Somewhere along the winding path from the old ways to the digital age, Witchcraft and Paganism began losing something essential. What was once a profound spiritual path—a tapestry woven from devotion, discipline, relationship to land, ancestors, and spirit—has too often been reduced to a glossy aesthetic.
Don’t get me wrong: beauty has always been part of the Craft. But what we’re seeing now is a version of Witchcraft that stops at the beauty, never digging deeper to touch the marrow beneath.
Modern Witchcraft has become a curated box tied up with bows: crystal hauls, TikTok spell jars with no context, velvet altars meant more for Instagram photos than ritual purpose. And honestly? It breaks my heart a little.
We’ve somehow gone from Witchcraft as a practice to Witchcraft as a performance.
Today’s “Stevie Nicks aesthetic” witches claim nature-based spirituality but spend more time connecting to algorithms than to land, lineage, or the spirits they claim to honor. They’ll drop $120 on a mass-produced “Beginner Witch Box” instead of learning to craft their own tools—because handmade isn’t “aesthetic enough.” Because deep practice doesn’t photograph as well.
Witchcraft is becoming fluffy. And fluff has no backbone.
Back Before WitchTok — Learning the Craft With Grit, Not Filters
When I was a baby witch, there was no endless scroll of witchy aesthetics to drown in. The internet was brand new. I learned from books—armloads of them, devoured cover to cover. I made my own tools because I had no choice. When I found an occult shop, it was like stepping into another world.
And when the internet did finally connect us? By the grace of the Gods, it brought me to a coven—not a social club, not a content collective, but a school of spirit and discipline.
We memorized.
We rehearsed.
We studied ritual structures, elemental theory, ceremonial magick, and why things were done—not just how to pose with them.
Yes, we laughed and socialized, but our foundation was learning. Commitment. Dedication. We showed up for each other and for the Gods.
Even solitary witches back then were studying deeply, taking mail-order classes taught by real Elders—people who had walked their path for decades.
And now?
Do Elders even exist in this hyper-digital witchcraft world? I honestly wonder.
The Rise of Social-Media Witchcraft and the Loss of Identity
One of the most painful things I hear now is:
“I’m not really a witch because I’m not in a coven.”
“I’m not initiated, so I’m not legitimate.”
Where did this come from?
Before social media, nobody said this. Witchcraft wasn’t a popularity contest, a hierarchy of aesthetics, or something you needed to earn a badge for. You were a witch because you practiced Witchcraft—not because the internet validated you.
Witches had purpose.
Witches stood for something.
Witches served something—Spirit, community, justice, or personal transformation.
For me, my purpose has always been justice reform. That calling shaped my practice—from divination to spellwork to the creation of the Pagans Behind Bars Project. Witchcraft was, and still is, a tool for liberation, not a branding accessory.
Bringing Back the Bones of the Craft: Tips for Returning to Depth
If you’re feeling disconnected, uninspired, or frustrated by the surface-level culture surrounding the Craft today, here are ways to return to its roots—without giving up the tools of the modern world.
1. Make at Least One Tool by Hand
Your energy matters.
Your effort is an offering.
A handmade wand, charm, oil, or talisman holds more power than any TikTok mystery box.
2. Study Something Old Before You Buy Something New
Choose a tradition, a deity, a lineage, or a magical theory and immerse yourself.
Study from books, elders, practitioners—not just influencers.
3. Practice Without Posting
Do rituals in silence.
Cast spells nobody sees.
Let the unseen be sacred again.
4. Ask the Hard Questions
Not: “Does this look witchy enough?”
But:
- Why am I doing this spell?
- Who am I honoring?
- What is the purpose behind this ritual action?
Meaning is the heart of the Craft.
5. Seek Mentors, Not Celebrities
If an Elder crosses your path—someone with lived experience, nuance, history—listen.
Their value isn’t measured in followers.
6. Let Your Practice Serve Something Larger
Justice work.
Ancestor veneration.
Healing.
Community.
Environmental stewardship.
Personal transformation.
Witchcraft is at its strongest when it has a purpose beyond aesthetics.
Final Thoughts: The Craft Deserves More Than a Filter
This isn’t a call to gatekeep.
It’s a call to deepen.
A call to remember that Witchcraft is older than social media, older than trends, older than any of us. It is a living, breathing tradition—one held together by devotion, curiosity, and the courage to stand at the crossroads and choose truth over aesthetics.
If the Craft feels hollow right now, fill it with meaning.
If the community feels superficial, be someone who brings depth.
If Witchcraft feels fluffy, step into the bones, the roots, the ancient spirit that called you here in the first place.
Because true Witchcraft has never been about being seen.
It has always been about becoming.
Cauldrons & Crossroads 