The Emergence of Witchcraft in Modern Society

The Emergence of Witchcraft

in Modern Society

Written by Alison Stecker, Culture Staff Writer Graphic by Kate Madigan, Staff Graphic Artist

One night at camp this past summer, a seven-year-old camper walked into my room crying about her family. When I asked if she wanted me to read to her to help ease the homesickness, her book choice surprised me: “The Junior Witch’s Handbook: A Guide to White Magic, Spells, and Rituals.” When I was her age, I was taught that witches were evil and ugly—so why did my camper want to become one? The answer was quite simple: Despite the history of negative stereotypes surrounding witches, witchcraft is now being welcomed as a feminist practice in modern-day society. Witchcraft is a broad term that encompasses many different cultural and individual practices. At its core, many define witchcraft as using and believing in supernatural skills such as spell casting or rituals.1 Like all spiritual practices, witchcraft varies from person to person, and each witch may have their own definition of what the craft means to them. In many cases, witchcraft aligns with paganism, a religion defined simply as “a collection of eclectic indigenous beliefs with a hazy history dating back to medieval Europe.”2 Pagans place special emphasis on the view that nature is sacred and that the circle of life carries spiritual meanings,3 an outlook adopted by many witches as well. Part of witchcraft’s appeal is the inclusivity of the practice and the way it seamlessly intersects with other religions. There

² Wicker, Alden. “Witchcraft Is the Perfect Religion for Liberal Millennials.” Quartz. ³ Ibid

are many different types of witches, including pagan witches, atheist witches and even Christian witches.

The resurgence of modern-day witchcraft began with the women’s suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Witches used this era of transcendentalism as an opportunity to rebrand themselves from perceived “wicked devil-worshippers to intuitive wise women.”4 Prior to this time, witches were persecuted for being independent—a characteristic that distinguishes young, liberal women today.5 According to Gabriela Hertsik, witch and author, witchcraft is inherently political because it’s actually feminist.6 It symbolizes female empowerment in the face of adversity and misogyny. During the 1960s and ‘70s, being a witch was a sign of female empowerment. Witches believed and championed the idea that women make capable, spiritual leaders and that every sexuality deserves to be celebrated.7 Witchcraft is also on the rise as folks are beginning to find unity and tradition in returning to the craft. When slaves were first brought to America, their spiritual practices and traditions merged with Western religions. Now, Black millenials are leaving their churches in numbers to embrace traditional African witchcraft in digital covens.8 According to The Atlantic, African-American witchcraft, known as Yoruba, originated in West Africa. This spirituality focuses on honoring ancestors and worshiping mediators who lay between humans and spirits called Orishas.9

Many Black witches have found comfort meeting online, away from the scrutiny of their Christian parents, who often disapprove of the craft. Iyawo Orisa Omitola, a speaker at the third annual Black Witch Convention, argues that it’s hypocritical for people to suppress witches because traditional African religions worship powerful goddesses.

⁴ Ibid ⁵ Ibid ⁶ Bosker, Bianca. “Why Witchcraft Is on the Rise.” The Atlantic. February 14, 2020. ⁷ Wicker, Alden. “Witchcraft Is the Perfect Religion for Liberal Millennials.” Quartz. ⁸ Samuel, Sigal. “The Witches of Baltimore.” The Atlantic. November 06, 2018. ⁹ Ibid “While the #MeToo movement is out there, there are still African American women out there who don’t have a voice. We are not represented,” Omitola said in her keynote speech. “One thing I know from studying African religions is, I have never seen one subservient goddess. So why are we sitting here thinking we have to be subservient?”10 Although witchcraft has been used to promote feminism and uplift minority voices, witches warn society to be careful not to violate the fine line between witchcraft as a trend and witchcraft as a spiritual community. During the pandemic, witches took to TikTok in swarms, sharing videos tagged under #witchtok to educate people on their ways. These videos, which explain deity worship, swinging pendulums, candle spells and crystals, have received up to 14 billion views.11 While social media helps educate people on practices and creates a safer space for minorities, it also facilitates the commodification of a genuine spirituality. Juliet Diaz, an indigenous witch from Cuba, spoke to The Atlantic about the commodification of witchcraft. “A lot of girls, young girls, they post pictures of their house with their room with upside-down crosses, Goth clothes, with their potions. They don’t even practice witchcraft, and they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m a witch,’ ” Diaz shared. “It takes away from the sacredness of the word.”12

Fast fashion companies put tarot cards on their $5 t-shirts while businesses use children to mine for crystals.13 Urban Outfitters has appropriated witchcraft for years by selling smudge sticks, tarot cards and healing crystals,14 and it wasn’t until 2018 that Sephora stopped selling their $42 Pinrose “starter witch kit” with perfume, tarot cards, crystals and sage.15 All of these companies capitalize on and commodify the art of witchcraft, one which has already been suppressed and extradited in society for hundreds of years. By smacking things on t-shirts and sticking things in boxes, companies ignorantly disregard the very roots of an ancient spiritual

¹⁰ Ibid ¹¹ Cichon, Bailey. “The Issue with Commodifying Witchcraft.” Log in. June 13, 2021. ¹² Bosker, Bianca. “Why Witchcraft Is on the Rise.” The Atlantic. February 14, 2020. 13 Ibid 14 Nittle, Nadra. “The Occult Is Having a Moment. Companies Want In, but Not If Witches Can Help It.” Vox. October 31, 2018. 15 Ibid tradition, leading to an erasure of its dark and complex history.

Despite the battles that modern witches continue to fight, it’s a win for women everywhere that modern-day witchcraft is rooted in a feminist mindset. Society must now learn to approach the craft with the care and respect it deserves, and honor it as an authentic mode of spirituality. While witchcraft is an open practice, those new to the craft must remember its indigenous roots and avoid partaking in the commercialization of it to stay true to witchcraft’s original message: transforming women into strong, intuitive leaders and uplifting marginalized voices across the globe. ■

The resurgence of modernday witchcraft began with the women’s suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Witches used this era of transcendentalism as an opportunity to rebrand themselves from perceived “wicked devil-worshippers to intuitive wise women.”