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Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods

Liberating Feminine Wisdom from Christian Patriarchy

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Pub Date Oct 14 2025 | Archive Date Dec 07 2025


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Description

“Through themes of aging, pleasure, intuition, and emotional expression, Herrington invites a return to the body as a trusted partner rather than something to conquer or correct. . . . Pleasure, rest, and nourishment are reframed as necessary forms of resistance. By honoring the body’s wisdom and embracing authentic expression, readers step into a more rooted and liberated way of being.” Booklist

Untangle from patriarchal Christian attitudes toward women, and tap into the deep well of feminine wisdom.

Christian patriarchy teaches that women are dangerous, manipulative, and untrustworthy. Whether painting women as the archetypal old witch in the woods or the biblical temptress, toxic religion vilifies their wisdom and uses fear to maintain male power. And these harmful stereotypes aren't just historical; they persist in modern religious, societal, and political rhetoric, where confident women are called "nasty" or "radical."

But there's something they don't want you to know about that old witch in the woods: She deeply trusts her sacred gifts and hard-earned wisdom. Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods is an invitation to reconnect with feminine wisdom that has been dismissed, maligned, and even persecuted over the centuries. When women lean into this wisdom, they learn how to trust their intuition, draw on their creativity, and lead with empathy.

Christian patriarchy separates us from ourselves, each other, and our Creator as well as from the traditions, practices, and stories that should have been passed down through generations. Angela J. Herrington draws on more than a decade of experience as a faith deconstruction coach and seminary-trained online pastor to offer practical strategies and practices for readers to rediscover and tap into deep ancestral knowledge that once defined and empowered women.

Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods is a road map for readers to challenge limiting beliefs, confront systemic injustices, and reclaim their inherent worth and wisdom. When we reclaim feminine wisdom, we liberate ourselves, our communities, and our souls, gaining strength and resilience through our connection to ourselves and to each other.

“Through themes of aging, pleasure, intuition, and emotional expression, Herrington invites a return to the body as a trusted partner rather than something to conquer or correct. . . . Pleasure...


Advance Praise

“We live in a powerful time in which we need books that remind us of the ancestral, deeply spiritual power that women hold. This book reminds us of that power, and embraces the complexity of what healing might look like. In these pages, Angela Herrington dives deep into the patriarchal traps we’ve fallen into and gives rich steps for us to take in order to rediscover and celebrate the sacred feminine in our lives today. The stories and steps toward empowerment in this book can be life-saving for someone looking to live beyond the toxic power of patriarchy and live into the magic that women hold.”
Kaitlin B. Curtice, award-winning author of Native and Living Resistance 

“Practical, insightful, and so necessary, Angela J. Herrington’s Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods: Liberating Feminism from Christian Patriarchy is required reading for those who grew up in conservative Christian religious traditions, especially women (and those raised as women). If you’ve been feeling like you’re never able to measure up to the standards of society and the church, if you feel like you’ve been taught not to trust yourself, if you feel like there must be more, this book is for you. Herrington is a gentle and generous guide to unpacking and beginning to heal from harmful gendered messages and embrace a life of fullness and freedom (as well as reclaiming your own inner Old Witch in the Woods).”
Shannon T. L. Kearns, author of No One Taught Me How to Be a Man: What a Trans Man’s Experience Reveals About Masculinity 

“Angela Herrington tenderly carries you through learning about the acts of patriarchy to feminine freedom. She reminds us of our own Inner Knowing and invites us to lean into archetypes beyond the maiden. Healing from the Christian patriarchy is no easy feat, yet Herrington creates compassionate space to undo and redo your life beyond religious restrictions. You’ll place this book down feeling empowered and POWERFUL.”
Dr. Candace Linklater, Indigenous educator and founder of Relentless Indigenous Woman 

“Angela Herrington’s Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods is essential reading for anyone who has experienced the impact of anti-woman, patriarchal abuses in organized systems of religion, faith, or spiritual community. Herrington’s voice is that of a companion during the often painful process of deconstruction, healing, and finding meaning again after spiritual abuse and religious trauma. The examples offered and stories told are especially relevant to the times in which we find ourselves.”
Dr. Jamie Marich, founder of the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, and author of You Lied to Me About God: A Memoir; Dissociation Made Simple; and Trauma and the 12 Steps  

“Angela Herrington’s refreshing deep dive into feminine wisdom is needed now more than ever. Rather than giving us more rules to follow, she walks with us on a journey out of the lies of patriarchy and into a more authentic, liberated way of living. This is an empowering, inclusive, and freeing read!”
Cait West, author of Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away from Christian Patriarchy 

Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods challenges assumptions and norms that are so embedded in our culture that we often don’t even see them, even though they impact nearly every facet of our lives and identities. This book will lead you to ask important questions you’ll wonder why you never asked before, and will help you see new paths of possibility and promise waiting ahead.”
Tiffany Yecke Brooks, bestselling ghostwriter, editor, author, and speaker 

“We live in a powerful time in which we need books that remind us of the ancestral, deeply spiritual power that women hold. This book reminds us of that power, and embraces the complexity of what...


Marketing Plan

-National and online publicity campaign targeting progressive Christian media

-Social media campaign targeting deconstructing Christian women and progressive Christians

-Influencer and podcast outreach per author’s extensive network in faith deconstruction community

-Speaking opportunities and online courses tailored to book contents and faith deconstruction

-National and online publicity campaign targeting progressive Christian media

-Social media campaign targeting deconstructing Christian women and progressive Christians

-Influencer and podcast outreach...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9798889835233
PRICE $19.99 (USD)
PAGES 218

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Featured Reviews

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I grew up in the Catholic Church and was taught early on that women should be quiet, obedient, and pure. Anything outside of that was seen as dangerous or sinful. Reading Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods felt like a breath of fresh air. Angela Herrington takes the figure of the “old witch” and flips the script, showing how she can actually represent wisdom, intuition, and strength.

The book is written with compassion and honesty, which I really appreciated. It does not feel preachy or like just another set of rules to follow. Instead, it creates space to question old beliefs and gently encourages you to trust yourself. I could feel my own memories of Catholic teachings being challenged in ways that felt healing rather than shaming.

I loved how Herrington validates the experience of people who have felt “not enough” in church settings. She talks openly about patriarchal structures but also gives practical ways to reconnect with yourself and your spiritual life. This book is both empowering and comforting, and I think anyone who grew up in a conservative Christian background will find something freeing in it.

A beautiful read for anyone trying to reclaim their spiritual identity and move toward a fuller, more authentic life.

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"How can we possible connect deeply to a creator when we’ve been taught that we, as women, are the reason the world is broken?"

Love. Love. Love.

As someone who grew up in the Christian patriarchal tradition, I never realized the deep the narrative of sin and femininity and how rigid that foundation becomes. I think the material in this book will become increasingly important as the Western socio-political world evolves and looks to solidify the messaging that points fingers at women or put women in boxes. This book looks to change that by breaking those boxes, breaking down purity culture and emphasizing these messages were attempts at the church to disconnect us from our bodies. Afterall, if we are merely bodies then we are nothing more than "passive objects in time".

I also appreciate the messaging on motherhood - this book takes a dive into the idea that women are conditioned to view motherhood as natural, and that motherhood is a condition of their worth. Herrington writes that "Women are conditioned to view their own pain as a necessary burden, reinforcing the belief that personal boundaries and self-care are acts of selfishness rather than essential parts of flourishing." If a woman is not a mother - is she being selfish? No, that would undermine her state of being. 5/5

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