The Dead, the Very Dead, & Those who were Dead: An Exploration of Ancestors & the Ancestral, of the Familial & Family

This is a 120-minute foundational through experienced level lecture , in The Library (lower level)

Not all dead are the same. Not only because the specifics of their lives, but also how they died, how they might integrate into both the familial and the familiar ancestral matrices. Not all dead are ancestors. Some might be one day, some might never be. While the dominant Christian narrative informs popular conceptions even within Neo-Paganism, we can also see and draw strength from a cross comparison with other cosmologies and their understanding of the Dead. The Mask of each Dead is accessible, whether by familial proximity and memory or through locale, profession, or lineal collectives. Comparing these different cosmologies and classifications can allow us to talk specifics about remediation, interaction, and veneration across many traditions.

About the Presenter:

Jesse Hathaway Diaz is a folklorist, artist, performer and independent scholar with a Masters in…