Uncover the Witch Wound: How Ancestral Trauma Still Shapes Your Life Today
There are books that make an impact and then there are books that change your life. The first time I read, “Heal the Witch Wound: Reclaim Your Magic and Step Into Your Power” by Celeste Larsen, I knew it was in the second category. I’d only made it through the first section when I messaged my friend and told her I was going to lead others in this work someday.
Before I get going, let me introduce you to the Witch Wound….
What is the Witch Wound?
The Witch Wound is the collective trauma passed down through generations—an ingrained fear of being persecuted (burned, hung, tortured) for your power, your intuition, your truth. It shows up as self-doubt, fear of judgment, playing small, and hiding your true self. It’s the reason you sometimes feel like you’re too much or not enough, why you fear stepping into the spotlight, why you doubt the wisdom that you know is within you.
As I journeyed through Part One: The Burning Times, the stories came alive. In college, I became fascinated with history and one of my favorite courses was Medieval European Civilization. The entire semester was dedicated to the time frame and geographic location surrounding the witch hunts. It was as if my mind merged what I’d learned 20 years ago with what I was reading currently.
Pairing that with what we now know of epigenetics, ancestral trauma, and energy work it becomes clear to see how the traumas that went on for centuries, centuries ago are still impacting us in the present day.
What are Symptoms of the Witch Wound?
While there are many ways the Witch Wound shows up, these are some of the most common:
- Hiding your truth, wearing a mask so you’re seen one way but feel another
- Taming down, quieting yourself, playing small
- Feeling lost, stuck, blocked, confused, unsure, looking to others for direction in life
- Feeling unsafe around other women
- Suppressing passion and body shaming
These symptoms and many more will give you a hint as to whether or not you hold the Witch Wound. And I noticed every….single…..one within myself.
As an example, until recently, I’ve been hiding my truth, fearful of showing up, holding back. I didn’t want to be judged or feared by others because I love the Tarot and have a pendulum with me at all times, have a regular ritual practice that includes the elements of earth, air, water, and fire, that I’ve had some serious gifts open recently to include clairvoyance, claircognizance, clairaudience, and even more recently, elements of mediumship.
I feel the Witch Wound so heavily as I bring those parts of me into the light where others can see.
The fear isn’t just about me. I don’t want my kids to suffer because I have different views of life than the other moms. I don’t want my guy to think I’m weird or crazy or have the things I do and say negatively impact him at work. The Witch Wound isn’t just about us, it’s also about the way those we love could be impacted. It runs so deep.
And yet, we’re not living in those times anymore. Yes, there may be some things that make us uncomfortable, maybe even struggle, but at this time, we’re not in danger of being burned for showing our true selves, owning our gifts, standing up for our beliefs, being a strong woman.
And that is why healing the Witch Wound is important. We no longer need to hold back and live a life that isn’t fulfilling or worse, is driving us mad.
How to Heal the Witch Wound
That leads us to the healing of the Witch Wound. Again, there are a ton of ways to go about this and you need to find what is correct for you and where you are. It may mean going to therapy for traumas you’ve endured in this lifetime before you’re ready to tackle the Witch Wound as a separate issue.
I’ll share a few of the practices that have been most impactful for me and will give you a place to start. We go in depth in this work in my Healing the Witch Wound Journey. I offer this each fall so join us or join the waitlist to be notified of the next session.
Witch Wound Healing practices I use:
- Reiki energy healing sessions
- Full moon rituals to release the energy and limiting beliefs that no longer serve me
- Shadow work on triggers that come up for me
- Epsom salt baths while setting the intention to cleanse old energies and traumas that reside within me
- Medicine drumming with the intention to heal myself, my traumas and those I’ve inherited
- Ancestral healing through sending love and compassion through my bloodline
- Loving kindness meditations
- Sharing little pieces of myself with others, baby steps here
Healing the Witch Wound is one of the most important work I believe we can do for ourselves, our children, and future generations. Once we’re aware of how it affects us, we can see how it impacts others. We can also see how our healing creates a ripple effect that gives courage to those around us and passes down the healing to our future generations.
This work is beautiful and worthwhile. It’s deep and will bring to light some of your most deeply rooted fears but also brings the most freeing release and rewards.
If you feel called to do this work for yourself and would like guidance, you’re invited to join us for the Witch Wound Healing Journey. Space is limited in order to create the safest space possible for participants. Click here to learn more and register.