Douglas Earl Colyer. Born in the fall of 1913, was categorized as vulnerable during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. During the Spanish Flu, a third of the world population died. He’s about three here, with the classic short hair, straight fringe and dress children of the era wore until the males were “breached” or allowed to wear pants. Wearing pants began the separation from his mother and his journey into manhood. Wondering how my grandparents coped with the Spanish Flu as young parents prompted this post.
Photo copyrighted.
The sperm and egg that unite to become us imprint in the bodies of our ancestors generations before we’re conceived. Biological markers provide the evidence. For twenty years, I’ve worked with clients on the principle we carry our ancestor’s experience and memory along in our cells. When trauma affects a population, the results lodge in our body and pass from generation to generation.
Patterns of response establish in a family line as a result. Our progenitors had the same tools for flu as we do - social distance, masks, hand washing. They had the same anxiety we feel. Family experiences occurring generations ago overlay our local, real-time experience. Science caught up and validates this through research in neuroscience, cell biology, epigenetics, neuroplasticity and more.
What does this mean to us when anxiety and depression show up for us in this time of virus? Once we understand what belongs to us and separate out the portion we own, we are more effective in the here and now. We’re more able to cope with our own stuff without lugging along the baggage of a few hundred years of progenitor’s trauma.
Options to explore for ancestral trauma…
It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn offers a way to work through generational issues to understand behaviors we haven’t been able to explain. I’ve attended conferences where he’s presented and his work is amazing.
Becoming Supernatural or anything by Joe Dispenza. Once you get through the bells and whistles of promotion, the science is fascinating. This interview will give you an overview: Joe Dispenza and Lewis Howes, https://youtu.be/D8C3HZpWKAM Make sure you get Dispenza’s authentic audios and not a you tube wannabe dubbing over music and drumming. Not the same result.
We’re all experiencing trauma and anxiety at some level. We’re holding our collective breath. Here’s a simple and effective exercise to employ…
Anxiety ramps when we forget to breathe. The muscles in our neck, back and chest tighten so breath constricts even more. The brain panics when the air supply is reduced, starts a mayday and emotions ramp up. Breathe deeply through the clog in your upper body into your diaphragm. Lying on your back while doing this helps release the diaphragm. This gets enough oxygen to the brain so the brain knows we are living and can relax vigilance. Once the brain is oxygenated, our body relaxes and we are able to think clearly and intuit logical next steps.
When we understand we’re no longer at the mercy of a rogue body and run away emotions, we may recall resonant family events to provide insight and greater understanding of our own actions and reactions.
When we begin to address our personal ancestral pain we begin to heal the planet.
Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your visit.