Cauldron Corner

Witchcraft Exhibition
Bolton Museum Feb 2004

Did witchcraft really exist, and does it still exist today? That was the question posed at Bolton Museum, so we went to see the exhibition for ourselves. It was billed as a fascinating exhibition on witchcraft, magic and myth. I have to say as a practicing 'real' witch I was extremely disappointed.
The exhibition covered subjects such as 16th & 17th Centuary witch hunts, the European witch craze, and the infamous Pendle Witches, but the area was very small, which limited the information and displays available. I have to say, I was left with a cold feeling on how anti-witchcraft the general public could find it. Lots of the blurb focused on the way things were and to a large extent still are in media and mind of the public that all witchcraft was bad, there was lots of information on what was used to protect people from witches and witchcraft. While it was billed as being historical, I would have liked to have seen more focus on what a witch is today to help dispell the myths. I guess they lost me at the opening information poster with the what is a witch, a witch flies on her broomstick, has a pointy nose and wears a big hat, it never quite recovered from that point! For children the advertising mentioned the magic words 'Harry Potter' our 11 year old would have been very disappointed at the wizard and one Harry Potter book on display. The wall of media witches left a lot to be desired Grotbags was mentioned, but the Charmed trio, Willow from Buffy and a good few others were missing.

It's sounding like I hated it, that's not true, I would have liked more content, maybe a future exhibition on Modern day witchcraft would be of benefit to the public? I have to applaud the LWP for going ahead with this project, and to be fair, there were small displays on the use of crystals and herbs to promote well being, and a reconstruction of a modern witches altar which clearly pointed out each object and what it was used for. The touring exibition was being held in conjuction with the Lancashire Witch Project (all Pagans themselves, the link has an article on how the project started), and the Museum of Lancashire, with additional material on loan from Tullie House Museum and the Witch Museum in Cornwall.

Spot the real witch! My heart sank when I saw the first display, I saw the funny side of it eventually, but still can't understand why they dressed Gimli in a wizard costume hehe?!!!
	The modern day Witches altar, I was impressed with this display, especially the Cerunnos figure (I want one!) my only qualm was I wouldn't use a glazed oil burner to burn my incense in. They also had some displays for sabbats but they only focused on the 4 main sabbats. Info on the wheel of the year wouldn't have gone amiss here.
I think this was my favourite section of the exhibition, mainly because of the herbs <g> I think it would have been fun to have a' room' at the side of a modern day witches kitchen or herb room. The rowan twig charms were interesting and the room had all the stereotypical witch objects, besom, cauldron etc but it also depicted the witch as a woman.
	The ducking chair - This chair was used in gauging the buoyancy of suspected witches - a mediaeval test to discover if a person was a `real' witch. I have to say that this display chilled me, it also left me feeling grateful that those days have passed. Although I wonder if that's true, we still hear tales of people being snubbed for their beliefs and there are many witches afraid to tell the world what they are. There was also a "scold's bridle" on display - a torture device which was placed around the head of a witch to prevent him or her from talking before being led through the town and humiliated.

All in all it was worth going, but I wouldn't have gone out of my way to visit it, however the day out did bring some favourite moments One in particular was when a young Mum had just got through telling her young 5 year old son that their were still witches in the world. He gazed at a display with a crystal ball, book of shadows and other articles in saying he could see things in the ball. I asked him if he could see the 'real' witch standing next to him, he looked in disbelief until he noticed that the symbol on the chain around my neck matched the symbol on the book of shadows. He shuffled off looking curious expecting me to fly off on my besom at any moment :) It was nice to see such wide eyed amazement and acceptance. I often wonder how many young children will start off following Harry Potter and end up as practising Pagans, it was Catweazle that first peaked my interest in all things mystical. Hmmm maybe an idea for another section, childrens magical heros / heroines? We also got to meet a couple from a Bolton Pagan Society ::waves:: we never caught their names but it was a pleasure none the less.