#sephora witch kit

[littlewitchygreen]

The Commercial Witch

This post is a little unlike my others, but it is one that I find interesting and have been wanting to make for a while, if simply to talk about it as more of a think piece. Since I began actively practicing witchcraft, I've been seeing a rise in companies and brands promoting and selling things related to witchcraft, as well as a host of social media influencers making witchy aesthetic posts with elaborate altars and setups. While there is nothing inherently wrong with either of those, it has led to a side effect that I've seen mentioned offhandedly but not really talked about much: the commercialization of witchcraft.

Influence

While I love the aesthetic posts as much as the next witch (both because they are pretty and organized well, and because it sometimes sparks ideas of my own), I don't so much love the implications such posts give about the nature of witchcraft in the modern day.

I've seen many new witches ask what crystals they have to buy, and what plants they should start with, and how to make a grimoire look picture perfect, and where to buy the best tools, and is a drawer full of divination tools enough or do they need more? All perfectly valid and genuine questions for those still learning, that deserve full and honest answers. But I've also seen just as many posts from people wanting to learn witchcraft that lament that they could never afford it, and that is where the problem I feel lies.

Posts from witchcraft influencers and those who simply like the aesthetic and are not actual witches imply through what they show that it is the things that make the witch rather than the person themself - and that the only way to harness magical ability is through items rather than practice and skill. So, not knowing any better, new witches pick up on that and believe the same.

To be clear: material goods are not a problem. If dozens of tarot decks make you happy, go ahead. If collecting crystals adds value to your practice, do so. If you find a box full of A-Z herbs useful, absolutely get it! My problem comes with the fact that none of these collections are necessary to becoming a witch, and it is often presented as such. The earliest witches we have records of did not have access to the wide range of spices and herbs we do. They did not have crystals, minerals, and stones from around the world to harness energy. They often did not have libraries of books to learn from - and likely, many would not have been able to read even if they did. They (usually) did not have specially made tools for their craft. They used what was available, they used what they knew and made and grew themselves, they learned from each other or practice or observation, and they used items that they already owned.

And so can we.

Capitalism and Witchcraft

As the other half of this topic, the relationship between capitalism and witchcraft is also concerning to me for a variety of reasons. I have noticed an increase in regular stores selling witchcraft goods in kits and little box sets and the like, and upon inspecting them, most are... inadequate, at the least. Generally, they are either very surface-level or very appropriative - neither of which should be something we should be thrilled about.

From selling white sage for 'smudging' and a cheap tarot deck in Sephora's Starter Witch Kit to TJ Maxx selling herb kits, mini mortars and pestles, and cheap divination decks as a Halloween gimmick, large companies are trying to cash in on the renewed interest in witchcraft. The increase in interest itself is not offensive - many witches I know appreciate the more open acceptance of a practice many of us have had to keep hidden for fear of judgment and safety. However, with large brands treating it like a trend without doing research or marketing it appropriately, it can cause harm.

I made a post recently about cultural appropriation in witchcraft, and two of the signs of appropriation are lacking respect for a practice and commercializing it. Large brands marketing things like tarot decks as fun games to play with your friends ignores the rich historical and cultural context attached to the cards, as well as the spiritual significance they take on for many readers. By giving surface-level books on how to read them, or failing to provide books at all, they encourage a lack of knowledge in the subject - another red flag for appropriation. By selling herb kits for 'smudging' containing things like white sage or palo santo, they are taking from closed practices and traditions that were often made illegal to those from whom they originated (yet another red flag), and teaching newcomers to as well.

This isn't to say a new witch cannot buy their first items from brands like this - many do not have the option of locally sourcing their materials from small businesses that put in the work to sell items respectfully, as these are still often far and in between. There may also be safety reasons or other reasons why they are unable to acquire tools in any other way, and my intent is not to pass judgment on those who do for whatever reason. My intent is to urge new witches to look beyond the surface of what these companies present, and to critique the companies for selling these items the way they do to begin with.

Some of these companies have removed their items due to backlash - as Sephora did with their kit - while others simply do not care. And, there is nothing we as individuals can do to stop the companies from trying, without organized collective action; and I do not believe our communities are at a place where that effort can be made in earnest just yet, though hopefully in the future they will be.

Moving Forward

So, from where I stand, it is up to us as consumers of both media and materials to think critically about what we are consuming. Whether that be questioning assumptions we make based on what we see online, or questioning the ethics of what we are purchasing and where it comes from.

Our lines will look different depending on where we are, what we practice, and the resources available to us. All I urge people to do is to do what they can to be intentional in their choices, and that if consuming from large companies and social media to put in the work to deepen the surface-level understanding they offer and grow on your own.

[lyanro]

Its actually pretty sad what happened to witchcraft cause like… that shit brought me so much peace and joy. It felt like home. It literally stopped me self harming for a while. And now its fucking cringe bc its all about tiktok and crystals and trends and literally anything w a rider-waite tarot illustration slapped on it is labeled a Witch Product and its all about the aesthetic and your fucking crystal collection. like it actually used to be so chill and then sephora and whole foods figured out they could sell “beginner witch kits” of overharvested palo santo and white sage to anyone who liked crystals or essential oils and im really fucking mad actually

[moonlightreal]

Magic Kits part 1

So you just realized you’re a magical being and you want to start doing magic!  And most magical beings have magic items, so you want to get some!  I wonder if you could get… a starter kit?

Boy, can you ever.

Your $20 witch kit!  Some herbs, candles, stone chips in bottles, a bell, a rose quartz pendulum, a deck of tarot cards and an altar cloth.  And a magic spoon.

Your $25 black aesthetic witch kit! Black candles, black cloth, a mini spell book, a bowl to go with the spoon and the usual herbs and stones. 

Your $30 witch kit!  With gorgeous black and gold theme.  The same bell, some stones, a pouch, some “decorative feathers”, a cloth and a guidebook.  I do like the gold tarot deck!

Your $50 witch kit!  This one includes an incense burner, a little broom, an obsidian crystal ball, some jewelry, and stones and herbs.  

Jumping up in price you can get a $500 witch kit!  It includes a magic mirror, a mortar and pestle, a chalice, and a little table to do your spells on, and a trunk to keep your goodies in.  If you want a cool magic trunk, try Ross Dress for Less.  They have a Cool Boxes section.

And for the very wealthiest starter witches, the thousand dollar kit!  With a cauldron, a crystal ball, a wand that looks like it has a hand holding a cauldron as the tip? Two pendulums, two leatherbound books and a few little spellbooks.  Even what looks like a book stand to hold your spellbook open while you read your spell.  

So that’s what amazon would like to sell you.  Crass commercialization of the spiritual?  Heck yes.  Kind of fun?  Also yes.  Should you buy them?  I mean sure if you want to, but it wouldn’t be my advice.

I was going to say, “Things won’t make you any more magical than you already are.” but I think the truth is a bit more nuanced.  Buying a witch kit won’t make you any more witchy than you were before, but having items that make you feel magical might.  In the immortal words of Tomoyo-chan, “When you do special things, you should wear special clothes.” or use special items.  Having things you only use for magic will help get your brain in the right magical mindset, and if those things have memories attached or how you made the thing, or how it turned up in a shop at just the right moment and called out to you… yes, having the right things can make you more magical.  

But “the right things” is not the same as “the things in a kit” and also not “the coolest things” and they certainly aren’t “the things someone else thinks you need.”  The right things will appear before you at a price you can afford, or else they aren’t the right things.  

My advice if you want to get started using magic tools is to look around at what you already have.  Wicca started in England and based on European folklore, old pagan traditions, and medieval high magic.  So its magical plants are those found in England and mentioned in European folklore-- probably not the plants that are found wherever you live, maybe not the tools that appeal to you.  So while you should certainly look at Wicca and its ingredients and tools you shouldn’t feel like they’re the “correct” tools.  What herbs are in your cupboard and what plants are in your yard?  What items do you already do magic with?  Are the traditional elemental tools something you’ll really use?  Some magical beings only have a wand, others only an athame. Some magical beings use a completely different set of tools, or no tools at all. Your magic is your magic and it’s for you to build.

I’m not the only one to think that witch kits are... kinda cool but also kinda not great.  There was quite a kerfuffle when Sephora announced it would be selling a witch kit, enough that it decided not to sell the product.

But there’s something I did like in these witch kits… the spoons!  Those are some really cute spoons, and I am fully on board with having a special spoon to stir your potions with.  Ye Olde lookin’ amethyst spoons!  Fancy silver spoons!  Rainbow flower spoons!  Patronus animal spoons!  Skeleton spoon for your necromantic needs!  Whoever you are out there, go get you an awesome spoon for all your potions and whatever items make you feel magical.

[dogstardigitalindex]

Podcast: The BS-Free Witchcraft Podcast Host: Trae Dorn (solitary eclectic Wiccan for 20+ years) Episode: 12. Store Bought is Fine Air date: 29 June 2019 Playtime: 33 minutes.

Website | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Talks about Sephora’s eventually canceled “witch kit” as a way to open conversation about commercialization of spirituality. Buying items (as opposed to making them or being given them) is not the issue. Main issue of pre-made kits is lack of customization and being over-priced.

[traegorn]

The Bullshit-Free Witchcraft Podcast: 12. Store Bought is Fine

Last year one of the biggest hub bubs in the Witch community was Pinrose introducing a “Starter Witch Set” which was intended to be sold at Sephora stores. There was such an uproar from the Witchcraft community that Sephora ended up pulling the kits before they were ever able to reach consumers. But was this remotely a good thing? On this episode of the podcast Trae’s going to talk about the commercialization of Witchcraft… and how its pretty much okay.

For the most part.

Music: “The Man With One Eye,” “So I Said It,” “Untitled Nonsense” (Trae Dorn)

Listen to the episode / Subscribe on iTunes

[shadycottagewitchh]

Y'all okay listen. I hate this so much, I really do. They make it a trend then no one wants it. The company is a sellout. I'm disgusted by them using a religion to sell a cheap quartz, a deck, and some sage in a box. Its absolutely shit.

But. But. BUT. BUT.

Everyone was quiet when people stole Egyptian, Native American, African, and many many many other religious items and put them up as basic witchcraft tools and didn't put a dime to it where it came from.

So if you'll pay out the ass to get rip off Dream Catchers and bs Voodoo dolls of tv show characters but complain about this fucking box please shut up. Because that's hypocritical and rude.

Yes its $42. Yes you should not buy this. But if your excuse is "because they think religion is a trend smh" instead of "they did the same to other cultures and beliefs and will do it again if we don't make them stop" put your head on you shoulders and a brain between your ears and shut up about it.

[spellsinsugar]

**AN UPDATE** Unpopular Opinion on the Sephora Witch Kit from a Native Person who used to work in the makeup industry

It’s actually getting ridiculous how many edits this post needs.

So, the art wasn’t stolen, but Savage Feminism made the claim, so I’m leaving the link and what I said below. I feel like something needs to be said about Savage Feminism issuing this accusation, but that is neither here nor there.

Obviously, no matter what happens, no one will be buying the box since it is no longer in production, but y’all jumped to a hell of a conclusion based on a single press release.

I know I’m going to be seeking out Pinrose fragrances, and trying to support their business. Y’all can do what y’all want with your money.

https://www.facebook.com/SavageFeminism/posts/2068928253423288

AN UPDATE:

I have recently learned that the tarot cards are using stolen art that has not been credited to the original artist!!

The below original post still remains for accountability’s sake, but the art is theft and I will not be supporting unless the artist comes out and states that they are receiving credit and profit from the sales.

For reference: I used to work for L’Oreal in the same building that housed Sephora, Urban Decay and Anastasia Beverly Hills customer service. I worked for Lancôme, Khiel’s since 1851, Giorgio Armani Beauty and Yves Saint Laurent Beauty.

To clarify a few things- Sephora is not making these kits. They’re retailing them. The company making them is call Pinrose, which is a very popular fragrance brand. They’re known for ethically and sustainably using their natural fragrance ingredients, as well as using lab created fragrance ingredients to prevent using endangered ingredients or using animal products. They are cruelty free and they’re pretty open about their ingredients lists (an important thing because getting L’Oreal ingredient lists is. Uh. Very very difficult.)

I don’t give a shit about these kits. In fact - I’m probably gonna buy one! I’ve noticed that most of the people getting up in arms about “appropriating witch culture” are white witches who appropriate my culture all the live long day.

That tarot deck? Looks cute af. And I’m all for getting a big chunk of rose quartz for cheap. Also, the scents (because the kit comes with eight or nine fragrance samples) will probably be great and named after some witchy stuff!

The sage only makes me uncomfortable because white sage is endangered but I really want an honest answer from y’all who are all pissed off over this - do y’all know where your sage comes from? Do y’all demand that your local witch shop ethically sources white sage that doesn’t help to limit Native worship practices? Do y’all fight to keep your white owned witch shops from selling “sage kits” that come with fake feathers and stupid maiden/mother/crone chants? Do y’all demand answers on why your local witch shop uses the slur g*psy? Do y’all fight against the racism inherent in most witch communities?

If you can’t answer all of those questions confidently - then stop shouting about appropriation of witch culture. Just let people have their aesthetic fun. Remove the log from your own eye first.

[marigoldwitch]

Sephora / Pinrose Witch Kit | Unpopular Opinion

I don’t care. Lol. This “kit” is literally not gonna affect my practice at all and is most likely not gonna affect much of the witchcraft community at all either. Why? Because it’s a gimmick. Most of the people who will purchase this “kit” aren’t gonna actually pursue witchcraft and most likely weren’t interested in witchcraft before seeing this “kit.” So they’re not really taking anything away from those of use offering authentic supplies and services.

There’s also nothing spiritual dangerous included in this either. Maybe physically dangerous, if whoever purchases actually tries to burn the sage lol, but rose quartz and tarot cards aren’t really any witches idea of “dangerous tools.” Tarot cards are gonna be useless to someone who doesn’t understand how they work or how to utilize them. Rose quartz is literally just a pink stone.

I’m concerned with where those things came from though, like who supplied them? Were they ethically obtained? But, unlike most of the community, I’m gonna wait til I get some information about this before I start getting outraged.

The deck is also a concern of mine too. Who’s the artist? Do they own the rights to the deck? BUT as I’ve said before, rights to certain decks can be sold off to other companies or they could be working with the deck’s artist (doubtful) or the original publishing company (more likely) to offer the deck as part of the “kit.” I’ll wait til I hear more about this to pass judgment on it just yet.

Lastly, this whole blaming witchblr for this whole thing is just total bs. Stop blaming each other! The only people to blame for this crappy product is Pinrose and Sephora. Witches who enjoy pastel aesthetics aren’t to blame for this marketing gimmick. And witches who enjoy darker aesthetics aren’t to blame for white middle class women trying to sell “voodoo kits” on Etsy. If people see an opportunity to make money off of a groups shared interest, whether they’re a part of that group or not, they’re gonna try and make some money.

In November none of this is gonna matter and most of those “kits” will end up in the trash (which is really the sad part of all this, the amount of trash this will create).

PS. White sage IS NOT endangered. Over harvested? Yeah. Endangered? No. Now whether or not the sage included in this “kit” is ethical sourced is another issue.

[pallidus-aurora-blog]

What is so wrong with the witchcraft community that we literally just shut down an opportunity for witchcraft to become more excepted, open, and diverse? Maybe there were young witches out there looking to this as a way to start their craft without seeming too suspicious. What is wrong with all of you? Call out culture is vicious and disgusting.

[witchofhounds]

Sephora is selling 'witch kits'

And I dont think that's terrible? However, there are many valid criticisms of them (that also reflect on mainstream witchcraft in general), such as:

Inflated prices of items attainable for cheaper elsewhere

Lack of accountability for where these items are sourced

Cultural appropriation (white sage for smudging is a direct example)

This is simply capitalism at work. When something becomes more popular, a company will jump on it. Indigo did something like this, too. The thing about witchcraft, however, is that I feel it requires critical thinking skills. Hell, as a white pagan and witch, I had to spend years unlearning what Llewellyn books told me was 'mine' to incorporate in my path. As I feel all people should, I had to do hard work and forge my own path through research and much soul searching. These kits are no different in my mind as finding a Scott Cunningham book in a bookstore; it's going to bring new people in.

Don't shit on people who will discover their path through this product. Don't shit on people who are excited to see a wider audience introduced to the craft. We can give criticism without gatekeeping like assholes, and we can educate curious minds without looking down on them.

[teawitch]

So...

If anyone purchases or has access to the Sephora witch kit, I’d be interested to know what the tarot cards look like, because they seem to be the only potentially unique item in the kit, aside from the scents.

And since everyone seems to be posting opinions, I’m considering what comes in the kit. Rose quartz - popular and common. It’s a pretty color and good for self-love. A nice stone to have, but not overly witchy. White sage is truly more Native American than witchy. Its popularity means there are now farm selling cultivated white sage so Sephora may be buying from  a sustainable source. Scents. I can hardly object to Sephora doing perfume. That would seem to be part of their thing. But Bpal would still seem more witchy. Which leaves us with a pack of tarot cards as the potential witchy offering. Has Sephora had a deck specially designed? Does it resonate with witchy symbols or is it more generic? What I can see looks very pink and pretty. 

So we seem to have a pretty, pink, bubblegum witch kit suitable for the tween and teen crowd. But that crowd probably isn’t going to drop 40 plus at a Sephora counter. (don’t, kids, it’s overpriced,) I’m tempted to buy one and shove it unopened in the back of a closet and wait to see if this becomes a collectible. 

[mobandy644-blog]

Witchcraft and Cultural Appropriation? Help me.

So this whole witch kit thing has me thinking all the things.

At first I was like well that’s kind of dumb because the witch aesthetic thing is kind of annoying to me for OTHER people who have been doing this for a long time. But it’s always kind of been that way so eh I don’t know. I mean I actually got interested in this because I started watching charmed and then talked to a friend who is a Wiccan. So there you go.

But then I see all these people saying white people have no business being upset about it because the entirety of white witchcraft is cultural appropriation?

I don’t get that. I absolutely will not deny there is an appropriation problem in modern witchcraft, mostly centered around social media right? But white European witches have been around for centuries, way before Christianity, and this is another group that was totally margianalized and forced to stop or hide practicing.

Edit: so what I’m saying here is that not ALL white witchcraft is appropriated because European witchcraft and paganism are ancient too. I am not at all saying that there is not a problem with appropriation in some white witchcraft. So I’m just saying how can you say he ENTIRETY of white witchcraft is appropriated when there is an entire ancient pagan and witchcraft culture in Europe.

Now I speaking specifically of American “white” witches because that’s what I am. We don’t fucking have a culture. Like anything we do is “stealing” from other cultures. Or someone says it is at least. My moms ancestors are all European, honestly I have no idea from specifically where because it’s been so long. It’s been said a lot in my family that we had an ancestor on the mayflower. Who knows. My dad’s dad was from Mexico and his mom was part Native American. I don’t know much about them because I never met my dad, he divorced my mom before I was born. But I’m technically European and Mexican and Native American. But I feel like if I try to learn about those cultures and incorporate them in my practice POC and white witches trying to help will scream at me. Like what am I supposed to do? And many witches just like me because that’s basically what America is.

Edit: I am not saying “oh woah is me what shall I do” just honestly saying hey, I have this blood in me but since I wasn’t raised in it would feel weird trying to incorporate it and also feel like it would offend people, what do I do since besides that I am white and have no culture except wherever my European ancenstors came from which I don’t actually know.

And I am NOT talking about blatant appropriation. Like Native American practices, Voodoo, Hoodoo, anything you are explicitly not a part of. Like I absolutely have no African blood in me I’m sure. I’m not going to try to steal practices from those cultures and if you see me do that please just let me know and I’ll stop.

So this is all something that I’m confused about and I don’t want to make POC mad I really don’t but what is ok for me to incorporate and not ok for me to? Like seriously please help.

But also why are people acting like witchcraft is only from Indigenous, Latinx (is that the right term), and African cultures? People had been practicing witchcraft forever in European white areas and just all over the world. So don’t all us white people that do try not to apropriate closed cultures have a right to be annoyed at even just the term of witch kit? Since so many white pagans and witches were forced to stop and persecuted?

But also a huge problem with the kit is the white sage, I get that. And if people are upset about the kit but also blatantly apropriate other cultures I understand being like ok, that’s pretty hipocritical.

This who debaucle is making me very much more aware of these problems and I need help. So please educate me and help me out. I feel like there is nowhere I can belong without people screaming that I’m stealing A culture.

Edit: if you don’t have advice to offer could you possibly reblog so maybe I can find some people with advice?

[elleyena-rose]

My thoughts on the Sephora/Pinrose Witch Kit | Semi-unpopular opinion

I've seen this thing bouncing around a lot and I want to weigh in. I don't think it's the worst thing ever. Tell me something - of the pictures below, why is one ok and one not?

Is it because one is more serious and one more fanciful? Why is the one from Sephora bad solely because it's Sephora selling it? It's not even been released yet - so we don't know the contents of the instructions.  If those give awful or dangerous information, then by all means, we should be upset. 

Don’t get me wrong - I definitely want people to support local metaphysical shops and online witchy shops where possible. 

However - a lot of folks don't have easy access to metaphysical shops. Phoenix & Dragon is the main one here, and that's 1.5 to 2 hours away from my hometown. We have a couple local shops here but one is downtown with short hours that never work with my schedule. It mainly carries stones and jewelry items. The other one is across town and only carries herbs. Mainly premixed herbal blends and bath stuff. It also has hours that are impossible to get to except maybe on weekends. Neither really have books or candles etc...

So at this point my options are - go to Phoenix & Dragon after work, have access to a bunch of different items and get home super late (or plan a half day to go out there, shop, and come back) go to two different local stores in different parts of town on a weekend only that may not even have what I need along with somewhere else entirely for candles and incense, or order online. Having access to things at a chain store with longer hours is nice.

A good parallel would be gluten free options. 15-20 years ago, those items weren't common, so those that were required to eat it didn't have as many options. It became a fad diet - and suddenly people are exposed to something they didn't know about before. More brands started offering gluten-free options. Now it's normal to have entire sections of the grocery store be dedicated to gluten free items. Those who desperately need it have options. It was a good thing.

Sephora is making a cash grab for sure. New Age & Witch seem to be trendy right now and a lot of stores tend to up the witchy this time of year.  But if it gives better access, and allows someone to find their path where otherwise they wouldn't have come across it. I don't see it as a necessarily bad thing.

Honestly, I've been happy with the expanded selection of witchy books at Barnes & Noble and 2nd & Charles. They also both have dedicated sections for new age/witchy items, like polished stones, incense holders and the like. There's been a lot more availability of stuff, especially 101 materials for new folks. This is a change from last year where both stores had one tiny shelf in the back for books only.

Example: I bought this set at Barnes & Noble for like $10 last month. It was cute, witchy and just what I needed. It had 2 chunks of stone, Tigers Eye and Rose Quartz, which was the main reason I purchased it. My local stone shop was already closed, and this caught my eye. I don't feel that it's wrong to purchase what's accessible. And I don’t see people getting up in arms because Barnes & Noble carries witch books, or because Walmart carries incense. 

Now, will I run out and grab the Pinrose kit solely because it's offered? Not likely - this specific set of things isn't something I can use right now, and it is the sort of thing I would prefer to get at a metaphysical store. But I can totally see it's use in providing visibility for someone who may have never heard of a metaphysical store before, let alone wander into one.

In short: Use your local witchy store where you can folks. Support witch shops online too. But nobody should feel bad if they got some things from a chain store. That witch kit isn't really aimed at those that have been practicing for a while. It's aimed at beginners, and we all started somewhere. Let people find their magic.

[theoryofmagick]

So apparently Sephora used Native sage growers for the sage (which wasn't white sage) and a woman-run company Pinrose for the rest of it, I think, so now it seems kind of a bummer to pull the kit. =\

Ah, yeah, that is unfortunate - it’s always nice to see people supporting local and Native business, and it’s always a big deal when a business gets asked for a big order like the Sephora kits. I hope they can make up those numbers (and I hope people who were gonna buy the kit do try and support the suppliers)!

[mysecretforests]

Sephora “Witch Kits” Rant

TL;DR: It aches my heart to see a corporation selling this kit, but it’s also much more than that. They don’t see us as valid, and this “witch kit” proves it. Some of you all just don’t get it. I know I only recently started posting on this account again, but I just want to talk about the Sephora “starter witch kits.”

In addition to the blatant appropriation of culture in this kit, (that’s a whole essay in itself, and I’ll briefly touch on it later), I’m just really upset that I know these kits are likely being sold by people who don’t actually believe in witchcraft or paganism at all.

Like, I just know these CEO’s would look at a witch and/or a pagan and laugh in their face. They would call our religions fantasy and our gods false, just like Christianity did when they were wiping out and appropriating our practices (I say plural because they wiped out and appropriated many different cultures and religious practices) in favor of their god.

I just have this ache in my heart seeing this kit being sold. On one hand, I like that witchcraft may becoming more accepted and more mainstream, but on the other hand I feel like it’s not true. I feel like it’s coming back as an aesthetic, something to place on a shelf so you can show your friends how “cool and witchy” you are.

This is what this kit feels like to me. A “gimmick for the youth” to profit off of “witchy vibes.” You can’t just throw a bunch of stuff in a box that originates from several different cultures and expect me to believe you actually care about baby witches. The only thing you’ll get me to believe is that you think all these practices are a gimmick and something you can sell for your amusement or aesthetics.

“Oh but this happens all the time! It’s been happening for years!”

Yeah, well, that doesn’t make it right. I’ve also seen a lot of “It’s your practice, don’t let anyone shame you!” and I feel like most of the people who say this are the ones who don’t understand what it’s like to know that the religion and practices of your ancestors were mocked and their gods cast out. That your ancestors were burned, hanged, tortured, exiled, etc. That their practices and traditions were either wiped out completely or stolen and turned into “Christian traditions” to help more people convert to Christianity. Yeah, I hate gatekeeping, I’m all for people practicing and people reclaiming traditions they were either robbed of when their families came to America or when their ancestors converted (Newsflash, it wasn’t always voluntary), but some of you all just don’t get it. 

Also, before someone misunderstands, when I say “reclaim traditions you were robbed of” I’m not talking about appropriating another cultures’ traditions so that you can have some.  I’m talking about those of us who knew where we came from (or those who have a slight idea, I know a lot of Americans don’t know exactly where they came from as a lot of traditions tended to get beaten out if they weren’t culturally American or Christian [*cough* or white] enough) and are trying to reclaim the traditions of their ancestors the best they can. This doesn’t mean that you should be taking that 1/32nd of Cherokee your family claims to have and take the parts of those Native traditions you like and run with them. I’ll use myself as an example. Yes, my father’s family claims to have Native American blood too, but I wasn’t raised in it. I know no one of Native decent. I wasn’t raised in their traditions, I did not come from that life. It wouldn’t be right for me to just go and cherry pick what I thought looked cool and say I believed in it while I ignore major parts of the traditions and practices and history. Would it be different if I sought out possible relatives and requested to learn more about the culture and traditions? Perhaps, but I can’t just take from that of which I don’t understand.

Where I do pull my practices from, however, comes from my European ancestry. My practice is made up of mainly Celtic and Norse mythology (yes, they are different) because I was raised with more of an understanding of those traditions, even though my family was soft-practicing Christian.

Now, growing up I knew I had never believed what my family believed, but it wasn’t until I got older that I realized that my beliefs had always aligned more with Pagan beliefs and practices. It also wasn’t until I started to study more about these practices and beliefs that I started to get angry. As I studied I found that the traditions of my ancestors were either appropriated and transformed into Christian traditions or cast out completely, and their gods were literally demonized. They were forced to convert and give up their beliefs, or they died. Literally almost everything my family had practiced as “Christian” was a bastardized form of various traditions from the religions I was now practicing and becoming closer to, stolen and warped to fit a Christian god. Much of their imagery and practices are now synonymous with fantasy and regarded as nothing more than fairy tale or superstition.

I live in an area where Paganism is seen as a joke or evil. Often both. If you claim to be Pagan, you will either be laughed at straight in your face, seen as crazy, or treated horribly out of fear. Usually a combination of the three. So obviously I’m closeted. I know that when I have children, I will want to teach them my beliefs and practice traditions, to give them a culture. But I also fear what will happen to them if I do, as society is going to tell them they are wrong, and that their “Pagan Mother” is going to hell. And honestly it breaks my heart knowing I might have to choose between not teaching them to keep them safe, or teaching them and knowing that it might result in their harm if the wrong person catches wind. (You might say “Just move!” but I fear it won’t be an option.) I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you take anything away from this, let it be this: If I, a white person who has grown up with my white-privilege stapled to my forehead, can be angry about their ancestor’s traditions and beliefs being cast out and feel robbed of their culture, and can be afraid of the repercussions of being open about being Pagan, imagine what it’s like for a POC. Imagine what it’s like for a Native American, who’s ancestors were murdered in mass genocide when European settlers came, having to watch as symbols of their traditions are sold for aesthetics or “witchy vibes.”

Or someone of Mexican decent who constantly get’s told they don’t belong here (i.e: “Build the wall!”, “Go back to Mexico!”) even though it was actually USA’s border that crossed them, and not the other way around. Every Halloween they have to see white witches (and who are we kidding, it’s not just the witches) setting up sugar skulls on their altars and painting their face for Day of the Dead without any knowledge of what an ofrenda is or that the holiday is actually on Nov 1 & 2. But hey, it looks cool, right?

Or a black person who’s ancestors were literally ripped from their home and cultures and forced into slavery. Now several generations down the line they don’t know where their ancestors actually came from other than “Africa” and that many if not all of their traditions were beaten out generations ago, only to now see that African voodoo and hoodoo practices are now suddenly “cool” and being sold as home decor or practiced by white witches who think it’s neat. It’s more than just the fact that a corporation will be profiting off our cultures, it’s the fact that they’re doing it because they don’t see us as valid. We’re nothing more than a fairytale, people living out a fantasy even though our gods came before, and these kits prove they see our practices as nothing more than a cheap trick or a gimmick, something to be massed produced and profited from.

It’s insulting.

[traegorn]

That Sephora Witch Kit

People are freaking out about the Sephora witch starter kits, and I’m just sort of laughing?

Like I know a lot of people on this site are younger, but this is literally the same kind of freak out about “mainstreaming” people were having about Hot Topic “mall witches” twenty years ago.

People have been trying to make a quick buck off of the modern witchcraft movement since there was a modern witchcraft movement. It started in new age shops, and then hit pop culture in the 90s — even ending up in movies like The Craft.

And so what?

Some people are going to buy this, and it’ll just be a phase. And that’s okay — “phases” are okay — trying things out is how you find out whether or not something is right for you. Some people might really connect with it though, and the worst thing that could happen is in twenty years some ritual gets published requiring a perfume that gives me migraines? Like Florida Water is already a thing.

It’s okay.

Like every time this happens, it’s only grown our numbers — and increased our cultural visibility and acceptance. I know plenty of people who jumped on board and then abandoned witchcraft in the 90s — but these all end up being people who I don’t have to explain my Wiccan beliefs to for twenty minutes when they ask about my pentagram.

The only real iffy thing here is the inclusion of the white sage in the kit — but that’s a larger conversation the Witchcraft community needs to be having as a whole.

It’s like the 90s are back again, and why is anyone surprised? I mean, there’s already a Charmed remake on the way.