The Emotional Journey Through My iGENEA DNA Test: Revealing Ancient Roots of the 'Heilig' Lineage
Family name Heilig
My journey with iGENEA provided a glimpse into my deep genetic roots and gave a new perspective on my family history and the surname 'Heilig.' It elicited a range of emotions, from anticipation to shock, awe, and eventually, a deep sense of connection.
My adventure with iGENEA made a profound change in my life, altering the way I perceive not only myself but also my extended family and ancestry. The DNA test I took provoked a spectrum of emotions from anticipation to shock, to awe. It was like opening a mysterious door in a familiar house, revealing unexpected secrets.
The process itself was simple. Swab, seal, send. But the emotional journey began the moment the kit arrived at my doorstep. As I swabbed the inside of my cheek, I felt a stir of anticipation. Questions ricocheted in my skull, "What would I find out? Would the results align with my familial narratives or take me on an unexpected journey?"
Months later, when my results were in, I sat staring at my email for a long time before I gathered the courage to click and read. The discovery that my genetic makeup was woven together from places and people far beyond my wildest imagination took my breath away. Discovering my majority European roots was not surprising, but the significant percentage of North African and Near Eastern DNA left me in shock. These regions felt foreign, distant and disconnected from my self-identity.
The information related to my surname, Heilig, was a rollercoaster of emotions. To think that my name, which had been just a part of my identity, was not only inherited from my German ancestors but also shared a root with countless people across different cultures, filled me with a sense of connectedness and intense curiosity. The Heilig's geographical distribution, rooting all the way into Europe's medieval period, made me appreciate the long journey my ancestors had made, layering my existence with centuries-old history.
Understanding my unique genetic composition has pushed me to delve deeper into my family's past, giving me a renewed sense of respect and interest in my heritage. I look at my family, and the name Heilig, with a broader perspective now, considering it as a small yet significant thread in the broader tapestry of human history. This feeling is as humbling as it is empowering. IGENEA offered me a window into my past, and this shift in perspective will continue to resonate with me as I explore my newfound ancestral roots.
X. Heilig