Witch

SACHA VAN NIEKERK

WITCHCRAFT has made its way to Tiktok where everyone from Gen Z to middle-aged career women are delving deeply into mystical healing practices, the occult and beyond.

At the start of the pandemic, families were kept apart, relationships took strain and jobs were lost. It was the start of many months of great uncertainty which led people to turn to unconventional methods of seeking out validation and direction.

From the plethora of websites to social media apps, the internet became more than a source of information – it was a means to connect to the outside world as well as a much-needed break from reality.

Tiktok has managed to draw people in like no other platform.

What was once viewed as something reserved for kids is producing never-ending reels of digestible videos with reports suggesting that the app has positive effects on mental health.

At the start of the pandemic, it kept idle minds occupied with fun challenges and trends for making anything from tie dye sweat sets to whipped coffee as we scoured the web for new activities to try.

With its boom in popularity, sub groups have started to emerge within the app.

From astrology to palm reading and everything in between, the hashtag #Witchtok is a force to be reckoned with.

It’s already accumulated more than 11 billion views to date.

Clouds of incense, tarot readings and crystal healing – if you’ve ever taken a leisurely scroll through Tiktok

you’ve probably already stumbled across an aesthetically pleasing video of a mysterious woman sharing fortunes or perhaps even a manifestation mantra written to attract positivity and wealth.

For the same spells, chants and magic that saw women being burnt at the stake in the 1600s, in 2021, these videos are attracting thousands of likes and views.

Whether you have amazing intuition and know when to trust your gut or you’ve always had a way with plants, #Witchtok seems to preach that we all have these capabilities within ourselves – you just need to learn how to harness them.

This is where “baby witch” comes into play. According to the app, the term refers to budding witches.

Starting a collection of crystals is said to be one of the easiest first steps to experiencing different energies.

Those who have started on this journey recommend letting the crystals call out to you and picking out what you’re attracted to – rose quartz, moonstone and malachite are just some of them.

However, as wonderful as it is to learn about new methods of healing, a word of caution: #Witchtok may be viewed as a fad by some, but for others who subscribe to certain religious and cultural beliefs, the practices behind it are a part of everyday life.

However, with the right amount of respect – educating yourself on witchcraft’s history and steering clear of rituals that are not meant for you – you can still learn about astrology, crystals and manifestation.