Are witches religious? Sometimes yes. Often, not really.

Modern witchcraft is a spectrum. Some people follow religions with set rituals and holidays—like Wicca and certain forms of Paganism. But witches aren’t always religious. Many modern witches are “eclectic”: they pull from multiple traditions, keep very few rules, and build a personal practice that fits their life. That flexibility is basically the point.

And it’s very aligned with a modern, individualized culture: people curate everything now—music, style, identity, beliefs. Witchcraft becomes another space where people say that they are allowed to choose their own meaning.

For centuries, women have been told to focus on families. Focusing on the self is a radical act. It’s empowering. Historically, women have been trained to pour themselves out. Care. Serve. Manage. Stay pleasing. Stay quiet. Modern witchcraft often flips that script.

It says:

• your inner world matters

• your boundaries matter

• your anger can be information

• your intuition is worth listening to

• you don’t need permission to evolve

Now the focus is more on self-development. Witchcraft fits neatly into that, because it’s built on personal meaning and personal practice. Witchcraft can feel like a permission slip to be fully alive.

Solo practice, public performance: the modern tension

Many modern witches practice solo… but for an audience. A person might do a banishing ritual every morning to rid their environment of negative influences. Another might make a curse-removing wash with herbs, citrus, witch hazel, and quartz. Is that spiritual? Sure.
Is it also content? Often, yes.

And that creates tension:

• authenticity vs aesthetics

• practice vs performance

• spiritual depth vs “viral simplification”

• empowerment vs consumerism (“buy this crystal, buy this candle, buy this kit”)

WitchTok is a modern phenomenon: private meaning in public space. A 17th-century village had rumor networks. A 21st-century world has algorithms. Different systems, same human desire: to be seen, to belong, to feel power where you feel powerless.

So what are “witches of the 21st century,” really?

They’re not one thing.

They are:

• a spiritual path (for some)

• a wellness routine (for some)

• a cultural identity (for some)

• a feminist symbol (for many)

• a creative language for meaning-making (for almost all)

The “witch” used to be the name given to a woman you wanted to silence. Now it’s often the name chosen by someone refusing to be silenced. That’s the real magic.