Do you have symptoms of the Witch Wound?
And why it matters now more than ever.
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
The Witch Wound is everywhere.
Affecting our relationships, our physical and mental health, our careers, the economy, the healthcare system, media messaging, the arts, education and our planet.
The Witch Wound is ultimately a violent disconnection from parts of ourselves, from the sacredness of the Feminine, a deletion of women’s herstory and Goddess wisdom caused by an intuitionalised femicide.
Today it continues within many of us as internalised patriarchy, embodied colonisation and invisible oppression that is affecting us and our world today in so many ways.
You can read more over at What is the Witch Wound?
Today I want to share some signs and symptoms you may recognise and which I believe are connected to carrying the Witch Wound.
The symptoms listed below can relate to other wounds and forms of trauma too of course, however for the purposes of this article I’m looking specifically through the lens of having worked with tens of thousands of women all over the world who had these sorts of issues and feelings come up in our sessions.
These experiences and symptoms usually surface along with vivid deep memories or past life visions and sensations relating to traumas from the witch hunts. Traumas that have been passed on genetically, epigenetically and culturally. Over the years I have consistently seen these symptoms in my clients, often presenting in combination along with past life flashbacks and arising at a key moment on a woman’s path that is calling her to step up, show up, grow or speak out.
Please go slowly as you read these signs and symptoms and stop when you need to. Go for a walk, drink some water, take some deep breaths.
If something comes up maybe write about it in your journal, dance, drum or speak to someone you trust. You can always come back later and finish reading.
The ancestral and collective trauma from the Witch Wound is real and deep and can bring up surprisingly strong feelings.
That’s OK.
Just feel them and do take good care of yourself. Go gently.
Also feel free to disregard anything on the list that doesn’t apply to you. Don’t take it on if it isn’t yours.
Becoming aware of the symptoms you may carry is the beginning of being able to heal the Witch Wound. To let go of old programming and to begin to reclaim your sacred feminine gifts and power.
This is how we retrieve our stolen legacies and start remembering the lost ways of women, in readiness to start weaving the new world you came here to midwife.
Some signs and symptoms of the Witch Wound
Fear of being seen, of sticking your head above the parapet and attracting attention.
Vivid dreams, arising memories or 'flashbacks' of the witch hunts and your own death or torture, or that of those you love.
Feeling unsafe to be fully yourself and express yourself.
Fear of being mocked, attacked, rejected if you speak up or show up.
Not trusting your intuition and psychic abilities.
Hiding your intuitive knowings from others.
Hiding or downplaying your spiritual/psychic interests.
Burying your anger.
Suppressing your sexuality and desires (Sacral Chakra).
Hiding, playing small, not revealing your uniqueness and individuality, especially around men or authority figures.
Self-sabotage, holding yourself back, imposter syndrome.
Creative blocks, resistance and procrastination on your dreams.
Financial fear or blocks, (Base Chakra wound), unable to manifest.
Thyroid issues (Throat Chakra).
A strong reaction in your body or emotions when your church community say that anything intuitive or esoteric is evil.
Not feeling safe or rooted in your body (ungrounded, dissociation, bypassing).
Croaky voice, throat constriction, heat, rashes when speaking out, terror of public speaking or standing up for yourself and telling truth to power.
Not liking tight clothing or jewellery around the throat.
Fear of fire and/or drowning, water splashing in your face, of small spaces.
Relying heavily on logical, left-brained, intellectual, masculine energy (denying, suppressing, hiding, mistrusting, protecting or fearing your feminine nature)
Panic attacks in certain public situations.
Concealing mystical experiences for fear of being labelled, stigmatised, locked up, misdiagnosed, outcast by your family and friends as weird.
Poor boundaries, people-pleasing, over-giving.
Innate mistrust of men and authority, fear of betrayal.
Family conflict around keeping things hidden, not feeling safe to speak up.
Disconnection from yourself, others, nature and Source.
Ongoing nervous system dysregulation and complex trauma with no obvious source.
Upset by prejudice, mocking and disrespect for all things intuitive or mystical seen in modern culture (TV, Films etc).
Discomfort with the use of certain words like priestess, witch, magic, sorceress, Goddess, sacred feminine etc.
A disconnection from the web of life, Great Mother and Divine Source.
Feelings of not belonging, loneliness, isolation, feeling cut adrift, spiritual homelessness, homesickness, stuck in fear.
Giving your power away and defering to others rather than being your own source of authority and guidance.
Depression and anxiety (as a result of Repressed Mediumicity and other gifts).
Chronic health issues. Particularly mitochondrial = Mother wound and separation from the great mother.
Hiding health concerns from your doctor for fear of being labelled ‘crazy’ or being disbelieved.
Feeling foggy, lost and stuck around your path or purpose.
Terror and cold shivering around psychic and clairvoyant practices.
Mistrust of mediums and intuitives.
Uncontrollable rage at men, the ‘system’ and authorities.
Partner or family are afraid, critical or judgemental of your spiritual and mystical interests.
You find it hard to trust other women, to open up to or to maintain genuine and close friendships with other women.
You feel you are in competition with other women, comparing yourself with them.
You are a people-pleaser and over-giver who finds it hard to ask for help or to receive help, gifts or compliments.
You regularly burn out with adrenal exhaustion from driving and striving, rushing and pushing and never stopping.
You feel guilty if you rest and do something nice for yourself.
You struggle with anxiety, insomnia, addictions, self-medication.
Your body feels numb from the neck down or like it is separate from you, like watching yourself from the outside.
You hide your oracle and tarot card decks from other people when they visit.
You tell people you’re on a work training course when you’re really on a magical/healing retreat.
You find it almost impossible to use the word Witch to describe yourself.
You have poor boundaries and find it hard to say no. As a result you get angry and hurt when other people say no and set boundaries with you.
You find yourself avoiding clothes that might look too ‘woo woo’ or make you stand out as a spiritual and witchy woman.
Strange sensations in your body or strong emotions when you see or read anything about the witch trials and the 'burning times', such as hot surges, tightening around your throat or inability to speak or breathe.
There are many more signs and symptoms of the Witch Wound that people might experience. It also extends out into our relationships, our families and our modern culture.
Awareness of how it’s affecting you personally is just the beginning.
Once you see it you can’t unsee it.
Then everything starts to change, for the better.
But first you might get reeeeally pissed off!
Then comes the grief and the healing.
Can you relate to any of the above symptoms?
How many?
Do feel free to share in the comments below.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
If this post has resonated with you, stirred things up and you’d like some support navigating this healing path, then maybe start by listening to my FREE guided Shamanic meditation Healing the Witch Wound
If you’d like to go deeper and do some guided journalling and healing work in your own time then download The Witch Wound Workbook
And if you’d like personal, bespoke help with your journey of Healing the Witch Wound and would like to work with me then do feel free to contact me for a private 1-2-1 Reading/Session.
I currently have just 6 spots left in October.
More info on Readings with Kimberley
Until next time.
Thanks for reading and do let me know which symptoms really hit home for you.
Just found this article now and feeling so tense with how many of these are true for me. Fear is so strong with me, it took a long time to figure out it stems from trauma of the witch wound.