Epigenetics, The Psyche-Soma, and the Mind-Body Connection: How Trauma and Healing Are Passed Down

The Mind-Body Connection Is Not a Metaphor

We often hear phrases like “the body keeps the score” or “trauma lives in the body,” but this isn't just metaphorical. What if our emotions, experiences, and even our ancestors' struggles were imprinted not just on our psyche but in our very cells?

For centuries, Western thought has separated mind and body, treating emotions as something mental while viewing physical health as purely biological. But science—and ancient wisdom—tells a different story. The psyche and the soma (body) are deeply interconnected, shaping each other in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

• Have you ever felt anxiety in your gut before a big decision?

• Does grief sit like a heavy weight in your chest?

• Have you noticed that certain patterns in your life mirror those of your parents or grandparents?

These sensations aren’t random. They are evidence of the psyche-soma connection—the intricate web where emotions, trauma, and even inherited experiences live in the body.

Today, we’ll explore:

✔ Epigenetics – how trauma and environment shape gene expression.

✔ The psyche-soma connection – how emotions manifest physically.

✔ The chakra system – an ancient map of where different traumas reside in the body.

Most importantly, we’ll look at how healing can be passed down too—because if trauma leaves an imprint, so does transformation.

Epigenetics: The Science of Inherited Trauma

For a long time, scientists believed genes were fixed blueprints—a set of instructions inherited from our parents that dictated everything about us. But research in epigenetics reveals something far more dynamic: genes respond to the environment, emotions, and even experiences from past generations.

Think of your genes like a piano. The keys (DNA) are fixed, but the way the song is played—which notes are activated, which remain silent—is shaped by experience.

Studies on Inherited Trauma

1️⃣ Holocaust Survivor Descendants (Yehuda et al., 2016) – Researchers found that children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors inherited genetic markers of heightened stress, even though they never directly experienced the trauma themselves. Their nervous systems were primed for hypervigilance, as if their bodies still carried the memory of past suffering.

2️⃣ The Dutch Hunger Winter (Lumey et al., 2011) – Children born to mothers who endured famine during World War II had higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease—even if they later lived in times of abundance. Their bodies had adapted to famine conditions before birth, shaping their metabolism as if they still lived in scarcity.

3️⃣ Chronic Stress & Emotional Neglect – Studies show that children raised in high-stress environments (abuse, neglect, or unstable homes) often develop overactive stress responses, leading to increased risk of anxiety, autoimmune disorders, and even inflammatory diseases.

In other words, trauma isn’t just psychological—it leaves a biological imprint that can span generations.

Can Healing Be Inherited Too?

If trauma can be passed down, can healing be passed down too? Yes.

Dr. Bruce Lipton, a stem cell biologist, explains in The Biology of Belief that while genes provide potential, they don’t dictate fate. Our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions influence gene expression.

• Chronic stress activates genes linked to inflammation and disease.

• Love, safety, and mindfulness activate genes linked to healing and longevity.

This is why mindfulness, therapy, and somatic healing aren’t just emotional work—they are biological interventions. When we regulate our nervous system, we change the biochemical messages our bodies send, creating new patterns that future generations may inherit.

The Psyche-Soma Connection: Where Trauma Lives in the Body

In Western medicine, emotions are often seen as separate from physical health. But Eastern traditions—and modern neuroscience—tell us otherwise.

• The chakra system describes how emotions and trauma manifest in specific areas of the body.

• Somatic psychology (Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score) shows that unprocessed trauma stores itself in muscles, fascia, and the nervous system.

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Let’s take a journey through the body, exploring how different traumas and emotions take physical form.

The Chakras: A Map of the Mind-Body Connection

🟥 Root Chakra (Safety & Ancestral Trauma)

• Imbalances → Chronic anxiety, digestive issues, lower back pain.

• Cause → Unstable childhood, financial stress, inherited fear.

• Healing → Grounding exercises, breathwork, therapy.

🟧 Sacral Chakra (Emotions & Creativity)

• Imbalances → Emotional numbness, creative blocks, reproductive health issues.

• Cause → Cultural shame, repressed emotions, fear of pleasure.

• Healing → Movement, creative expression, somatic therapy.

🟨 Solar Plexus Chakra (Personal Power & Identity)

• Imbalances → Imposter syndrome, digestive issues, self-doubt.

• Cause → Critical parents, lack of autonomy, inherited suppression.

• Healing → Boundaries, confidence-building practices, breathwork.

🟩 Heart Chakra (Love & Grief)

• Imbalances → Fear of intimacy, grief, heart conditions.

• Cause → Betrayal, abandonment, ancestral loss.

• Healing → Self-compassion, somatic release, heart-opening practices.

🟦 Throat Chakra (Expression & Suppressed Truths)

• Imbalances → Fear of speaking up, thyroid issues, jaw tension, chronic sore throat, asthma.

• Cause → Childhood silencing, gaslighting, fear of judgment.

• Healing → Journaling, vocal toning, therapy.

🟦Third Eye Chakra (Intuition & Perception)

• Imbalances → Self-doubt, brain fog, sleep issues, migraines.

• Cause → Repressed intuition, fear of being wrong.

• Healing → Meditation, dreamwork, self-trust exercises.

🟪 Crown Chakra (Spiritual Connection & Meaning)

• Imbalances → Nihilism, disconnection, avoidance.

• Cause → Fear of surrender, rigid belief systems.

• Healing → Mindfulness, ego work, transcendental practices.

What Stories Does Your Body Hold?

Your body is more than just a vessel—it is an archive of experiences, memories, and ancestral imprints.

What if you could listen to it?What if, instead of pushing discomfort away, you asked: What is this trying to tell me?

Healing is not just a personal act—it is a generational act. When you work through your fears, process your emotions, and reclaim your body, you aren’t just changing your life—you are changing the patterns your lineage has carried for centuries. This is truly sacred work.

✨ If this resonates, explore these themes further in the extended podcast episode on the Reverence for Rêverie podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts.