10 Life-Changing Benefits of Ancestral Healing
Your memories of your ancestors are a source of inspiration and a window into your soul. They remind you that you aren’t alone; that the people you meet along the way have seen it all before and will be there for you once again.
Through them, you can connect to generations long past, present, and future—to ancestors who lived during the Great Depression, who fled persecution during World War II, or who died in violent attacks hundreds of years ago.
It’s through your ancestors that you can heal (or be healed!). Below is a short introduction to ancestral healing. If you'd like to learn more from experts in the field, be sure to attend the free Ancestral Healing Summit.
What Is Ancestral Healing?
Ancestral healing is a process of connecting with one's ancestors, culture, and heritage in order to understand and heal from the ways in which historical trauma has affected individuals and communities. This type of healing work seeks to address the intergenerational trauma that is passed down through families and communities, often stemming from traumatic events such as slavery, colonization, genocide, and forced migration.
Ancestral healing includes a wide range of practices and approaches, including traditional healing practices, therapy, and spiritual practices. It can involve learning about one's family history and cultural heritage, connecting with and honoring one's ancestors, and working to understand and heal from the ways in which historical trauma has affected one's family and community.
One of the key principles of ancestral healing is the idea that historical trauma is not just an individual experience, but also a collective one. This means that healing from historical trauma requires not only addressing individual experiences but also working to understand and address the ways in which trauma is passed down through families and communities.
Ancestral healing can take place in various settings, such as within one's own family, within a community, or in a therapeutic setting. It can include practices such as traditional healing ceremonies, drumming and dancing, talking circles, and visualization exercises. It also can involve working with a therapist or healer who is trained in working with ancestral trauma.
Ten Benefits of Ancestral Healing
Ancestral healing can help you heal mentally, physically, and spiritually. By connecting with loved ones who have passed, you can find guidance to help you:
- Get past difficult times
- Stay grounded
- Bring peace of mind
- Experience a sense of belonging
- Inspire creativity
- Lead you to explore new areas in your life
- Make it easier to deal with difficult people
- Find forgiveness
- Heal trauma
- Tap into a well of gratitude
Those are just a few of the many benefits of ancestral healing. One of the ways people like to connect with their ancestors is through prayer, and we'll explore that in the next section.
6 Mental Health Issues That Ancestral Healing Can Help You With
Ancestral healing can help with a wide range of mental health issues that are related to intergenerational trauma, such as:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) : Ancestral healing can help individuals who have experienced or inherited traumatic events such as slavery, colonization, genocide, and forced migration to process and heal from their experiences.
- Depression: Ancestral healing can help individuals to understand and heal from the ways in which historical trauma has affected their emotional well-being and can contribute to depression.
- Anxiety: Ancestral healing can help individuals to understand and heal from the ways in which historical trauma has affected their nervous system and can contribute to anxiety.
- Low Self-Esteem: Ancestral healing can help individuals to understand and heal from the ways in which historical trauma has affected their sense of self-worth, and can contribute to low self-esteem.
- Identity Issues: Ancestral healing can help individuals to understand and connect with their cultural heritage and identity, which can help to alleviate issues related to identity confusion and cultural dislocation.
- Addictions: Ancestral healing can help individuals to understand and heal from the ways in which historical trauma has affected their relationships with substances, and can contribute to addiction.
It's important to note that ancestral healing is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment, but rather it can be a complementary approach
Praying To Your Spiritual Guides
The act of prayer is a powerful way to connect with your ancestors. When you pray to them, you can:
- Share with them them how you’re feeling
- Receive guidance for your life
- Invite them to help you heal others
- Ask them to help heal you
- Receive forgiveness
- Help them forgive
How to Pray To Your Ancestors For Forgiveness
Praying to your ancestors is a powerful way of connecting with them. It’s also a way of asking for forgiveness, even if you haven’t yet asked for theirs.
Many people believe that when we pray, our ancestors are actually praying with us and listening to us—that they give us what we ask for.
One thing you can do is pray to your ancestors in the form of a request, such as asking them to help you forgive yourself or someone else who has hurt you. You can also ask your ancestors for protection of yourself and others, including to help you let go of anger or sadness that you might be carrying and release it into the universe so it won’t hurt anyone else anymore.
The thing to remember is that it’s not only the living who can benefit from making a connection with their ancestors. Connecting to your ancestors through prayer is an effective way to heal from the past.
We live in a society that encourages us to let go of our attachments to the past, but this can’t be done without first acknowledging that part of our identity. What better way to do so than by connecting with your ancestors?
Praying to your ancestors during difficult times is an effective way to heal emotionally. Praying for guidance and strength, speaking words of appreciation, and expressing gratitude are all ways you can connect with them through prayer.
An added bonus: In order to develop a stronger relationship with your deceased relatives, remember that praying isn't just for when you want something, need help, or are hurting.
Make sure you also speak up throughout the day when you feel grateful or thank them for their sacrifices on your behalf. It will help strengthen your bond as well as share their spirit in this world of ours.
Well-Respected Ancestral Healing Experts
Here are a few examples of well-known teachers in the field of ancestral healing. It's important to note that it's always good to research and read reviews about any teacher or practitioner you are considering working with.
- Dr. Daniel Foor is a therapist, teacher and author of “Ancestral Medicine: Rituals for Personal and Family Healing” which is a good guide for those who want to know more about the topic.
- Dr. Gabor Maté is a physician, author, and speaker who has written extensively about the ways in which trauma is passed down through generations. He has written several books, including “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction”
- Dr. Vanessa Sinclair is a therapist, researcher, and teacher in the field of ancestral trauma and healing. She is the founder of the Ancestral Trauma Recovery Institute and offers workshops and trainings on this topic
- Dr. Christin Evans is a therapist and author of “The Ancestress Hypothesis: Visualizing the Role of Ancestral Women in the Healing of Trauma”.
Wrapping Up: Is It Possible to Heal Through the Power of Your Ancestors?
Yes! Through your ancestors you can connect to generations long past, present, and future. You can heal (or be healed!) by remembering your ancestors, reflecting on their experiences and the lessons they teach, and learning from them.
Remembering your ancestors can help you heal from past traumas or painful memories. It can also help you find peace in the present moment as well as joy and hope for what’s to come. To learn more, be sure to join the free Ancestral Healing Summit.