Hello, feminism: at its heart, witchcraft has always actively celebrated women. How many other religions can say the same?
Laure Eve
Sisterhood: any philosophy that promotes forming a coven of people who are totally ready to fight for you when your psychopathic dead ex-boyfriend starts haunting your garden is an attractive prospect. Alright, so maybe that was just in Practical Magic, but I like to think that general protectiveness is something we can all employ in real life. We should have each other's backs.
Empowerment: witchcraft tells us that everyone has the potential to be powerful, not just 'the chosen ones'. You don't have to be special and you don't have to be born with it. You just are.
Be whoever you want to be: A basic tenet of witchcraft is that you should do and be whatever you like - as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Freedom of expression is a basic human right that many people are routinely denied. Embracing a philosophy that encourages this feels like pouring some good into the world.
Mindfulness: A new word for an old concept, witchcraft loves this idea. Live this moment and this life as well and as fully as you can instead of worrying about what comes next.
Back to nature: Witchcraft and pagan religions have a fundamental reverence for the earth. In this age of rapid climate change brought about by humanity's rather nonchalant approach to our limited resources, it feels more important than ever to care about what we're doing to the planet we live on.
Pop culture: Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hermione from Harry Potter. Nancy from The Craft (so she went a bit crazy towards the end, but crucially her outfits remained on point). I couldn't resist writing about witches in The Graces, as clearly they are the most badass, powerful, interesting characters around.
Celebrate the different: witchcraft actively engages with non-conformity and doesn't care what background you're from or what you look like. Ah, modern thinking that encourages individualism and diversity. No wonder the more conservative, controlling areas of society have historically had a bit of an issue with it.
Shape the future: books and films featuring witches are a great shorthand way to show girls from an early age that they are just as strong and powerful as boys. Harry Potter is an amazing example of using a fantasy world to encourage feminism, empathy and strength in the face of adversity, and has influenced an entire generation for the better.
Be a force for good: another creed of witchcraft is that whatever harm you do to others comes back to you threefold. While it may be grimly fun to imagine hexing your enemies, a philosophy which encourages us to empathise rather than wreak terrible vengeance has a far greater power for positive change.
