Craft & Coven Session 2

Join us across the Autumn and Girl Gang's "Season of The Witch" to explore our theme and co-create decor for our immersive screening of The Craft!

We'll be using India Rakusen's excellent podcast series WITCH to undertake a wholistic exploration of witches and witch craft; their history, legacy and current iterations, looking at 3 episodes per gathering and focusing on a different bit of practical making for our Halloween event at the end of October. 

Craft & Coven Session 2: We will discuss WITCH episodes 4-6; Enchanted Lands, The Magic(k) and Midwives & Healers.

Bury the Hatchet! We will be making tombstones to lay to rest all that we want buried!

WITCH PODCAST SERIES OVERVIEW: The witch has held a place firmly in our imagination for centuries – from whispered warnings in folklore to pop-culture driven heights. But what does it mean to be a witch now? Presenter India Rakusen, creator of the podcast 28ish Days Later, is on a journey to find out.

These are casual, discussion based community sessions with some light crafting and wholesome feminist cosy creative community vibes. We reccomend listening to the episodes before hand, but this is not essential, just come with curiosity and an eagerness to connect, contribute, listen and learn. Each session stands alone, so you're welcome to come for as many or as few as you fancy! 

We're thrilled to be partnering with Cloudwater Brewery Taproom to host these sessions, so grab yourself a pint or drink of your choice before coming downstairs to join the coven.

SEASON OF THE WITCH: Witches, Women, Magic, Misogyny

Journey through Autumn with Girl Gang across hillsides, cityscapes, storytelling and screenings, to explore how most of modern misogyny can be traced back to the figure of the witch. In their first ever thematic season the collective continues to celebrate a decade of feminist creativity, collaboration and community with crafts, pop culture, rituals and rebellion. Inspired by the horrific histories and curious present manifestations of witchcraft which are both political and ethereal, the work explores resistance, autonomy, collectivity and care, Season of the Witch showcases drag, discussion, dancing and nature, proudly presented with Girl Gang's signature blend of theatricality, softness, resilience building and reflection.

Check out more events as part of our Season of the Witch here! Including “Craft & Coven” thematic exploration and co-creation sessions, immersive film screenings, drag workshops, rituals and more!

EPISODE THEMES OVERVIEW

Episode 4:  ENCHANTED LANDS In the Thames Valley, magic is invoked as a shield against eviction- a local community constructed a giant witch sculpture named Esme, built as an act of magical resistance and a physical anchor to protect a local family from facing eviction. India investigates the unexpected and deep-rooted links between witchcraft and the enduring struggle for land rights.

Key themes: Land Ownership vs. The Commons: the historical shift from communal land use to private ownership- the concept of "home" and belonging is tied to the physical earth / The History of Enclosure: linking modern housing struggles directly to early modern European history. The enclosure acts forcibly displaced peasants from common lands, reshaping society into a system of wage labor. / The Marginalisation of Women: the criminalisation of "witches" heavily coincided with these land enclosures. When common land was privatised, self-sufficient women who relied on foraging and communal resources were disproportionately displaced, impoverished, and subsequently targeted by witch hunts. / Witchcraft as Social Resistance: positions the modern witch figure not just as a spiritual identity, but as a political symbol used to protest eviction, challenge land commodification, and reclaim public space.

Episode 4: THE MAGIC(K) What is magic? the episode moves away from the historical geography of land rights to untangle what magic actually is, how spells function, and where the supernatural intersects with reality. Rakusen balances the spiritual with the analytical by bringing together modern practicing witches and scientific professionals, breaking down everything from ancient chants to modern hexes to discover what drives their perceived power. [

Key Themes:  Demystifying the Mechanics of a Spell: the variety of everyday intentions behind magic, including spells for financial security, safe travel, relationships, and decision-making / The Psychology and Science of Ritual: the real-world cognitive impact of magical acts- how rituals, focus, and intent affect human psychology / The Power of Intent and Intonation:  spoken word, chants, and hexes, how sound, focused mindset, and repetition manifest a sense of control and influence over one's life circumstances / Everyday Magic: shifting the concept of "magic" away from Hollywood tropes and highlighting magic as a grounded, accessible tool used by modern practitioners to process emotion, manifest change, and regain agency.

Episode 5: MIDWIVES & HEALERS: This crucial episode directly tackles one of the most prominent, widely accepted modern myths about the early modern witch trials- Were the European witch hunts actually a calculated, systemic attack designed to eliminate female healers and midwives? To separate pop-culture theory from reality, Rakusen brings together an array of historians, nurses, and activists. 

Key Themes:  Myth vs. Historical Reality: unpacks the highly popular 1970s socialist-feminist theory (popularised by writers like Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English) that witch-hunters deliberately targeted midwives to take away women's bodily autonomy. Rakusen works with historians to challenge this, exploring how the actual historical data shows a far more complex—and sometimes contradictory—relationship between midwives and the courts / The Professionalisation and Masculinisation of Medicine: the rise of formal, university-sanctioned medical institutions (which barred women) gradually pushed traditional female healing practices to the fringes, how the institutional shift from folk medicine to male-dominated science delegitimised women’s traditional roles as primary healthcare providers / Modern Activism and Reclaiming the Narrative: Rakusen examines why the "persecuted healer" myth remains so deeply resonant for modern healthcare workers, nurses, and doulas. Even if the history is complicated, the archetype of the witch is actively used today as a political symbol to protest the historical and ongoing marginalisation of women's health knowledge.

THE VENUE & ACCESSIBILITY

- The venue has both an elevator and an accessible toilet, our sessions will be on the ground floor, the main bar is upstairs.

- Cloudwater Brewery Taproom is located at Piccadilly Trading Estate in Manchester, right next to the main Cloudwater Brew Co brewery.

- Cloudwater Brewery Taproom is based behind Piccadilly Train Station, just an 8 minute walk from the station. The nearest tram is New Islington (8 minute walk away) and the buses 192, 216, 250, 42B, 76 all pass near the venue.

- We happily offer free tickets for personal assistants, please email us at girlgangmanchester@gmail.com to arrange this. Registered assistance dogs are also welcome!

- The room will feature dim lighting and we will play background music during the party part of the night.

- We won't be using strobe lighting at this event.

- As we all know, Covid still exists (especially in winter!) and we ask that people act responsibily in the care of our community - please DO NOT come to the event if you are feeling unwell, or have knowingly had contact with a positive case.

- A Girl Gang Manchester team member will greet you as you enter the event space and will be your point of contact through the night if you require anything.

If you have any other access requests or worries, please contact us at hello@girlgangmcr.com

We are super proud that our events and club nights are welcoming and that there are always people who feel comfortable to attend on their own.

GIRL GANG MANCHESTER is a collective of artists, activists, academics and party instigators who put on events and create projects building connection, community, collaboration, confidence and creativity. Find out more about our previous projects on our website or social media here! 

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This year we are celebrating 10 years of Girl Gang Manchester and have updated our Manifesto please take a look to learn more about us and what we stand for here!

Refund policy: Paying for a ticket funds freelance artists, creatives and facilitators and helps support Girl Gang Manchester in continuing to run events. All tickets are non refundable and non transferable.