I think the recent rise in witchcraft and paganism isn't too surprising. People feel powerless and disillusioned with the systems they grew up in. They're turning to something that gives them a feeling of freedom, control and security. They're taking their power back. My journey into witchcraft wasn't that extreme, but it did feel very freeing and powerful, so it makes sense to me why people are turning to it in such an unstable time
2 months ago | 93
Something you should touch on is the cultural appropriation of indigenous cultures that happens (for example, stuff like burning sage). Iâm white so I canât speak personally, but it is a discussion Iâve seen happening online and I think itâs important to address considering how ignored a lot of racism against indigenous folks is.
2 months ago | 23
I am a member of a Sioux tribe, and I really cannot stand seeing traditions like smudging and sage being misused and put up for sale. Especially when many regional varieties of these herbs are poached. As someone who finds great meaning in my people's traditions while still considering myself a skeptic and an atheist, I don't think the witchcraft and wicca is like, actually doing anything. Magic isn't real, but I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs. If lighting a candle or whatever helps you have a better day then that's great. But it does land pretty hard seeing white people use bastardized versions of ceremonies my grandmother could have been arrested for performing when she was a young woman.
2 months ago
| 97
It's easier than ever to grift. Stupid people will buy anything from crazy people.
2 months ago | 8
Iâm a Wiccan. Have been for about 8 years. I was raised in the Anglican Church but came from a multi faith household, which opened me up to being able to pursue other paths. I had known about paganism but came across Wicca online and did the traditional path of studying for a year and a day before fully âconvertingâ, as I didnât want to do something that ended up being a phase in my life. I believe in the more traditional but eclectic Wiccan path, I.e. the goddess and god rather than something like a Hellenic deity. But I fall into the camp of Wiccans that see the goddess and god as representations, rather than literal deities. Whatâs more important to me is following the wheel of the year, spellwork, the idea of forces we cannot see such as spirits, and the widely held Wiccan beliefs of reincarnation and/or Summerland. What bothers me about the state of witchcraft currently with âEtsy witchesâ and shops selling spell jars and âbuy and goâ products is the commercialization. Donât get me wrong, I love a metaphysical shop, and sometimes itâs the only place to get incense or tools like cauldrons. But witchcraft is supposed to be the divinity from within, and the thought, intention, and execution needs to come from within. It bothers me that people nowadays seem to think that if they pay 10$ theyâll fall in love, or if they buy that 20$ spell jar then theyâll get that promotion. Witchcraft was never meant to be sold on a shelf. I understand people wanting to use their craft as a means of financial support, but in many of the methods currently done, there is no human connection or spirituality to it, and it is simply a financial transaction. I suppose it is the instant gratification-ism of it all.
2 months ago
| 40
I am curious how people sort out grifters from true believers/practitioners. Iâm assuming there has to be some people in this field that are just in it for the money, yeah?
2 months ago | 10
I paid an etsy witch to make sure Tara uploads a new vidâŠclearly something is a brewing.
2 months ago
| 1
As a pagan witch of ~3 years, I think the part of the reason our community has grown so much is its inclusivity of not just different people but also different beliefs. I've always believed in the spiritual/supernatural/etc, but never found a system of beliefs that fit mine quite like witchcraft. I believe in reincarnation, past lives, the ancient Greek pantheon, crystals, and more. There really isn't anything other than witchcraft that encompasses all of these beliefs. Something I'd like to see addressed in your video is the appeal witchcraft has to queer people, literally 0 of the other witches I know are cis or straight lol. I'm also glad you know the difference between paganism and witchcraft, bc I think the conflation of the two is the biggest misconception I've seen (aside from the "we all hate God and Jesus and the Bible" one).
2 months ago | 78
I started getting into witchcraft in 2021, I was a teen and was very unwell mentally. I still follow the wheel of the year and have been developing my own practice over the years based on what is around me and family who have passed on. I have a lot of beef with online witchcraft spaces as a lot of them at best promote overconsumption of already limited or dangerous resources (white sage being sold by and for non-native people, crystals being unethically sourced with dangerous conditions and child labour). Oftentimes itâs extremely expensive and targeted to vulnerable people who are willing to spend whatever to fix their life. At worst, it breeds spiritual psychosis. Watch enough of those tiktok tarot readers at the wrong point in your life and they will fuck with your head. A lot of online witchy spaces love the idea of starseeds and the belief that some people are more special or important than others. There is a very real pipeline of conspiracy theories that are rampant(5G, Trans people taking over, chem trails, raw milk, etc). Thereâs such rampant cultural appropriation, so many people will take something from 15 separate cultures and mix them together to call it their practice while often shitting on the people who created the traditions. Speaking from Canada, I have seen many white spiritual folks take from multiple different Indian cultures, just to mock the influx of Indian immigrants. Theyâll have stickers saying âsmudge that shitâ and then deny residential schools. Itâs a very toxic and harmful environment and my life got better when I stopped interacting with online witchcraft spaces
2 months ago | 4
YouTube creator Strange Aeons did a good video on this. You should reach out, it would be a pretty fun collab.
2 months ago | 47
I've been a witch for over two decades. Forsook the church and prayed under the moon in my early teens, have since fostered a connection with the earth and my ancestors that has allowed me to experience some profound things. Seeing my ancestors homelands and hearing their dead languages in my dreams, for example. What I want other European and European-descended witches to realize is this - witchcraft is not an arm of neo-fascism. You cannot be a white supremacist and a witch - our afterlives would be better if we spent this life praying to the Christian God, who will also not look favorably upon us for those beliefs. Witchcraft for white people should be an opportunity to decolonize our beliefs. This requires us to learn from Indigenous people and respect Indigenous culture. It requires us to dig into the roots of what Indigenous European spiritualities were instead of appropriating from cultures that are not ours to claim. And ofc it means standing with Indigenous people to demand all land, all across the globe, be returned Blessed be
2 months ago (edited) | 5
I used to be into witchcraft a few years ago. For me it was a lot about reading about cultural practices (Italian for me) and going outside. Similar to most things the rise of witchcraft on tiktok really simplified the meaning of everything. Just like religion it gives people the feeling of control over their lives and things that other people do, and if you just follow a set a rules or say a set of words youâll be able to control the uncontrollables of life.
2 months ago | 1
How to say: unless you belong to a tribe nation that taught you, you cannot smudge. Its recanning or smoke cleansing for everyone not trained in it. Smudging afaik is supposed to bring spirits in even. Stop calling it smudging its not for us! On top of that. Ditto for spirit animals! Thats not how any of that works! AND the word gxpsy is highly pejorotive/slur to traveling people. There is reclaiming but its not just a word that means "free spirit" and "vaguely magical caravan people"
2 months ago | 3
The rise of vague "spiritualism" and general witchery pretty much coincides with the general lack of faith people are having. Overall religious identification is lowering year over year and even with those who still can't shake the identity still basically do not actually practice that belief. But these people are still raised into that mindset. It's essentially a god shaped hole people are filling. Mystical thinking is a nice safe blanket to wrap yourself in. This combined with identities being easy to form communities around mean that general "witchy" groups feel comfy and nice. This turns a nice comfy mysticism blanket into overdrive.
2 months ago | 4
iâve been a practicing witch for 10 years ish, and seeing how witchcraft online has changed and evolved from the witchblr days (i was very active on witch tumblr lol) to now with witchtok and etsy witches is really interesting. i think back in the day there was still a bit of the emphasis on aesthetic, but by far not as much as there is now. thereâs a lot of things that are different really, but mainly itâs the visibility. i got into witchcraft initially when i was in a place in my life where i didnât have a lot of control and wanted to feel like i could change some of the things i couldnât, which i think is a big reason why weâre seeing the explosion of witches we are today. back when i got started you didnât tell just anyone you were a witch, and you definitely didnât post it on your main socials. i think thatâs why it had such a presence on tumblr, where the freaks live. the commonplaceness of crystals, astrology and other witchy things that you used to get ridiculed for saying you believe in is wild too. itâs a fascinating topic and i bet will make a cool video
2 months ago | 5
Just saw the video on nebula! Super happy to have discovered you on Nebula. As someone who is relentless agnostic, i have nonetheless dated a practicing witch for several years, enmeshed myself in a circle of friends with many practicing witches, and, frankly, just seem to end up in circles with witches. All of that to say that I think my observations are not ignorant. What I have seen of the witches in my life is that they engage in ritual practices that strengthen their bonds, give them a strong sense of their independent agency, and it overall just provides them with this strong positive force in their lives. The men I have known who were witches tended to be queer, so there is definitely a gender and sexuality component to it. I was glad you mentioned the oppression of supposed "witches" in the developing world, because it is a tragic component of persistent global misogyny, and is tragic. I remember having taught Gender Studies and had to teach these sorts of things, while also being sensitive to insure that it did not feed into the type of racism that pervade the Colonizers world against the colonized. Anyway.. that "girl bossification" of it is gross. Capitalism tries to ruin everything, and often does.. just look at Christian MegaChurches in the US... and most of Christianity in general. Ok.. sorry.. I could go on and on. You did a great job Cow writer, and presenter Tara. I will spare you a further essay.. Oh and you did such a lovely job answering to the questions and concerns of the commenters here! You are a true "girl boss" ha. Just kidding. You are actually a fantastically cheeky, but academically rigorous and honest presenter, and I love it.
1 week ago (edited) | 0
Tara Mooknee
đź SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS đź
I am researching for a video about the rise of digital witchcraft (e.g. Etsy witches) and the rising popularity of Witchcraft & Wiccan practices in today's political climate. So share your insights, please đ
đ§ If you are a Witch and/or Wiccan: how you got into it, what you believe, how you practice, misconceptions you'd like to see corrected and anything else you think is worth sharing
đ If you have purchased spells/magical services: why you did so, if it worked, if you regret it/or would purchase again
PS: Do not worry, I am aware that there's differences between paganism, Wicca and witchcraft. This video is less about the practices themselves, but more about how they're portrayed & viewed online đ”đ»ââïž
2 months ago | [YT] | 700