Symbolic Meaning of Witches Today
As we get older, society tells us to leave the nonsensical imaginary thoughts behind. The toys we play with gradually get traded in for more appropriate items that reflect our current age. For some, this phase of childhood never truly leaves, and they grow further into their fictional beliefs.
Currently, about 1.5 million people in the United States say they practice Wicca or paganism. The meaning behind identifying as a witch often symbolizes female power or reverting from the status quo. Likewise, witches embody a feeling of freedom. They are agents of change who believe they hold the ability to change the world for the better.
On social media, the posting and sharing of witchcraft has become more popular over the years. Many people use the hashtag #WitchesofInstagram, which has been used over 2 million times. These posts often share the users experience as a witch, along with other images of pentagrams or crystals. With the expansion of technology, it has become easier for witches to get connected with one another and form new bonds.
Some argue that people who are not satisfied with their religion turn to witchcraft as an outlet. These people are looking for a quick fix to help them deal with a major life event, and sometimes this results in the use of magic to achieve a desired end result.
For those who identify as a witch, being called a witch and calling oneself a witch are two largely different experiences. On one hand, being called a witch is often used to degrade a person so they are perceived as less than. On the flip side, calling oneself a witch is an act of renewal. These individuals are expressing a new found reality that is often used to take a powerful opposing stance.
Ultimately, practicing witchcraft is a form of activism. Self-identifying as a witch is a strong sign of female empowerment especially in the face of sexist recoil that is often accompanied with it. As long as people continue to revert to individualistic tendencies and ideas, the expansion of witchcraft in modern society will continue.
A Modern Day Witch in Moretown, Vermont
I think you have articulated an important point--witchcraft is closely related to female empowerment. Absolutely. In the old days, women who were "uppity" and scornful of their husbands and male authority were often accused of witchcraft. Today we tend to accept, if not celebrate, female empowerment, so as your photo illustrates modern day witches are often depicted attractively.
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