Witching hour

A woman sits alone at a barstool. She is waiting for her online date to arrive. After a while, a man in a suit appears at the bar. They order drinks and find a quiet table in the corner. When he reaches out to touch her hand, the lights begin to flicker and flash.

This is a scene from Domino Day, a new BBC series about witchcraft in the modern world. Domino, the lead character, is a witch who meets men online to feed off their energy. The show is one of many tapping into our modern obsession with magic.

Last year saw the release of Hocus Pocus 2, a sequel to the classic Disney film. Before that came Chilling Adventures of Sabrina from Netflix, a gothic tale of a teenage witch. However, the revival of magic is most obvious on social media.

On TikTok, videos with the hashtag WitchTok have received more than 50 billion views. There are videos explaining how to cast spells, make potions, and read palms or TarotA pack of 78 cards used for fortune-telling. Originating in Italy in the 14th Century, it is the forerunner of modern playing cards. cards. In response to this growing interest, Exeter University in Devon has recently started offering students a degree in Magic and OccultA term used to refer to supernatural happenings outside the bounds of the traditional religions. The word literally means hidden. Science.¹

Modern witchcraft developed from Wicca, a neopagan religion formed in Britain in the first half of the 20th Century. Followers of Wicca claim that their religion was based on examples of witchcraft found across Europe four or more centuries ago. This includes folk traditions using nature and the seasons, with a mix of rituals, spells and magic. More recent witches incorporate the beliefs and traditions of paganSpiritual beliefs other than those of the main or recognised religions. Often used in a historical context. religions from across the world.

Fans argue that these practices are empowering, especially for young women and marginalised communities. After all, witches were traditionally seen as outsiders: women who could influence events independent from male society or organised religion. "Today we'd call them feminists," argues journalist Marie-Claire Chappet.²

This helps to explain why magic is particularly popular with Gen ZShort for Generation Z, meaning people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s.. The lack of authority and the DIY-approach made popular by TikTok only adds to this appeal. As Helen Berger, an expert on modern witchcraft explains: "You can do your own thing. It's not signing on to an institutional religion."³

However, critics argue that, once magic goes mainstream, it becomes something different. Author Victoria Smith calls this "fantasy feminism" and warns that fashionable witches are no longer outsiders. If magic is about nothing more than likes and views, it is just another lifestyle trend.

But the evidence suggests that mainstream religion is in decline, especially among young people. In the most recent British censusAn official count of the number of people in a country. In England and Wales, a census takes place every decade. , less than half the population described themselves as Christian. However, close to 100,000 people identified as pagan, Wicca or druidA member of the high-ranking priest class in ancient Celtic religion. .⁴

Before the Harry Potter books, children were often scared of witches. Now, many young people grow up wanting to become one. Even if they no longer believe in traditional religion, they still look for magic in their lives. These days, #WitchTok is where they find it.

Do we need more magic in our lives?

Yes: For too long witches were treated as outsiders by traditional religion and a male-dominated society. Witchcraft's popularity with young people is a sign of progress.

No: Modern witchcraft may be popular, but viral videos are not the point of magic. #WitchTok is an online trend that will soon be forgotten.

Or... People look for enchantment. If they cannot find it in mainstream faith, they will turn to alternatives - especially when those alternatives have a popular social media presence.