Rooted in Magic

Rooted in Magic explores the world of witchcraft, offering a glimpse into the rituals, beliefs, and daily lives of modern witches and how this community today relates to the historical context of witch trials.

Rooted in Magic is a documentary photography project that explores the world of contemporary Western witchcraft. Through my travels across Europe and the United States, I offer an intimate look into the beliefs, rituals, and daily lives of modern witches and examine how this community today relates to the historical context of witch trials.

The witch hunts, mainly in Europe and colonial America between the 15th and 18th centuries, were driven not just by fear of witchcraft and superstition, but also by social tensions, with authorities often using accusations to find scapegoats and maintain control. Mostly women were accused of consorting with the devil and causing harm through magic. The trials included torture and coerced confessions, leading to thousands of innocent people executed. Statistics are vague because records were not properly kept in every country, but it is estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 people were killed during the witch hunts in Europe alone.

Rooted in Magic examines how today’s Western witches connect with the historical legacy of these persecutions while also redefining what it means to be a witch in the present day. Once a figure of fear and oppression, today the witch has become a powerful symbol of resistance, challenging patriarchal authority and discrimination against those who live outside societal norms. Although not all witches are women, femininity is deeply connected to contemporary witchcraft. Parallel to the rise of the women’s rights movement, the Western witch acquired a more positive and feminist connotation. Because who embodies subversive female power better than the marginalized witch? No longer the evil stepmother, but women in all their complexity, freeing themselves from the male gaze and a system built on fear, desire, and control, they are now a symbol of emancipation.

“Witchcraft is about empowerment, embodiment, tapping into your integrity and authenticity. Living consciously, unapologetically, and powerfully,” says India, an English witch I interviewed. It's not surprising that this subculture attracts a diverse group seeking acceptance and understanding, offering a space where their morality and vulnerability aren’t trampled by prejudice. "Queer and trans people, who often find themselves outside traditional society, can easily connect with the witch community. Because the community is also acutely aware of how Western politics today target trans and queer people as scapegoats" American witch Matthew told me.

In Rooted in Magic, the witch emerges as both proud and vulnerable: a bearer of freedom, spirituality and purpose. The series is a visual exploration of empowerment, the importance of community, and connection with nature. Through my work, I want to invite people to reflect on broader social issues such as discrimination, gender equality, ecology, and the value of the natural world, while also considering how tradition, ritual, and magic can hold meaning in contemporary life, offering a perspective on belonging in the modern age.

I have always been drawn to photographing niche communities that face prejudice, and I’m particularly inspired by people who weave fairytale-like elements, magic, or fantasy into their identities. For me these stories reveal something essential about the world we live in, whether it’s a longing to escape reality, a search for belonging, an act of self-expression and empowerment, or a way of reimagining what life could be. My earlier project, A Depth Most Would Drown In, explored the lives of people who identify as mermaids. With Rooted in Magic, I have immersed myself in the world of the witch. Both works reflect on the representation of women in today’s society, an issue I wrestle with daily as both a woman and an artist.

For me, the essence of documentary photography lies in witnessing, revealing, and connecting. I work closely with my subjects, often living alongside them for extended periods of time. This approach allows me to build trust and create authentic, intimate images that go beyond surface impressions.

Rooted in Magic is currently exhibited at the Castle of Laarne, where, in the early 17th century, six so-called witches were put on trial and four women were burned at the stake. Placing images of contemporary witches within this historic setting invites a reexamination of witchcraft and the stereotypes attached to it, reframing the word into something new and powerful. The word “witch” has long been a weapon of persecution used for centuries to oppress women and still invoked today, whether as a slur in the West or, in parts of Africa and Asia, as justification to control or even kill those who are different or seen as a threat.