Coming out of the broom closet – Reclaiming the word 'witch'

Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Send us a text here This weekend, the world dresses up as witches for Halloween.  Here in Australia, it’s also Beltane, the spring fire festival in the Southern Hemisphere wheel of the year.  So it felt like the perfect time to ask: what comes up for you when you hear the word witch? For centuries, it was used to silence women: the healers, the midwives, the wise women, and anyone who lived by the moon and her own knowing.  Even now, many of us feel a flicker of discomfort saying it out loud. That includes two doctors who were trained to dismiss “old wives’ tales”. In this episode, Dr Peta Wright, Dr Thea Bowler and Sam Lindsay-German explore what it might mean to reclaim that word. We look at where the fear came from, what was lost, and what we might find again: more trust in our bodies, more reverence for our cycles, more sisterhood, and a lot more magic. We start, of course, by pulling an oracle card… ✨ In this episode, we explore: Why the word witch still makes so many of us uncomfortable The witch trials as ancestral trauma, and how fear taught women to stay small, stay quiet and turn on each other The women’s knowledge that was passed down by word of mouth rather than written in books, and what happened when that chain was broken Our cycles as a mirror of the moon, the tides and the seasons Why menstrual blood became something to hide, and an invitation to see it differently Sam’s simple practice for reconnecting with your land, the moon and your own cycle Covens, “god-sips” and why women are so powerful together Small daily rituals, slow living, and coming out of the broom closet This episode is for you if: You’ve ever felt drawn to the moon, the seasons or your own cycle and weren’t sure why. Or you’re tired of being told your body needs fixing. Or you’ve been looking for your coven. We’d love to hear about your own rituals and spells. Send us a message using the link at the top of these notes. Want to join us on retreat in 2027?  Come and remember the witch within – 4 days to reconnect with the sacred wild, wise woman beneath it all. Find out more at verawellness.com.au/reclaiming-the-witch-within-retreat. ______________________ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for information and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.