You’ve got to pick up every stitch. Oh no, must be the season of the witch. Let's get rid of that insecure twitch.
It took me time to arrive at this topic—one that feels fresh yet deeply rooted, a wound that may take a lifetime to heal. But this is an essential part of my journey, and it resonates with so many women around me. The “Witch Wound” and “Imposter Syndrome” are two sides of the same coin. The former, a term born from spiritual conversations; the latter, a more clinical description of the fear that holds us back from fully stepping into our power. For far too long, society has feared women who embrace their strength, and the echoes of this fear linger on.
Today, women have more opportunities than ever before—we can voice our opinions, vote, and pursue careers once denied to us. Not that long ago we could dream of becoming a princess or a bride. Yet, despite this progress, the remnants of generations of pain and oppression still cast shadows in our lives. This lingering pain often manifests as Imposter Syndrome, a feeling that undermines our achievements and abilities.
Understanding Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome, or impostor phenomenon, describes the unsettling experience of feeling like a fraud despite evidence of competence. It tells us that our dreams are out of reach, that we are somehow not good enough. This is a collective trauma, one that we must peel away layer by layer, even as society often unconsciously reinforces patriarchal beliefs.
There is a beautiful and empowering speech of Reshma Saujani, author, activist for gender equality and founder of "Girls Who Code" empowering women in the tech industry at Smith College. If the term Imposter Syndrome is completely unfamiliar for you, I'd like to invite you to watch her words on it here.
For me the wound started to show in the school system that failed me tremendously. They couldn’t seem to spot the many talents that were clearly there, focussing only on the aspects that I “couldn’t do” well or fast enough. So at a very young age this confirmed for me that me I wasn’t good at learning. To deal with this disappointment I made myself small trying not to stand out in any way. It was only at a grown age I found out I am as they call it “gifted”. I really disliked the term at first because it has never felt as a gift especially in the place where it should have thrived, the school system.
Research around the topic of gifted children is very disappointing from a feminine perspective. Gifted boys have a chance of 64% to be discovered by the system while it’s only 2% of the girls, showing how we are raising boys to stand out and girls to adapt, at the cost of their ability to stand out.
The Roots of Fear
The fear of not being good enough or of being “too much” is insidious, echoing through our lives and careers. Studies reveal that women only apply for jobs when they meet 100% of the requirements, while men are willing to throw their hats in the ring with only 60% qualification.
This fear is deeply ingrained, a reflection of the very real historical consequences faced by our ancestors—women who were punished for having opinions and ideas of their own, for being too powerful and knowledgable.
Healing the witch wound
As we embark on our healing journeys, we recognize the profound shifts happening within us. Many of our ancestors bravely broke cycles in their own lives; we are now tasked with breaking numerous cycles collectively. It’s a raw and necessary shedding of outdated beliefs and limitations happening at an all time high speed.
I’ll never forget my childhood fascination with nature—brewing potions from my mother’s flowers and herbs, painting with tea and coffee. One day, a friend from a conservative background labeled my creativity as “witch stuff,” associating it with evil. Today, when I am called a witch, I embrace it. It signifies that I am a woman in my power, a force of nature.
We have been conditioned to fear “witches,” yet why aren't we afraid of the people burning them at the stake?
To all the witches out there, let us declare this season as our time to reclaim what has always belonged to us: magic and inner wisdom. Together, we are not just healing ourselves but also healing the collective—a powerful act of reclamation. Let’s honor our journey and step boldly into our power, transforming the witch wound into a source of strength and unity. We are the generation of women to rise and to embrace our magic, and to heal the wound that has been holding us back.
Images by Georgina Abreu
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