April 16th 2025
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Dr. Will Cole
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Are fecal transplants the new probiotics? Everything you need to know about FMT for gut health and your microbiome.
The post Fecal Transplants for Gut Health & More: What You Need to Know About FMT appeared first on Dr. Will Cole.
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Fecal Transplants for Gut Health & More: What You Need to Know About FMT
April 16th 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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Somatic practices offer a future-focused approach to holistic wellness, providing gentle yet powerful benefits for overall health. Somatic exercises focus on the mind-body connection, offering a transformative approach to physical and mental wellbeing. Unlike traditional fitness routines that often emphasise external performance and strength, somatic practices focus on internal awareness and the subtleties of movement. By helping you to foster greater self-awareness, somatic exercises can alleviate pain, improve posture and enhance overall mobility. Moreover, they encourage a deeper understanding of how stress and emotions manifest physically, promoting holistic healing that extends beyond the physical body to encompass mental and emotional wellbeing.
With this etymology, a somatic movement is practised consciously with the intention of focusing on the internal experience of the movement rather than the external appearance or the result of the movement. Technically, any movement can be somatic if you focus your attention on what you’re feeling in your body as you move. It is about removing the numbness that many of us have become glued in. There are lots of different ways to practise somatic movement, for example, shaking exercises and shouting as you bend and move or dancing in freedom with the intention to release stress and trauma. Depending on how they are approached and practised, yoga and breathwork are also examples of somatic workouts.
Somatic exercises offer several health benefits, mainly by enhancing body awareness and promoting a deep connection between the mind and body. Here are some of the benefits:
Pain relief and tension reduction: Somatic exercises help release chronic muscle tension by focusing on controlled, slow movements. By increasing awareness of physical sensations, individuals can identify and release tension in areas that often go unnoticed. This can relieve chronic pain, particularly in the neck, back, shoulders and hips. By fostering a mind-body connection, somatic exercises can help release emotional tension stored in the body.
Improved posture and alignment: With regular practise, somatic exercises promote better body alignment and posture. By retraining the neuromuscular system to move more efficiently, individuals become more aware of their posture and can correct imbalances that may lead to discomfort or injury.
Increased mobility and flexibility: These exercises encourage gentle stretching and movement, which can enhance joint flexibility and range of motion. Unlike traditional stretching, somatic exercises focus on awareness and control, leading to long-term improvements in mobility and a reduced risk of injury.
Enhanced nervous system functioning: Somatic practices stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to regulate the body’s response to stress. This leads to a calmer state, reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation.
Better body awareness and mindfulness: Somatic exercises encourage individuals to become more mindful of their bodies and movements, cultivating a heightened sense of awareness. This mindfulness can improve mental clarity, focus and even emotional resilience, as people become more in tune with their body’s responses to stress and emotions.
Support for holistic healing: Somatic exercises address both the mental and physical aspects of health, making them effective for individuals seeking an holistic approach to healing. They can be especially beneficial for people recovering from trauma, as they offer a safe way to reconnect with and process bodily sensations.
Rehabilitation and recovery support: Because somatic exercises involve gentle movements and can be modified for individual needs, they are particularly beneficial for people recovering from injury or illness. By focusing on gradual, mindful movement, these exercises support safe and effective rehabilitation.
Improved sleep quality: Many people report better sleep after incorporating somatic exercises into their routine. The relaxation and body awareness gained from these practices can help ease insomnia and improve overall quality of sleep.
Enhanced athletic performance: For athletes, somatic exercises can improve proprioception, body control and coordination, which are all crucial for performance. Increased awareness of muscle activation patterns and joint movements can help optimise performance and reduce the risk of injury.
Try doing the below stretches for five minutes and repeating them daily.
1. Standing awareness
Stand straight with your feet rooted. Notice how they grip the floor. Try to contract and release your foot muscles. Take deep breaths, noticing how your abdominal muscles expand and contract and how this feels. Finally, scan your body from top to bottom, noticing how your different muscles feel. Locate any areas of tension.
2. Shake it off
If you spend large portions of the day typing on a computer or other device, this exercise may help release tension that often builds in your waist, shoulders, chest, hands and wrists. Stand up on your feet. Begin by shaking your hands and then your elbows until you can loosen all the way to your shoulders. Shake one leg at a time. Stand with your arms above your head and drop your arms to the ground and breathe out heavily. Make a sound. Repeat this until you feel the release.
3. Head hang
This exercise addresses the tension many of us hold in our necks. Stand straight with your feet rooted on the floor. Slowly hang your head, letting it fall as far down as it will comfortably go. Notice how the muscles in your neck feel and how that movement has affected nearby muscles, joints and tissues, like those in your shoulders and upper back. Identify an area that feels tense, such as the back of your neck, and really experience how that tension feels.
Notice how it feels to settle into the stretch and try to release some of the tension.
3. Back bliss
If you experience back pain, this exercise allows you to release and then regain control of the muscles in your lower back and abdominals. It’s a slow movement done while lying on the floor. Position feet flat on the floor, hip-distance apart, knees bent. Take a deep breath, noticing how the muscles in your lower back and abdominals move as you do. Gently arch your back, bringing your belly upward and pressing your glute muscles and feet into the floor. Stay here for as long as feels comfortable, then slowly lower your back and flatten it against the floor.
Repeat the movement very slowly, scanning the muscles in your torso for any tension, trying to release that tension.
4. Iliopsoas exercise
The iliopsoas, where many of us hold a lot of tension, is the muscle group that attaches your spine to your legs. This exercise brings awareness to these and surrounding muscles so you’re better able to release that tension. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Place your right hand behind your head. Gently lift your head as you simultaneously lift your right leg, keeping it bent. (This should look a bit like you’re doing a crunch with just one side of your body.) Scan the muscles in your lower back, hips and legs for tension, noticing how they feel. Gently lower your leg and head. Do the same thing, this time straightening your leg slightly as you lift.
Repeat these motions slowly and gently several times, then do the same on the other side.
Article featured in WellBeing Magazine 215
The post Somatic Exercises for Mind and Body appeared first on WellBeing Magazine.
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April 16th 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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Discover the benefits of honey for skin and hair—from hydration and acne care to glow-boosting masks and hair treatment.
When you think of honey, you likely envision it drizzled over pancakes or stirred into a steaming cup of tea. But did you know this golden, sticky substance has been revered for centuries as a natural beauty remedy? From ancient Egypt to modern skincare, honey has earned its reputation as a versatile and powerful ally for natural beauty.
Honey is more than just a sweet treat. It’s a nutrient-dense powerhouse packed with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that work wonders for your skin and hair. Its natural properties make it a staple in many holistic beauty regimens. These include:
Humectant properties: Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air into your skin. This makes it an excellent ingredient for keeping your skin hydrated and plump.
Antibacterial and antimicrobial: Its antibacterial properties help combat acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation, making it useful for acne-prone skin.
Rich in antioxidants: Honey’s antioxidants fight free radicals, helping to slow down signs of aging and protect skin from environmental damage.
Gentle exfoliation: Enzymes in honey can gently exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving your skin smooth and radiant.
Vitamin and mineral boost: Honey contains vitamins such as B6, niacin and riboflavin, along with minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium. These nutrients nourish your skin from the inside out, promoting a healthy, glowing complexion.
Not all honey is created equal. To reap the full benefits, opt for raw, unpasteurised honey. Even better, choose Manuka honey, which is prized for its high levels of methylglyoxal, a compound with exceptional antibacterial properties. Local, organic honey is another great choice as it’s free from additives and supports your local beekeepers.
Incorporating honey into your skincare doesn’t require a complicated routine. Here are some easy, effective ways to use honey for a radiant complexion:
Honey cleanser: Simply apply a small amount of raw honey to damp skin, massage it in circular motions, and rinse with warm water. It’s perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Honey face mask: Spread a thin layer of honey over your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water to reveal soft, glowing skin. You can also mix honey with other natural ingredients such as avocado, yoghurt or turmeric for added benefits.
Spot treatment for acne: Dab a small amount of Manuka honey directly onto blemishes and let it sit overnight. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce redness and speed up healing.
Exfoliating scrub: Combine honey with finely ground oats or sugar for a natural exfoliator that sloughs off dead skin cells without irritation.
Lip balm: Chapped lips? Apply a tiny dab of honey for instant hydration and protection against dryness.
Your hair can also benefit from honey’s natural goodness. Here’s how:
Moisturising hair mask: Mix honey with coconut oil or olive oil and apply it to your hair, focusing on the ends. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before washing with shampoo. This deeply conditions and adds shine.
Scalp treatment: Honey’s antibacterial properties can help soothe a dry, itchy scalp. Mix honey with water and massage it into your scalp, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
From a naturopathic perspective, beauty isn’t just about what you put on your skin. It’s also about nourishing your body from the inside out. Here’s how to integrate honey with a holistic beauty approach:
Internal glow: Add a teaspoon of raw honey to warm water with lemon first thing in the morning. This supports digestion, hydrates your body and gives your skin a natural glow.
Nutritional boost: Honey is rich in essential vitamins and minerals that support overall health. The B vitamins in honey boost energy production, while its magnesium and potassium content support cellular function and hydration, benefiting your skin and hair.
Immune support: Honey’s antimicrobial properties can help keep your immune system strong, indirectly supporting healthy skin. Regular consumption may also soothe sore throats and reduce oxidative stress.
Article featured in WellBeing Magazine 215
The post Honey: Nature’s beauty elixir appeared first on WellBeing Magazine.
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April 16th 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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At the heart of our body’s health lies a community of microorganisms that shapes everything from digestion to immunity. The microbiome is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, that live in various parts of our body, with most of them found in the gut. This thriving microbial community, outnumbering our human cells, form a dynamic and vital network that plays a crucial role in maintaining our overall health. Understanding and nurturing our gut microbiome is essential for good health and safeguarding against chronic disease.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of maintaining a balanced gut microbiome, the factors that can disrupt its balance and practical steps to promote and maintain a healthy microbiome through diet and lifestyle. By understanding the pivotal role of the gut microbiome in our health, we can take proactive steps to nurture this internal ecosystem and, in turn, support optimal health and wellbeing.
Our gut microbiome is home to around 100 trillion bacteria, including beneficial and pathogenic strains, which are fundamental to good health, influencing everything from digestion and immune function to our mental wellbeing. Keeping this delicate balance is essential for overall health and vitality.
The gut microbiome helps break down fibre-rich complex carbohydrates that our bodies can’t digest on their own. This process produces essential nutrients and short-chain fatty acids that support gut health.
A significant portion of the immune system is located in the gut. A balanced gut microbiome helps to regulate and strengthen the immune system and prevent harmful pathogens from colonising the gut.
The gut microbiome also influences skin health by reducing inflammation and helping manage skin conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis.
The gut microbiome can help detoxify harmful substances, including certain drugs and environmental pollutants. They produce certain enzymes that help break down these toxins and chemicals, preventing their absorption and aiding in their execration, which prevents them from accumulating in the body.
A balanced microbiome can improve the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels and influence hunger and satiety hormones, which help regulate appetite and support healthy weight management. It also influences our tendency to store and burn fat, which can help reduce the risk of obesity.
Gut microbiota also have the important job of producing vitamin K2, which the body requires for bone health and blood clotting, and B12, which is needed for energy production, nervous system health and red blood cell formation.
The gut microbiome is often referred to as the “second brain” as it communicates with the brain through the gut-brain axis, influencing our mood and mental health. A majority of our neurotransmitters that regulate mood, sleep and anxiety, such as serotonin, dopamine and GABA, are produced in the gut. Research has shown that a healthy microbiome can help reduce the risk of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
A balanced microbiome helps maintain the integrity of the gut lining, preventing harmful substances from leaking into the bloodstream, which can trigger inflammation and increase the risk of chronic disease and autoimmune conditions. Research has shown that an imbalanced or compromised gut microbiome can play a key role in the development of conditions such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and atopic allergies, including eczema, asthma, hay fever and type-1 food allergies.
Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance or disruption in the normal composition of the gut microbiome. This imbalance can occur when harmful bacteria, fungi or other microbes outnumber beneficial ones, leading to a range of health issues.
Dysbiosis can cause various symptoms including bloating, excess wind, diarrhoea, constipation and food sensitivities. It can also lead to fatigue due to poor nutrient absorption and can contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and mood swings. In addition, dysbiosis can lead to candida overgrowth and urinary tract infections, skin conditions, such as acne, eczema and rosacea, and a weakened immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections, allergies and inflammatory disorders.
The health of our microbiome is influenced by a variety of factors, including our diet, medications and lifestyle choices.
A diet rich in processed foods, refined sugars and unhealthy fats, particularly trans fats, can encourage the growth of harmful bacteria and reduce microbiome diversity in the gut. Without adequate fibre in the diet, beneficial gut bacteria cannot thrive, leading to an imbalance. For those with gluten sensitivity or coeliac disease, gluten can trigger inflammation and damage the gut lining, which impacts the microbiome.
While necessary for treating bacterial infections, antibiotics can disrupt the microbiome by killing both harmful and beneficial bacteria, leading to reduced diversity. Other medications, such as nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the oral contraceptive pill and antacids, can also affect the balance of our gut bacteria.
Chronic stress can also negatively impact the gut microbiome. High cortisol levels can alter gut permeability, increase inflammation and disrupt the balance of the microbiome.
Insomnia and poor-quality sleep can lead to changes in the composition of the gut microbiota. The microbiome has its own circadian rhythm, and disturbances in sleep can lead to imbalances.
Exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides, heavy metals and chemicals found in household products, can harm the gut microbiome by killing beneficial bacteria and promoting harmful strains.
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can harm the gut lining, promote inflammation and negatively alter the composition of the microbiome.
Infections (bacterial, viral or fungal) and illnesses can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis and potentially affecting overall health.
Overuse of sanitisers and a highly sterile environment can reduce exposure to beneficial microbes, potentially impacting the development of a healthy microbiome, especially in children.
Eating a diverse and balanced diet rich in wholesome, unprocessed foods is key to supporting a healthy gut microbiome. This includes probiotic-rich fermented foods and prebiotic fibre sources.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that colonise the gut and contribute to a healthy gut microbiome. Probiotics enhance the population of beneficial bacteria and influence the composition and activity of the gut microbiome. When consumed in adequate amounts, probiotics can improve gut health, enhance immune function and mental health and alleviate digestive disorders.
Probiotics are commonly found in fermented foods such as yoghurt with live cultures, kefir, natto, kimchi, sauerkraut, unpasteurised organic miso, organic tempeh, kvass and kombucha.
Some delicious ways to include fermented foods into your daily diet include adding Greek yoghurt to Bircher or natural muesli, smoothies or salad dressings. For a dairy-free option, use coconut yoghurt as a topping for healthy pancakes, scones and desserts. Enjoy kefir on its own, over porridge or muesli, in smoothies or as a tangy salad dressing. Add a spoonful of sauerkraut to salads, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, scrambled eggs, curries and dahls. Miso is commonly used in miso soup but it can also be used to give extra flavour and health benefits to a variety of dishes including sauces, salad dressings, marinades and glazes for fish, chicken and meat. Try adding some miso to your next pesto, stir-fry or noodle dish. Tempeh is a nutritious plant-based meat alternative perfect for curries, grain bowls, salads, tacos, burgers and stir-fries.
Probiotic dietary supplements are another great way to support the health of your gut microbiome. A daily dose of 10–20 billion CFUs is typically recommended for adults to support immune and digestive health. Higher doses of 50+ billion CFUs may be beneficial for those with a compromised gut microbiome due to illness or antibiotic use. Look for a high-quality product labelled with “live and active cultures”.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are a type of dietary fibre that nourishes beneficial bacteria, supporting a balanced and healthy gut microbiome. To promote the growth and activity of these bacteria, it is essential to consume prebiotic-rich foods. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that serve as food for beneficial bacteria in the gut, helping them to thrive and maintain gut health.
Soluble fibre and resistant starch are the main types of prebiotic fibre. These fibres are fermented by gut microbiome producing a by-product of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate and acetate. These SCFAs play an important role in promoting gut health as they encourage the growth of probiotics, reduce inflammation, maintain the integrity of the gut lining and support immune function.
Soluble fibre is found in high amounts in certain grains (whole oats, brown rice, bran), seeds (flaxseeds, chia seeds), legumes, nuts (pistachios, almonds, cashews), fruit (green bananas, apples, kiwi fruit, grapefruit, blueberries), vegetables (Jerusalem artichokes, savoy cabbage, dandelion greens, garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus), cacao, chicory root and seaweed. Cooked and cooled potatoes, oats, rice and pasta contain resistant starch. You can use cooked and cooled potatoes, rice or pasta in salads.
Some tasty ways to incorporate more prebiotic- rich foods into your daily diet include adding legumesto curries, nachos, salads, hummus, falafels, vegiepatties and dahls. Legumes and legume flours can also be used in grain-free sweet treats such as cakes, brownies and cookies. Try chickpea cookies or kidney bean brownies. Oats are incredibly versatile and can be used in healthy cakes, fruit crumbles, muesli bars and cookies. Make homemade granola, porridge or Bircher muesli and add a spoonful to smoothies. Oat flour makes a healthy alternative to wheat flour in baked goods. Try adding green bananas to smoothies, slice them into chips and bake them for a healthy snack, or use them in curries and stews. Green banana flour makes a nutritious gluten-free alternative to wheat flour for baking breads, muffins, and pancakes or as a sauce thickener.
Serves: 1
1 red onion, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 red or green capsicum, thinly sliced
1 heaped tsp dried oregano
1 heaped tsp ground cumin
1 heaped tsp smoked paprika
1 heaped tsp ground coriander
Good pinch sea salt
2 x 400g tins diced tomato
2 x 400g tins kidney beans, drained & rinsed
Handful fresh coriander, roughly chopped
To Serve
Guacamole
Cooked brown rice
Grated cheese or sour cream
Grilled corn
Lime wedges
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
In a large saucepan with olive oil over medium heat, sauté onion, garlic and capsicum for 3 mins.
Stir through oregano, cumin, paprika, coriander, sea salt and sauté for 1 min.
Add tomatoes and kidney beans and bring to the boil, then simmer, covered, for 10 mins.
Top with coriander to serve.
Serve with guacamole, brown rice, grated cheese or sour cream, grilled corn and lime wedges
Serves: 2
Chia Pudding
¼ cup chia seeds
¼ cup water
½ cup coconut milk
¼ cup coconut yoghurt
1 tbsp pure maple syrup
½ tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Pudding
1 large ripe avocado
2 heap tbsp raw cacao powder
3 tbsp coconut milk
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
½ tsp vanilla extract
Topping
Mixed Berries
Method
Place chia seeds in a small bowl and mix with ¼ cup of water. Let sit until a gel-like consistency forms.
Stir through coconut milk, yoghurt, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Cover and place in the fridge overnight or for 4 hours.
Place all chocolate pudding ingredients into a food processor and blend until you have a smooth, creamy consistency.
Spoon chocolate pudding into 2 serving glasses.
Top with chia pudding and then top with mixed berries.
Serves: 2
½ cup rolled oats
1 tbsp hemp seeds
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tbsp pepitas
⅓ cup almond milk
3 tbsp Greek yoghurt
2 tsp pure maple syrup (optional)
½ tsp vanilla bean extract or paste
Toppings
Sliced kiwi fruit
Flaked almonds
Method
Add oats, hemp, chia, pepitas, almond milk, Greek yoghurt, maple syrup and vanilla to a jar or container and stir well.
Place in the fridge with the lid on overnight.
Enjoy topped with kiwi fruit and flaked almonds.
Article Featured in wellBeing Magazine 215
The post How to Create a Thriving Microbiome appeared first on WellBeing Magazine.
Read the full article here:
April 16th 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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Echoing into the future to affect subsequent generations, our ancestors’ lives shape us in insidious ways. Here, we explore how to heal our ancestral wounds.
The sins of the fathers are visited on their descendants for many generations, or so the Bible claims. What is certain is that whether we’re aware of it or not, each of us is deeply affected by the lives of our ancestors and the choices they made. It’s a concept most therapists and geneticists understand well and one particularly core to ancestral healers such as Terry and Natalia O’Sullivan, authors of Ancestral Healing Made Easy (recently published by Hay House). The UK-based couple co-run workshops and retreats with the aim of helping people tap into their ancestry and uncover and heal matters arising from their lineage.
Terry, also a spiritual medium and sangoma shaman (initiated in the tribal African tradition), describes ancestral healing as the process of working on your problems and improving your life through an understanding and exploration of your ancestry and what is handed down to you. “Unless we explore the stories of who our ancestors are, we don’t know fully what makes us tick,” he explains. “And you can’t heal an issue unless you get to the root cause.”
There’s the obvious, like our DNA, physical appearance, health, talents and personality. But our ancestors can hand down much more: beliefs, behaviours, communication, interpersonal and money-management styles, disadvantages, family stories, rules and traditions. In a 25-year study, for instance, children born to World War II survivors of the Dutch Hunger Winter were more prone in adulthood to type II diabetes, heart disease and other health problems. In another example, from 2024 research, women’s reports of closeness or tension with their mothers and fathers tended to predict how close or tense they were with their own adult children.
Intergenerational trauma occurs when the impacts of trauma are passed down the generations, creating an ongoing cycle of ill effects – such as mental health problems and maladaptive behaviours. Terry says a lot of inherited ancestral trauma has its origin in war and the widespread displacement of people from their roots by European empires. Other common causes include oppression, premature deaths, car accidents, serious injury, life-threatening health issues, crime, violence, sexual assault, abuse and natural disasters.
Studies show, for example, that the children of trauma victims are more vulnerable to mental health issues than people without such histories. According to the O’Sullivans’ book, ancestor-related issues can affect us on many levels – the biological, psychological, emotional and spiritual. They can manifest, for instance, as ill health, hyper-vigilance, low self-esteem and dysfunctional behaviours such as replaying wounded roles with partners. At the same time, the writers stress the importance of realising that our ancestor’s influence is not all negative. Even those with a troubled ancestry may, for instance, inherit various life skills, talents, virtues and strengths.
For those of us wounded by an ancestral legacy, what can we do? While we can’t change the past and inherited problems can feel unfair, there’s a lot we can do to turn things around. Healing the past is ultimately about reinvention and making change, Terry says. Here’s what the couple suggest.
Dig up and explore the past
Start with exploring and researching your heritage. This is about collecting facts. Make use of ancestry databases, census records, official documents such as birth and death certificates, DNA testing and more. Apps, charts and tables can be useful for putting together your family tree. Things to note include ethnicity, cultural and religious influences, health, education, work histories, financial status, family secrets, talents, achievements, family tragedies, criminal behaviour, challenges of the time and personality traits and behaviours.
Is there a pattern? What qualities of our ancestors might be helpful to us? What do we want to change? What do we need to heal? “We are the carriers of what we came from,” Terry says.
Build connection
In Ancestral Healing Made Easy, the O’Sullivans= emphasise the importance of family traditions and feeling part of a clan to our sense of security, wellbeing, belonging and continuum. In modern Western cultures, we tend to live separate from our ancestors. However, in traditional Indigenous cultures, forebears tend to be revered and consulted for guidance. In this way, they continue to play a part in people’s lives, Terry says.
Terry believes it’s important to honour our ancestors that have passed on. “Without them, we don’t exist,” he says. It’s also acknowledging that our connection to them endures. “It depends on what you believe in,” he says. “I subscribe to Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama says that everything is interconnected. Everything and everyone is on its own journey.” Terry believes that, collectively, we’re responsible for the karmic cycles of the world and need to help each other grow spiritually.
Create ritual and symbolism
Connection to dead ancestors can be built through dedicating a space or regular ritual for them. The O’Sullivans suggest creating family alters, ancestral shrines, photographs and other emblems associated with our ancestors, as well as performing ceremonies and rituals like lighting incense, fires or candles or saying prayers requesting healing. This, they say, also facilitates the transition of our ancestors into the spirit world.
Ritual is equally helpful in building connection with living family members. We can, for instance, create regular celebrations or host a healing ceremony. Whether alone or with other family members, there are many creative ways we can facilitate healing, including writing, music, art and other tools. The key is to have clarity and intention around what we wish to achieve.
Cultivate acceptance, forgiveness and compassion
Although it can be hard, acceptance is key to the healing process. “Compassion and forgiveness can prevent a repeat of the same cycles of dysfunctional behaviour,” the O’Sullivans say in Ancestral Healing Made Easy. It can also release us from emotional pain. “Every time you cannot forgive someone, it keeps you connected with that person,” they write.
What can help this process, Terry says, is respecting that our ancestors were born into circumstances we cannot know. “It’s easy to point the finger and judge, but if you take time to realise why a person is that way, you will come up with a different story that is closer to the truth.” This doesn’t mean overlooking or minimising harmful behaviours. Being honest with ourselves is self-honouring and helps us gain clarity over what we need to heal.
To cut ties or not?
Sometimes there’s a case for cutting ties with family members, Terry says. This might be necessary, for instance, when we’re experiencing abuse, judgement, control or not being accepted or supported to be ourselves. Alternatively, we may want to set boundaries.
As Terry points out, for positive change to occur in our family dynamic, it’s necessary for people to want to change. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. Regardless, we can still find healing for ourselves by accepting what we can’t change, and by honouring ourselves and our need to heal and forge our own path. While we can’t change others, we can still change ourselves.
Change a negative family pattern
Examples of dysfunctional and damaging family patterns include substance abuse, violence, guilting or stonewalling, emotional detachment, excessive criticism, people pleasing, victim playing and working excessively. Each family is unique.
According to Terry, change begins in recognising we want to be different and identifying the negative behaviour we want to change. Even small steps towards change can make a profound difference. For example, if your family have a tendency to look on the negative side of life, start expressing gratitude. “Every time you change or release a negative family pattern, you create a new identity. This new sense of self will in turn change the current dynamics of your relationships,” the O’Sullivans write in Ancestral Healing Made Easy.
Enlist helpers and healers
Having said that, it’s often challenging to change and easy to be drawn back into the same old family roles and dynamics. Family members may resist our efforts as changing our behaviour can make us feel like a stranger to them. Transforming ourselves can literally feel like being reborn, with all the growth, pain and joy that entails.
According to the O’Sullivans, it can be valuable at this time to have space from family to find and nurture our own identity and behaviour without them. A therapist and, if family members are interested, family therapy, can help support the process. Various healing professionals and practices are also beneficial in helping us heal ancestral wounding.
Healing practices
Dietitian, wellness coach and founder of NuFit Wellness, Kathy O, used breathwork, nutrition and many mentors, teachers and guides to heal her body, mind and spirit from the generational legacy of her ancestry. “My grandma was sexually assaulted as a child, led by the men in her family into the laps of others for molesting,” Kathy tells. “Later, Grandma’s husband (my grandfather) was an alcoholic, and as a result abusive. It was a co-dependent relationship despite Grandma’s strong will.” Both Kathy’s grandmothers also lived through two wars, adding to their emotional weight.
At age 21, unhappy, and low in self-esteem, Kathy got breast implants, attempting to recover from an eating disorder that started at age 16. At age 26, she found herself in a co-dependent relationship filled with frustration and confusion. Kathy often felt her anger, grief and deep sadness didn’t match her experiences, that in fact some of it was not even her own.
Consciously healing her inner child wounds using breathwork led her to believe in herself. She removed the breast implants, returned to her natural self, healed her body of illness, cultivated healthy connections and is learning to trust in men again. “The trajectory of my life was changed,” she says. “It is my responsibility to keep choosing peace and love.” Today, as a wellness coach, Kathy helps others master their health by getting to the root cause of their symptoms. “Ancestral healing is part of this,” she says. “Next time you think about your family history, think about the patterns of behaviour, thoughts and emotions you have taken on from your lineage. Our genetic pre- predispositions stem from not knowing what healthy patterns of being, relating and acting are. Healing requires choosing resourceful patterns of behaviour.”
Freedom and liberation from within
According to Terry, ancestral healing is ultimately about identification with our inner self and soul or spirit essence. “You are born for a reason and a purpose,” he says. “You are much more than your biology.” Tapping into our spiritual self can offer liberation. Along with breathwork, we can use meditation, chanting, prayer and other spiritual practices to do so.
Another aspect of ancestral healing is realising that life continues beyond the grave, Terry says. “When you are dead, you are not dead. That, to me, is what ancestral healing is all about.” As a medium, he’s frequently called upon to help the living and their dead ancestors heal unresolved issues. “A lot of people have unfinished business,” he says. “The journey is one of evolution, and each step, each ritual, each healing, each prayer takes us closer to the lives our ancestors are dreaming for us,” the O’Sullivans write.
References available on request.
Article featured in WellBeing Magazine 215
The post Healing Ancestral Wounds appeared first on WellBeing Magazine.
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