Psychics have been revered, feared, persecuted, and misunderstood throughout history. Whether called prophets, seers, or labeled as crazy, those who tap into the unseen have often been at odds with societal norms.
Dr. Thomas Szasz, a psychiatrist from New York, explored this phenomenon in The Manufacture of Madness, detailing how early medical establishments discredited natural healers—often women—by branding them as witches or lunatics. These women, gifted with intuitive wisdom and healing abilities, were removed from their communities under the guise of mental illness or religious persecution.
Dr. Peter Kimmel, a psychiatrist I knew at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx, introduced me to Szasz's work. His research revealed a deeply ingrained societal resistance to those who see beyond conventional realities.
I understand that resistance well. I silenced my insights for years, fearing that my gifts made me "too different." It wasn't until I sought my own healing through Primal Therapy, Gestalt, and Rolfing that I found the courage to embrace my abilities. One pivotal moment came when I refused an energy healing session, dismissing it as nonsense—only to later become the very thing I denied. Years later, my therapist, Alec Rubin, reflected back to me what had been there all along:
"You just stopped fighting it."
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever denied a part of yourself because it didn't fit societal expectations?
- How do you respond when someone shares an experience outside of the conventional norm—do you dismiss it or listen with curiosity
- If you had no fear of judgment, what gifts or insights would you embrace fully?
Reclaiming Your Inner Knowing
Take a moment to reflect on when you knew something before there was logical proof. Maybe it was a gut feeling about a person, a dream that later came true, or an inner voice that led you to an unexpected but perfect outcome.
Write down three moments where your intuition was spot-on.
Notice any patterns—do your insights come in dreams, gut feelings, or sudden clarity?
Set an intention to listen more deeply to that part of yourself this week.
Owning Your Truth
For those still at war with themselves, those looking back with a knowing smile, and those just beginning to question what lies beyond the visible, may your inner journey be your most excellent adventure.
You are born of Light, live in the Light, and return to the Light.
May we all embrace the paradox of feeling separate while knowing we are One.
Blessings to all,
Nancy Orlen Weber
