Healing the Past: The Reclamation Project with Claire Standen

August 5
48 mins

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Episode Description

Reclamation: Restorative Justice and a Church Returned for Scotland’s Accused WitchesWe follow the question history books can’t answer: once the harm of witch hunting is acknowledged, what does repair look like? Trauma resolution practitioner Claire Standen, founder of Reclamation, is building a Scottish community interest organization seeking reparations for the thousands prosecuted under Scotland’s Witchcraft Act (1500s–1700s), arguing apology without action isn’t meaningful. Her central demand is radical and concrete: the Church of Scotland—already apologetic—should gift an unused church building (not sold or grant-funded) to be stewarded as a community headquarters and a Center for Female Authority, reclaiming sacred space once tied to persecution. Drawing on trauma work and epigenetic inheritance, she connects historic terror to today’s inherited silence and societal patterns, and outlines a restorative justice approach where those harmed define what healing requires. Reclamation is seeking social media support and seed funding via ourreclamation.org.

00:00 Show Intro and Big Question

01:38 Meet Claire Standen

03:18 What Reclamation Aims For

05:26 Trauma Work Meets History

09:02 The Synchronicity Road Trip

15:40 Reclaiming Witch Legacy

20:26 Apologies vs Reparations

24:21 Inherited Silence and Epigenetics

27:03 What Makes Apology Meaningful

31:32 Why a Gifted Church Matters

40:12 Center for Female Authority Vision

45:32 How to Help and Connect

48:18 Closing Reflections


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