Why Ancestors May Be Obliged to Help Their Earth Families

Who are our ancestors, and why do they have an interest in our wellbeing? I see ancestors as spirits connected to our Earth family. In my view, they are obliged to help us because our lives and struggles affect the family line they remain connected to. I believe DNA tests can establish genetic ancestry, but they cannot fully explain spiritual ancestry or past incarnations. A person may have spiritual ties to a community without sharing its DNA, while adoption and long-term interaction between communities may create incarnation rights across families and cultures. Using the Americas as an example, I argue that many people may have spiritual roots linked to Native American communities despite having largely African or European genetic ancestry. My view is that culture, past lives, shared history, conflict and human relationships can shape Earth-family connections. Therefore, DNA alone cannot accurately identify all of a person's ancestors; the custodians of one's culture may also be part of one's ancestral family.

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