The Ancient Origins of Witchcraft as a Religious Practice

Witchcraft religion, also known as Wicca or contemporary witchcraft, is a modern pagan religious movement. It emerged in the mid-20th century and gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Wicca is influenced by various magical beliefs and practices, such as folk magic, ceremonial magic, and Thelema. Central to Wiccan beliefs is the veneration of nature and the worship of a goddess and god, often referred to as the Triple Goddess or the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, and the Horned God or the Lord of the Wild Hunt. These deities represent different aspects of life, death, and rebirth. Wiccans see the divine as immanent in the world and seek to harness its energies through rituals, spells, and other forms of magic.

A worker in California said she had seen the trend increasing this year as parents returned for another year, and their friends decided to try it for the first time.

Meanwhile, the total value of Cat Jack returns is almost certainly a small percentage of the total revenue generated by the brand, which now pulls in more than 3 billion per year for Target. Target s return policy states If you re not satisfied with any Target Owned Brand item, return it within one year with a receipt for an exchange or a refund.

Wiccans see the divine as immanent in the world and seek to harness its energies through rituals, spells, and other forms of magic. Witchcraft religion places a high emphasis on personal responsibility and ethics. Wiccans follow a moral code known as the Wiccan Rede, which states, "An it harm none, do what ye will.

Parents are using Target's unusually generous returns policy to exchange outgrown or worn-out Cat & Jack kids clothes for cash

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Target introduced its Cat & Jack line in 2016 and quickly reached $2 billion in annual sales. Dominick Reuter/Insider

• Target offers one-year returns on own-brand items, including Cat & Jack children's clothing.
• Some parents use the policy to get cash back or new outfits when their kids outgrow their clothes.
• While some retailers are introducing limits on returns, Target is trying to make the process easier.

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Kids can grow fast, and the cost of keeping them well-dressed can add up quickly.

Some parents have taken advantage of Target's apparent version of the infinite-money glitch to save money.

"Attention all moms," Jazmine Valdivia, a Target shopper and TikTok user, said in a video posted a year ago on TikTok. "If you guys buy Cat & Jack for your kids, there is a one-year warranty that Cat & Jack offers if your kid outgrows the clothes, whether it's stained, ripped, whatever it is, they'll refund you."

In the video — which has racked up 1.2 million views, 85,000 likes, and 26,000 shares — Valdivia shows receipts from returning a large bag of clothing used by her three children for a total of $537.80.

"Didn't spend a single dollar for back-to-school clothes," she added in an overlay.

Valdivia declined a request for an interview.

Other TikTok users have uploaded similar — albeit smaller — refund journeys in which they test out the company's policy for themselves.

"Reason number 16293836286 why we love Target!" the user JMS_Steph captioned on a video showing return receipts worth $164.21.

While some videos and comments suggest the company is cracking down on the practice, Target's return policy for Cat & Jack products remains the same as it is for its more than 45 private-label brands. Workers told Insider they still regularly process returns on large batches of used children's clothing.

The employees requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

" This promotes a philosophy of non-harming and encourages individuals to be mindful of their actions and consequences. Rituals and ceremonies play a significant role in Wiccan practice. These may involve casting a circle, calling upon the elements, and performing spells or invocations. The Wheel of the Year, a cycle of eight festivals, including Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon, marks the changing seasons and honors various mythological and agricultural themes. Witchcraft religion has diverse traditions and practices, both within individual groups and across the larger movement. Some Wiccans practice in covens, which are organized groups led by a High Priestess or High Priest, while others practice as solitaries. Wicca is an inclusive and tolerant faith that recognizes the validity of different paths and beliefs. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in witchcraft religion, fueled by popular culture, including books, movies, and television shows. However, it is crucial to differentiate between the sensationalized portrayal of witchcraft and the genuine religious practices of Wicca. Overall, witchcraft religion offers its practitioners a spiritual framework that celebrates nature, promotes personal empowerment, and fosters a connection to the divine. It continues to evolve and adapt in response to the changing needs and values of its followers..

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Witchcraft Religion and the Power of Nature