How to Heal from Fascism and the Legacy of Colonialism
Fascism is not new. It’s the echo of old wounds rising through the cracks of modern society. But to truly understand its roots—and to heal from it—we must name its source: colonialism. Fascism is not separate from colonialism—it is its shadow.
The psychological and systemic harm we experience today is the byproduct of centuries of coercive control. And unless we reckon with these internalized truths, we cannot fully embody our own divine expression.
This is your invitation to remember, confront, reconcile, and gradually return to your authentic self—separate from the confines of colonialism.
Fascism: The Modern Mask of Colonial Power
Fascism is often seen as a political ideology—but beneath that, it is a psychological pattern of mass trauma. It is a systemic psychopathology based on insecurity that institutionalizes hierarchy, degradation, and separation from our basic human instincts: connection, love, community, and oneness with nature.
Colonialism laid the foundation.
It was not just a land grab—it was an enterprise of psychological engineering, embedding coercive social constructs into every layer of life to distill and consolidate power.
From it emerged:
Racism
Capitalism
Xenophobia
Homophobia
Ableist systems
Institutionalized gender bias
These are not just societal issues. They are the silent pillars of psychological thought in our nation. They shape what we deem “normal,” “valuable,” and “worthy”—and what we pathologize.
The Psychological Wounds of Colonial Thinking
If we are to be free, we must see how deeply these constructs live inside of us.
We carry implicit biases—unconscious beliefs shaped by colonial ideologies—that fragment our sense of self, diminish our capacity for empathy, and poison our relationships.
Healing from fascism and colonialism means healing from these internalized structures.
To do this, we must:
Face the truth of how these systems live in our minds and bodies
Grieve the loss of ancestral wisdom, communal ways, and land-based belonging
Unlearn and rewire our understanding of power, worth, and identity
3 Ways to Heal from Fascism and Colonial Trauma
1. Recognize Fascism as a Psychological Echo
Fascism is colonization manifesting overtly to conserve power. It is the byproduct of unaddressed trauma rooted in abusive control.
Although it is difficult—because we, marginalized people, are the recipients of harm—the first step toward healing is to understand the broader context of our experiences, to counteract narratives of blame and degradation.
Acknowledging this consciously helps us identify the implicit or subconscious tendencies to adopt bias or acquiesce to systems of control.
2. Grieve the Impact of Systemic Harm
Once we begin to realize the personal effects of fascism and colonialism, a natural step is to grieve.
Grieve the loss caused by pseudo-power structures that compromised your dignity.
Grieve what has happened to our communities.
Grieve the psychological and physical control that has personally affected you.
This process often brings a wave of suppressed emotion. If possible, seek safe therapeutic support as you begin catharsis—especially as trauma symptoms like dissociation, emotional flashbacks, agitation, or increased depression and anxiety emerge. These are often delayed responses to chronic abuse.
As an act of self-acceptance and love, allow yourself to channel rage appropriately. Process your emotions and experiences while using your anger productively to reclaim your dignity.
3. Dismantle Internalized Bias in the Subconscious Mind
As you become more aware of the impact of systemic abuse, your inner world becomes a safer place to be—especially for your mind.
Consequently, content from the subconscious—memories, hesitations, feelings—begins to surface into conscious awareness. This can lead to more frequent triggers, and greater insight into previously hidden patterns. These patterns were once survival mechanisms, but no longer serve us.
These moments of intensity are signs that the mind is healing.
They offer an opportunity to further process pain and integrate these experiences into the fullness of your humanity.
Healing Is Political. Healing Is Sacred.
The trauma of colonization runs deep.
It lives in our laws, our streets, our communities—and in our thoughts and bodies.
Fascism is just one of its many modern faces.
But so is healing.
Through healing, we make space for rectification, reconciliation, and the radical re-creation of a world that honors both people and planet.
Conclusion: You Were Made for This Work
You are not broken.
You are awakening.
Awakening to the truth that healing implicit bias is revolutionary.
That dismantling internalized oppression is the most sacred form of resistance.
We do not heal just for ourselves.
We heal for our ancestors.
We heal for our descendants.
We heal for the land.
This is the work of becoming whole again—together.