Image: RDNE Stock project
Witches are a thing of the past? Not on TikTok! A real hype has developed on social media surrounding modern witches. Their posts are shared under the hashtag #witchtok, racking up billions of views. In the videos, the self-proclaimed witches are usually seen in their own homes, which are decorated with occult objects. They share tips with other witches, introduce rituals and spells. These include love spells, cleansing rituals, and self-love practices.
Image: RDNE Stock project
Interview With A Modern Witch
Ultraviolettstories, a journalistic collective working with Funk from Germany, interviewed modern witch Lariea from Duisburg, Germany and visited her home. She calls herself a "Witchfluencer," shares videos on all major platforms, and even offers rituals. In her interview, Lariea talks about her life as a witch:
“As a witch, I see it as a way to help people reconnect with nature. I believe witches act as intermediaries between different worlds, trying to restore a sense of peace.” - Lariea
It’s no surprise that there are many critics and skeptics when it comes to this topic. Lariea was asked how she deals with these individuals. Her response? She simply ignores them.
“I know that it works. [...] There are so many things where people might say, ‘Hey, that’s nonsense, that’s not true,’ and I just think, ‘Hey, you’ve probably never tried it, at least not with your whole heart.’”
However, she also acknowledges the dangers for people who might lose touch with reality by getting too deeply into the subject. She highlights that not all problems can be solved with magic.
Cultural anthropologist Dr. Victoria Hegner has studied the history of witches over time. According to her, the trend on social media is not the first wave of this phenomenon; it also occurred in the 90s and early 2000s. She believes that the "Harry Potter" book series played a major role, and later fantasy publications focused on magic may have been an inspiration as well.
“The modern witch is usually [...] a very self-empowered woman.” - Dr. Victoria Hegner, Cultural Anthropologist
It is emphasized that none of these witches believe in conjuring things, transforming objects, or performing the kind of classic witchcraft we know from "Harry Potter", and similar stories. Instead, it's about personal growth, self-empowerment, and manifesting goals through rituals.
“There’s a lot of feminism in witchcraft. You could even say that today’s witchcraft, not all versions but many, represents a form of feminist spirituality.” - Dr. Victoria Hegner, Cultural Anthropologist
If you’re interested in watching the full video on the topic, check it out here with automatic subtitles:
