In the first part of our journey, we imagined raising our girls as something more than just fairies and princesses. Now, let’s dive deeper into what it means to embrace the word "witch" - a word that carried a lot of negative baggage, and see how we can transform it into a symbol of wisdom and strength.
Roots of the "witch"
Historically, the term "witch" became a tool of fear, often used to label women who were independent healers, midwives, or spiritual guides. (Roles that had once been respected in ancient societies like Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Rome, Indigenous cultures and African traditions.)
Over time, especially in Europe, these women were rebranded as "witches" to suppress their influence. But before that, these same women might have been called priestesses, healers, or wise women, titles that reflected their respected roles in their communities.
Priestess, Healer, and Wise Woman
Instead of shying away from the word "witch," we can reclaim it as a badge of honor, much like the title "priestess."
A priestess was someone who had a sacred role, a guardian of spiritual wisdom and community healing.
A healer was someone who used natural remedies and intuition to care for others.
And a wise woman was simply a woman deeply connected to her inner knowing and the rhythms of the earth.
Maybe one of these resonates with you. Maybe you have your own terminology as the intuitive woman who leads her family in a way that feels right for you.
My reflection: claiming the title of priestess
My path of walking a different road didn’t just start when I became a mother. Even as a child, I always felt like I saw the world a little differently. I never quite fit into the mainstream mold, and that often meant feeling misunderstood, judged, or left out. But it also showed me that there’s incredible power in being different.
As I grew older - and became a mother in my late twenties - I leaned more fully into what had always felt true for me. I learned to trust my intuition, especially in how I raise my children and how I approach health, care, and decision-making for our family. I chose a road that doesn’t always look familiar or conventional, but it is one that has brought deep fulfillment, clarity, and steadiness to our lives. Through that lived experience, I’ve come to understand that I am, in many ways, a modern priestess - not because someone named me as such, but because this is how I have moved through the world all along.
I don’t need a certification or an external authority to declare, “Yes, Elise, you are now officially a priestess.” This isn’t an identity I arrived at after a single rupture or awakening. I don’t have a dramatic before-and-after story or a moment where everything suddenly changed. I wasn’t broken and then fixed. I didn’t wake up one day angry at the world or driven to correct a wrong. This has been a steady, lifelong way of seeing, sensing, and responding to life. I was born with this orientation.
My message comes from a different place. I don’t lead from blame or resentment. I don’t carry a chip on my shoulder, and I’m not interested in burning anything down to prove a point. I genuinely believe it is possible to stay deeply focused on yourself, your children, your loved ones, and your community- and still create meaningful, life-changing impact. Quiet impact. Grounded impact. Enduring impact.
That said, this path has not been without cost. I carry stories of being misunderstood, of being excluded, of relationships fading because what I do (or how I see) felt uncomfortable or hard to name. I often find myself in rooms where my presence agitates something in others, simply by being aligned, clear, and unwilling to minimize myself. That can be tiring at times. But I’ve come to understand that part of my purpose is not to convince or convert - it’s to model what it looks like to trust your inner knowing, especially in a world that has conditioned so many of us to doubt it or shrink it down.
I also want to be clear: I deeply respect the path of women who choose to enter priestess trainings, initiations, or long-held lineages. There is immense value in dedicating time, energy, and devotion to learning from women who truly embody this wisdom and who have the capacity to midwife remembrance in others. The reclamation of purpose, gifts, and - perhaps most importantly - energy is sacred work, and it deserves care and integrity.
I invest in modern-day priestesses too. For me, that looks like being in relationship with women who can hold the energy of a room without getting lost in their own, who can see me clearly without dimming my flame, and who invite me - gently and honestly - to shine even brighter. This is how we remember together. This is how we lead. This is how the lineage continues.
Circling back to our daughters
By embracing these empowering words - whether it’s priestess, healer, or simply an intuitive woman - we’re teaching our girls to know themselves deeply. We’re showing them that they don’t have to compromise who they are for someone else’s version of happiness. They can stand strong in their own truth and walk their own unique paths, just as we have - or are reclaiming today.
Here’s to raising the next generation of women who are not afraid to be exactly who they are: the modern priestesses of their own lives.
Image: herbrandphoto by Jamie