In my family there is a woman named Bessie who, according to family lore, was a mean old woman. In all the years I’ve been researching my family history, I’ve never heard one good thing about her. In the few photos I have of her, she’s usual got a snarl on her face and I wondered why.
This led me down a path to explore her life through the genealogical records I had and the family stories I’d heard. I wondered what could have possibly made her this mean old lady? While I can never truly know what any of my ancestors felt about any experience they had during their lifetime, being human, I can guess. I also have records to show me what’s hidden beneath the layers that may have contributed to the energy she put out into the world.
The more I explored Bessie’s life, the more patterns I was able to identify through the generations from her to me. Some of these things shocked me while others made sense about things I’d heard. Using this information along with a few genealogical tools, I created a class to help others see what’s hidden in their family histories.
Fast forward to late 2023 and I began developing new tools to go even deeper into the lives of my ancestors. I created what’s called a Circle of Influence in which I am able to explore the people, places, and things that influenced my ancestors. I’ve even used this tool on my own life to explore the deeper influences.
A few days ago I was inspired by thinking about Bessie, the influences and then it hit me - I need to also explore the possible emotions and see where I might be living out some of those in my life. I actually posted about this on LinkedIn asking people if they consider the emotions of their ancestors and include that in their family histories. I’ve asked several interesting questions this week on that platform and I’ve gotten some interesting responses, especially in the Group ‘Genealogy - Beyond the Brick Wall’.
All the emotions that result from both good and not so good things in life that remain unprocessed and undigested end up being passed down through the DNA. So it makes sense that if we are grieving a child loss (I did) that seems a bit “over the top” for grief, maybe it isn’t all ours. Maybe some of it belongs to generations of women before us who weren’t allowed to show their emotions and grieve the loss of their child(ren) or spouse(s). I could definitely see this in my own grief experience when I miscarried twins in 2004 - only then I didn’t know about all the generational loss before mine.
With all this in mind, I looked at my circle of influence tool and was able to expand it to other uses. One in which we explore emotions of our ancestors and living family members. Adding to that, a deeper dive into events that occurred in their lifetimes and the outcome or aftermath of those events. What I discovered about my family and myself was amazing and powerful.
If you would like to learn more about this new tool and the many ways you can use it to discover more about yourself explore my new program in March called, Navigating Life’s Labyrinth.
Join me on a Journey into the past.
I'm hosting a 2 1/2 hour seminar to help you unlock what's hidden in your family stories, DNA, research and lineage.
Saturday, 16 March 2024 at 10:00 a.m. CDT . Workshop ends 12:30 p.m. CDT
Have you heard of the circle of influence? It's those people, places, and things that are close to you which influence your beliefs, behaviors, patterns, and life choices. Did you know by exploring your circles of influence along with your genealogical records and family stories, you can end old cycles, create new things in your life, heal your lineage, write better family stories and open new research paths? Join me for this special workshop to learn the tools needed to shift your research, writing, and healing to a new place.
What the Program Includes
50-Minute Webinar - Circle of Influence. Using Genealogy & FAN to Identify Family Patterns and Trauma.
We've heard of the FAN concept in genealogy - Friends, Associates, and Neighbors - as a way to locate genealogical records to prove the "John Smith" in the records is or is not your John Smith. Have you ever considered using this concept another way to help you identify why an ancestor was the way they were or carried certain patterns? Using storytelling, the circle of influence tool, writing prompts and research, we will create the web of who was involved in an ancestor's life or even your own. Then we will explore how that may have influenced who you became, the beliefs, behaviors and patterns you live and possibly any traumas. gifts, and blessings that may have been passed down.
15-minute Q&A to discuss what you discovered.
Short Break.
50-Minute Webinar - The Ripple Effect. Mapping the Intersections of Family, Trauma, War, and Patterns.
This program will help you use the Circle of Influence in a different way as we explore the impacts of war on our service members, civilians, and children of war. The material will pave the way for you to understand your family better, create new research paths and ask better questions so you can write better stories. You may walk away with big ah-ha moments about who your family members really were!
15-minute Q&A to discuss what you discovered.
You Also Receive
30-Minute Private Coaching Session
- Receive personalized guidance and feedback from an experienced coach to explore the depth of your family's patterns and life. Ask research and writing questions. Share your stories and see what else is possible. This session must be scheduled and used by Thursday, April 11 or you lose it.
Workbooks
- Each webinar comes with its own workbook with notes and resources.
- PDF Guide full of writing prompts, resource lists for your circles of influence and additional resources so you can take what you learn further.
Learn more & register today to be a part of this transformative workshop!