Heal the Witch Wound - A Review

Celeste Larsen dives deep into the past of the Witch Trials in order to pin-point the wounds we still carry as modern-day Witches.

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I knew when I first chose this book that I had a little healing to do, but never would I have associated the Witch Trials as a possible cause. With Celeste Larsen's book, I have been proven wrong. The associations she has made between my inner witch and the countless victims of the Bruning Times, as she calls it, makes sense. Why, before now, was it not obvious? Was it because I never really saw the Witch Trials as anything more than a corky town in Massachussetts? Or was it because I never allowed myself to reflect on why I held back in certain parts of my practice? For both, Celeste Larsen has given me new-found insight into the Burning Times and a way to heal my relationship with my troubled inner witch with her book Heal the Witch Wound.

The book contains 3 parts, with a total of 16 chapters, and 189 pages. It could be seen as a quick one day read (if you have nothing else to do), however, with books like these it is best to take your time. A fact the author reminds us all the way to the end. Some subjects she covers are horrible, but necessary. This could be triggering to some readers.

Take deep breaths. Take breaks between chapters to allow those emotions to surface. There is no rush. You will, after all, be constantly poking and prodding at your wounds, whether you knew you had them or not.

Part One

We all need to learn the past we are reclaiming as ours when we call ourselves Witches.

It is not all roses and crystals. Its is almost 300 hundred years of hate, fear mongering and unjust prosecutions. That is only counting the years the infamous Malleus Maleficarum was the book to have for the in-the-know witch hunter.

That is why the first part of this book focuses on the centuries before the witch craze. Then the horrible consequences of a guide book written by a spiteful Heinrich Kramer. To finally reach the modern times that we now live in. Sadly, killing suspected witches and the fear to be pointed as a witch is not yet in the past.

Part Two

The author then pokes straight into that festering wound caused by the useless deaths of over 50 000 women and men. She goes over every symptom of the witch wound, from how they present themselves, to how it came to be, using her own personal experiences.

This is only a small, yet concisive, sampling of the various symptoms that may have been created by your relation with the Burning Times.

• Hiding your spirituality and practice

• Feelings of shame or fear

• Muting who you are

• Ignoring your intuition

• Pleasing those around you

• Ignoring who you are in order to fit in

• Feeling blocked from achieving a goal

• Having limiting beliefs

• Wounds of our ancestors that bleed into the next generations

• Wounds from a past life

• Feeling separated from the Divine Feminine

• Rejecting feminity

• Feelings of shame as a woman

Some of these are eerily familiar for you? Maybe consider this book for a future purchase.

Part Three

This part is all about the healing of the symptoms that were mentioned in Part Two.

The author offers simple ideas on how to gradually step out of the closet, how to empower yourself with a simple jar spell or even how to cleanse and release the bad energy. There are seven spells and rituals to use and even more practical everyday affirmations, journal prompts and meditation ideas. This is truly for everyone and every type of practice.

As the Reader

A few of these symptoms resonated deeply with me and my inner witch. As I mentioned earlier, I never thought about the trials other than taking place in Salem, Massachussetts. I knew Salem wasn't the epicentre. I knew Europe had it bad with their own witch craze. And I knew women were the majority of the victims. That was all I knew and all I believed I needed to know. But, by going deeper in the history, I noticed that what happened then still affect us now.

If the witch trials hadn't happened, would we see witches the same? Probably not.

Because of those trials, however, we feel we cannot express ourselves. This does not only apply to female witches. Take out the female, the witch and the spiritual and you can still be affected by the same symptoms. The Witch Trials caused everyone to refrain from whom they were and doing everything in their power to conform and create as little waves as possible in fear of being shunned, hurt and ridiculed.

For me as a Witch, I don't feel the need to scream on every roof top that I practise Witchcraft. Those who are important to me know, and I couldn't care less about the rest of the world. Yet, I still resonated with what was said in Heal the Witch Wound. I have work to do, and I will always have work to do. A book won't change that, but it did bring it to light, and give me new ways to accept and include my magic in the healing.

Will this lead to a post-reading creation? ABSOLUTELY! However, it will remain behind closed doors. Not because I am ashamed of being a Witch. Because I feel my healing isn't for all to see. Some things are better kept private, as it is easier to heal. It is not something for others to comment and share. Once I feel like the healing has worked, I might make a follow-up. Only time will tell.

Dear Reader

Maybe this book could be a new essential in your collection. I don't know and I won't assume that you need healing. If the small list I compiled of the various symptoms of the witch wound resonated with you as well, maybe consider this book in the future. I suggest it for anyone, no matter where you are in your journey.

Important disclaimer: this is not a replacement for professional help! Celeste Larsen says it multiple times in her book. She herself has gotten help when needed. We learn with this book that there is no shame in your spirituality, no matter what others may have done, but don't forget, there is no shame in finding help, either. If reading this book brings forth emotions you feel need tending to, don't ignore them. Reach out to a professional.

Happy Healing!