The Witchcraft Summit - Online

Explore the historical and cultural evolution of witchcraft through a feminist lens at this new online summit. From medieval witch hunts to modern-day spiritual practices, uncover how witchcraft has been shaped by gender, power, and activism throughout history.

The image of the witch has long been used to control, demonise, and punish those who challenge societal norms. Yet, witchcraft has also been reclaimed as a symbol of resistance, empowerment, and feminist activism. This summit will trace the shifting perceptions of witches, exploring their role in history, politics, and contemporary spirituality.

Join a supportive and inclusive community where you’ll gain fresh perspectives from leading historians, researchers, and practitioners. Learn how the historical narratives of witchcraft continue to influence modern feminism, social activism, and the resurgence of spiritual witchcraft today.

👭 Connect and network with like-minded people

📜 Explore the history, evolution and symbolic power of witchcraft

🎓 Learn from world-leading experts in witchraft, feminism, and spirituality

🔮 Enjoy a full day of online talks, workshops, and Q&As

Talks and workshop include:

• The Construct of the Demonic Witch and the Beginning of the European Witch Hunts
• The Emergence of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
• The Witch as an Activist: Feminism, Witchcraft, and Social Change
• The Gendering of the Medieval Witch
• Fictional Witches: More Than Wicked

• Q&A sessions with speakers

Plus more to be announced

Alongside informative talks, there will be opportunities for networking and socialising in breakout rooms. Join us for a day of historical insights, feminist discourse, and thought-provoking discussions on the legacy and future of witchcraft.

Our Speakers:

Dr Julia Phillips is an Hons 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. Her primary research interests are the study of witchcraft in the 19th century and the development of modern Pagan Witchcraft in the 20th & 21st centuries.

Dr Jennifer Farrell is a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Exeter, specialising in the intersection of gender and the supernatural in medieval culture. Her research focuses on the cultural and socio-political transformations of Western Europe during the High and Late Middle Ages (c.1000-1500). She has published on topics such as medieval prophecy, fairies in both history and romance, and how supernatural figures intersect with gender and literature. Dr. Farrell is currently writing a book on Geoffrey of Monmouth and the origins of Arthurian Legends.

Dr Debora Moretti is a historian and archaeologist, and a researcher at the University of Hertfordshire and the Centre for Renaissance and Early Modern Studies at the University of York. After a career in both academic and commercial archaeology, focusing on the material evidence of magic and witchcraft in archaeological contexts, Debora completed her PhD in History at the University of Bristol (UK). Her research, which formed part of the Leverhulme Trust-funded project "The Figure of the Witch," supervised by Professor Ronald Hutton, was dedicated to the image of witches and witchcraft in late medieval and early modern Italy.

Lora O’Brien is a modern Draoí (practitioner of Irish magic) and a dedicated priest of the Irish Goddess Mórrígan since 2004. With over 30 years of experience exploring and teaching Irish spirituality, mythology, and witchcraft, Lora has authored seven books, including works on Irish history, folklore, and Pagan practice. Their eighth book, The Mórrígan: Ireland's Goddess, will be published by Llewellyn in 2025.

Dr Zoë Enstone is Associate Professor of English Literature at York St John University. She has a research background in medieval literature, with a particular focus on Arthurian Romance. She has previously worked on areas such as the intersection of the religious and supernatural and the origins and development of characters, tropes and ideas. Her academic interests also extend to medievalism, particularly the influence of medieval themes and concepts on contemporary works and thought.

This is a 16+ event.

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