Time to Heal the Ancestral Wounds From the Burning Times by Marilyn Nyborg

My work has been in the areas of social justice and the empowerment of women. Until somewhere in 1990, I saw a series of films from women in Canada on the Early Modern European Witchcraft trials which included “The Burning Times”. (Still available on You Tube.)  The film talked about three centuries of Witch burnings. The narration and graphics really shocked me and awakened an interest.  Intuitively I recognized the way in which women have embedded the limitations and pain of that era from centuries ago.  I now know it to be called ancestral wounding. 

Not to say the abuse of women began there.  It didn’t.  But the intensity of three centuries of extreme violence on women have impacted us and cultures through time: sowing the limitations and lack of respect for women into cultures globally.

SO, WHY IS THIS SUBJECT SO IMPORTANT IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

When I considered the era from the 14th to the 17th century, I thought about what was occurring in the world at that time.  Men were exploring the healing arts and creating medical systems.  Women were not allowed in this new field, and the existing healers, midwives and herbalists were a threat to this growing field.

The Church taught that the midwives, healers and herbalists were practicing Witchcraft and that they were aligned with Satan.

The Church authorities feared women in general and demonized Eve and her kind.  They encouraged Witch hunts.  Some men were given payment to find witches.  Women’s work as village healers and midwives and their methods of healing through spells and herbs made them vulnerable to attacks from the emerging medical profession, the state and the early Church.

Most of us are unfamiliar with these scriptures in the old testament:

“A man or a woman who is a medium or a sorcerer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 19.

AND…..lest we forget:

Exodus 22:18-31 KJV – Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

The worship and honoring of supernatural powers have been around since the beginning of time and respectfully practiced in the nature based religions throughout the ages.  Any worship outside the criteria set by the Church was demonized.

In the presentations I have given about women’s empowerment, I included my observations long before I had heard about ancestral wounds.  Just how we have carried the pain of limiting women’s authenticity, opinions and influence under male domination.  As mentioned, just as we carry our physical characteristics through our linage so do we carry gifts and wounds.    

More recently we have begun to read about the impact of ancestral wounds carried in our DNA, passed down generation to generation. And the work needed to heal these wounds.  While still scientifically unproven, I am amazed at the number of women who believe they remember how they suffered and were killed by fire. Intergenerational trauma is the theory that trauma can be inherited because there are genetic changes in a person’s DNA. The changes from trauma do not damage the gene (genetic change). Instead, they alter how the gene functions (epigenetic change)

I am still amazed at the number of women both young and old who have NO knowledge or understanding of what happened to us.  They might think about the limited period of the Salem Witch hunts and not the three centuries occurring throughout Europe.   You might consider your ancestors, and what has been carried in your own DNA.

How often were women put away in insane asylums because she was considered hysterical?  And her husband or her son had her committed.

While it has been centuries since women have been burned at the stake in the United States or Europe, but in other places around the world, we hear of female circumcision, honor killings, systematic rape and the use of rape as an instrument of war and torture on a regular basis.

There are now still current, Witch hunts in Africa, India and South America. Beating or killing old women who have done healing, shared their wisdom and are then accused of Witchcraft.

Women who gain their power are often targets as they become threats to the patriarchy.  And continues to be evident currently.  We continue to be persecuted, shamed, belittled, not good enough, too bold, too different, and made to stay silent and small.  (Sound familiar?) We are still paid .82 cents on the dollar men earn.  Women are in poverty more than men.

Look what we have done to language, the original meanings of words like crone, hag and witch who were frequently the sages, leaders, midwives and healers in their communities and were revered for their wisdom and knowledge.  As history evolved and the patriarchal society took hold, the definitions were demonized: the crone, was the crowned one, the hag, the holy one, and the Witch the wise one were distorted and redefined. And made evil.   Today, over 7,000 words contain the word MAN.  (Male centric?)

Lets’ look at some of the patterns we carry: Have you ever felt fear when you are asked to speak in front of a group? Give voice to your opinions or beliefs?

We were undoubtedly beaten down or killed for these expressions, AND still are being silence.

Lack of Self Confidence:  Have you ever felt like:  if they ONLY knew the REAL me!!   Or “I could NEVER do that!”     Why not?   Women tend to take time to prepare for a new skill, where men tend to jump in and learn on the job.  

Have you ever felt like you had to make yourself small in a relationship or marriage?   Causing conflict when you expressed your ideas and opinions.  Or didn’t agree on social issues?

Have you ever been interrupted by men in particular, or corrected in mid-sentence??

Regardless of your credentials, or experience?

My friend Cali White in the U.K. and founder of SILVER SPOONS COLLECTIVE online summarizes this perfectly:

“The scars we still carry show up in many ways; fears of being seen or heard, mistrust of other women, experiences of betrayal, playing small, irrational fears of fire or drowning, fear of rejection, fear of stepping up or into our power, fear of authority, struggles with feeling home in ourselves, lack of roots, lack of support, feelings of disconnection to nature, patterns of victimhood, inability to stand up for ourselves, difficulties in setting healthy boundaries. The Burning Times smashed up our sisterhoods, taught us to play small and broke our trust in the people closest to us leaving us feeling powerless, isolated, unsafe and unsupported.”   ~ 

Let’s ask ourselves, what is the cost of our healing these patterns?  How do we heal?  How will my healthy self impact my relationships?   Are you willing?

The influence of our full range of our divine feminine is rising and desperately needed.   Our innate connection with nature has become one of life or death.   The loss of our influence and wisdom has brought us to the brink.  There are workshops, women’s circles, groups, therapist and friends who will support healing the wounds we carry and the beliefs that have been imposed on us.   The time is now, when we must overcome the ancient fears we carry.  We can speak up, speak with the power of our hearts and our knowing.   Ask important questions of authority.  

Please, let’s create the conversation with one another; To heal and be healed….to use our innate power.

BIO: Marilyn Rosenbrock Nyborg has been a spiritually based activist since the ‘60’s beginning with the civil rights movement. Director of Fair Housing in Palo Alto California, she contributed to a HUD court case on discrimination in housing that was successful.   In the ‘70’s she turned her focus inward and began the journey to wholeness, and examining the unconscious attitudes and conditioning in her personality.

Recognizing the need for women to find their voices and claim their power, she began in the early ‘80’s to work through women’s circles and activities to bring feminine wisdom to bear on the world. In 2002 she became a co-founder of Gather the Women. Marilyn brought GTW home, and created Gather the Women of Nevada County.   2016 co founded Indivisible Women of Nevada County. Politically oriented.   Authored a book:  A Woman’s Guide to Sacred Activism.  And co-led Living Room Conversations for 3 years.  Currently exploring the ancestral woundings carried in women from the burning times and the conditioning we have carried into the 21st century.  Presentations focused on the  major loss throughout civilization at the repression and degradation of women’s wisdom and contributions.  

Marilyn is now an elder, a visionary, an initiator of creative ideas. She fosters new thinking, connecting the dots between people, ideas and projects. She is known for her networking skills and connections.