There is a time-honoured tradition that enlightened cultures have in common: they look after their healers and mystics. 

In many communities, there is a place set aside for those who dedicate themselves to the matters of spirit, those who concern themselves with enlightenment, goodness, morality and faith, a place of honour and respect. In some parts of the world, the dominant culture only acknowledges specific beliefs as valid and worthy of support. Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hindi, those who preach these and other socially accepted faiths are supported by their people and their institutions within those layers of society. They have entire palaces, temples and churches made for them to live in, some of them, with servants, chauffeurs, and a wealthy allowance.

This assuredly allows them to be of service, teach and share, grow in depth and wisdom, and do their job as spiritual counsellors to the best of their ability. 

Many cultures look after their medicine people, their healers and shamans, ensuring they can do their job. Many people, especially in Asia, honour and respect their astrologers and psychics and would be thrilled to have that kind of lineage in the family!  

Unfortunately, in Europe, there was a systematic hunting down and execution of any who showed such gifts, and entire families of mystics were killed in the great witch hunts. Millions were burned, drowned, or tortured to death in the purge of the inquisitions. 

Countries that were colonized by Europe continued the same practices of fear of magic and fear of any connection with true spirit, and the holy men and women of the original peoples in these places were also killed or imprisoned. 

Earth-based religions, and those that connect to different dimensions or see into other realities, have been ridiculed, accused of fraud or insanity, and treated with contempt or fear by their own communities for many generations in some parts of the world. 

There are many spiritual belief systems based on what seems like nonsense to a rational mind, and there are many spiritual customs that appear quite childish or delusional. Yet I never hear anyone tell a catholic priest that he is a fool for believing in heavenly rewards and a hell of punishment for any slight against their god, or argue with a Baptist that they do not have a guaranteed place in heaven because they go to church and that their bible is not a universal law book. 

It is a punishable offence to criticize any aspect of Islam, and I doubt Buddhist monks are ever asked to explain their assassination societies and genocidal practices. We are polite about people's beliefs unless someone is Pagan, practices mysticism or is psychic in some form. Those people you can go for, no holds barred. Say what you want about them; throw them to the dogs, insult and ridicule them. Making fun of the millions of women tortured and killed for their practices continues on in caricatures of ugly old women, and it's OK for people to dress up in black, don conical hats and paint their faces green. Is there any other historical genocide where people still make fun of the victims? 

These days, no one would tell a First Nations person that burning sage is nonsense; respect is gaining ground thanks to the work of many generations of activists. Maybe it is time that mediums and psychics began lobbying for the right to practice their ways free from ridicule and hostility, too.  

My teachers say it takes at least seven generations to heal ancestral trauma. When I think back to the horror and terror that ran rampant through Europe, the madness and frenzy with which women mainly were hunted down and murdered, and their children, brothers and husbands murdered too, I can understand why we are still afraid to speak up when someone calls 'witch.' 

From burning at the stake to psychiatric hospitals and pharmaceuticals to public ridicule and accusations of fraud, psychics have gained some ground over the decades in this part of the world. However, sorcery is still the main accusation that leads to beheadings in Saudi Arabia, and many other countries have strict laws punishable by death for any 'psychic event.' Being open about who you are and what you believe or practice has been very dangerous, but things are changing. 

Personally, I rarely have had anyone be rude directly to my face; on the contrary, I have had the opposite experience. My community looks after me and treats me with respect. I have experienced so much support that I am humbled by and grateful for, and that has kept me going over the decades of my work in the world. 

I am part of a worldwide community that is held together by the welcoming of diversity and a belief in co-creating a better world.

Of course, any of us who practice the old ways, especially those of mainly European descent, often face rudeness online. It is a condoned practice to make fun of psychics, wise women and witches in the online bully culture. But it is easy to delete rude comments and block those still on a crusade to discredit wise women and witches. In another place or time, exposure can mean a horrid death, so a few ignorant words seem just silly in comparison to other times and places. 

I would say most of my clients are scared to acknowledge their association with me and tend to keep 'that part' of their lives secret from their peers, even friends and family! 

I have had so many people say they wish they could share what they learned from the Council of Elders, but do not want to acknowledge they consult mediums. The spell of terror continues its hold on all those indoctrinated to believe these natural human traits are evil.

I hope that we as a society can begin to look at the conditioning of fear of mystics and psychics in the same way we have started facing our systemic racism, homophobia and misogyny. Can we speak up when others mock and ridicule those who openly practice these crafts? 

We all need to stop being afraid to speak up and use the examples of the last few decades of social maturity we have seen. It is expected to speak up against racism, homophobia and misogyny in most circles these days. Can we add spiritual discrimination to our 'to heal' list in mainstream society?  And how about how herbalists are discredited and mocked, treated as if their medicine was somehow not worthy, ineffective or dangerous? A whole other topic that runs the same way, originating from the same time period where male physicians enforced domination. Those old imprints are just as vile and still alive in todays culture. 

It is still very messy out there, yet my personal community is still sacred and includes people of all beliefs and ideologies who agree to respect each other. It is an honour to be part of a healthy community, an honour I will strive to continue to be worthy of. I hope to see this community continue to extend and include as we grow to embrace each others ways.        Krow Fischer