“Our Soul is not only personal, it also belongs to a Collective Family Soul which is always seeking to heal itself.”
Fall is the season where many traditional cultures have ceremonies to honor ancestors. The veils between the spirit world become thin and we can easily commune with those who have past. Many of my clients this week have brought questions about ancestral healing and trauma to our sessions, and I am grateful for the timely reminder.
As awareness around collective trauma has increased, so too has awareness around transgenerational or epigenetic trauma- the idea that traumas experienced by our ancestors affect both their DNA and the DNA of their descendants. Think of the DNA as a particular hand of playing cards. When the cards are “played” genes are expressed. Gene expression can help determine the healthy function of our nervous system, resilience to stress, and ability to thrive in life. When epigenetic trauma affects the DNA, that means only a few cards from that deck are played, over and over, rather than the full hand. The genome can’t fully express itself or its true potential. Instead, trauma has literally altered the way the genes are being expressed. This can lead to all kinds of challenges in life- anxiety, depression, addictions, obesity, chronic health issues and more.
So am I forever scarred by my ancestral trauma? NO! The trauma does not change the genes themselves- just their expression. So, that full deck of cards, the potential to be all that we are meant to be, is still within us, untouched by trauma. And research shows that gene expression can be restored during our lifetime! Epigenetics tells us that lifestyle choices actually influence what genes are turned on or off, thus helping us to embody the wholeness of our genome. Contemporary models of trauma healing, such as Somatic Experiencing, emphasize the enduring wholeness that we all possess, even in the face of horrific events. The wholeness, the possibility for healing, is always a part of us.
The wholeness is also a part of our ancestors too, no matter how awful the events they went through. No matter how big the trauma, the field of wholeness is bigger still. When we reclaim our ability to choose how we respond to events, we step out of trauma and into wholeness. Trauma takes away our ability to be in the present moment, to choose. Out of love and loyalty to our ancestors, without even realizing it, we carry their traumas in our biology, and respond to events as though we are still living in that same ancestral trauma. That’s because our soul is not only personal, it also belongs to a Family Soul which is always looking to heal itself. So out of love and loyalty to the Family Soul, we unconsciously take on our ancestor’s traumas.
But what if an even greater love and loyalty were possible? What if truly honoring our ancestors meant transforming the trauma and living fully in the present moment? We can begin by creating a safe container with a trusted guide and truly witness the trauma, saying, “I see you, and I see what happened.” As we do this, we really allow ourselves to see and feel all that arises. This process may take some time and repetition. As we continue the work, we realize how, when we see and acknowledge the trauma, we bring it out of isolation and into connection. And connection is where healing can happen. And, then, when we are ready, we consciously choose to put it to rest, saying, “And this ends with me. None of us need to carry this anymore. Bless us all, and bless me as I go on living.”
May we all have a blessed Fall Season!
This article is not a substitute for psychological treatment from a trained professional, nor is it meant to diagnose, treat or cure any illness. Copyright 2021 by Athene Eisenhardt.