One of Ben’s major interests is the intersection of storytelling and personal development, particularly the power of individual and communal narratives in our lives.  Ben’s interest in folklore and spirituality collides with his other interests of fandom and geek culture in client’s therapy work.  To discover more about this integrative approach, please visit the Counselling or Spiritual Direction pages.

Ben is the author of Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Developing Ancestral Veneration Practices (Llewellyn, 2023), a guide for individuals to develop spiritual relationships with their ancestors.  He is currently working on new projects to be delivered in 2025 with Crossed Crow Books.

Ben is the host of “Essence with Ben Stimpson” a weekly podcast where he interviews fellow authors and spiritual practitioners in the fields of NeoPaganism, Traditional Witchcraft, folklore, therapy, and the queer community.  Essence is available both on Youtube and on major podcast hosting sites

https://www.benstimpson.com/