Burn The Witch: Melbourne

Burn the Witch

An Evenning of Magic, Witchcraft and Feminism with High Priestess

The History of Witchcraft is the History of Feminism

I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. No doubt as a woman, and as a leader – whether in business, in your community or in your family - you’re also feeling it.

Whether it’s the unprecedented number of violent attacks on, and murders of, women this year, or the “man vs bear” conversation, it feels like for every step forward we’ve taken two steps back.

On the one hand, it feels like we’re becoming more polarised – but at the same time, I’m also asking, is this the way people have always felt? Has the internet just opened the flood gates so that they’re saying the quiet part out loud?

Hi, my name is Leela Cosgrove – I’m a feminist. I’m the founder and CEO of a multi-million dollar company. And I’m also a practicing Witch of 35 years.

I’m hosting this event because these are conversations I need to have right now – and I know that if I’m feeling it, I’m not alone.

It’s not like things have suddenly got bad – they’ve been bad for a long time – but I feel, right now, like we’re at a tipping point. I’ve been particularly flattened by the conversations I’ve seen around me over the last few months.

But the thing about me is: no matter how illogical it is, I’m an optimist about humans.

So rather than sitting around and engaging with the debacle that is everyone screaming at each other online, I’ve decided to take my depression and anger and channel it into something productive.

The word “Witch” has always been a code word for women society wants to control

It’s a word that, during the inquisition, was levelled at women for having the audacity to seem too joyous. For having too much money when it was coupled with independence. For being healers and support systems for other women.

And it’s still being used to try and control women today – whether it’s levelled against Julia Gillard for being the first female Prime Minister, or against Taylor Swift for being both famous and a billionaire (while also embodying the feminine urge to dress in a cape and dance around a forest).

Join us on May 30th for an exclusive evening that draws powerful parallels between historical witch hunts and the contemporary challenges faced by women.

"Burn the Witch" isn’t just an event; it's a call to arms.

Over 90 minutes, I’ll weave together for you the history of Witchcraft and demonstrate how this history is crucial to where we find ourselves today as women, stuck in a society that reviles us, including how the culturescape continues to place women as Witches on the gallows.

We’ll look at the way in which ancient pagan societies, through their worship of nature and goddesses, inherently understood that women should be social and spiritual leaders.

And we’ll discuss how we can embrace these principles in a modern context – how we can use a historical and present understanding of Witchcraft to effect change in our companies, our communities and our homes.

I’ll share with you why I think Witchcraft is one of the most valuable tools for every woman in her professional and personal life, and how modern Witches are honouring our ancestors by engaging in activism – even if it means risking being burned at the stake all over again.

For instance, did you know that over the last few years there was a concerted movement of Witches worldwide casting spells on Trump with the express outcome of the full extent of his behaviours coming to light and him being held responsible for them? As we say in Witchcraft – as above, so below. Nothing happens without the combination of focused intent and physical action.

Stick around afterwards to connect with your fellow Witches for networking and mayhem.

ABOUT YOUR PRESENTER

“Leela Cosgrove breaks the mould of traditional CEOs. But she's clearly a force to be reckoned with.” American Express

“With striking red hair and tattoo-covered arms, Cosgrove is not the sort of person who blends into the crowd.” The Age

“One of Australia’s most sought after mentors and speakers.” Kochie’s Business Builders

"Wow, you must be the richest Witch in the World." Some Boomer Dude on LinkedIn

Leela Cosgrove wasn’t supposed to become a successful entrepreneur. She grew up in a housing commission suburb in Brisbane, Australia, surrounded by violence, drug use and the ongoing rhetoric that she would amount to nothing.

She refused to submit to the expectations set for her, defying the odds and escaping the cycle of poverty she saw around her. She founded a boutique B2B consulting firm, growing it into a multi-million dollar company.

Leela is the visionary behind Australia’s largest Witchcraft education and events company, High Priestess has spent the last 30 years working as a professional psychic and healer, providing guidance to Hollywood celebrities, billionaires, and rock stars. A third-generation psychic and lightworker, Leela’s ability to seamlessly integrate deep esoteric knowledge with practical entrepreneurial wisdom makes her a sought-after confidante and consultant.