You may have heard of the Seven Generations philosophy. Its historical origins can be traced back to the Haudenosaunee peoples of North America who live by the philosophy that we are all connected within a community, not only in our current lifetime, but generationally as well. This connection extends both forward and backward, and it is understood by these native peoples that any actions we take have a lasting affect, not only on individuals in the present, but on future generations as well. Those who follow the Seven Generations philosophy in their lives and in their communities prioritize the lasting effect of the decisions they make over the immediate effect. Living by this philosophy honors the well-being of all creation beyond the present time first and foremost.

While this philosophy can be historically traced to the Haudenosaunee peoples, it is a way of living that we see throughout many cultures, both indigenous and otherwise. So much so, that it has become a key principle in relation to sustainability and environmental protection. We even see “green” household products and energy companies using this term in their branding. In some cases, this is the philosophy that these corporations follow in their decision making, and in other cases it is simply a marketing tactic. Either way, the term “seven generations” has become very recognizable in mainstream western culture. Taking future generations into consideration when making policies and decisions is an important step to ensuring the longevity of our species as a whole, however there is also a deeper level to the Seven Generations philosophy that goes beyond physical practices and policies.

Ancestral Healing for the Seven Generations

When we look beyond our day to day decisions and explore this principle from the perspective of ancestral and inter-generational healing, the philosophy expands to a new level. Our decisions, the actions we take, and the healing or harm that we do affects far more than the seven generations directly in our future. Epigenetic studies have shown that our environment, traumas, and our interactions directly affect our DNA and its expression. This means that when we do healing for ourselves, change pattering in our lineage or our community, and make new decisions supportive of wellness, that healing has an energetic effect on our entire genetic lineage.

Ancestral healing is critical to ensuring that our future generations do not have to suffer the traumas and abuses that our ancestors have suffered. We can make the choice to either repeat the patterns of our past, or to do the healing that is necessary to prevent those patterns and traumas from passing down the line. The Seven Generations philosophy extends far beyond environmental protection, as there is a recognition in indigenous cultures that all things are connected. When we make loving decisions for our environment, we make loving decisions for ourselves and our community. When we make loving decisions for our community and our progeny, we make loving decisions for our environment and everything else we are connected to. This is a holistic philosophy that is not restricted to one specific species, region, culture, or generation. It is all encompassing.

This philosophy asks us to step outside of ourselves, not just for a few minutes, but for all of our interactions. It asks us to take an empathetic perspective and imagine or even feel into how the decisions we make affect the whole. It asks us to look outside of our personal desires and be of service to our community, to humanity, and to the planet. It is this perspective that leads us to a more fulfilling, abundant, and joyful life, and ancient peoples knew this deeply.

Looking Ahead to a Positive Future

While many communities and people of the planet have been consumed with greed, consumption, domination, and control for centuries, the tides are beginning to turn. Many are noticing the generational patterns that play out repeatedly in their lives, and are looking for ways to change these patterns. How people find this healing in their lives doesn’t really matter, as long as the intention is there to heal. It is this intention to heal these traumas and correct toxic patterns that will ultimately lead us as a collective to a more healed and loving future where we accept all peoples for their uniqueness, and consider the whole when we act. This is how we change. We change our perspective and our intentions in our daily lives first, we do our healing for ourselves and for all we are connected to, and we lead with love for ourselves and our future generations.