Healing the Witch Wound: Reclaim Your Power, Voice & Magic
- Karen Pierce
- Aug 1
- 17 min read
The E-Files were not just a wake-up call, they are a mirror that is very uncomfortable. First, you are horrified that people experienced this. Then you are horrified that people are capable of such heinous acts. Then the outrage that it was covered up on a worldwide scale. Hopefully, that mirror asks you to go deeper into reflection…
Not just “out there” in the world. But in your body. In your throat. In the moments you almost speak…and don’t. Few figures in history or mythology have been more misunderstood than the witch.
In Wicked, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz) begins to see corruption within the system and refuses to stay silent. Once she challenges authority, she is branded “wicked.” Elphaba is judged before she is known. Her green skin becomes a symbol of difference, and society projects fear, suspicion, and blame onto her. Elphaba does not become dangerous because she is evil. She becomes dangerous because she sees clearly, questions power and refuses to stay silent. Like Elphaba, many women throughout history were not condemned for evil acts, but for being different, intuitive, independent, or unwilling to conform.
“Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"
~ Elphaba, Wicked
There is a deep-seated trauma that lives within our unconscious, a psychological scar known as the “Witch Wound” (also called the Persecution Wound). It’s in our collective bones, our bodies, and the throat chakra. It is a deep, inherited psychic imprint carried in collective & personal memory with very real psychological and emotional struggles that echo through the lives of many today. Passed down through ancestral lineages and other lifetimes, it stems from repeated oppression against those embodying light, truth, intuition, or sovereignty.
The Persecution/Witch Wound
From the witch hunts of Europe to the Salem trials in the United States, they represent a dark period in history where fear and the suppression of the feminine converged in a global phenomenon.
Global genocide is a haunting history where tens of thousands of people were executed, while countless others were imprisoned, tortured, accused, or socially destroyed.
The Witch Hunts - Mystics and healers executed, often women who practiced herbalism, midwifery, or earth-based rituals. They lasted approximately 300 years from 1450 and as late as 1782 and include:
- European witch hunts 1450-1630
- Pendle (England) Witch Trials 1612
- Bamberg (Germany) Witch Trials 1626-1631
- East Anglia (England) Witch Trials 1645-1647
- Salem (America) Witch Trials 1692-1693
- Switzerland 1782
The Spanish Inquisition - Torture and death for heresy, especially against those refusing to conform to church dogma.
Colonialism & Religious Conquest - In the Philippines, the Andes, the Americas, and Africa, native spiritualities were violently replaced with imperial Christianity.
Cultural Erasure & Genocide - From Tibetan lamas to Native shamans, sacred ways were targeted for extinction.
The persecution of mystics, healers, women, indigenous elders, and witches is well-documented in human history. Most accused were not even practicing witchcraft. “Witch” was a label applied to vulnerable people and confessions were extracted through torture. The common targets:
Healers & midwives - Male doctors wanted to control who could practice healing to “professionalize” medicine.
Herbalists - Knowledge of plants could be "witchcraft".
Elderly women - Especially widows without male protection or those who have inherited property.
Poor or Marginalized - Vulnerable and easy scapegoats.
Outsiders - Those who didn't conform socially or who are different (albinism, disabilities, mental illness, etc.).
Successful women - Those who challenged authority, are outspoken, or independent.
Property owners - Sometimes accused so property could be seized.
Children – Orphans, street kids, and those abandoned by their families.
Men – accused of sorcery, are effeminate, or challenge traditional power structures.
You didn’t have to identify as a “witch” to be accused, tortured or executed (by burning, hanging, or drowning) for witchcraft. Historically, those who were labeled as witches were primarily independent women who defied societal norms such as healers, midwives, and those who were simply "different" or non-conforming.
During the Salem Witch Trials, people weren’t burned because they were witches. They were punished for their refusal to conform, for being inconvenient, for their deep connection to the natural world, for holding healing wisdom & herbal knowledge, or perspectives that disrupted patriarchal domination. Accusations often stemmed from misogyny and fear of female power in order to reinforce patriarchal authority. Whether familial, societal or generational, these acts of violence were systemic tools for control, power & silencing.
The Malleus Maleficarum (Latin for “Hammer of Witches”), published in 1487, became a manual for identifying, prosecuting & punishing those accused of witchcraft starting with the European witch hunts. The book was written by a Dominican friar and inquisitor, Heinrich Kramer. He argued that witches were in league with the devil and that society had a duty to find and eliminate them. So, he outlined how to conduct trials. The book also contained deeply misogynistic views further spreading the hysteria and systems of persecution. The Malleus Maleficarum didn’t just target witches, it institutionalized fear and suspicion and taught society how to punish supposed threats from within. It didn’t require proof. It relied on fear. And it rewarded conformity.
“Trauma decontextualized in a person can look like personality. Trauma decontextualized in a family can look like family traits. Trauma in a people can look like culture.”
~ Resmaa Menakem, author “My Grandmother’s Hands”
These psychological scars have woven themselves into cultural memory, perpetuating a legacy of trauma, gender discrimination, and stigma that continues to influence society. According to Gerald Daquila, it is psychologically similar to “complex PTSD, inter-generational trauma, religious trauma syndrome, and spiritual bypassing to avoid fear triggers”.
The term “Witch’s Wound” is symbolic. According to Kimberley Jones who coined the term, the witch wound is "the psychic scar in the collective conscious that mostly women start to awaken to and feel deeply in their bodies as soon as they consider stepping into their power".
The Archetype
The idea of the archetype was conceived by psychoanalyst Carl Jung. Many believe that archetypes – such as the hero, the villain, the fool, the wise one - are intrinsic to human nature. An archetype is a symbol, pattern or character that connects people of the world across time and culture.
Baba Yaga (Slavic) - Crone in the forest who tests heroes & holds wisdom
Hecate (Greek) - Goddess of crossroads, magic & the underworld
Lilith (Jewish) - First woman who refused submission and was demonized
Kali (Hindu) - Destroyer goddess who is wild & fierce
Morgan le Fay (Celtic) – Enchantress who is also a healer & shapeshifter
Sekhmet (Egypt) - Lioness goddess of power, protection & healing
Daquila offers certain archetypes that can be reactivated when one steps into their power or shares their unique gifts with the world. Ancestral memory and karmic fear can trigger the persecution wound in the following:
The Rebel/Revolutionary - Disrupts status quo paradigms.
The Sovereign/Master Builder - Reclaims inner authority/power.
The Oracle/Prophet - Truth-speaking threatens power structures.
The Healer - Challenges profit-driven medical models.
The Witch/Herbalist - Reconnects people to nature and autonomy.
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”
~ Alice Walker
Like the shaman, the witch’s identity is entwined with the natural world and the understanding that everything is interconnected. Rather than a distorted & disfigured character of darkness riding on a broomstick, the Witch Archetype embodies deep wisdom, herbal/plant knowledge, healing abilities, midwifery skills (and understanding the cycle of birth & death), a connection to nature & the cosmos, and embodiment of the sacred feminine. The witch was never evil. She was wild and she was wise.
This wealth of knowledge was passed down through generations, and their wisdom was lived & experienced. These “witches” played essential roles in their communities by maintaining balance through rituals, divination and guidance. The persecution of these wise women was a loss to society, erasing centuries of ancestral wisdom. Sagesista Alissa says: “The witch hunts did not just eliminate individuals; they targeted a way of life that celebrated the sacredness of the earth and the intuitive knowledge of the feminine.”
The Witch Wound is rooted in patriarchal culture, where those in power feared the rising of women and sought to control them and their bodies through persecution and violence. These persecutions served as systemic mechanisms of social control, silencing voices, suppressing feminine wisdom, body sovereignty, spiritual autonomy, and deep connection to nature. For centuries, women didn’t feel safe to be their true selves – healers, mid-wives, creatives, and mystics. To be authentic would mean being shamed, persecuted, or even burnt at the stake.
This was a war on wisdom and feminine power that threatened the patriarchy. It symbolizes the struggle against the mystical, magical & maternal. Accusation didn’t require proof. Fear spread faster than truth. Silence became survival. And over time, that fear pattern didn’t just disappear. It got internalized in the soul’s memory.
This wound lives deep in many people across gender, culture and lineage. We inherit more than eye color and bone structure. We inherit survival patterns, cellular memory, and nervous system responses. In my Yoga Teacher Training, I taught about the “issues in your tissues.”
Epigenetics is similar to the indigenous concept of ancestral karma. These ancestral wounds live in our cells, our DNA, and can be passed down through generations. Scientific research regarding inherited trauma supports the energetic transmission of trauma across generations. An epigenetic study by Yehuda showed that the descendants of Holocaust survivors and other oppressed groups inherit altered stress responses. Trauma is biological, psychological, and neurological. Trauma rewires, reshapes, and is imprinted into every system down to the cellular level. Trauma does not stay in the past, it lives in the body.
Even though today many of us have not faced real threats of being stoned or burned at the stake, this persecution imprint lives in us all as we’ve had many lifetimes holding frequencies of healing, service, and being the way showers for the collective. Some spiritual traditions and metaphysical teachings suggest these patterns extend far beyond recorded history as far back as Lemuria/Mu and Atlantis (before the fall from grace) as well as on other planets, in other galaxies, and in different dimensions.
This wound carries an energetic, emotional, and often physical residue of soul memory. It’s a repeating pattern of unexplainable fear – fear of speaking, fear of seeing, and fear of standing outside the group. This isn’t just philosophical, it’s biological. When something feels threatening (socially, emotionally, psychologically), the body responds. It’s often internal; deeply embedded in the psyche, it surfaces when least expected.
This could come out as sudden panic, somatic flashbacks, or strong reactions when feeling like you are being attacked and needing to defend yourself – fight (outrage), flight (avoidance) or freeze (silence). Deep in the body, it still doesn’t feel safe. The nervous system doesn’t always distinguish between physical danger and social exile. Very little of this is conscious.
That’s why awareness is so important. The same energy that is out in the world is also within. And, if not noticed, it can pull you into the repetitive patterns of reaction, urgency, and trauma response.
Gerald Daquila pronounces that before the “mass historical traumas like the burning of witches, inquisitions, colonial violence, forced conversions, and suppression of indigenous knowledge systems,” the origins can be found in the Akashic Records of Lemuria, Atlantis & beyond. He traces the persecution wound back to the fall of these ancient civilizations.
Daquila says: “In Lemuria, the original wound arose during a collective misuse of trust, where spiritually attuned societies began to divide between inner harmony and external control. Atlantis brought a more technological and hierarchical dominance, leading to a betrayal of the heart-centered Lemurian wisdom. Souls who resisted this corruption were often exiled, imprisoned, or silenced. These original betrayals and soul-level executions created the template for persecution energies that would echo throughout millennia.”
The Pattern
During the witch hunts, communities turned on individuals – even women accusing other women to spare themselves (internalized misogyny). This betrayal is one of the most painful wounds to carry. The bonds of sisterhood were broken due to competition, fear and survival. Accusations without solid evidence created a subconscious fear of being abandoned and betrayed.
"The wounded feminine will always see other women as competition. The awakened feminine quite frankly doesn’t give a shit."
~ Wild Woman Sisterhood
While the medieval witch executions have ended, witch hunts continue today. Thousands of women & children are accused of witchcraft and killed every year in parts of Africa, Asia, Papua New Guinea, India, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia. Tens of thousands are beaten, burned, tortured, stoned, mutilated, sexually violated, or banished from their communities and many more go unreported. There are actual Witch Camps in Ghana where about 1,000 women are exiled into extreme poverty. The same historical patterns of fear, control, misogyny, gendered violence, and scapegoating are happening today.
Hajia’s Story looks at the ongoing persecution of witches in Africa. “Women whose appearance is ‘unappealing’ as a result of hunger, disease, disfigurement or a disability are the main targets, with most charges being made in rural villages. These women are considered a burden.” Accusing someone of witchcraft has been a powerful weapon against the innocent.
The wound manifests across genders and cultures. Signs of the Witch Wound:
Fear of persecution for one’s beliefs, practices, or simply being different. This includes the fear of being labeled, judged, shamed, rejected, criticized, or silenced.
Distrust of others and lack of trust in relationships as well as the difficulty trusting one's intuition or spiritual/creative gifts.
Avoidance - Staying quiet to stay safe instead of speaking your truth (voice).
Hiding your magic - Fear of being visible or recognized.
Suppressing gifts, creative talents, intuition, spiritual abilities, healing capabilities, leadership, or visibility. Shrink to stay safe.
Struggles with self-worth, self-condemnation or comparing yourself to others; imposter syndrome; self-sabotage.
People pleasing is about approval and relies on external validation; co-dependency tendencies are rooted in a fear of abandonment.
Fear of authority or being punished for dissent.
Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward healing. It can be hard to notice when you hold your tongue and edit your thoughts. Not every situation requires you to speak but using your voice is part of your growth. It means expressing yourself authentically. When silence comes from fear instead of choice and that’s the pattern.
At some point, collectively we learned it’s safer to stay quiet than to be cast out. Instead of being persecuted by a village, we self-censor and self-silence. So, ask yourself where am I still afraid to see clearly? Where am I still afraid to speak honestly?
The wound is not just about fear; it is about protection. Breaking free from people-pleasing behaviors requires setting healthy boundaries, saying “no”, and understanding that it’s impossible to satisfy everyone. Our value is not determined by others’ opinions. This isn’t just personal, it’s collective.
Modern Day Triggers
These acts of violence didn’t end with the witch hunts. While the witch wound doesn’t show up as torches, pitchforks & bonfires anymore, it does show up as social pressure, shame around feminine wisdom, body shaming, cancel culture, and modern persecution. And in the past few years, we’ve seen just how quickly that can activate.
Employment discrimination – fired for being openly pagan/witch
Religious discrimination – religion used against parents in custody battles
Social stigma - online shaming and cancel culture
Media stereotypes and misinformation
Censorship of alternative views
Social exile for being “too much”
Fear of speaking unpopular truths, privately or publicly
Spiritual gatekeeping/bypassing
Medical gaslighting
During COVID-19, something deeper than a virus spread – fear & division. The modern pandemic parallel isn’t literal witch hunts but the pattern of social enforcement and fear. Fear of questioning institutional narratives, public shaming, social pressure to comply, and the formation of “us vs them”. That’s the witch wound showing up as self-censorship driven by fear of exclusion. For some, speaking up meant risking their job, reputation or relationships. For others, staying silent meant betraying their intuition and disconnecting from themselves. For many, the shared experience and emotional memory of social punishment was activated.
The witch wound isn’t really about witches. It’s about what happens when truth becomes dangerous. It’s about what happens when authority defines danger and the collective follow without question. Different century. Same pattern.
People of color and women are used to this ongoing discrimination. Cultural conditioning has taught us from an early age to not draw attention to ourself. Think about modern day cat calling. This refers to the act of making unwanted, often sexually suggestive comments or physical gestures toward someone – usually a woman or a girl – in a public setting. Imagine generations ago, rebuffing a man’s unsolicited attention only to be accused as a witch for leading a “godly man” astray because you bruised his ego. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Some environments are genuinely unsafe. It’s important to acknowledge real danger because discrimination and violence do still occur. When stories surface that are disturbing, complex, or difficult to process (like the case of Jeffrey Epstein) another psychological pattern emerges. Not everyone responds the same way. Some react. Some avoid. Some question everything. Some shut down completely. There needs to be discernment between trauma response and real danger.
We see the fear of speaking out, of not being believed. Victims are afraid to come forward. Whistleblowers face retaliation. There's been a loss of trust in authority and many are now questioning the systems meant to protect people.
"Your silence will not protect you."
~Audre Lorde
We are seeing the old patriarchy collapsing and exposing the inquisitor, tyrant & abuser archetypes. This ultimately gives rise to awakening and ascending the divine masculine in both men and women.
Shadow Work
Astrologically, where does Pluto show up in your birth chart? This is the shadow work. Pluto is the planet of transformation, power & death. Nothing is left untouched by Pluto’s presence. What was hidden must surface, what is dying must be released, and what survives emerges with new power. Pluto brings issues to the surface for healing. It is associated with trauma and represents hidden wounds. What is it costing you to keep your voice, your ideas, and your magic hidden?
For me, Pluto is in my 6th house of service - my work in the world. This is often a calling to serve others in deep ways including a natural orientation towards health, wellness, and death/rebirth. Most with this placement start their career in conventional fields only to go through a transformative crisis that forces them to align with more meaningful work such as alternative medicine or holistic healing practices. In 1989, my mother died of ovarian cancer and that prompted me to become a Hospice Volunteer. That was also the year I took my first yoga workshop and started exploring holistic health. Up until then, I had been hiding my magic from the world (with the exception of a few very close friends…you know who you are!!!).
What if the deepest wound was never being burned… but learning it was unsafe to be fully seen?
Shadow work includes recognizing past traumas and how they manifest today. As we reconcile our relationship with our shadow self, we are no longer repeating the persecution cycles. Pluto’s influence brings wounds to the surface. Pluto’s journey is about integrating trauma into who you are so you can rewrite your story. Pluto’s lesson lies in reclaiming your authentic identity and taking back your personal power…healing the witch wound!
“A woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet.”
~ Mohadesa Najumi
Healing & Breaking the Spell
The original “witches” weren’t powerful because of spells. They were powerful because they saw in a different way, they spoke differently, and they lived outside imposed limits. And that’s what was threatening.
While the witch wound thrives in isolation, it begins to heal in community. Acknowledging this history is important for healing collective trauma. It’s also important that we personally confront these fears and patterns of suppression. Healing is a journey of reconnection with the collective feminine spirit, one’s inner wisdom, and forgiveness. You don’t need to be a witch to reclaim your voice (5th chakra), your power (3rd chakra), and your Goddess throne. It entails:
Collective Healing & the Sacred Circle
Personal Empowerment & Engagement
Balance of divine masculine & divine feminine
The Sacred Circle: Healing through Community
The circle embodies the strength found in unity. It represents a community of trust, support and unconditional love. It’s a sacred space to share wounds & wisdom.
Sisterhood - Being in a supportive community (such as women circles) provides validation & encouragement as well as serves as a place of solidarity & strength.
The collective group energy assists in the holistic healing for each individual.
A place to connect with ancestral wisdom and the collective spirit of resilience.
Acknowledge the historical trauma and honor those who were persecuted through memorials, altars, genealogy, telling their stories, rituals, etc.
Release the fear – Burn, bury or release symbolically; perform a fire ceremony to burn what no longer serves.
Incorporating ceremonies & rituals that foster connection and honor nature.
Encourage open dialogues that explore the history of the witch hunts, the witch archetype and its manifestations as well as celebrating personal achievements.
Sharing skills, opportunities, knowledge, and wisdom.
Personal Empowerment
Self-care practices include affirming your self-worth, celebrating your uniqueness, reclaiming your authenticity, and surrounding yourself with supportive people. Rebuilding trust is deep inner work.
Here are some tools to work with:
Journaling can be a safe way to explore thoughts & feelings.
Expressing creativity through art, dance, writing or other mediums assists in reclaiming your voice.
Voice Activation - breath awareness, chanting, singing, humming or screaming into the wind.
Strengthening the power center (3rd chakra) - solar plexus work for releasing emotional wounds as well as abdominal exercises (strength training, yoga or Pilates); let your gut guide you.
Mindful movement such as back-bending yoga poses that not only open the throat (5th chakra) but also open the heart center (4th chakra).
Mindfulness & relaxation techniques – observing thoughts without attaching to them and also regulates your nervous system & reduces anxiety creating a sense of safety.
EFT (tapping) to release the energetic triggers.
Listen to your Inner voice - strengthening your intuition helps develop self-trust.
Confront your Critic - Cognitive reframing allows you to question negative assumptions.
Identify blockages & emotional burdens (i.e. releasing vows of silence).
Letting go of perfectionism – it’s a coping mechanism to avoid criticism and it leads to perfection paralysis.
Exposure & Visibility – gradually embrace “being seen”; micro-dose your work publicly.
Personal Power – set boundaries, “no” is a sacred spell, and stand firm in your truth.
Grounding & connecting with nature.
Self-Compassion – acknowledge progress and celebrate small wins.
Affirmations, gratitude & intentional reflection reinforces supportive inner dialogue.
Therapy & professional support – trauma informed, EMDR, somatic therapies, etc.
Past life regression, ancestral healing or soul retrieval.
Energy healing or Akashic Record clearing.
Marconics recalibration & chakra integration
Yantanin: Sacred Polarities
The wound is not solely limited to women; it has left ancestral scars on men as well. While approximately 75-80% of accused were women, 20-25% were men. They endured the pain of losing family members and some had to live with the truth that they betrayed their loved ones under society pressure. Men can also carry the witch wound if they embody feminine qualities or challenge patriarchy.
Daquila adds: “While the Divine Feminine has borne the brunt of historical repression — witches, priestesses, seers — the Divine Masculine has also been distorted. Men who embodied sensitivity, intuition, or heart-based leadership were often shamed, exiled, or coerced into roles of domination.”
That’s why it’s important to restore balance to the divine masculine & divine feminine that has been fractured – the union of sun/moon, dark/light, outward/inward, rational/intuitive.
“She remembered who she was
and the game changed.”
~ Lalah Delia
Reclaim the word “witch”. The soul contract of silence has expired. Many are being called to bravely heal the persecution wound, reclaim their sacred gifts, and restore the collective feminine energy. How? Speak your truth instead of staying silent. Reclaim your power. Heal what history tried to erase. Build discernment and safety within self. Practice questioning, exploring & expressing. Speak honestly…without needing everyone to agree. Claim your magical authority.
And as we embrace the witch as an archetype, we can heal the wounds of the past and restore our connection with our voice, power, and sovereignty. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. We can use history as fuel for empowerment. Through community connection, self-expression, and divine balance, we can transform the witch wound into wisdom so it is a source of strength & sovereignty. And in doing so, it’s an act of quiet rebellion.
Three centuries of persecution, from the first accusations to the last executions, from historical witch hunts to modern violence. We have witnessed horror, resistance, and reclamation.
The witch hunts happened. They were real. The trauma is valid. The wound isn’t the past. The wound is the pattern that still lives in the present – in the granddaughters, the survivors, and those who remember. It lives in our bodies, psyches, and souls. Nicole Lau says: “The witch hunts are history, but their lessons are urgent: how fear becomes violence, how power is controlled, how the marginalized are scapegoated.”
We carry the wound, but we also carry the medicine. The witch archetype offers an opportunity to reclaim the very qualities that were persecuted – to speak boldly, stand in our truth, and be seen. Now is the time to restore trust in the divine feminine and celebrate the witch as a symbol of healing, intuition, wisdom and connection to the cosmos. Transmute your wounds, fear and pain into wisdom, power and magic. Walk the path of the Priestess. It is essential for the rising Goddess.
Maybe Elphaba’s story resonates so deeply because many of us know what it feels like to be misunderstood while trying to remain true to ourselves. The witch wound heals when we stop apologizing for our intuition, our voice, our sensitivity, and our power.
Healing the witch wound is a journey towards self-acceptance, inner peace, and healthier relationships, paving the way for a more fulfilling and authentic life. Perhaps healing begins the moment we realize the body has been remembering all along.
You are not alone. You belong. Your light is needed. You are needed. Let’s rise together. May you heal the wound. May you embrace your power. May you be wild & wise. The world needs more witch medicine & magic!
The Witch's Vow (author unknown)
I will not hide my power.
I will not silence my voice.
I will not betray my sisters.
I will honor those who died.
I will practice the forbidden.
I will heal the wound.
I will be wild, sovereign, free.
I am the witch they couldn't burn.
And I remember.
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