A witchcraft knife, also known as a witch's knife or athame, is a ceremonial tool used in various pagan and witchcraft traditions. It holds significant symbolism and is often used in rituals, spells, and other magical practices. Traditionally, a witchcraft knife has a double-edged blade and a black handle. However, modern variations may include a single edge or different colored handles based on personal preference. The blade is usually made of steel or iron, representing the element of air, while the handle can be made of various materials such as wood, bone, or crystal. The witchcraft knife is considered an extension of the practitioner's energy and intentions.
“Dead Hot” — which premieres April 14 on Tubi — is a true passion project for Hudgens and Magree, who are fascinated with the spirit world and came up with the idea to document their experience together. In the film, the duo set out to Salem, Mass., where they explore witchcraft, ghost hunting and connect with spirits.
During the pandemic, they spent their quarantine together watching shows about the afterlife, and exploring how ghost hunters, mediums and witches engaged with the spiritual world. We had shot an episode of a ghost hunt, which was so much fun and absolutely thrilling, but then as our questions deepened about spirit, so did the curiosity, Hudgens says.
The witchcraft knife is considered an extension of the practitioner's energy and intentions. It is believed to have the ability to direct and manipulate energy, cut through spiritual barriers, and create a connection to the divine or supernatural forces. It is often used to cast circles, invoke or banish entities, and channel energy during rituals.
Vanessa Hudgens Announces Documentary About Her Journey with Witchcraft: 'A Coming-of-Age Story'
Vanessa Hudgens is taking viewers on a magical journey.
The High School Musical alum, 33, revealed Friday that she has teamed up with Bunim-Murray Productions to make a documentary about her journey with witchcraft.
Entitled Dead Hot: Season of the Witch, the project follows Hudgens and her best friend, musician GG Magree, as they travel through Salem, Massachusetts, learning about witchcraft, ghost hunting and connecting with the spirit world.
The 90-minute film is described on its official Instagram as an "intimate journey into the supernatural realm" that serves as a "coming-of-age story that explores identity, feminine power and sisterhood."
Other posts on the film's Instagram show the pair serving some witchy looks, including one of Magree and Hudgens holding goats in a field. Hudgens posted a behind-the-scenes shot on her own Instagram, as well as the official poster for the film.
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Variety reported that the film came about after Hudgens and Magree agreed to seek out proper mentorship and training in the art of witchcraft, of which the outlet notes the pair are "self-taught students." They invited the crew to come along to document their findings.
"They've been doing little spells since they were kids, and they were just really interested in that world," Julie Pizzi, president of Bunim-Murray, told Variety.
She explained that the project took on a deeper message as they went on, despite it being a fun-filled shoot. Pizzi said the best way to describe the film is The Craft meets The Simple Life.
"They're so into it," she explained. "As we got to know them, we realized that their curiosity in connecting with the spirit realm and paranormal and supernatural exploration was so much deeper than ghost hunting. It's an exploration in the spiritual realm. It's a lot about self love, and them finding their inner strength and power."
The Tick, Tick … Boom! actress has been candid in the past about her interest in the spirit world. In April, during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Hudgens told host Kelly Clarkson that she's had "a lot" of run-ins with spiritual beings over the years and said she's "accepted the fact that I see things and I hear things."
"I remember getting ready for school when I was 8 years old, and there was … You know those ducks [toys] that you pull [the string]? There was one of those on the dining room table, and I started walking, and it just started going alongside me," she said.
"I kind of shut it down for a while because it's scary," Hudgens continued. "The unknown is scary. But recently I was like, 'No, this is a gift and something that I have the ability to do, so I'm going to lean into it.'"
Dimitrios Kambouris/GettyHudgens added that she uses a "spirit box," which she said helps her analyze "radio frequencies really quickly," adding: "Something about the electricity that it creates allows spirits to speak through it."
It has been a longtime hobby for Hudgens to explore worlds beyond. Speaking with PEOPLE in 2011, the actress said she was visited by an unearthly presence — something she could only explain as a ghost — while filming in North Carolina.
Hudgens recalled hearing footsteps while staying at an old house on location but couldn't find the source of them. "I was chasing around my ghost for like 10 minutes solid, and then it got way too freaky, and I just left," she said at the time.
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Hudgens confessed she was scared by the ghostly encounter, however, she tried to figure out the meaning of it.
"I feel like she might have lost a husband at war and she's waiting for her man to come back to her," Hudgens said. "It was definitely a female spirit. I could tell."
Julie Pizzi, president of Bunim-Murray Productions, which produced “Dead Hot,” says that the tone of the project isn’t necessarily what you’d expect with witchcraft at the center. Hudgens and Magree “really wanted to live in this space of growth, positivity, love and kindness,” Pizzi says. “To marry that with ghost hunting felt very magical.”
Although the witchcraft knife has a sharp blade, its purpose is not for physical cutting or harm. It is seen as a symbolic tool rather than a weapon. It is used to symbolically sever ties, create boundaries, and focus energy. In this sense, it is considered a tool of transformation and empowerment rather than destruction. The witchcraft knife is typically consecrated or charged before use. This process involves cleansing it of any negative or unwanted energies and imbuing it with personal or spiritual intentions. Methods of consecration vary among individuals and traditions but may involve elements such as meditation, ritual cleansing, and visualization. It is important to note that the use of a witchcraft knife is personal and may differ between practitioners. Some may choose to keep it solely for magical purposes and treat it with great reverence, while others may integrate it into their everyday lives. Ultimately, the witchcraft knife is a tool that reflects the individual's beliefs, practices, and connection to the spiritual realm..
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