the persecution wound & how it affects you (witch trials)
If you’re on Instagram, or part of any self help circles, you’ve probably heard about the need to show up and if you’ve been following my work, you’ve probably heard me speak those words as well. Because you do. Earth is undergoing a major shift and it is our gifts and abilities that are creating the new systems we’ll live in. But as motivating as ‘just show up!’ and ‘the world needs what you’ve got!’ can sound, speaking up and being who we really are isn’t always easy for healers and creatives, because for centuries, “being ourselves” was not safe. For centuries, being ourselves meant being burnt at the stake. Or hanged. (Witch trials.) And though this memory is unconscious, it keeps so many of us from leaving the spiritual closet and being honest about what we know, do, care about and love. We want to follow our path and we want to share our work with those we are here to help, but we feel held back because an unconscious part of us remembers when doing so meant difficulty or death. This fear is known as the persecution wound and it’s a wound that sits in our collective bones (and more specifically, the throat chakra of us as individuals) and because I’ve had to face and re-face it with my work, I wanted to outline the signs you might carry it too. Because your work to show up might require a bit more than a few motivational quotes, and if it does, I want you to know you aren’t alone with what you’re going through.
6 SIGNS YOU CARRY THE PERSECUTION (WITCH) WOUND
& HOW IT AFFECTS YOU
01. You have big dreams of sharing your gifts and knowing (and making your purpose your reality) but shy away from actually doing it in fear of what others might think. The spiritual closet is a safer place to be because when you’re in the spiritual closet and only engaging in spiritual things quietly, others don’t have to know what you truly think or believe or know that you identify as being a spiritual being.
For empaths in business, this impacts their visibility. To be seen, we have to be visible, and to be visible we have to admit what we do - the real truth. It also affects the clients/customers called to their offerings, because when we keep our offerings surface level to avoid showing too much of ourselves, our perfect matches can’t feel our truth, and if they can’t feel us, they won’t know our ability to help.
02. You fear authority & getting in trouble and this manifests as simple things, like an irrational fear of speeding tickets or something financial.
For empaths in business this often manifests as fears around contracts and legalities or anything else around rules, regulations and ‘the right way of doing things.’ A simple process to set up a contract or do taxes turns into a debilitating experience for so many because they don’t want to make a mistake. Which indirectly pushes money away, because fearing things like taxes or setting up contracts keeps so many from receiving for their work — because they know ‘more money’ means more responsibility and potential for errors. So unconsciously they prefer to not earn at all.
03. You often have a burning throat and/or memories of being hanged or choked. These memories often show up in dreams. As a clairsentient for a long time I had trouble laying on my back because I physically felt a noose around my neck. I also had visions of seeing women burned that I later realized was the Salem Witch Trials. How you’ll experience your memories will depend on your own intuitive gifts. The burning throat feeling will surface most often when you are wanting to express yourself authentically.
As an empath in business, my memories of the witch trials surfaced most when I was first sharing blog posts and social media content with the world. At the same time I was receiving pushback for “being a fraud” and that is another example of how this wound shows up.
04. There is a voice in your head that tells you you’re a fraud or impostor (deceptive, manipulative, etc.) This story comes from memories of lifetimes being feared for your magic/witchcraft or from picking up on those stories from the collective unconscious. (The thought-grid that connects us all.) Unfortunately, the fear of being a fraud makes you undervalue yourself and the impact you can make on others because the last thing you want to do is be dishonest.
For empaths in business this looks like underselling yourself, because it’s easier to sell yourself short (by not charging or charging very little) and not have to fear someone questioning your work than to hold your worth when (and if) that situation was to come true.
05. You people please to avoid making a scene. Passive behaviours can be rooted in many things, including childhood. However, for many healers, it can also have roots in past eras of persecution. Unconsciously, being passive is a coping mechanism that keeps you from drawing attention to yourself, because there is a part of you that remembers that making a scene is what lead to being caught, persecuted and burned or hanged.
So again, visibility. For empaths in business this affects things that should be “easy”, like publishing an instagram post. To your unconscious mind sharing your Reiki practice IS rocking the boat and that is something you do not want to do. But you don’t know that, you just feel fearful and resistant to do so.
06. You have a history of throat and lung related illnesses. For me it was bronchitis that came on aggressively when I first started to consider writing a blog. This is because the persecution wound is a throat chakra wound and the body uses physical symptoms and illnesses to get our attention. Like many, it was only after getting sick that I was motivated enough to take my body seriously. When I looked into the symbolism of my symptoms I realized the connection to speaking up and when I started to use my voice, my symptoms lessened.
Relate to any of these? Understanding the persecution wound is often one of the first steps to feeling safe living your truth. Know anyone who could use this information too? I’d love for you to forward this blog post or share however you feel guided to.
xo
Robin
related
Rejection, Being Called A Fraud And Feeling Like You're Not Enough | The Empath Podcast
If you’re new to my work:
Hi! I'm Robin —
The diarist behind the Diary of an Empath and creator of Empaths in Business, a six week course teaching empaths how to turn their work into a business that works, with strategy, healing and support. I’d love to get to know more about you, so if you’re on Instagram, come say hello!