“When we heal ourselves, we heal the past, the present, and the future.” ― Steven D. Farmer
In Native American traditions (Iroquois), it’s believed that we have been affected by our previous seven generations and that the choices we make in our life will affect an additional seven generations after us. Within that DNA, we also pass along our beliefs.
And to further add, by the time we reach the age of seven, we’ve been fully indoctrinated into our family group mentality. Taught to us by our caregivers, who also learned their family traits by the time they were seven. We teach what we know and we live in cycles. We pass down and transfer that knowledge, with our spoken words and our DNA.
How are ancestral roots passed down from generation to generation?
The CDC defines epigenetics as “the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence.” [1]
Depending on our environment and behaviors, like our nutrition and physical activity, our gene expression will turn on or off the protein instructions within our genes. These changes are reversible but they are also able to be passed through our lineage.
“Our beliefs control our bodies, our minds, and thus our lives.” ― Bruce H. Lipton
We have the ability to change at a massive level.
When we become aware of these ancestral beliefs and patterns and consciously choose to change what no longer serves us, we’re now affecting a new generation in front of us. We’re changing the very fabric of our DNA to heal past traumas and wounds and make a better example for those yet to be born. It’s an incredibly powerful understanding to know that we have the full capacity to shift out old conditioning and release the pain of previous generations. Our first step is to recognize these patterns and start to break free from them.
Beliefs that are limiting and cause scarcity and fear were put in place for survival and protection, but may not be needed to its full extent in modern times. When we work through our own wounds from childhood, like resentment, abandonment, betrayal, humiliation and being rigid, we heal ourselves and our caretaker relationships. We start new ways of self expression and embody a more healthy approach to life.
“We are not victims of our genes, but masters of our fates, able to create lives overflowing with peace, happiness, and love.” ― Bruce H. Lipton
How can we identify what we want to keep and need to change?
When we awaken to the frustration and pain that our past holds, it’s a gift and an invitation to mend the wound and move beyond it. It may take some time to be honest with ourselves and to acknowledge and accept that our caretakers were also coming from a wounded place and so on. When we can start to look without judgement and observe, we can move into a place of mending.
Work healing the wounded child is an act of self love and giving ourselves the forgiveness and care that we were seeking. Most of the time, these wounds will play out in our romantic relationships as a mirror reflecting what behaviors, attitudes and mindsets need to be addressed.
Take time with yourself and this process. The most important part is to always feel secure and safe in doing inner child work and addressing wounds. Most people may not realize that they are acting out of pain or from a wound and will try to mask it, even to themselves.
"Healing begins with the heart." ―Dena Rae
Understanding our values that we hold and the roles we honor
In an ever-changing world that feels like it shifts on a daily basis, our beliefs get challenged in new ways. We are called to create new ways to adapt and find stability within ourselves. Our values may be challenged and our roles may shift. And that’s a necessary change for evolution. For ourselves and for generations to come, we need to heal, mend and repair our relationships to bring more supportive care and love into our lives, our communities and the world around us.
Trusting in ourselves.
We all have different family experiences, but we all have the same opportunities to dive deep into our shadow darker side and do the work that makes us stronger. We can feel secure knowing that we have the power to build new family roots and trust that the changes we make will have an impact for what’s to come. We literally will be the change we seek to make.
Dena Rae
Wisdom Healings
Intuitive Energy Healer
References;
Content source: Office of Science (OS), Office of Genomics and Precision Public Health (2020). What is Epigenetics? Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/epigenetics.htm
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