By Michelle Gatewood
Published 9/14/2022 6:00am PST

Crystals, altars, and burning sage. These are the apparent new staples of many households. I find that I meet more people who “practice” or are learning to than those who don’t. You can scroll endlessly on TikTok or Instagram with #beginnerspells, #babywitch, or simply #witchtok. 

While many content creators approach their videos with some semblance of respect, it’s impossible to ignore the uneasiness of watching a beauty-filtered video of someone explaining a binding spell obviously attuned to their aesthetic though apparently blind to whom their prospective audience may be.

Of course, I believe knowledge should be free. But these are not tutorials on how to, or change a tire or perform a derailleur adjustment. Spells should not be common knowledge. However, this is not an attempt to gatekeep. This is an opinion piece. The opinion is, that those who are quick to seek solutions to personal problems through witchcraft may be abusing and consequently disrespecting a sacred practice. 

So how did we get here? Was it escapism from COVID19? An outlet for the feelings of helplessness brought on by a global pandemic? Or perhaps just a consequence of the hyper and immediately accessible information on these platforms. After all, all it takes is one viral video to initiate a flood of others seeking the same number of views. 

In a 2020 article, writer Bianca Bosker suggested that the “rebranding” of witchcraft was likely to blame. Noting that previously, calling yourself a witch was associated negatively whereas now, calling yourself a witch equates to calling yourself  “intuitive” and “wise.” Naturally, this would attract many who struggle to feel empowered daily. 

Whatever the case, those who find themselves interested should be sure to interrogate their motivations. For example, if you find yourself in conflict with your partner, you could perhaps take steps to create open communication rather than turn to the option of a  jealousy spell. 

If, after careful consideration, you still find yourself met with a passion for witchcraft, acknowledge your place in a long history of culture. Consider the sources you choose to learn from and why. Is it just those sources that are readily available and currently trending? Are you simply seeking to feel a part of something greater? Would you choose to educate yourself if the internet did not exist? 

Would you desire to label yourself this way if there was no one to perceive you? 

LINKS

Bianca Bosker for The Atlantic

AUTHOR

Michelle R. Gatewood is a Mexican American poet and writer from Fontana, California. Her work often explores relationships and the language of identity. She received her B.A. in Linguistics from Cal Poly Pomona.