Witchcraft Work Pandemic Witchcraft has been a topic of fascination for centuries, with beliefs and practices varying across cultures and time. In recent years, witchcraft has seen a resurgence in popularity, fueled in part by the internet and social media. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also brought witchcraft into the spotlight for a different reason. As the world grappled with the spread of the coronavirus and the resulting lockdowns and restrictions, many people turned to witchcraft as a form of solace and empowerment. The pandemic acted as a catalyst, pushing individuals to explore alternative spiritual practices and seek a sense of control in uncertain times. The main idea is that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased interest in witchcraft as people search for solace and empowerment.
MY DOWSING RODS CLEANSED A HOUSE
On social media site TikTok, videos with the hashtag witchtok where witches show off their rituals and spell-making have totted up more than 11 billion views, some two billion more than biden. If you can, add your own healing energies into this smoke, strengthening this offering, directing it to those in need after you have received your fill.
The main idea is that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased interest in witchcraft as people search for solace and empowerment. Witchcraft, in this context, takes on various forms. Some individuals turned to traditional forms of witchcraft, such as casting spells or using herbs for healing purposes.
Pandemic impact on “witch-hunts”
TWH – The current pandemic has had an impact in countries around the world in a variety of ways, particularly in how it has affected economic and social infrastructures. One unwelcome impact is how it has driven up the cases of “witch-hunts” which are fueled by ignorance, superstitions, and the belief in malignant magical practices.
Please note that when “witchcraft” and “witch-hunt” are placed within quotation marks it denotes a belief and practice that is in no way associated with modern Pagan or Witchcraft practices. The victims of “witch-hunts” are usually not Pagans, Witches, or practicing any spiritual practice that could be considered Pagan.
In the recent past, there have been epidemic levels of “witch-hunts” in developing nations whose victims were the elderly, children, and anyone who presently differently—those with albinism, those suffering from mental or physical health issues, and those with any disability issue that might set them apart. Until recently, the number of cases had been on the decline. Social unrest, epidemics, and pandemics frequently cause a rise in cases.
Health care workers can also become targets of violence, as evidenced by the attacks on health facilities that occurred in December last year during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. That attack left four Ebola response workers dead, and cause the World Health Organization to pull some of its resources back due to threats.
Renewed efforts to educate villagers in not only these developing countries but to also to help educate immigrants to other more developed nations are being undertaken by several organizations.
Last September, The Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN) launched a new program, Witch Way Forward whose campaign overview is to protect the rights of:
“Innocent women, children, older persons and people with disabilities, including those with albinism, are being tortured and killed every day due to harmful practices related to manifestations of belief in witchcraft (HPW). Some are hacked to death for their body parts to be used in magic spells. Others are burned and beaten due to the belief they are evil. This is not the 16th Century. It needs to stop. And now you can help bring about this change by supporting the Witch Way Forward Campaign and committing to take action to help prevent some of the 21st Century’s most horrific human rights abuses.”
WHRIN offered a webinar last month designed to help explore the connections between public health and “witchcraft” beliefs and provide community leaders with a toolkit to help them combat the dangerous beliefs that fuel and proliferate the practices of “witch-hunts.”
It’s not just developing nations that have had to look to education to increase their citizens understanding of public health. Within the U.K. the number of cases of child abuse linked to “witchcraft” beliefs has also been on the rise, largely due to immigrant populations who bring their beliefs about “witchcraft” with them.
An article published last year by The Guardian and another by Sky News highlighted the rise in child abuse due to beliefs in “witchcraft.” Both articles highlighted a government report that cited a 34% increase in similar cases, and the fact that nearly 2000 cases had been investigated in the 2018/2019 fiscal year.
Often superstitions and beliefs that center on malignant magical practices supersede medical knowledge and a health crisis is attributed to “witchcraft” rather than seeking medical care. A recent tragic case in India highlights how dangerous these beliefs can be.
Last week in the eastern state of India, Jharkhand, Sakal Tuddu, 57, bearing the decapitated head of the woman he believed was a “witch” and had caused his son’s fatal illness, turned himself in at the local police station. According to news reports, Tuddu told the policemen present at the station, “This woman had killed my young son by practicing witchcraft but I have avenged his death. Please arrest me.”
Tuddu with the help of local villagers raided the home of 55-year-old Matlu Chaurai, who he believed to be a “witch,” a home she shared with her husband and three children. She was apparently in bed asleep with her husband and one of her daughters when he beheaded her. Reports state that the woman’s family did not react due to their fear of also being attacked.
These types of crimes are hardly random in Jharkhand alone over 228 similar cases have occurred in the past six years. Women are frequent targets, but not always.
Last week in the Awa-Ijebu area of the Ogun State of Nigeria, a seven-year-old child found her way to the home of a police officer who lives on the same street as the house she lives in with her grandfather and told him of her grandfather’s abuse of her. She and her brother had been brought by her mother to live with her grandfather and his wife after her father had died.
According to reports, the child said her grandfather beat her daily because he believed her to be a “witch” and responsible for her father’s death. Her grandfather and his wife also burned her in various places all over her body. Her grandfather and his wife were arrested. Leo Igwe, founder of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW) wrote an article for Sahara Reporters that gave a fuller account and detailed the “witch” accusations.
The elderly are also frequent targets for accusations of practicing “witchcraft” like in this report of a young man from Limpopo, South Africa who strangled his grandmother because he believed she had “bewitched” him.
The efforts of groups like WHRIN, AFAW, and other affiliated groups and organizations are essential to providing not just community leaders, but government officials and administrators with the tools necessary to help educate citizens and increase their understanding about public health not just in developing countries, but also those nations who have immigrant populations since they often bring their beliefs with them.
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About Star Bustamonte
Star Bustamonte serves as a correspondent for The Wild Hunt, and previously served as its News Editor from 2018-2023. Drawing on over 25 years of reading tarot, she also writes the Tarot Card of the Week feature that appears in our Pagan Community News posts. She is a Pagan of an eclectic origin, and managing partner of House of Black Cat Magic. Left to her own devices, she would stay home reading books and drinking Guinness and trying to prevent her cats from getting their grubby little paws on things they shouldn’t–like wine. She lives with her long-suffering husband, who miraculously still loves her.
Last week in the eastern state of India, Jharkhand, Sakal Tuddu, 57, bearing the decapitated head of the woman he believed was a “witch” and had caused his son’s fatal illness, turned himself in at the local police station. According to news reports, Tuddu told the policemen present at the station, “This woman had killed my young son by practicing witchcraft but I have avenged his death. Please arrest me.”
Others embraced modern witchcraft, which often emphasizes self-care, mindfulness, and personal empowerment. Online communities and resources dedicated to witchcraft flourished during the pandemic, providing support, guidance, and a sense of connection to others. While witchcraft can provide comfort and a sense of agency, it is important to note that it is not a substitute for medical or scientific advice. Witchcraft should be seen as a complementary practice, used in conjunction with conventional medicine and professional advice. The pandemic has undoubtedly influenced the popularity and visibility of witchcraft, but it remains to be seen whether this surge in interest will be sustained in the long term. As with any trend, there may be a level of novelty and fascination that wanes over time. However, for many individuals, witchcraft has become a meaningful and transformative part of their lives, offering a sense of connection, empowerment, and spiritual growth. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased interest in witchcraft, as people seek solace, empowerment, and a sense of control in uncertain times. While witchcraft can be a valuable practice for personal growth and healing, it should be used in conjunction with professional advice and medical care. Whether this surge in interest will be sustained in the long term remains to be seen, but for now, witchcraft is offering comfort and connection to many individuals during these challenging times..
Reviews for "The Power of Self-Care: Witchcraft Rituals for Coping with Pandemic Stress"
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