Georgina Renny argues that witches – long marginalised for their gender, spiritual beliefs, or perceived threat to societal norms — focus on rituals of resilience, healing and communal mourning of ecological loss. Deeply attuned with land, they provide a symbol of defiance against exploitation of the planet’s resources for profit.
Museum of the Anthropocene: The Witch
When you picture a witch, do you envision a sinister figure, or a wise healer with deep ties to the natural world? Traditionally, witches were depicted as embodiments of evil or deviance, a narrative shaped by religious and patriarchal authorities seeking to maintain control. The origins of the witch archetype can be traced back to antisemitic beliefs. In 1215, the Fourth Council of the Lateran mandated that Jewish people wear a pointed cap called a Judenhat. Over time, this distinctive hat became associated with black magic and Satan worship, feeding into the negative imagery of witches.
Historically, those labelled as witches were marginalised for a variety of reasons — including their gender, spiritual beliefs, or their perceived threat to societal norms. During the witch hunts in Europe and North America, thousands of individuals — predominantly women — were persecuted and accused of engaging in subversive practices. Modern environmental activists draw parallels to historical injustices, using the witch as a symbol of defiance against capitalist models that exploit the planet’s resources for profit.
Witches are deeply connected to earth-based spirituality and biocentrism — a philosophical approach that recognises the inherent value of all living beings. They are often associated with extensive knowledge of nature, plants, and seasonal cycles, allowing them to possess forms of ecological wisdom that contrast with the detrimental impacts of industrialisation, agriculture and pollution that disrupt and harm ecosystems.
The resurgence of witchcraft is closely linked to feminist, anti-capitalist, and environmental justice movements. These ideologies highlight how climate change disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, including women, Indigenous people, and those from lower-income backgrounds. By embracing witchcraft, these activists challenge the patriarchal and colonial systems that have led us into the Anthropocene; they also embody an alternative model grounded in community, reverence for life, and opposition to capitalist exploitation. This approach often includes recognising Indigenous wisdom, fighting for land rights, and promoting sustainable, earth-centric practices.
In a time facing species extinction, ecosystem collapse, and widespread climate anxiety, witches focus on rituals of resilience and offer spaces for communal mourning of ecological loss. Rituals like land blessings and seasonal celebrations allow communities to process their ecoanxiety, fostering a sense of connection and strength through shared action. Herbalism, a key aspect of witchcraft, portrays the witch as a healer deeply attuned to the land. By combining botanical knowledge with activism, witches protect threatened ecosystems, acting as protectors of biodiversity and cultural heritage. As environmental degradation affects both body and spirit, the witch’s role as healer offers solace and promotes holistic resilience.
Witches spark visionary thinking about radical, sustainable futures, rooted in a profound respect for nature, shared wisdom, and fierce defiance of destructive systems.
Notes
The witch was contributed by Georgina Renny.
Georgina says: “I explore the witch as a symbol of resistance and ecological wisdom in the Anthropocene. Rooted in histories of persecution and reclaimed through feminist and environmental movements. My work connects witch hunts to modern environmental injustice, revealing witches as guides toward biocentric futures grounded in care, justice, and planetary healing.”