The Ecomother Wound and the Witch Wound: Why True Nature Therapy Challenges Norms (and Gets Called ‘Crazy’)
What if “Crazy” Isn’t an Insult? What if It’s a Sign You’re Doing Something Right?
As women, we’ve been taught to fear being labeled as “too much,” “irrational,” or “unscientific,” especially when it comes to our deep, intuitive connections with nature. But what if stepping into that discomfort is the only way to heal the wounds that disconnection has left behind?
When I became a mother, my own eco-development was considered strange. My fixation on nurturing a garden, learning from trees, and immersing myself in natural cycles was met with skepticism—even concern. I likely would have qualified for a diagnosis of postpartum anxiety or even what I’ve come to call “ecofixia”—a hyperfocus on ecological care and connection. While some of my behavior may have signaled overwhelm, the models we have today are not nuanced enough to distinguish what is helpful from what is harmful for maternal well-being. They haven’t yet considered the profound ecological domain of motherhood.
What if the very practices I was using to cope, ground myself, and find meaning weren’t signs of dysfunction but of resilience? What if these moments of intense connection with the Earth were an instinctive response to a deeper, unspoken need to repair the relationship between myself and the world around me?
My experience is a microcosm of a larger, systemic issue: our culture’s inability to see the ecological domain of motherhood as a source of resilience and wisdom, rather than dysfunction. Our systems of care are often ill-equipped to understand the deep nourishment that comes from repairing a fractured relationship with the Earth. Instead, these connections are often dismissed or pathologized.
The ecomother wound—a deep cultural and systemic disconnection from the Earth as a nurturing, relational force—is intertwined with the witch wound—the historical trauma of being ostracized, ridiculed, or punished for embodying intuitive, nature-connected wisdom. These wounds are not separate; they are two sides of the same patriarchal coin. Healing them requires us to embrace reciprocity, question societal norms, and reclaim our connection to the Earth, even if it means being labeled “crazy.”
What I once feared might be a sign of dysfunction has instead become my greatest strength: a reminder that reconnecting with nature—no matter how unconventional it seems—is a powerful path to healing.
The Ecomother Wound: What Is It?
The ecomother wound reflects the way we’ve been severed from the Earth as a nurturing force. For generations, mothers have been expected to give endlessly—mirroring how we treat the Earth—without replenishment or acknowledgment. This cultural pattern depletes us emotionally, physically, and spiritually, cutting us off from reciprocal relationships that sustain life.
This wound is passed down through generations, teaching us that care is a one-way act: extractive, self-sacrificing, and disconnected from the cycles of give-and-take that nature embodies. The Earth, like mothers, is treated as a resource to extract from, rather than a living being to engage with and learn from.
But this wound isn’t only about extraction; it’s about control. Historically, women who lived in reciprocal relationship with the Earth—herbalists, healers, midwives—were silenced, demonized, and punished. The witch trials fractured not just women’s connection to their inner wisdom but our collective connection to the Earth itself. The same forces that burned witches at the stake now poison rivers and clear forests.
Why They’re the Same Wound
These two wounds—the ecomother wound and the witch wound—are deeply intertwined:
1. Patriarchy as the Root:
Both wounds stem from systems that commodify care—whether from mothers or the Earth—while punishing those who resist this imbalance.
2. Rejection of Reciprocity:
Reciprocity is a sacred cycle of giving and receiving. The witch wound punished women for engaging in reciprocal, Earth-based practices, while the ecomother wound treats the Earth as something to be consumed rather than cared for.
3. Cultural Discomfort with Power:
Both wounds are about control—denying mothers and nature the inherent power to regenerate, replenish, and restore. Society fears the wild, untamed power of both motherhood and nature, labeling them chaotic or irrational.
Healing these wounds means stepping back into these cycles of reciprocity, reclaiming the power of our intuition, and embracing the idea that care is a two-way street. And yes, doing so might mean being called “crazy.” But what if that’s the point?
Why Nature Therapy Isn’t Radical Enough
Nature therapy holds immense potential, but it often stops at the surface—soothing, rather than transforming. Practices like forest bathing, yoga in a park, or even guided nature walks are beautiful and important, but they can feel like simply brushing the bark of a tree without truly understanding its roots.
Linda Buzzell, a pioneer in ecotherapy, speaks of two levels of engagement. Level 1 is about calming the individual: riding horses to self-regulate, walking in nature to ease anxiety, or simply sitting in stillness to breathe. These practices are valuable, but they often center human needs without asking what we owe in return.
Level 2 invites something deeper. In the context of equine therapy, it means stepping into the world of wild horses—not as their master, but as their equal. It’s about observing their instincts, their freedom, their relationships with the land, and letting their wisdom change us. This is where true reciprocity begins.
Standing among wild horses is a visceral experience—their untamed freedom, their intuitive bonds with each other, their awareness of the land. It’s not just a moment of calm; it’s an invitation to see the world through their eyes, to step into their rhythm and let it transform us. By stepping into the world of wild horses, we witness their intuitive bonds, their untamed freedom, and their deep relationship with the land. It’s a reminder that healing is not about control but about learning to coexist and thrive in relationship.
The Mother Tree Method® embodies this deeper relationship. Just as a tree’s roots connect it to a wider, unseen network, Level 2 asks us to connect with the living systems that sustain us. It asks us to grieve the disconnection, acknowledge the harm, and take steps to heal the relationship—not just with nature, but within ourselves.
Nature therapy should feel alive, untamed, and, at times, uncomfortable. It’s not just about individual calm; it’s about restoring the sacred relationships between people, land, and spirit. It’s about asking, “What do we owe the Earth in return?”
Reclaiming “Crazy”
Historically, the label “crazy” has been a tool of dismissal, used to marginalize those who challenge dominant systems. This is especially true for women, healers, and visionaries whose earth-connected wisdom defies conventional norms. It’s no coincidence that witches, herbalists, and midwives—those who understood the living, relational nature of the Earth—were demonized and silenced. In many ways, these labels persist today, especially in how Western psychology treats intuitive, nature-based practices.
Conventional Western psychology often pathologizes earth-alive wisdom, framing it as irrational or unscientific. Practices like speaking to the land, sensing the spirit of a tree, or trusting the guidance of the natural world are too easily dismissed as delusions rather than expressions of deep ecological attunement. This pathologizing perspective reinforces the same disconnection that the ecomother wound and witch wound stem from—an extractive, control-oriented worldview that devalues relationships rooted in reciprocity and intuition.
This is one reason why I’ve been transitioning to a mentoring model. Mentoring, unlike conventional western therapeutic approaches, allows me to align more fully with my ecofeminist principles. It opens space for earth-centered wisdom to be honored as valid and vital, rather than pathologized or constrained within clinical frameworks. As a mentor, I can guide others through the transformative process of reattaching to nature, reclaiming their intuition, and stepping into a life of reciprocal care—without the barriers imposed by conventional systems.
By reframing “crazy” as a sign of courage—of daring to challenge harmful norms and reconnect with the sacred—we step into a legacy of healers, rebels, and nurturers who have always understood that wisdom is found not in domination but in relationship. To heal the witch wound and the ecomother wound, we must be bold enough to embrace the wildness within ourselves and compassionate enough to honor it in others.
The Mother Tree Method®
This eco-identity (re)developmental process is the work I’ve written into my upcoming book, The Mother Tree Method. The book offers a psychospiritual framework for addressing maternal ecodistress and fostering resilience in a world that often feels disconnected from its roots. But as I worked through its final stages, I realized it’s about much more than just maternal ecopsychology.
It’s a call to reclaim our deep, reciprocal relationship with the Earth, to heal both personal and collective wounds, and to embrace the wild, intuitive wisdom that has too often been dismissed. The Mother Tree Method draws from ecofeminist theory, maternal ecopsychology, and personal growth practices to empower mothers and mother-serving professionals to thrive in an ecologically fragile world.
At its heart, this work is about more than healing individuals; it’s about reestablishing the relational bonds that sustain us all—between people, land, and spirit. Through reflective exercises, grounding rituals, and ecological care practices, the method offers a path toward deeper connection, healing, and empowerment. It’s about stepping into the power of reciprocity, learning from the cycles of nature, and daring to challenge the systems that made us believe our care and intuition are “too much.”
The Mother Tree Method isn’t just a framework—it’s an invitation. To see yourself not as separate from nature, but as part of its living, breathing network. To heal the wounds of disconnection. To reclaim your place as both nurturer and nurtured in the sacred cycle of life.
While the book will be available soon through a publisher I deeply believe in, this work is already unfolding in our shared conversations and experiences. If you feel called to explore these ideas more deeply, consider joining me in Mother Tree Mentoring, where we can navigate these stages of growth together.
Call to Action: Stand for the Wild Horses
Wild horses, symbols of freedom and resilience, are under threat as public lands—lands meant to sustain them—are increasingly handed over to private interests. These magnificent creatures are more than icons; they are a vital part of our ecosystems and a reminder of the wild, untamed connection we all share with nature.
Right now, you have the opportunity to make a difference. The 2024 Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting is approaching, and it’s our chance to advocate for these animals who cannot speak for themselves. Join the American Wild Horse Campaign in protecting their future by signing this petition: Take Action Here.
By standing up for wild horses, we honor the untamed spirit of reciprocity and resilience they embody. Their freedom reminds us of the wild wisdom we, too, must reclaim. Let’s show that we value freedom—not just for ourselves, but for all beings who call this Earth home. Together, we can protect their future and preserve the wild spirit that connects us all.