I often think about what it must have felt like for my great-great-grandmother, Kleomeni Xipolitos, at 19 years old, boarding a ship from Greece, surrounded by strangers, to meet her future husband in a country she had never seen. I think about my great-grandmother, Estafana, and the shame she carried as a young woman who had a child with a high-profile judge in Texas—only for my grandmother to be kept a secret from his family for decades.
I can’t imagine their fear. The uncertainty, the survival instincts, the struggle to belong in a country that didn’t make it easy. And yet, they endured. They built lives from nothing. They sacrificed and suffered so that their children—so that I—could live in a world of opportunity.
And that’s where ancestral trauma comes in.
What Is Ancestral Trauma?
We inherit more than just genetics from our ancestors. Their experiences—struggles, fears, and survival mechanisms—are imprinted in our DNA. Studies in epigenetics show that trauma can pass through generations, shaping our behaviors, fears, and emotional responses without us even realizing it.
Have you ever wondered why you feel anxious about money, even if you’re financially stable? Or why you feel the need to prove your worth over and over again? These patterns often aren’t just yours—they’ve been passed down through generations of survival.
How I’m Healing My Ancestral Wounds
I used to think healing meant understanding my ancestors’ pain, but I’ve learned it’s not about reliving their trauma—it’s about recognizing and releasing the limitations I’ve unconsciously carried from them.
Here’s how I’ve been doing it:
🔥 Breaking Patterns – I question old beliefs I’ve absorbed, especially around scarcity, worth, and belonging. I ask, “Is this mine or something I’ve inherited?”
🌀 Ho’oponopono & Energy Work – I use Ho’oponopono, Reiki, and meditation to clear energy blocks that don’t belong to me. I don’t have to carry the suffering of those who came before me.
🌊 Honoring, Not Holding On – I honor my ancestors’ sacrifices, but I do not have to live in their survival state. They endured so I could thrive.
🌿 Manifesting Without Limits – I refuse to operate from fear and scarcity. I consciously replace old beliefs with the truth: I am safe. I am free. I am allowed to dream beyond survival.
Why This Matters Today
I love this country, and I am grateful for what my family built here. But as I witness radical deportation and discrimination, I can’t help but feel deeply unsettled. This country was built on immigration. My family’s story is proof of that. And to see the struggle, fear, and rejection that immigrants face today is heartbreaking.
Healing isn’t just personal—it’s collective. When we heal ourselves, we create space for others to heal, too. When we break generational cycles, we set a new standard for the future.
Maybe you don’t know much about your family’s history. Maybe you do, and it’s painful. Either way, there is power in reclaiming your own story. And it starts with one simple question:
✨ What have I been carrying that isn’t mine to hold anymore? ✨
Let’s explore that together. 💙
