W.I.T.C.H - Building a Sisterhood Since the 60s

W.I.T.C.H stood for Women's International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell. It was a revolutionising part of the women's liberation movement during the late 1960s. It’s theatre, revolution, magic, terror, joy, garlic flowers, spells all rolled into one.

It’s an awareness that witches and gypsies were the original guerrillas and resistance fighters against oppression. Formerly prevalent within second-wave feminism, W.I.T.C.H stands for something more and continues to influence women today, especially amid the political climax surrounding Donald Trump and his persistent, “WITCH HUNT” tweets.

On October 31st, 1968, a coven of self-styled witches gathered at Wall Street to protest capitalism. The group descended on the financial heartland of the United States to administer a hexing. The pointy hats and black coats must have accounted for something as a day later, the stock market reportedly fell 13 points.

W.I.T.C.H began making its mark throughout the 60s, creating a powerful sense of sisterhood for women all over the world. At a bridal fair in Maddison Square Garden, the group released 100 white mice into the crowd, leading the host of the event to quip, "I think they're just a little teed off because nobody ever proposed to them.”

Intending to be provocative and fun, W.I.T.C.H was giving women a voice to stand up for what they believe in, “W.I.T.C.H. drew on the role of women at the edge of society," explains Heather Booth who took part in Chicago W.I.T.C.H. actions and remains a trailblazing campaigner. "It also referred to medieval times and Salem. One way to reclaim your identity in the face of oppression and to take the sting out of attacks that may be made on you is to take the word of opprobrium, of criticism.”

Protest magic has burst into the media and broader public consciousness only twice in recent memory, during the 1960s and now, during Trump presidency.

A group called Magic Resistance gathered Tarot cards, feathers, orange and white candles, pins, water, salt, matches, and photos of President Trump. The objects are essential for a binding spell; an incantation typically used to keep someone from harming themselves or others.

W.I.T.C.H is showing up in many forms Booth explains, "I'm not saying any of these people think about W.I.T.C.H. when they protest, but it is the same tradition of hit-and-run-visibility that is funny, serious, engaging, memorable and has an impact on a broader audience. One of the main things is that the women's movement changed us. We changed from traditional roles, from being in the background, not being so visible, not taking risks, not challenging traditional conventions, to taking action, taking risks, and standing up for what we believed in.” It reminds us that there are ways of finding a voice and a coven of women alike who are eager to tackle feminist issues.

Nowadays, everyone can be a witch, from friends to neighbours. Instagram and TikTok have created a hub for the witchcraft community to practice spells, with protesters holding up signs with slogans like, “We are the granddaughters of the witches you failed to burn.” Netflix and other studios are overwhelmed by the success of shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which now has three series with another currently being filmed.

The witch is back and better than ever. And it is most definitely needed