Why Your Anxiety Might Not Be Yours: Understanding Ancestral Trauma
Anxiety can feel like an overwhelming, uncontrollable force. It can sneak up on us at the most unexpected times, sometimes without an obvious trigger, leaving us wondering why we feel so unsettled. For many of us, particularly in Black and Brown communities, the weight of anxiety is not just an individual experience, but something deeply rooted in the past—something ancestral.
This anxiety, the feelings of tension, fear, and unease, might not belong solely to you. It could be an echo of the trauma passed down through generations. In many spiritual traditions, ancestral trauma is understood as a part of our collective history, a weight we carry within our bodies and spirits because our ancestors’ struggles were not fully healed or resolved. It's important to recognize that what we feel today might not be our own personal struggle, but rather, an inherited emotional legacy that still lingers.
The Link Between Ancestral Trauma and Modern Anxiety
Ancestral trauma, also known as intergenerational trauma, refers to the emotional and psychological wounds passed down from one generation to the next. In our communities, this could be rooted in the deep scars of colonialism, slavery, forced migration, displacement, or systemic oppression. These experiences have left a profound mark on our collective memory, shaping how we respond to stress and adversity in the present.
Spiritual traditions, particularly those within African Diaspora healing practices and Indigenous wisdom, emphasize the importance of acknowledging and understanding the wounds carried from the past. These traditions recognize that trauma isn't just an individual experience; it’s part of a larger, communal narrative that can reverberate through time. The emotional burdens of our ancestors are stored within us, manifesting in ways we may not fully understand or even recognize.
How Ancestral Trauma Shows Up in Our Lives
Ancestral trauma can show up in many forms. For some, it manifests as physical discomforts, from headaches to chronic pain or unexplained health issues. For others, it manifests emotionally as feelings of constant anxiety, depression, or panic attacks that seem disconnected from present circumstances. It's as if the weight of past suffering is woven into the fabric of our being, affecting how we perceive and interact with the world around us.
Psychologically, this trauma may surface as a deep-seated sense of fear, an uneasiness in the body that we cannot shake, or even a sense of being stuck in patterns of self-sabotage or unhealthy coping mechanisms. You may find yourself triggered by situations that remind you of your ancestral pain, even though they may seem unrelated on the surface. This is where understanding ancestral trauma becomes vital: it allows us to make sense of emotions and behaviors that otherwise feel unexplained.
Spiritual Traditions and Healing Ancestral Wounds
Spiritual traditions across cultures have long acknowledged the importance of healing ancestral wounds. In many African Diaspora practices, such as Ifá, Division 21 or Orisha-based traditions, there is a focus on connecting with the spirits of our ancestors to ask for guidance and healing. In these practices, our ancestors are not just figures of the past—they are seen as active, living energies that can support and guide us through our spiritual journey.
Indigenous practices also emphasize the interconnectedness of all beings, acknowledging that the spirits of our ancestors walk beside us and can provide wisdom, comfort, and strength. The practices of these spiritual traditions allow us to honor the past, while also healing the emotional, physical, and spiritual wounds that continue to impact us today.
Healing Ancestral Trauma at Poder Healing
At Poder Healing, we recognize that the journey to healing ancestral trauma is deeply personal, but also powerfully collective. That’s why we created the BECOMING Membership, a spiritually grounded space where healing is nurtured through community, ritual, and consistent guidance. This membership is rooted in the understanding that transformation doesn’t happen overnight—it unfolds in layers, supported by ancestral wisdom and soul-aligned tools.
Our Past Life Regression sessions are designed to help you uncover inherited wounds that transcend this lifetime, offering a safe space to release the unresolved energy that may be manifesting as anxiety or disconnection today. For those seeking continuous spiritual care, the Soul Healing Subscription provides regular access to energy work, intuitive guidance, and ancestral healing practices that create deep and lasting shifts.
Through these offerings, we support your path to reclaiming personal sovereignty, softening inherited burdens, and embodying a life that feels more rooted, spacious, and aligned. You don’t have to carry it all alone. Healing is possible—and you are not walking this path without guidance.
Taking the First Step Toward Healing
Healing ancestral trauma is not easy work—it is deep, transformative, and requires time. But by acknowledging the connection between your personal experiences and the collective pain of your ancestors, you can begin the journey of healing. Whether through spiritual practices or therapeutic modalities, the healing process is one of self-discovery, empowerment, and liberation.
At Poder Healing, we invite you to join us in this transformative journey. Our Soul Healing Subscription offers ongoing support to help you break free from the chains of inherited trauma and live in alignment with your highest potential. Together, we can honor our ancestors, heal our wounds, and create a legacy of peace and empowerment.
Are you ready to begin your healing journey?
