Honoring the Veil — Día de los Muertos & the Spirit of Remembrance

The air feels different this time of year, like the world has turned down the noise so we can hear what’s always been speaking. We step into the thin-veil season to honor Halloween, All Saints Day, and Día de los Muertos as a bridge between memory and presence—where candles, marigolds, and names become a path home for our loved ones and a source of strength for us.

We explore the global roots of remembrance, from Celtic Samhain and All Souls traditions to the color and warmth of Latin American altars. Along the way, I share family stories—the mechanic dad whose scent still finds me, the abuelo whose humor outlived his pain—and how simple objects on an ofrenda can hold entire histories. You’ll learn the meaning behind key elements: marigolds guiding the way, candles as steady light, water for the journey, and pan de muerto symbolizing the circle of life. We talk about visitations that look like flickering lights, an old song on the radio, or a fragrance that pulls you back to childhood—and why those moments are invitations, not accidents.

We also open the door to ancestral healing, the kind that moves through seven generations behind and ahead. With clear, practical steps—how to build a meaningful altar at home, words to welcome your people, prompts to release and receive—you’ll have everything you need to start or deepen your practice. I read a channeled message about joy and blessing, and I share how my own health journey is teaching me to trust timing, lean into community, and remember that love never dies. We close with a guided meditation that leads you down a candlelit path to a living altar, where an elder reminds you: you are our continuation.

Light a candle, say their names, and let your home feel warmer for it. If this spoke to you, follow the show, share it with someone you love, and leave a review so more people can find their way to this circle.

🕯️ JOURNAL PROMPTS

1. Who are the ancestors or loved ones you want to honor this season?
2. What message do you think they would want you to hear today?
3. What ritual, song, or story connects you most to your roots?
4. What part of your lineage feels ready to heal through you?

Chapters

• 0:00 Setting The Sacred Season
• 2:11 Global Roots Of Remembrance
• 4:03 Signs, Memories, And Visitations
• 6:03 Reflection And Surrender
• 6:48 Building The Ofrenda
• 11:03 Elements And Meanings Explained
• 14:20 Ancestral Healing Across Generations
• 17:30 Channeled Message Of Support
• 18:08 Simple Home Ritual Steps
• 19:12 Personal Health Journey And Community
• 21:12 Guided Ancestral Meditation
• 24:49 Closing Blessings And Next Steps

Transcript

Dora: 0:05

Ai Mijita, there's something magical and deeply sacred about this time of year. The air feels different, doesn't it? There's a chill that isn't just in the wind, it's in the spirit. The veal between worlds begins to thin. The ancestors whisper a little louder. As a niña growing up in a Mexican household, Halloween wasn't just about the candy of cost or customs, it was about remembrance. It was about honoring the people who came before us, the ones whose laughter built our strength, whose sacrifices created our paths. And I have to admit, my parents, because they weren't around much, they worked so hard, I didn't really come to these traditions until high school. That's when I was able to really look into how the loss and all the various holidays come to be. And I remember going to Mexico and just being intrigued by these two various things. So when the candles are lit, the spirits come home. This episode is dedicated to that homecoming. Today, we'll explore the sacred meaning behind Halloween, all Saints Day, and Dia de los Muertos, and how to connect with our ancestors in ways that healed not just us, but generations before and after. And of course, I'll share how the season has been unfolding for me personally, especially as I prepare for the next chapter in my healing journey. So grab your cafecito, tecito, light your venita, and let's sit together in remembrance and love. Now, around the world, this season, late October to early November, has always been recognized as a time when the line between the seen and unseen becomes blurred. In ancient Celtic traditions, this was the shamin, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, the symbolic death of the year. People would light bonfires to guide spirits and protect their homes. The church later called it All Hollows Eve, the night before All Saints Day, followed by All Souls Day, a trinity of remembrance. And for us in Latin America, it became something uniquely beautiful. Dia de los Muertos, the day of the dead. And let's be real, it's not about death in a spooky sense. It's about continuity. It's about remembering that energy never dies. It just transforms. Think of it like this The leaves fall not because the tree is dying, but because it's preparing for new growth. It's pruning, it's going through a process. Spiritually, this time invites us to do the same, to release what no longer serves, to sit in the stillness between endings and beginnings, and to remember those who walked before us. The veil thinning isn't something to fear, it's a sacred opportunity. During this time, you may feel more emotional, more intuitive, you might dream of the loved ones who've passed, you might notice flickering lights, songs from the past, scents that transport you to childhood. And a specific scent for me is there's a specific cleaning product used for the windows, and that reminds me of my dad, especially because when I would help him clean the cars, because he was a mechanic growing up, his his name was Mufles, Muffler, and my nickname was Tuercas, which was like wrench. So I would help him out all the time, work on the cars, and that's why I'm so passionate about cars. Um and I do have a lead foot for those of you wondering. Um, I do like speed, and Fast and the Furious movies are definitely my favorite series, or yeah, series. And that's where it when every time I smell that, um, it's not Windex, it's like a different one. The foamy one that you use for cleaning the windows and glass and stuff, and that like shoots me back to my childhood and it reminds me of my dad. So these aren't just coincidences, they're visitations when you have all these various not spooky, but things happen. And they're they're lovingly reminding you I'm still here. You know, just honoring them. So let's reflect real quick. What endings or transformations are happening in your life right now? And just breathe and journal if you want here. And you can pause it and see what comes up. And this is where it's so important to ask for guidance at times from our angels, teachers, loved ones that are on the other side. And then where can you invite softness instead of resistance? The letting it go, surrender, that's a big theme that's been coming up recently. It's like be surprised. Let's see what comes up. One of the most meaningful traditions during Dia de los Muertos is the ofrenda, the altar we build to welcome our loved ones home. I remember like a few years ago, um, my daughter and my son, actually, my daughter, she's born on Day of the Dead. So for her, it was something so great to celebrate. But when I was a little girl again, I we didn't really celebrate the Day of the Dead until I became older, and I had my daughter on the Day of the Dead, so it became more of a known tradition. And I remember we would set up like pictures and we would spread out a beautiful like cloth or a little manta, and we actually do an ofrenda here and there, every like every other year. Um, and we hold those family photos of the people that have passed. And unfortunately, yes, there have been more and more people added to my offerenda every year. Um, my uncle, that's been three years that he's passed. Um, we have my grandpa, um, Miahuelito Juan, and he's the one that he was a great big pillar for our family, my mom's dad. And my dad's parents also have passed. Uh, Philip, like about two years ago, had his friend pass. Um, and it he he's the same age. So that was something like a hard pill to swallow for that. And then especially my dad, putting up a frienda for him that, you know, five years ago um when he passed. Um, it'll be six years coming up in December, and that's where we would we just put like things he liked. Um, of course, we if we could put some carnitas on the altar, that would be kind of bomb, right? But we put like pan de muerto, and we talk about them. And I know um my son, he was actually doing a project, and he actually had a tanner in today and present it about my dad. And he was asking us all these questions and things, and that's where um we put a like Tehana black texana like cowboy hat in there um as a symbolism for my dad, um, some cowboy boots because he liked to dress up, um, pictures and a car, like a little tow truck because he loved cars, and he had his own tire shop um up till he passed away. So all these various things, and and this time makes us remember, you know, how all the various symbolisms that one could have, and we honor them and remember them. And we also remember the not so great stuff, right? Which is my dad was a jokester and he was a hardworking man. Um, so it's been great to have that tradition with my kids, and especially my son now that he's doing it as a project, but we've been doing it year over year. And we sometimes buy at the bakery like some pan, pan de muerto, some sugar skulls. Um, we put like food. Um, I know we have a modelo, like uh like a beer, my dad's favorite beer out there that we also kind of borrow for my Philly's friend. Um, and you can fill this altar with candles. I know some pachul flowers are a symbolism, the marigolds. And every time we light the candle, the room feels warmer and of course more alive, especially with calling in our loved ones. So the smell of marigolds just that fills the air, and that's earthy sweetness that's said to guide the spirits home. So here's what each element means spiritually. And I love to reference the movie Coco from Disney. It does do it justice, and I love it because aleberijques are real, and all this stuff is, you know, like so magical. Um, I love the Mexican realism as well because I did study that in high school, the literature and all the various things. Um, but I'll go over these each of the elements and what they symbolize. So Sempachuchil flowers, merigolds, that's the flower of the dead. It's color and scent create a pathway for the spirits to find their way back. So this is definitely um yellow. Now, candles, that's the light that represents eternal life. One candle for each loved one you wish to honor. Water. So this element is for the spirits to refresh after the long journey. And the my favorite is Pan de Muerto. That's the bread of remembrance. The circle represents the cycle of life, and the bones on top represent the connection to those who came before. This is used to cleanse the space and invite only loving energies. Okay, so we're not calling in like malicious spirits and all that stuff. We'll leave that for like a haunted house. And then, of course, photos and personal items so they can recognize their space. And that's one thing that we built with my son's project. Like that was amazing. And we put stuff up on our altar to remember and civilize our loved ones. But let me tell you, it's not about how fancy it looks, it's about the intention. So just having even a photo up is good enough. You can build your friend on a table, a shelf, or even a nightstand. What matters is that when you light that candle, you take a breath and whisper their name with love. So say something to the effect of Te Honro, Gracipor Caminar Comigo. I honor you. Thank you for walking with me. When we do this, we're not just remembering them, we're continuing the relationship because energy never ends, it just evolves. So I'll leave you with a few general prompts here. Or questions to just think about. Who are the ancestors or loved ones you want to honor this season? What memories bring you peace when you think of them? This one's a good one. And just sit with it. And hit a pause and hit the pause button on this one if you want to stay here a little longer. And last question is what have they taught you that still guides you today? And one thing for me is my big grandpa, or what we call big grandpa, Miawelito Juan, um, he was such a hard worker. And towards the end, he had uh prostate cancer, but he never complained. Um, he never said, I mean, he would complain that his like knees hurt and stuff like that, but he was always such a strong man, and that's the one thing I admired about him was he always had the smile, he always had the laughter, he always had his essence, and that's one way I feel like I'm gonna honor him through my journey of breast cancer. Of being that light and that laughter, the positiveness. Like that's what I'm hanging on to is my essence. Let's go deeper into what happens energetically during the season. The thinning beal means the separation between our human consciousness and the spiritual realm becomes more fluid. So I've been working with many of my clients recently, and they've been noticing that their loved ones, like they remember them more often this time around in the year. And you may receive signs, sensations, or emotional waves that you can't explain. But trust, these are sacred invitations. Your ancestors are always speaking. We just forget to listen sometimes. And again, we have our sense of discernment as well, if we want to engage, or if not, that we have a choice at the end of the day. But maybe it's your grandma's perfume out of nowhere, a song on the radio, or even a butterfly landing on your shoulder. These are soul nudges. Reminders that the love you share transcends the physical. And this isn't just about the ancestors we knew personally, some of them we've never met. Those who carried pain, migration stories, or silence that you're now breaking, like such as my grandma and my mom. When you heal, you don't just heal for yourself, you heal for the seven generations before you and seven generations after. You are the bridge, el puente, and definitely getting on that other side. So I invite you to take a deep breath. Place your hand on your heart. Feel that heartbeat. Feel the rhythm. That's your lineage speaking through you. No whisper. I am the prayer of my ancestors. I am the living altar. When you're ready, take a deep breath. No, let's reflect. What wound or pattern in your family line are you ready to transform What strength do you carry because of them? Just sit here and reflect as long as you'd like. And you can hit the pause. Earlier in my wet meditation. A channel reading for all of us walking through the sacred portal. And it goes, We have never left you. We live in your blood, in your laughter, in your tears. Every step you take toward healing echoes through our bones and brings us peace. You carry not our burdens, but our blessings. The pain you release frees us. The joy you choose feeds us. When you light a candle, we see you. When you speak our names, we rise. Remember, Mika, you're not alone in the unknown. You walk with a thousand souls who love you. Now breathe that in and breathe out and let it move through you. Find a quiet spot and clear it energetically. Maybe burn some sage, copal o palosanto. Number two, set a candle, a glass of water, and a flower. Number three, place photos or write the names of those you wish to honor. Number four, say out loud. I welcome you with love and gratitude. Thank you for your guidance, protection, and presence. Number five, sit in silence. Notice what you feel. You might feel warmth, hear whispers, or sense peace. Trust that. Afterward, write down any insights or emotions that come through. This practice isn't about perfection, and it's about connection. I want to take a moment to share from my corazon. As many of you know, I've been navigating my own health journey, one that has invited me to slow down and trust deeply in divine timing. And as I prepare for surgery, I can feel my ancestors surrounding me. I can feel mi papa's laughter echoing softly. I can feel my grandfather just giving me a big hug. And all my tíos and family that has passed. My friend, there's one friend, dear friend, that I had in high school, and I tend to remember her often. They're reminding me that healing isn't just about the physical. It's about remembering that I'm never walking this path alone. This season has helped me to reconnect to that truth. That faith is stronger than fear, that death is only transformation, and that love never dies. And that's what I'm set out to do. Everything that I'm doing, everything that I love, I'm pouring into with all my passion projects, and I feel like that is what's kept me going and kept me in this like going forward basis. And I'm Hijita. I've been working on something very special, something that will bring us together in comunidad, in community, to honor this kind of healing. I can't share it all yet because I'm still working on it. But let's just say that it's it'll be a sacred way to connect the adentro para fuera from the inside out. And I'm so excited to share this with you eventually, and definitely very, very soon. Um, and as I go through my healing journey, I'm gonna document everything on Instagram, um, Facebook. I'll be posting stuff out there. I know I've been a little quiet because I had my group going and that, and I'll be coming out with something shortly, so please wait for that. Um, I feel like I'm calling everyone to go through this a 21-day journey, and that's the teaser I'll leave you with. So coming soon. Let's close today with a meditation to help you connect with your ancestors. So when you're ready, find a comfortable place, and if you can, close your eyes, or you can come back to this when you're ready, and I invite you to take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. And just relax and melt into your chair, into where you're laying. And imagine yourself walking through a dimly lit path lined with candles. The air is filled with the scent of marigolds and cobalt. You reach an open space, a beautiful altar surrounded by flowers and light. As you stand there, you begin to see familiar faces. Your ancestors, your loved ones. They smile, they nod, they welcome you home. You feel warmth in your chest. Tears maybe. One ancestor steps forward. Maybe it's your willilla. Maybe it's one you've never met. But she takes your hands and says, You are our continuation. You are our healing. Keep shining. Take a deep deep breath and whisper back. Gracias. I remember you. I honor you. I carry your light. Stay in this moment for a few breaths. When you're ready, bring your awareness back to your body by wiggling your fingers and your toes and your shimmy shimmy. Whisper softly. I am the bridge between worlds. I am the living altar. Thank you for joining me in this sacred episode. This time of year reminds us that even in endings, there's beauty. Light your candles, say their names, laugh, dance, cook their favorite foods, because remembrance is love in action. If this episode touched your heart, share it with someone you love. And stay tuned for what's coming next. Something that will help you connect with your ancestors, your inner peace, and your essencia. Until then, embrace your raíces, reclaim your essencia. Nos vemos pronto, mi gente hermosa. Bye.