There’s a wound many carry—quietly, unknowingly, yet profoundly. It’s a wound that isn’t always visible, but it whispers in our fear of being seen, our hesitation to speak truth, and our discomfort around our own power. This is the Witch Wound.

When I was a child, I wondered why we were taught to be afraid of witches, but not taught to be afraid of the people who burned them alive, or drowned them. I still think of this today. It was my first understanding of the ‘great narratives’ and how they are written.

The Witch Wound refers to a deep-seated cultural and ancestral trauma rooted in centuries of persecution—most infamously during the historical period often called “The Burning Times.” This term encompasses roughly 300 years in Europe and colonial America when tens of thousands—some estimate hundreds of thousands—of people, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft and executed.

But this trauma didn’t end with the extinguishing of the last pyre. It lives on—passed through generations, encoded in our DNA, reinforced by culture, and embedded in societal structures.

What Really Happened

Contrary to popular imagination, most of those persecuted were not practicing witches in the mystical sense. They were women—and some men—who lived in ways that defied rigid social norms. Often, they were midwives, herbalists, widows, landowners, healers, or simply outspoken individuals. Many were targeted because of suspicion, jealousy, or convenience. Others were victims of organized fear campaigns designed to maintain control.

This wasn’t solely about religion or magic—it was about power, fear, and social control. The archetype of the “witch” was shaped to disempower women and suppress the intuitive, embodied wisdom traditionally associated with the feminine.

The Witch Wound Today

Though we’re centuries beyond the flames, the effects of the Witch Wound remain. They show up in our daily lives in surprising and subtle ways:

-Fear of speaking your truth

-Self-doubt around your intuitive abilities

-Anxiety when being seen or heard

-Fear of rejection when expressing your spirituality

-A tendency to minimize your wisdom or creative gifts

-Internalized competition with other women

-Disconnection from your body, cycle, or voice

These patterns are especially present in those drawn to healing, spiritual work, creativity, and leadership—and in many who identify with witchcraft, the divine feminine, or energy work. The Witch Wound can also somatize—manifesting physically as chronic fatigue, voice disorders, reproductive issues, anxiety, or autoimmune conditions. While these symptoms have many contributing factors, ancestral trauma can be one of the silent roots.

You Don’t Have to Remember It to Heal It

Even if you’ve never consciously connected to this past, your soul, body, or lineage might remember. You might have flashbacks in dreams or meditations, or a deep, inexplicable fear of persecution for simply being yourself.

Healing the Witch Wound isn’t about reliving trauma—it’s about reclaiming your right to exist fully, intuitively, and creatively.

🌕 A Ritual to Reclaim Your Voice and Power

This simple, beautiful ritual is designed to reconnect you with your inner truth and restore your sense of safety in being seen and heard.

You Will Need:

-A white candle

-A bowl of water

-A small mirror

-A piece of paper and pen

-A sprig of rosemary (or any protective herb)

-Optional: your favorite crystal for protection (obsidian, black tourmaline, labradorite)

Steps:

Create a Sacred Space: Light the candle. Place the bowl of water and the mirror in front of you. Hold the rosemary in your hand and say:

“I call back my voice. I call back my power. I honor the wisdom of those who came before me.”

Gaze into the Mirror: Look gently into your own eyes. Whisper aloud:

“It is safe for me to be seen. It is safe for me to speak.”

Write Your Reclamation: On the paper, write down three statements of power you choose to reclaim (e.g., “I trust my intuition,” “My truth is valuable,” “I stand tall in my wisdom”).

Anoint and Affirm: Dip your fingertips into the water and gently touch your throat and heart. Say:

“I cleanse the fear, the shame, the silence. I am whole. I am heard.”Close the Ritual: Burn the paper safely (or bury it) as a symbolic release. Thank the elements and extinguish the candle.

🔮 Tarot Spread: Healing the Witch Wound

This spread is designed to help you access buried insight, release inherited fear, and step into your full spiritual sovereignty.

Layout:
Draw 6 cards in a circle with one central card in the middle.

1. The Wound

What past experience or ancestral energy am I still carrying subconsciously?

2. The Silence

Where am I afraid to speak, show up, or shine?

3. The Protection

What energy or quality within me has kept me safe but now limits my growth?

4. The Medicine

What inner gift or ancestral wisdom is ready to be reclaimed?

5. The Voice

What does my true voice want to express right now?

6. The Path Forward

How can I safely and powerfully embody my truth in the world?

7. Core Message (Center Card)

What is the deeper soul lesson this wound is here to teach me?

Take time with each card. Journal the answers. Use this spread regularly to track your healing progress.

🌀 Final Thoughts

Healing the Witch Wound is an act of remembrance, restoration, and revolution. You don’t need to call yourself a witch to be affected by it. If you feel a tug toward the mystical, a fear of being “too much,” or a longing to gather with others in sacred space—then this healing may be for you.

You are not alone. And you are not broken.

You are remembering.

If you enjoyed reading this blog post, take your eyes to my Tarot Courses page, as I have created a NEW 12 lesson course HEALING THE WITCH WOUND.