Jessica Janae Boatman (Kirby), Guest Writer
In January, I learned about the exhibition Major Arcana, featured at the Southeast Museum of Photography. As soon as I learned about the exhibit, I had to visit. The exhibit is about people who identify as witches from around the United States, but it does seem as though the majority of the photographer’s subjects are from New York. As somebody who personally identifies as a witch and a polytheistic pagan, this exhibit immediately grabbed my attention.
The photographer’s name is Frances F. Denny. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this exhibit. Beneath the photographs, it seemed that a lot of subjects expressed how political being a witch is. They are not wrong, but personally, I never considered how political paganism and polytheistic craft practices really are.
One of the photograph’s descriptions (Ebun Zoule) speaks of how being a witch is a sort of self-sufficiency that capitalism cannot gain from. How intriguing it was to read about why this esoteric practice is oppressed. I always just figured people are afraid of what they do not understand and that is why being a witch is so taboo.
It is hard to comprehend for some people, that if you put enough energy and will into an idea, you can manifest it. Society as a whole wants to understand every minute and aspect of how and why something works the way it does. Frankly, some things are just the way they are. So it is with magic; it is not a matter of understanding how it works, but just the knowledge that it does. I could go into a scientific analysis of the effect of raising a persons energy field levels to the frequency of that which they wish to feel and have, but that would be understanding from my own experience and knowledge and not from information that was directly expressed in this exhibit.
After going to this exhibit, I was a little disappointed that the artist focused on female and gender-fluid people. The message the exhibit gives is that witchcraft is a feminine practice, which as a witch and a pagan, I know this is not true.
I had been talking to someone about my visit to the museum and they replied to me “Isn’t a male witch called a ‘warlock’?” I informed them that is not the case most of the time. I am only speaking from experience, but male witches are referred to as “witches.” The misconception comes from the cinematic view of witchcraft.
Yes, a lot of pagan beliefs are secure in their acknowledgement of female aspects and deities, but that does not mean that only females can practice. That is like saying because Jesus Christ was a man, only men can be Christian, which is clearly not the case. With all of this said, I think it would do justice to further inform people on the entirety of these Earthly-inspired, polytheistic beliefs, perhaps including pictures and information of all genders of witches.
I enjoyed the bare boldness of some of these pictures. The attire in some of the photos is as laid back and free spirited as the pagan religion itself. Pictures that displayed such garments were Staci, Meredith, and Mya, the last one actually being a photograph of a woman in a bathtub with bubbles and no clothes.
I enjoyed seeing images with little to no clothing because it shows that nudity is not something to be ashamed about. Being nude is as natural as the dust of the Earth. I enjoyed the picture of Meredith because of all the little items that she has adorned on her and her belongings, like ornaments upon a tree. It reminded me of the many crystals I have or little items of significance that I keep tucked in some item on my person to raise the vibrational frequency.
I greatly enjoyed the image of Serpentessa. The dark gossamer fabric that she wore allotted the sight of her womanly form down to her areolas. The outfit says, “This is what I am, this is what I represent. I will not hide it and I am not ashamed of it.” That statement is something that I fully respect. Overall, my visit to this exhibit was informative and comforting in that I was able to relate to all of the subjects. We share a common understanding of the Craft.