The Science Behind Epigenetics & Ancestral Healing
One of the most fascinating things I’ve learned on my own healing journey is that science is finally catching up with what many spiritual traditions have known for thousands of years:
We carry more than just our eye color or hair type from our ancestors — we can actually inherit their emotional patterns, beliefs, and even trauma responses.
This is where epigenetics comes in.
What is Epigenetics?
At its core, epigenetics is the study of how our genes can be switched “on” or “off” based on our environment, lifestyle, and experiences — and those changes can be passed down through generations.
Think of your DNA like the hardware in a computer. The hardware stays the same, but the software (epigenetic markers) can change based on what’s been experienced. Stress, trauma, love, joy — they all leave a chemical “bookmark” that tells your body how certain genes should function.
What’s wild is that this isn’t just about you. Research shows that the way your grandparents responded to stress or hardship can literally shape the way your genes express themselves today.
Joe Dispenza’s Take on Epigenetics
Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work dives deep into this concept. He often says, “Genes do not create disease — it’s the environment that signals the gene to create disease.” That means when you change your environment — and that includes your internal environment of thoughts, emotions, and beliefs — you can influence your genetic expression.
His research and meditations focus on helping people rewire their brains and create new emotional states that signal health, safety, and abundance rather than stress and fear. In other words, you can literally teach your body to live in a new reality.
How This Connects to Ancestral Healing
When we talk about ancestral healing, we’re talking about recognizing these inherited imprints and intentionally shifting them. That might mean working through patterns like:
Always putting others first at the expense of your own needs
Feeling unsafe expressing your emotions
A tendency toward anxiety, scarcity, or fear of failure
These patterns might not have started with you — but they can end with you.
When you choose to heal, you’re not only freeing yourself, you’re also creating a ripple effect for your children, grandchildren, and even for those ancestors who carried these burdens before you. Energy work, inner child healing, somatic practices, and regression work are just some of the ways we can begin shifting these patterns at the root.
Science Meets Spirit
Epigenetics shows us that healing isn’t just a “feel-good” idea — it’s something that can change the very expression of your genes. You have the ability to send a new message to your body:
We are safe now.
We are loved.
We can live differently.
I believe this is why so many of us feel called to do deep healing work right now. It’s not just for us — it’s for the generations that came before and the generations yet to come.
So if you’ve been feeling the pull to break a cycle or shift a long-standing family pattern, know this: your choice to heal is powerful, sacred, and scientifically backed.