S4-Episode 12: The Witch Wound - How Collective Trauma Keeps Women Playing Small

In this episode I dive into the Witch Wound: the ancestral, collective trauma rooted in the Burning Times that still shapes how women show up today. If you’ve ever felt afraid to be visible, worried about being “too much”, or guilty for wanting more than the bare minimum… this one is for you.

Drawing on Celeste Larsen’s powerful book Heal the Witch Wound I explore how historic persecution of women—healers, midwives, herbalists, independent women—still echoes in our nervous systems, beliefs & behaviours.

In this episode, I talk about:

• What the Witch Wound actually is
  How the “Burning Times” weren’t just a gruesome chapter in history, but a systemic campaign to control women’s power, wisdom, bodies & resources.
• How ancestral trauma shows up in modern life
  Why you might feel unsafe being visible online, charging well for your work, having strong opinions, or leaving relationships that deplete you.
• Powerful women as a “threat”
  The social conditioning that still rewards the quiet “good girl” & punishes outspoken, sovereign women.
• Nervous system & Witch Wound links
  How your fear of criticism, trolling, rejection, conflict, or taking up space isn’t weakness—it’s your nervous system remembering old danger patterns.
• Money, safety & fear of success
  Why so many women are subconsciously afraid of wealth & how this links back to women once being punished & stripped of everything for having power.
• Where to begin your healing
  Simple starting points: noticing your triggers, journaling your beliefs & learning to regulate your nervous system instead of abandoning yourself.

If this episode hit a nerve (in a good way) & you’re done playing small, diluting yourself, outsourcing your safety & power & you’re ready to step into your sovereignty:

• Send me a DM on Instagram @EmmaOBrienCoach and tell me what landed.
• Book a free connection call HERE and let’s talk.

If you’re done playing small and ready to lead yourself — you’re in the right place.

I’m Emma O’Brien — Martha Beck trained and certified life coach, HeartMath practitioner, and shamanic healer helping high-achieving women stop second-guessing themselves and finally trust their own voice.

Through nervous system re-calibration, strategic coaching, and deep energetic work, I help you move from self-doubt to self-trust so you can create a life you actually want to be in — no external approval required.

🌀 Want to work together?

Explore the 6-week Nervous System Reset, 1:1 coaching, or Shamanic Soul Retrieval sessions here: emmaobriencoach.com

Questions or ready to chat?

DM me on Instagram @emmaobriencoach
or book a free connection call HERE.

Transcript

• 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro
  Season 4 update, why we’re talking about the Witch Wound today.
• 00:45 – What is the Witch Wound?
  Introduction to the concept, Celeste Larsen’s book, and the Burning Times context.
• 01:25 – The Burning Times Explained
  Persecution of healers, midwives, independent women; how fear and control were systemically enforced.
• 03:40 – How the Witch Wound Echoes Now
  Internalized fear, women turning on women, and the residue of collective trauma.
• 04:36 – Modern Symptoms of the Witch Wound
  Playing small, people-pleasing, fear of visibility, guilt for wanting more, outsourcing money and power.
• 06:02 – Triggers, Trolls & Silencing
  Emma’s personal stories (YouTube trolls, criticism, “good girl” conditioning) and how they activate the nervous system.
• 08:50 – Subtle Diminishment & The Lunchbox Story
  How seemingly small comments can poke old patterns of shrinking and servitude.
• 09:45 – Fear of Being Seen & Speaking Out
  The mental loops: “What will they think?”, “Who am I to…?”, “Is it safe to do this?”
• 10:39 – Kate vs Meghan: A Live Case Study
  The “acceptable woman” vs the outspoken woman as a modern Witch Wound illustration.
• 11:44 – Where Healing Begins
  Awareness, journaling, noticing beliefs and patterns that keep you small.
• 12:14 – Nervous System Regulation Tools
  Why regulation is essential, not about bypassing but about staying with yourself so you can choose differently.
• 13:19 – Reclaiming Sovereignty
  Witch Wound healing as a gateway back into your power, purpose, and voice.
• 14:31 – Money, Safety & Ancestral Fear
  The historic link between women’s wealth and punishment; why success can feel unsafe.
• 15:54 – Your Invitation
  Notice, name, and work with what’s coming up; where to go next.
• 16:09 – Connect & Next Steps
  How to message Emma, book a free connection call, and step out of smallness.