Ancestral healing, or generational healing, takes on many forms. One can invoke healing through conversations with their ancestors, practice prayer and devotion, connect with the self and the universe, or with the Creator. There is no one way to practice, and each experience is tailored to the message that needs to be heard.
My mother calls herself a mystica, so I refer to myself as that too. Growing up, my Mami hid her skills and knowledge of spirituality and healing from others in the household, especially from my dad. Her practices were discreet, and opportunities to connect on the matter were few and far between.
That was until my mother asked me to learn Reiki one day.
“Reiki?”
“Sí, mija, apréndelo para que me ayudes.” Learn it so you can help me.
My mother experienced periods of deep illness and pain, and seeing her in that state throughout my life impacted me significantly. Learning a method of healing through energy was one way I could support her.
Mami told me a story about her old friend, Mariana, who was a Reiki healer. She was an older woman who involved herself in all things of the universe and was particularly known for her Reiki practice, from healing ailments in humans and animals to transcending the present moment and transitioning her consciousness to the past and future. Mariana was a Master of Reiki and a student of life.
Reiki is a traditional form of Japanese energy healing developed by Mikao Usui in the 1920s, though the foundation of this practice existed in other forms. While it involves no physically invasive methods, it requires a deep level of attunement and intentionality to connect with one’s own body and inner energy, as well as the surrounding environment. This responsibility is magnified when others are involved. Reiki identifies the state of the primary chakras, assesses needs, and moves energy to address blockages and promote flow throughout the body.
I studied energy and Reiki throughout my youth and early adulthood. Through word of mouth, I learned of someone who could train me in Usui Fire Reiki I and II. I completed this in 2023, followed by becoming a Usui Reiki Master Practitioner in 2025 while in Minneapolis.
Learning Reiki has shifted my perspective on power and presence. Living in a space so focused on the external locus, I have returned to myself and to an internal locus of control, connecting to my ancestors, the universe, and within for guidance.
Ancestral healing is about remembering our roots and expanding our awareness. When my mother concealed her mysticism, she was protecting more than herself; she was protecting her roots. But they need not be hidden any longer. I am breaking a cycle of concealment. I am bringing light to what was buried. The healing is not only for my mother’s body, but for the generations of women who carried wisdom quietly. Who knew the language of energy but were told to forget it.
Reiki has become more than a modality; it is a form of existence. A state of being that acknowledges the body is not separate from spirit, that intuition is not imagination, and that the unseen is not unreal. It is opening my heart and mind to see, honor, and continue living my Don, the gift granted to me by the Universe and the Creator. Each attunement deepens not only my practice, but also my responsibility to live in alignment with my roots’ values of integrity, humility, and love.
As always, for the goodness of all those involved.
Laura V. Villarreal, MPH 
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