The possibility of healing a trauma

Today marks the yearly Holocaust Day in Israel, my home country. I come from a family of victims on both my mother’s side and my father’s side. Many of my ancestors were murdered in Eastern Europe during the war.

Today is the first time in my life that I am not feeling anguish on this Memorial Day.

I would normally cry and feel tremendous pain, a pain that has accompanied me since childhood as I thought about the fate of my ancestors. I could feel it lying heavily in my body and in my heart.

What changed? This year I had the privilege of experiencing Family Constellation sessions, where my ancestors were represented, seen, and acknowledged. I cried deeply, as much as I needed. I realised that I had been carrying a heavy load of pain and suffering all these years, passed down through my ancestral line.

When the tears were done, my shoulders, my mind, and my heart felt lighter. And then there was peace.

Today I light a candle and think of them all with love. And I know that by living fully and doing what I am passionate about, I am honouring their destiny.