There's a whole world of strangeness that popular culture, science etc does not satisfyingly address. So they look elsewhere.
Sometimes you see things.
this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2025
973 points (98.4% liked)
Witchy Memes
6024 readers
134 users here now
Be cool to each other. We'll welcome most occult themes, it's okay if you stray from witchcraft a bit.
No advertising. No trolling. No hate. Violaters will be removed unceremoniously.
We love art credits when possible.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Theory - mass media creates the narrative that witches in the US are Devil worshippers, often with a pretty manly depiction of the Devil, thereby trying to enforce that they “derive their power from their relationship to a man”.
Yes, but that is hardly new. The church already did that in the middle ages and afterwards during the witch hunts.
I remember this happening when I was a teen, and there are still many women I know into it.
My mother was a self proclaimed witch since the 80's/90's, and told me as a child fairies were real, and constantly told me I "had psychic powers." She read my cards and all that. It fucked me up wholly, and pushed me to science and fact. It's not for me, and I don't understand the fascination. But, if it makes other women happy, it's really harmless.
it’s really harmless.
No its not. Belief in bullshit has negative consequences for the individual, their friends and family, and society as a whole.
Now, is it comparatively less harmful than some other things they could believe in? Absolutely but its still bad.
This is an ironically anti-intellectual way to engage with it. Magic isnt real, but knowledge on the natural world and medicine has been maintained through cultural practices like "witchcraft" in the past. Even beyond that, there's knowledge gained for young women in a patriarchal society when they develop relationships with other women and identify with a group that is explicitly counter-cultural on the basis of women empowerment.
Knowledge isn't just facts, it's skills and introspection. Belief in something "bullshit" is often necessary to learn something that is not "bullshit." We teach kids scientifically inaccurate information when they are young because they dont have a basis of knowledge that would enable more nuanced and accurate understandings. They "believe" in something like three states of matter and two genders/sexes because we judge that as a necessary belief to foster the skills that will enable them to learn the reality of these things later.
If they gained self - understanding and empowerment through this phase, then it isn't bullshit. You should challenge this doomerism.
load more comments
(8 replies)
load more comments
(2 replies)
load more comments
(3 replies)
because being in a coven with amazing women is preferable than being near high school boys.
Isn't it assumed that witches get their power from the devil?
I think that’s a generally Christian-centric view (which describes anything non-Jesus as the devil). As far as Pagan witches are concerned they could get their power from any number of gods/goddesses, or even from nature herself.
This is new info to me, so not sure who else, but Paganism isn't a single system. It's anything the Christians were trying to erase in Europe. The wildly varying descriptions occur because it was just the negative terms applied to any other group. Going to church is a ritual. Consuming eucharist is a ritual. Priests are channels to their god. Hyms are chants. Prayers are incantations. All just negative terms applied to the out groups.
load more comments
(2 replies)
Yeah, I didn't want to disempower women, or anything like that. I know that this was merely the christiannarrative of witches.
Kind of interesting, though that the male-centric christian church had to invent a male figure which gives the witch her power.
When Ezekiel raises the dead, it's a blessing from god. But when I do it...
load more comments
(1 replies)
load more comments
(2 replies)
I'd understand if I get skewered for this but people who don't leave the witchcraft stuff behind when they grow up are on par with disney adults and hardcore weebs. I used to think I could gather chi to perform powerful attacks but if I still thought that, people would rightfully make fun of me.
This opinion is gender neutral but I'm always afraid to express it because it might come across as misogyny.
Shame that people feel they can't critique something they find silly for fear of sounding misogynistic. I don't think that's the kind of equality anyone should want.
I think there's a difference between "these rituals and metaphors help me deal with the struggles of the world" and "yo I totally hexed him that's why he got the flu".
The former is pretty harmless. Some people meditate. Some people lift weights. Some people draw cards from a deck and reflect on how they feel about getting The Tower when they asked about their boyfriend. It's just a lens to focus your thoughts.
load more comments
(7 replies)
I love to collect herbs. But I hate to tell people about that because just after then, I ccan discover how much people love to believe in "cancer curing herbal medicine".
My father once suggested a toxic plant is great for health.
It sucks when a hobby you like is full of weirdos. I've been looking into both solar panels and getting rid of a lot of my lawn but SEVERAL times I've been watching a video and the host drops something about homeschooling or religion. I just wanted tips on growing potatoes, man.
load more comments
(4 replies)
load more comments
(1 replies)
load more comments
(13 replies)
view more: next ›