Technology has driven witchcraft from the fringes, right into our Instagram feeds
If you’ve seen tarot, crystals or meditation pop up on your TikTok ‘for you page,’ it’s likely that you’ve stumbled across #witchtok. As interest in traditional religion dwindles, young women are using this space to reclaim their spirituality.
The unexpected rise of #witchtok
The ‘witchtok’ hashtag has racked up a total of over 11 billion views since it kicked off on TikTok in 2019. Since then, the community has established an impressive following on other social platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
So what is witchcraft, and why is it so popular online?
David Garland from Pagan Awareness Network says anyone can do witchcraft. He says it’s a craft you can develop with practice, much like knitting.
“Witchcraft is the act of invoking change using your environment.”
David Garland, Pagan Awareness Network
Garland says the Pagan community should embrace #witchtok. “If it makes people think and consider spiritual alternatives, then it’s not a bad thing,” he said.
Spirituality without the rules
The interest in witchcraft driven by #witchtok comes at a time where young people are increasingly turning away from traditional religion.
Danae Moon Thorpe, owner of Spellbox and self-proclaimed witch says many young people are drawn to the community’s founding ideas of empowerment and self-determination.
“We live in a world that’s increasingly turning away from spirituality,” she says.
“Religion often brings dogma and rules. This is like a philosophy, a way of connecting. It’s a way of being. And it’s different for everyone.”
Danae Moon Thorpe
Rise of the wellness industry
Another reason for the sudden interest in digital witchcraft might even be the rise of the wellness industry.
Wellness is a $700 billion industry and expected to grow to nearly a trillion by 2021.
“To me, self care is being real. And being authentic. Often, we lose ourselves so witchcraft is always about connecting with nature and others,” says Danae Moon.
The feminist reclamation
There’s a reason the new witches are primarily young women – experts say witchcraft can be a profoundly feminist practice.
“The major religions of the world are patriarchal and worship men,” says Skye Alexander, author of more than two dozen books on spirituality, including The Modern Guide to Witchcraft.
“This stimulates an interest in goddess-based spirituality, where it’s all about feminine energy and power.”
Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.
In Short:
– Trump and Xi are progressing on a TikTok agreement and plan to meet in South Korea soon.
– Future discussions will address trade, security concerns, and regional tensions between the U.S. and China.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping made headway on a TikTok agreement and plan to meet in South Korea within six weeks.
Their call aimed to reduce tensions between the two superpowers, covering trade, illicit drugs, and the conflict in Ukraine. Despite suggestions of progress, a definitive agreement regarding TikTok remains unclear.
The leaders agreed to further discussions at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in October.
Trump indicated that Xi would visit the U.S. later and that he would head to China next year.
Future Discussions
Trump confirmed that the TikTok deal is progressing, noting potential US control over the app’s algorithm.
Uncertainties remain, including ownership structure and control dynamics with ByteDance. Lawmakers express concerns over national security implications stemming from continued Chinese involvement.
Trump’s tariffs on Chinese exports have increased significantly, complicating relations further.
As trade discussions continue, regional tensions in Taiwan and the South China Sea remain on the agenda, though unaddressed in recent communications.
In Short:
– Heathrow Airport warns of potential delays due to a cyber-attack affecting European airports.
– Passengers should arrive early and check updates with their airlines for regular information.
Heathrow Airport has issued a warning regarding potential delays following a cyber-attack that has impacted several European airports. Passengers are advised to arrive early and check for updates with their airlines.
The cyber-attack, although primarily affecting systems in Europe, has caused ripple effects at Heathrow. Officials are working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible in coordination with European authorities.
Air Travel Impact
“It is still too early to say when the problem will be resolved,” it said.
Berlin Airport is also experiencing delays.
The attack targeted a business providing check-in and boarding systems for several airlines worldwide.
As a result, Brussels Airport staff are having to conduct manual check-in and boarding procedures due to the automated systems being down.
“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights,” it said in a statement on its website.
For further information on travel arrangements and logistics, please visit your respective airline’s website.
In Short:
– Trump and Starmer signed a £250 billion Tech Prosperity Deal, enhancing US-UK cooperation in technology sectors.
– Major investments include $30 billion from Microsoft and £90 billion from Blackstone for UK assets.
President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a significant “Tech Prosperity Deal” at Chequers, valued at £250 billion ($340 billion).
The agreement represents the largest commercial package during a state visit, with the US committing £150 billion ($204 billion) to the UK.Starmer labelled the deal as the most substantial investment package in British history, enhancing US-UK cooperation in sectors like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy.
The bulk of the investment comes from major US firms. Microsoft announced a $30 billion commitment over four years, including funds for cloud and AI infrastructure to develop a supercomputer with over 24,000 Nvidia GPUs.
Nvidia also pledged $15 billion for AI infrastructure, kicking off the Stargate UK initiative in partnership with UK companies.
Major Contributions
Investment firm Blackstone will provide £90 billion ($122 billion) over a decade across UK assets, while UK firm GSK has committed $30 billion to US research and manufacturing. The bilateral nature of these investments highlights the deal’s reciprocity.