Ancestral karma is similar to an energetic or karmic “imprint’ passed down through generations from both maternal and paternal lines. It’s not just about genetics or family behavior — it involves unhealed patterns, debts, blessings, or lessons carried in the family lineage that can influence our present life.
The same soul often reincarnates within the same family due to unresolved karma, ancestral ties, and soul agreements. Returning to the same family gives the soul a sense of familiarity, making it easier to resume unresolved lessons. Hindu scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita (6.41-6.42) and the Garuda Purana, describe this as part of karma and samsara, while spiritual teachings see it as a way to heal patterns, fulfill lessons, and support the growth of the entire lineage from a universal perspective.
Across cultures, ancestors are seen as protectors, guides, and moral influences; honoring them helps uphold family and spiritual harmony. Native American tribes and Mesoamerican cultures like the Aztecs honor ancestors through ceremonies, storytelling, and festivals such as Dia de los Muertos. Aztec and other indigenous peoples regarded death as a part of life, and the dead continue to exist in other realms and could return at certain times. Catholics believed in All Souls’ Day to pray for souls in purgatory.
In Africa, Yoruba, Zulu, and Vodou traditions honor ancestors through rituals, offerings, and festivals, seeing them as protectors and guides. In China, Japan, and Korea, ancestors are celebrated with festivals, offerings, and household rituals (e.g., Qingming, Obon, Jesasang). Hawaiian and Maori cultures revere ancestors in chants, rituals, and family customs. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans honored their ancestors with tombs, offerings, and household gods. Hinduism and certain Buddhist traditions honor ancestors through offerings, merit-making, and special observances (e.g., Pitru Paksha, Shraddh). Let’s review some of the patterns learned by Mr. Sanjiv Malik through past life regression to give us clearer insight.
- Financial Patterns
Financial patterns in ancestral karma usually stem from choices, circumstances, or beliefs that ancestors experienced, which then, energetically, emotionally, or even behaviorally, were passed down through generations.
- Poverty or Hardship
- Ancestor behavior: Lived in poverty due to famine, war, or economic collapse.
- Pattern in descendants: Fear of losing money, difficulty saving, financial anxiety.
- Exploitation or Injustice
- Ancestor behavior: Exploited, underpaid, or faced systemic discrimination.
- Pattern in descendants: Feelings of unworthiness, unconscious financial sabotage.
- Misuse of Wealth
- Ancestor behavior: Gained wealth but used it harmfully (greed, cheating, gambling).
- Pattern in descendants: Sudden losses, debts, or unstable finances.
- Sudden Loss
- Ancestor behavior: Experienced financial collapse, bankruptcy, or loss of assets.
- Pattern in descendants: Fear of risk, avoidance of investments, blocking opportunities.
- Scarcity Mindset
- Ancestor behavior: Believed “money is evil” or “we never have enough.”
- Pattern in descendants: Limiting beliefs influencing spending, saving, or financial decisions.
- Relationship Struggles
Relationship struggles in a family lineage often stem from unhealed traumas, beliefs, or actions of ancestors that echo through generations. These patterns can be energetic, emotional, or behavioral, shaping how descendants experience love, marriage, and family bonds.
- Betrayal/Infidelity
- Ancestor behavior: Unfaithful, lived double lives, or abandoned partners.
- Pattern in descendants: Trust issues, fear of abandonment, or attracting unfaithful partners.
- Abuse/Toxic Relationships
- Ancestor behavior: Endured or normalized abuse, violence, or emotional neglect.
- Pattern in descendants: Repeats unhealthy dynamics, struggles with boundaries, or emotional pain.
- Forced/Loveless Marriages
- Ancestor behavior: Married for status, survival, or external pressure.
- Pattern in descendants: Difficulty with intimacy, vulnerability, or forming healthy relationships.
- Abandonment/Separation
- Ancestor behavior: Left family or disconnected emotionally.
- Pattern in descendants: Fear of being left, commitment issues, or emotional walls.
- Repressed Emotions
- Ancestor behavior: Suppressed feelings or avoided emotional expression.
- Pattern in descendants: Emotional disconnection, difficulty expressing emotions, or numbness.
- Taboo/Secret Relationships
- Ancestor behavior: Maintained hidden or socially unacceptable relationships.
- Pattern in descendants: Shame, secrecy, or guilt around love and intimacy.
- Gender/Power Imbalances
- Ancestor behavior: Enforced control, submission, or dominance in relationships.
- Pattern in descendants: Repeats control/submission cycles, struggles with equality.
- Trauma from War/Loss
- Ancestor behavior: Experienced loss, war, or major trauma.
- Pattern in descendants: Fear of loss, hypervigilance, or emotional walls.
3. Health or Emotional Trauma
Illnesses or health patterns in a family lineage can sometimes be influenced by ancestral karma. This doesn’t mean your health problems are purely “destined,” but unresolved emotional, behavioral, or karmic patterns of ancestors can create predispositions in descendants.
1. Chronic Illnesses
- Ancestor behavior: Long-term stress, suppressed emotions.
- Pattern in descendants: Heart disease, hypertension, autoimmune issues.
- Addiction/Substance Issues
- Ancestor behavior: Alcohol, drug, or compulsive habits.
- Pattern in descendants: Family may inherit addiction tendencies.
- Mental Health Struggles
- Ancestor behavior: Trauma, depression, anxiety, fear, or suppressed emotions.
- Pattern in descendants: Descendants may develop depression, anxiety, and obsessive tendencies.
- Reproductive/Generational Health Issues
- Ancestor behavior: Stressful or unhealthy conception/child-rearing.
- Pattern in descendants: Fertility challenges, pregnancy complications, early childhood illnesses.
- Lifestyle or Behavior-Related Illness
- Ancestor behavior: Poor diet, overindulgence, sedentary life.
- Pattern in descendants: Obesity, diabetes, digestive problems.
- Trauma-Related Disorders
- Ancestor experience: War, slavery, abuse, migration trauma.
- Pattern in descendants: PTSD, chronic pain, unexplained emotional distress.
- Genetic or Karmic “Weak Points”
- Ancestor behavior: Neglect of self-care, ethics, or spiritual duties.
- Pattern in descendants: Specific vulnerabilities like cancer, heart issues.
- Collective Ancestral Karma
Collective ancestral karma is the inherited effect of ancestors’ actions on a group of descendants, influencing shared patterns in relationships, health, finances, and social or cultural experiences across generations.
- Slavery and Oppression
- Ancestor behavior: Participated in or were victims of slavery, exploitation, or colonization.
- Pattern in descendants: Inherited trauma, fear, mistrust, or systemic disadvantages; struggles with identity, inequality, or social mobility.
- War and Violence
- Ancestor behavior: Engaged in or were victims of war and violent conflicts.
- Pattern in descendants: Collective fear, PTSD, mistrust, or difficulty forming stable communities.
- Mass Migration or Displacement
- Ancestor behavior: Forced migration due to famine, persecution, or disasters.
- Pattern in descendants: Restlessness, difficulty settling, or emotional disconnection from homeland or roots.
- Cultural or Religious Persecution
- Ancestor behavior: Persecuted for beliefs, culture, or ethnicity.
- Pattern in descendants: Shame, fear of expressing identity, or internalized oppression.
- Environmental Destruction
- Ancestor behavior: Over-exploited land, forests, or natural resources.
- Pattern in descendants: Health issues, scarcity, ecological vulnerability, or karmic responsibility to restore balance.
- Economic Exploitation
- Ancestor behavior: Hoarded wealth, cheated, or exploited labor on a large scale.
- Pattern in descendants: Communities struggle with poverty, inequality, or mistrust of money systems.
Ancestral Karma Healing:
- According to Hinduism, performing Shraddh (annual), Tarpan (monthly), and Pind Daan are rituals that help the souls of ancestors release attachments, guilt, or unresolved desires, allowing them to find peace and liberation.
- From a universal and spiritual perspective, performing selfless service on behalf of ancestors—such as offering food to cows, crows, fish, and humans or planting trees to balance karma—can be beneficial. Offering forgiveness prayers and chanting mantras can also help heal ancestral patterns.
According to Mr. Malik, whenever any of the above is performed with full intention and heartfelt emotion, it reaches the souls of the ancestors, offering them positive energy to progress through the portal or onto their next journey, and the living being receives blessings.
