An exhibition at the Portico Library is challenging traditional stereotypes of pointed hats and broomsticks by showcasing the lives of modern practicing witches. Titled ‘Witches & Healers: Something That Was Ours‘, the free exhibit features photographs of contemporary witches engaging in everyday rituals, utilising crafts, nature, and candles to illustrate what modern witchcraft actually looks like.
Curated by academic Rosie Reed Hillman, the collection aims to present an authentic view of the practice today. Among its central themes is the exploration of “the Enchantress,” a transitional stage defined as sitting between the mother and the crone. This concept is used within the exhibit to represent the personal experiences of midlife and perimenopause.
Connecting history and modern practice
Beyond contemporary photography, the exhibition delves into the region’s historical relationship with witchcraft and traditional healing. Displays include artefacts and literature relating to the Pendle Witches, tracing how centuries-old events shaped stereotypes that persist today. Visitors can view vintage pamphlets on women healers, historical texts on western witch cults, and local memorabilia, including a ceramic witch jug and a Pendle Witches Brew pump sign.
The space also encourages visitor participation, providing prompts that ask attendees to leave handwritten notes detailing what witchcraft means to them and how they connect with the exhibition’s broader themes. For those looking to take the practice home, a selection of modern literature and spell books, such as ‘Spells for Living Well,’ is available for purchase at the library’s shop.
The exhibition is free to attend and will remain on display beneath the painted glass dome of the Portico Library until February 20th.
đź“Ť The Portico Library is located at 57 Mosley St, Manchester M2 3HY.
