The spirts and ancestors are two different things
The spirits you?d pray to mostly aren?t evil or vengeful, like you wouldn?t pray to the war spirit unless your about to incite a fucking riot and even then trying to incite evil will always cost a price, most people pray to specific spirits for the qualities they are known for, for example Mami-Water aka Mother Water is spirit that takes her physical form as a mermaid, she is a spirit the water, she rules the seas, rivers, lakes and oceans
She has a mother quality, she offers protection and her colours are blue.
My mum pracistses voodoo along with catholism because the saints from catholism and the spirits from vodun are interchangeable and my grandad is a witch doctor
Pour libations every morning
Ask them to protect you
Honour the ones you were close with that passed with fond memories
Pray that the spirits are looking after your ancestors
If you are religious, pray for your ancestors peace and well being
Every meal, thank the spirits and the ancestors
If you want to align yourself with a specific spirit you can do that too
I notice Beyonce is very fond of Oshun