Reflexiones on symposium of Spiritual Technologies
Ethnobotany within Witch Trials and the Capitalization of Health. 2nd symposium of Spiritual Technologies 8-11 April 20
Text By Jessica UllevĂĽlseter.
Photos: Danial Hansen
#5 Program: Witchcraft in Trondheim â Historical Walk & River Offering. Photo: Danial Hansen
The 2nd symposium of Spiritual Technologies co-created a complex three-day symposium that connected witch trials to European herbal praxis, epidemics to superstition, diabolism to power mechanisms, and the medical history of the female body. The symposium was a hybrid digital-presential event that took place at Kunsthall Trondheim 8-11th April 2021. The event was organized and curated within Diana Policarpos exhibition Nets of Hyphae at Kunsthall Trondheim, an exhibition that informs and draws inspiration from a fungi character; with the special focus on European history context within ergot and ergotism.
In this way, the symposium, this year namely Ethnobotany within Witch Trials and the Capitalization of Health, weaved knowledge and background to the exhibition and created an embroidery of historical, ethnobotanical, and artistic research, with contributions such as Polycarpos work, Silvia Federici, Júlia Carreras, Torbjørn Alm, Steffi Hessler, Linda Fjølstad, Mari Jerstad, Mai Løvüs, Guilherme Blanc, Amalia Fonfara, Marita Isobel Solberg, Nazare Soares, Jessie Jack Ullevülseter and Aleksander K. Smakosz. The symposium also contained plant ceremonies and ritual work.
The symposium was opened on April 8th with a ritual performance held by the Invisibledrum team (Soares, Fonfara, Solberg, UllevĂĽlseter); a ritual that summoned the waterâs memory, the fireâs desire, the salts protection, the milk sweetness, and the seedsâ potential. It was a powerful moment that was emotional to many,- a prayer for authentic connection and sustainable knowledge, healing, and holistic health. For many in the public, this was the first physical meeting in a very long time, due to the pandemic, and the energies that emanated from the 4 artists somehow reset the audience and seems to have opened the gates of empathic understanding towards the topics that proceeded.
The ritual work prepares understanding when dealing with violent past, such as the capitalization of health and a history of torture.
The format of ritual deepens into a statement for the decolonized body and its liberation from Cartesian dualism, the Westâs downfall in separation from nature. The ritual work is made for the water, the fire, the earth, and the air, from an animist approach to the matter and co-living species; union. The ritual dimension sustains the myth of the archetypal beyond the present moment. In this way, ritual anchors the participants both to the present and to the subtle sacred dimension beyond human.
#2 Program: Claviceps Purpurea: Sacred Fungus
#4 Program: Fungi, Witches, and Sexual Health Justice.
#4 Program: Fungi, Witches, and Sexual Health Justice.
#3 Program: Neo-Pharmacopoeia & The Magical Body.
The symposium started within Policarpos exhibition on ergot fungi, Claviceps purpurea fungus, and so we were led through the landscapes of our unknown past. Botanist Torbjørn Alm unveiled the connection between ergotism and the archives of the witch trials; Ergotism was, during several centuries, a well-known disease, although the origin of the disease was mysterious. Many hospitals were dedicated to ergotism, under the protection of St. Anthony. Ergot may owe its fame to its contemporary extract: Lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD. But in its natural form, it is very dangerous to human consumption. It was not until the 19th century that we understood the link between fungi and disease.
Without a doubt, there has been a culture that has worked with ergot as a plant-ally. It is an emmenagogue fungus,- hence related to the woman and birth control. The lecture by Silvia Federici connected the witch trials to European birth control, to medical history, such s discectomy and torture. Julia Carreras, researcher, practitioner, and teacher of Pyrenean Metzineria (âPoison Makingâ) linked the ergot to our ancient past in the Mediterranean context, Demeter cults, and the use of ergot in excluded mountain communities up until recent years.
Invisibledrum team presented for the first time The Witch Trails Project throughout a vulnerable lecture performance, where topics as magick, witch trials, shamanism, water healing, and other relevant subjects were weaved in geomancy with the animistic relationship to the elements, land, stones, and plants allies.
The climax of the symposium was Federiciâs talk on power mechanisms related to the female body; a Europe that was shattered after the black death, a desire to repopulate, the man becoming the scientific medical doctor as the tradition of woman medicine and her rights was pushed out, birth control and torture as a predecessor to modern medical knowledge. Despite the hybrid digital event, we felt personal and real meetings with our hosts from Kunsthall Trondheim. It was very moving to dig deep into Diana Policarpo´s research through a conversation and the book launch of her exhibition with curator and director of Kunsthall Trondheim Steffi Hessler and director of Galeria Municipal do Porto Guliherme Blanck. The online conversation stressed out how the exhibition Nets of Hyphae explores connections between types of power, gender, and cultures across periods where the ergot fungus was the main character from middle ages narratives through a contemporary lens.
#5 Program: Witchcraft in Trondheim â Historical Walk
On the last day of the symposium, Linda Fjølstad led a historical walk through Trondheim that physically anchored the historical insights in its local context; she walked us through 3 historical figures of the city of Trondheim, leading from gossip to the fire. It was emotional and exciting, sad and overwhelming, Invisibledrum team made water offering to end off the walk,- to apeace the secrets of the water, to summon and ask forgiveness of the belated souls, so as to give back clean waters to the memories of human mainstreams.
To end the symposium, Mari Jerstad and Mai Løvüs provided a tea ceremony with a mysterious plant. We learned how to ease into the plant, taste and feel it, observe the visuals it may bring, and awareness of what it actually means to create symbiosis by merging with a plant as we taste it.
The varied content ranging from international speakers and devoted researchers to the artistic insight, the ritualistic summoning of the aquatic living memory, the inclusion of historical authors that are to be known, the origins of the pre-historical witch, and the recognition of femininities throughout history, made The â2nd symposium of Spiritual technologies; â Pharmacopeia and Ethnobotany within the Witch Trials and the Capitalization of Healthâ a full course meal of stimulus we are still digesting, chewing on and seeing with varied new perspectives.
Thank you so much to the organizers and the space created, that provides knowledge, creativity, dialogue, new formats for reciprocity and community.
The 2nd symposium of spiritual technologies; Ethnobotany within Witch Trials and the Capitalization of Health, was organized with Invisibledrum Art Platform in collaboration with Kunsthall Trondheim and the Norwegian Historical Association (HIFO), supported by Trondheim Kommune, Nordisk Kulturfond, and Trøndelag Fylkeskommune.
The 2nf Symposium of spiritual technologies served as the opening act for the Norwegian colaboration of the Witch Trail Project, a project affiliated with Invisibledrum art platform, created by Nazare Soares, Amalia Fonfara, Marita Solberg, and Jessica UllevĂĽlseter. The project is funded by NBK and KulturrĂĽdet.
Read the Full Symposium Program Here
Reflections on the 1st Nordic & International Symposium of Spiritual Technologies within Creative Practices
Invisibledrum Art Platform | 4th-6th February 2020 | Trondheim, Rosendal Teater
Text by Nazarè Soares
The first gathering of Invisibledrum has been a profoundly moving and transformative experienceâone that felt like the birth of something deeply significant. The threads have been cast, ready to be woven into future collaborations for planetary healing and interspecies growth.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Rosendal Teater for their unwavering support and trust in making this event possible. A heartfelt thanks to Lorents Christian for his technical expertise, patience, and kindness. We also wish to express our appreciation to all the participants who contributed their work, research, and energyâyour presence and dedication to change were invaluable. Special thanks to Silke Huysmans & Hannes Dereere (Pleasant Island) for acknowledging the wounds of our planet, and to Maiken Hauksdatter for capturing the essence of the gathering through her photography. Above all, we thank the Spirits for guiding us and making this vision a reality.
SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW
The symposium began with a creative circle, allowing us to explore connections to our family roots and personal narratives. This format shifted us away from a strictly formal academic or institutional approach, inviting deeper engagement with each otherâs artistic and spiritual practices. We opened the space with a ceremonial invocation to the spirits, setting the tone for the discussions ahead.
Day 1: Invisible Places & The Power of Love
The first day was filled with powerful presentations and discussions around Invisible Placesâhow to recognize them and which tools can facilitate planetary healing and community growth. We explored how the projects presented could support one another, exchanging methods and strategies for development.
One of the most profound discussions revolved around love and its relationship with fear. Can we truly love if we are not free from fear? How can conscious listening shape our understanding of love?
Another critical theme was how artistic expression can be vulnerable to narcissistic dynamics in capitalist societies. The evening closed with an immersive participatory performanceâa true alchemy of the soul, where transformation unfolded in real-time.
Day 2: Alchemy, Resistance & Technological Intersections
The second day began with a woodcraft workshop by Ibrahima Seydi, which, despite low attendance, provided valuable insights into the ritualistic and shamanic origins of craftsmanship.
The afternoon session was dynamic and diverse. Veronica Mota delivered a powerful call for unity and resistance through alchemical processes of the soul. Presentations explored the power structures between humans and the environment, the hidden mathematics of the invisible, and the integration of digital and technological elements into artistic practice.
A key takeaway was the balance between entropy, mathematics, and science with tools of intuition, randomness, and creativityâa crucial interplay in manifesting the unseen. The evening featured one-on-one performances and film screenings, delving into deeply personal narratives and exploring the liminal spaces within media and digital art.
Day 3: Theater, Indigenous Storytelling & The Sacred
The final day opened with an artist talk by Silke Huysmans & Hannes Dereere, who presented Pleasant Island, a theatre piece that unpacks the devastation caused by capitalismâboth on ecosystems and the human spirit.
The dayâs discussions spanned across indigenous storytelling, shamanic and folk traditions, ritual work, animistic languages, and somatic communication. A crucial reflection emerged on the struggle between academic constraints and the necessity to unlearn dichotomic habitsâmoving toward embodied knowledge and resonance-based methodologies.
One of the most pressing discussions centered on the reclamation of the sacred. In a world where states have exerted control over land, bodies, and species, reclaiming sacred spaces becomes an act of resistance.
Key Themes Explored
- Invisible Places & Interconnectivity
- Technologies of the Magical & Technoanimism
- Paganism, Ritual & Folklore in Performance Art
- Spiritual Technologies & Somatic Knowledge
- The Intersection of Science, Mathematics & Alchemical Processes
Final Reflections & Looking Ahead
On the final day, we gathered to reflect on the future of the Invisibledrum platform and the lessons learned. One of the main discussions revolved around integrating spiritual and soul healing practices within the artsâhow can we create new artistic streams that center these methodologies?
A recurring theme was the need to balance intellectual discourse with bodily and somatic experiences, allowing participants to fully integrate knowledge. There was also a strong desire to host future gatherings in nature, working more closely with plant medicine, the elements, and ecological wisdom.
Challenges & Future Improvements:
- Time Management & Remote Participation: Some remote presentations lacked opportunities for deeper engagement and discussion. Future gatherings may prioritize in-person interactions or create structured online engagement formats.
- Program Structure & Containment: The open nature of the event sometimes made it unclear who was part of the program and who was attending as the public. Future events might take the form of residential retreats, ensuring a contained and immersive environment.
- Somatic & Sound Healing Integration: A clear desire emerged to incorporate more bodywork, sound healing, and music-oriented experiences into future programs.
Read the Full Symposium Program Here
