Ancestors of tradition

Nimue Brown

Sep 12

(Nimue)

I find ancestors of tradition an interesting concept because these are the ancestors we get to choose. We claim them through our choices of traditions, and we identify with them on our own terms. Those can be really immediate relationships - as in the people who taught us things. It might, in Druidry, mean the names and known people involved in Druid revival.

We can also think about this in broader terms. I don't know the names of the people who were involved with radical politics in the past. There were many of them and most of them were not famous. The Chartists and Suffragettes, Diggers, Levellers, trades unionists, the people who fought for rights, votes, fair treatment and opportunities for all. These people are my ancestors of tradition, too. When we identify with movements, we can identify with the people involved even if we can't name them.

Ancestors of tradition are people we look to for inspiration. These are the people we choose to emulate and in whom we see things to aspire to. This is a good process to deliberately enter into. Working out who to be, what to do and how to live is a constant work in progress. Looking to others for inspiration and a sense of what's possible can really help.

With the UK in such an utter mess, I find my ancestors of radical tradition comforting. These are people who did what they could in challenging times. They endured and strived and many of them did not live to see the changes they had pushed for come to be real. Cultural shifts take time, and weight of numbers. They remind me that it is meaningful to try, to put my shoulder to the wheel and push for changes even if I do not live to see those changes occur.

Traditions are about long lines of people sharing values, skills and endeavours. Engaging with ancestors of tradition calls on us to recognise how our own lives are framed by a much bigger picture. Everything we do owes something to the people who went before us. The best we might do is pass on those threads of connection to others in the future. Connecting with our ancestors of tradition can be deeply grounding and roots us in the things that matter to us. It's humbling too, in a good and healthy way to see your own life shaped by those who went before us. Honouring our ancestors is a good antidote to self-importance.

We will be ancestors ourselves. We are part of what those who follow us inherit. It's interesting to think about what you're passing on, and what small impact you might have on those who follow in your footsteps. Who will your descendents of tradition be, and what are you creating for them?