Calling the Witches!
We invited you to a magical weekend of healing and celebration in remembrance of the Pendle Witches on the anniversary of the Lancaster Witch Trials of 1612 and more than 400 of you came!
Between 17-20 August 2023 at The Storey, Lancaster we remembered and reclaimed the magic and power of the Witch!
Picture the scene, if you dare; the year is 1612 and hysteria tears
Through the land of Lancaster county.
In the castle of England’s “hanging town” 18 stand trial for witchcraft; 10 are sent down,
And carted up to Gallows Hill on the day of August 20.
The maddening crowd of old and young, jeer and cheer the Witches hung,
And raise a beer to the riddance of evil that dwelled in both poor and gentry.
They did not know the tragic cost of traditions tossed, blame them not for all we lost,
Their harrowed lives rooted in pure survival.
So let's gather now, to heal and relearn, as our hearts yearn to reclaim and return,
To all we forgot, and awaken the Witches’ Revival!
We poured love and wisdom into the collective cauldron and created magic and medicine to heal and reclaim what we've lost through the passages of time.
Over 4000 women were persecuted as witches in Britain during the 16th and 17th centuries and 15 generations of our ancestors affected by the violence and brutality of witch hunt hysteria. 300 years on we continue to carry the generational trauma and the wounds of separation that trauma brings about. Survival patterns have become our default way of being, disconnecting us from our innate wisdom, power and potential.
The Witches' Revival offered a heart-centred space designed to enable the healing we need to step more fully into our authentic selves through ancestral connection, inner journeying, creative collaborations and sisterhood.
We journeyed to reclaim the lost parts of ourselves through an experiential exhibition, transformational workshops, inspiring talks, inner work, live performances, a Witches' Emporium and a whole day of collective ritual and ceremony in remembrance of the Pendle Witches.
The Magic Ingredients...
Here's what was on offer over the 4 days...
"Return of the Witches" - An Inner Journey to the source of your power
Curated by Cali White this new experiential journey through the archetypal realm of the Witch was designed to help women reclaim the magic and medicine that lies within!
Healing Workshop Programme and The Witches' School of Wonder
For 3 days, we were blessed to have a rich and diverse offering of talks and workshops from some highly experienced and passionate facilitators.
The Witches' Emporium
Open from 10am-5pm each day, the Witches' Emporium was a feast for the senses and so much more than a marketplace! Our 13 stallholders brought their arts and crafts born out of our rich heritage and made the space a magical experience! A ton of deep conversations, a stack of sharing, and a whole load of healing all made for a cauldron of fun, connection and sisterhood! It was a truly beautiful thing!
Witch Story - The Live Show
For 3 nights, we were privileged to witness "Witch Story", a brand new live performance written and performed by Sara Carter and Lynsey Tidbury. Weaving story and song, music and dance, they took us on a journey back to the primordial beginning of time and to the home of the Cailleach and to future times where women reclaim her magic and power!
It was raw, beautiful, brave, tender, maddening, soul-soothing all at once, an exquisite weaving of healing, performance and participation. Hearts were opened, belly-fires lit and our collective separation wound healed just a little bit more.
The Wonderful ReDiscovery of Witches in Lancaster! - A Sunday of Remembrance and Celebration
On Sunday 20th August, the anniversary of the 10 hangings on Gallows Hill in Lancaster, 150 of us gathered in a sacred ceremony outside of the Witches' Tower within the Castle Courtyard. And then a pilgrimage, to retrace the final steps of the Pendle Witches, remembering and honouring their memory as we walked the mile-long route.
On arrival in Williamson Park, the sun came out and we laid their names as the innocent people they were, and celebrated the inner reclamation work we had done together!
It was one of those days that words just can't do justice! Emotional, beautiful, memorable, connecting, magical, fun, sad, moving, and full of love.
About Our Venue
Following the I AM WITCH Exhibition in 2022, we were delighted to be welcomed back to The Storey in Lancaster!
The Storey is an iconic centre for cultural events and creative industries located in the heart of Lancaster. It's the perfect place to continue our work of bringing the Pendle Witches home.
From Thursday to Saturday we were inside The Storey building where we had 7 beautiful spaces, including exclusive use of the garden.
We are so grateful...
-To everyone who came and took part in the weekend - together we co-created a powerful collective healing experience
-To all of the Speakers and Workshop Facilitators who helped us co-create the safe container and offered their wisdom and guidance that enabled some deep transformations to happen.
-To all of the incredible Stallholders who understood our vision of creating a magical Emporium experience and made that space a vibrant, inspiring, beautiful place to be.
-To all the women who volunteered their time and energy to helping us hold the weekend and ensure its smooth running.
-To Ian Dale who turned up as our "Tech Angel" and worked tirelessly for the full four days to ensure we had sound and lights!
-To the staff at The Storey who made sure we felt welcome and went above and beyond to ensure we had what we need.
WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!!
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!
Meet the Team...
We are Cali White, Paula Fox-Valsler, Lynsey TIdbury and Sara Carter. We are therapists, facilitators, musicians, event organisers, passionate about healing the ancestral wounds of the Burning Times and helping to reclaim our Witchy power and magic!
Planning and Organising The Witches' Revival was a 6 month process of creativity and collaboration and we're thrilled that the weekend went so well, and everyone felt safe enough to receive the healing and empowerment they needed. And that we did The Lancaster Witches proud!
We look forward to doing it all again with you next year!