genealogy

A few days ago I thought I would write a new article about Navy records for my website. The majority of people recently seem to be so focused on Army records that I felt it was time to talk about other branches of the military. The Army did not win the war alone you know. When I began writing, the article took a different turn.

Being an empath and medium, research can become very emotional and not just on the emotions level but also in the physical sense. I tend to feel a lot more than other researchers and sometimes it gets stuck in my body or energy field.

Last week I had a two-hour energy session on the phone with one of my healers so I could clear a lot of things that were coming up and some pain in my body. Yesterday I had a Bars session with a different healer who lives near me. I haven’t had my Bars run since September and between the two sessions – a lot is coming up. My emotions are swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other with a lot in between. A lot of this energy is also releasing from my body which has caused some nausea and dizziness since last night.

Feeling Too Much….Feeling Everything

This morning as I sat in Starbucks to start writing, I looked at my grandpa Joseph Holik’s military records and photos. Joseph died long before I was born. I have not told his story yet, although he keeps encouraging it from the great beyond. He comes through in channeled writing and when I’m struggling with something in my life. Apparently there is a way to tell his story that will help others. I am not ready to go there yet. I know when I do, I have to be emotionally ready to handle whatever comes up in the process. His life and military service were not easy and while he encourages me writing his story – he has not told me HOW or what to include – and more importantly – what to leave out.

As I looked at his longyard of the boot camp graduates, a small portion is above, I noticed my grandpa is standing tall and proud. When you look closer, you can see part of his soul has already left before the real war for him begins. In some ways he looks like a ghost.

I have no idea what to do with this knowledge or all I’m picking up. Looking at the others in the photo, some look scared, some look “brave”, others look like my grandpa – like part of them has left.

How many of our family members experience this “leaving” before they hit combat. Was it easier for them to leave on some level to not feel everything that was to come? Did any of them retrieve their full souls when they returned home? I know my grandpa never did.

Dealing with the Emotions

How do we, who feel so much, handle this?

• Journal. When we write what we are experiencing and feeling, it helps us sort things out. We may also channel those we are thinking about which can create greater awareness.
• Talk to someone. I can count the number of people I can talk to about these things on one hand. A lot of people look at me like I’m nuts when I talk about this side of me. That’s ok. I embrace who I am. Find your tribe and share. You will discover you are not alone.
• Have an energy healing session. There are numerous healing modalities out there. I have tried several and continue to learn about new ones, if they feel right for me. I have practitioner status in Reiki and Access Consciousness Bars. I seek out energy healers to help me move the stuck energy out of my body. To return to sender all that I carry that is not mine. To release the Pandora’s Box of my family’s secrets that I carry. They are not mine to carry. To continue healing my ancestral lines, particularly the women in my family. These are things I chose in this life. Without regular energy sessions and self-care, I’m not sure I would choose to be here anymore. This world and the energy can be so rough. And did you know, most of what we carry around and act out through our emotions isn’t even ours? We are able to pick up other people’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Something we’ve been doing since birth as one way to fit into this reality. In the energy sessions I am often able to help deceased family members have closure on many issues.
• Take some space and a break. Many of us who do this work on family or military histories, or work with helping others create their life, or caregive for someone, must take breaks and recharge. Refill. I talk a lot about this on the Finding the Answers Journey side of my business. You can watch videos on this on my YouTube channel. Choose the Caregiver Playlist.
• Go out with friends. Have some fun! One thing I have not been consistent at is getting out with friends. Between taking care of my husband (even when we are not together because I’m always energetically with him), my boys, and business, I am not always willing to go out. Sometimes I spend too much time alone thinking that’s what is best. When I do go out, it lifts the energy and I laugh more.
• Exercise or move more! Exercise is vital to move the energy out faster, help us shift and keep us healthy and fit. Now that spring is arriving in Chicago, I plan to be out more in nature, watching things erupt into life and colorful beauty.

Those are only a few of the ways I handle all the emotions and energy that comes up with the research I do for myself and clients. These combined with other things keep me sane and mostly balanced.

Telling Their Stories

When we have the research and know more about someone’s life and military service, the next step is deciding whether or not to tell their story. Even when we write their stories for our personal files or to share with close family, we are offering the family member we write about, some peace and closure. We are able to provide healing on many levels because they are being remembered. Honored. We acknowledge their life, service, lessons, hardships, and how that shaped who we are today. It is up to each of us to decide what to do.

Facilitation

If you feel that your research is becoming too much to handle, I offer facilitation sessions. You can purchase these in 1, 3, or 5 hour packages. With each we do a Zoom recorded call to discuss what is happening, what you are aware of, and we shift and clear it out. Through the sessions you receive clarity, often new ideas for research or writing projects, and even peace and closure. Ask me more about this and let’s schedule a 15 minute phone call to make sure we are a good fit for this type of service. I can also help you with your military research – ask me how.

What are you doing to take care of yourself when what THEY feel becomes too much?

© 2019 WWII Research & Writing Center