The History & Endurance of Witchcraft

The traditional stereotype of the witch as an ugly old woman who harms others using supernatural means has a strong hold within the popular imagination, but in modern society other types of witches have emerged, including those who use supernatural means to benefit others, those who follow a nature-based neo-pagan religion, and those who resist the imposition of patriarchal structures and hierarchies.

From among this complex environment of different understandings of witchcraft emerged Modern Pagan Witchcraft, also known as Wicca, in the 1950s. It has been described as one of the fastest growing religions in Western civilisation and it is the only religion that Britain has given to the world. Social media channels abound with specialised groups for witchcraft and Wicca, with numbers measuring in the millions for Facebook and Instagram, and in the billions for views on TikTok. But is it just a trend? Or is there more to the modern revival of witchcraft?

**Doors open at 7pm and talk starts at 7.30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!**

**Follow us on IG @seedtalks**

Dr Julia Phillips is Hon Senior Research Associate and lecturer at the University of Bristol. She received her PhD for her research examining how witches and witchcraft were featured in newspapers in Victorian Britain. Her work has been published in books, academic journals, and popular magazines, and she is a regular presenter at conferences and events.

Presented by Seed Talks

This is an 18+ event