Psycho-genealogy

Recently I took part in a three-day training course on psycho-genealogy, given by Eduard Van den Bogaert. The aim was to fathom and map out your own family tree in his unique way. It is not my intention to explain the method here. For a detailed explanation, I would advise you to read his book Psychogénéalogie or to follow the training yourself. It comes highly recommended.

Why do I mention this training?

Mr Van den Bogaert placed a great deal of emphasis on ‘above’ and ‘below’. Above refers to the universe and everything that exists at higher levels, while below relates to the earth and everything connected with it. This dual perspective helps you to create a holistic picture of your family tree. With every new exercise to map out their family tree, most participants forgot these two facets, which were already present long before we were here. For me it was the other way round: it was the first thing I thought of. Everything takes place between above and below. Being aware of this gives you the feeling of being anchored and of being part of a greater whole.

Symbolic roots and wings

When we speak about a family tree, we are not speaking about a tree in the literal sense. The word roots is therefore to be understood symbolically. Within the framework of your family history, roots symbolise your background, where you come from and the road your family has travelled in the course of history. Being firmly rooted in your origins gives you the foundation on which you can build your identity. You then experience certainty and stability in your personal life and your work.

Sometimes the roots are damaged, dead or gone. They then point to missing pieces, to patterns that keep working on in a limiting way in your present life, or to harmful convictions that are deeply anchored.

Towards new horizons and freedom

When I came home after the training, I could have flown a lap above my village. That is how light and joyful I felt. In those three days, by redrawing my family tree over and over again with squared paper, a ruler and pencils, I had grown. I had done little more than listen and draw. And still my inner growth was tangible. By drawing your family tree again and again, everything and everyone is given a more accurate place. This brings relaxation to your mind, your feeling and your body. ‘I love seeing you this enthusiastic,’ was how one of my children responded to it. I had gone on a voyage of discovery, even though I had thought for years that I knew my family tree, and through it I had experienced a form of freedom. As if I had reached a particular goal that was not visible to me, but I could feel it. My wings had been activated. I was flying towards new horizons and freedom.

Growing together from common roots

Looking at your individual dynamics and your family dynamics from above and below helps you to find a balance between roots and wings. On the one hand, the roots show you valuable aspects from the past that further your growth. On the other hand, your wings remind you that you are allowed to pursue your dreams in order to develop yourself personally. Within a family you grow towards stability through the talents you have developed, and also through the limiting patterns. Together with the other households of your family, of your village and, by extension, of the larger community, you can grow together from the common roots.

Innovative steps towards the future

It is worth finding out how you can use the legacies from the past to make your present life situation more joyful and to take innovative steps towards the future. The roots contribute to your resilience in times of change and the wings help you to navigate when new challenges rear their heads.

Example case: Larissa’s journey from Roots to Wings

• Background: Larissa was 42 years old. She was an entrepreneur and had been struggling for years with the feeling of being stuck in her career and her personal life. Despite her entrepreneurial talents, she felt held back from rolling out new opportunities. She decided to look at her roots in order to gain insight into her potential for growth.
• Exploring the roots: She examined her family history and discovered that her great-grandfather had been a successful entrepreneur. Generation after generation, there had been a lot of pressure to follow in his footsteps. Larissa felt responsible for performing well and for living up to her family’s expectations. She realised that very little room had been given to emotional expression in her family. The business always came first. Larissa herself was reluctant to share her feelings and ambitions.
• Developing the wings: With these insights, her longing to spread her wings grew. She set personal goals, apart from the family’s expectations. She decided to take a fashion course, something she had always been passionate about but never found the time for. Through her creative process she discovered new talents and interests and felt free and fulfilled.
• Result: A few years later, Larissa has not only improved her skills in fashion, she has also gained more self-confidence. She chose her own path and has meanwhile started her own online clothing brand. She feels more connected with her family history because she now understands how her roots have shaped her and how she can use her wings to make a unique contribution. By becoming aware of her background and its influence, she found a balance between honouring her origins and pursuing her own dreams.
• In this way you too can explore your background and develop your wings for personal growth and freedom.

Getting to work with yourself

I am offering you a few exercises with which you can dive deeper into your system. You can do this in a reflective way, or you can first seek out your silence and let yourself be guided by the insights that come from your intuition.

1. Reflection:

• Which aspects from your past give you strength?
• Which dreams and ambitions do you want to pursue?
• How can you use your strong foundation to let your wings grow?

2. Visualisation and creation:

• What do roots symbolise for you? Look for symbols or photographs for them. Make a drawing of them. What happens during the creative process?
• What do wings symbolise for you? Look for symbols or photographs for them.
  Make a drawing of them. What happens during the creative process?

3. Tell the story

• Tell your children, your partner or a friend how your roots have shaped you and how you have let your wings grow. Observe what you experience in yourself as you tell your story. What does your story do to your listeners?

Birds make their nest with twigs (and roots)
and embrace the freedom of the air.

Hilde Van Bulck
Consciousness architect, Systemic constellation facilitator and advisor
Ambassador and Director for Constellations and Education at Constellators International.