The "Wildness" Within: What a 17th-Century Witch Hunt Taught Me About Modern Healing

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently finished a book that I haven't been able to stop thinking about: Wayward by Emilia Hart.

It’s a beautiful, sometimes haunting story that follows three women from the same family across five centuries. While their lives look different one is on trial for witchcraft in 1619, one is navigating the 1940s, and one is escaping a toxic relationship in the present day they all share a "Wayward" spark. It’s a primal, mystical connection to the natural world that helps them survive when life feels impossible.

Reading it made me reflect deeply on the work we do at Nature Angel.

In the book, the characters find their power when they stop trying to "fit in" to a world that wants to control them and instead lean into their "wildness" their intuition, their connection to the earth, and their inner strength.

The "Wayward" Path to Resilience So often, when I meet clients for Reiki or Mindfulness here in Leeds, they feel like Kate (the modern protagonist). They feel disconnected, stifled by the "noise" of modern life, or trapped by old narratives.

But just like the women in the book, we all have that "inherited wildness." In my practice, I see this as our Life Force Energy. It’s that part of you that knows how to heal, that feels a sense of peace the moment your feet touch the grass in Park Square or the woods in Horsforth or Roundhay Park.

Reclaiming Your Roots The book reminds us that nature isn’t just a place we visit; it’s an ally. Whether it’s the symbol of the crow or the resilience of ivy, the natural world is constantly showing us how to endure and thrive.

If you’ve been feeling "out of balance" lately, I invite you to take a leaf out of the Wayward women's book:

1. Trust your intuition: It is your oldest and truest friend.

2. Seek the Sanctuary: Whether it’s a 1-1 Reiki session or just a mindful walk, find a space where you can be "untamed."

3. Honor your lineage: You carry the strength of those who came before you.

   
   

We are all a little bit "Wayward," and honestly? That is where our power lies.

With light and love,

Alexis Nature Angel