WitchTok: Witchcraft in a Digital Era

Journal FOUR

    Just recently, scrolling through my TikTok "For You" page, I came across a video of a woman, Alexa Fuerst, explaining the three things she will never do as a witch. They are as follows: 1) buy her boyfriend a pair of shoes, 2) have a welcome mat in the front of her house, and 3) perform love spells. Her justifications were, respectively: he will walk out of your life; it welcomes negative energy into your house; and everyone is entitled to have freewill. Not only does this one video encapsulate some of the things we have discussed in class such as superstition and spells, I felt this TikTok was indicative of how witchcraft has adapted to prevail in a technological era.

    This blending of modern witchcraft into contemporary contexts is increasingly common in our technologically interconnected world. Where old meets new, traditional practices and emergent spiritual identities fuse into unique and personalized belief systems. In fact, Wicca, a branch of Neopaganism, is one of the “...movements that have adapted old beliefs to modern times” (The History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult, 264). Wicca has a global reach with many subunits emerging such as “Norse Wicca, Celtic Wicca, Druidic Wicca, Solitary Wicca, and Eclectic Wicca” (The History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult, 267). However, common themes of Wiccan beliefs lead practitioners to endorse modern movements like feminism and environmentalism. In fact, many passionate witches champion a political agenda today. Pop Star Lana Del Rey attempted a “spell to bind Donald Trump and all who abet him” in 2017 (The History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult, 300). Today, there are an estimated “...1.5 million Wiccans in the US alone” (The History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult, 267). 

    Those who practice Wicca within a technological setting are named “technopagans.” Practices of theirs include emoji spells and even WitchTok. WitchTok, a TikTok community dedicated to astrology, spell work, and spiritual living, attracts millions of visitors looking to incorporate metaphysical practices into daily life. Seeing this integration of the mystical and digital sparked my own exploration into modern witchcraft. Scrolling through WitchTok, I learned cleansing practices like smudging and made jars filled with crystals and herbs for different purposes. Though these practices are centuries old, connecting with others online made them feel current. In online spaces and through shared experiences, older intuitive ways of being take on new meaning. But modern magical practices rooted in ancient traditions also face new challenges. Misinformation spreads quickly, potentially twisting initial intentions.

    Going forward, preserving the wisdom of the past while adapting to present realities will be critical for modern witches. Technology can actually help facilitate this balance, connecting us to long-lasting truths while allowing traditions to progress responsibly. For me, integrating technology with spiritual exploration has opened a door to an exploration of modern witchcraft through social platforms like TikTok.