Meet The Witches Of Instagram

Forget broomsticks and potions: the new-age witch is socially conscious and super-stylish, and she’s taking the Internet by storm. Morgan Reardon investigates the sorceresses of social media

- Morgan Reardon

I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE.

When I was 13, I watched The Craft for the first time while staying at a friend’s place. And so began a deep love/obsession, where for the next year I’d save all the money I made at my weekend job in a surf shop to spend on crystals, spell books and tarot cards. Much to my parents’ dismay, I declared myself a witch. I loved the ethos behind the religion, which involves a deep appreciation for nature and divine feminine power. In short we, as women, have the power to be whoever we want. What’s not to love about that?

It turns out, I’m not alone. In fact, witchcraft is becoming incredibly cool, making its way into the mainstream and finding an unlikely home on social media.

Enter Bri Luna, aka the Hoodwitch. Based in Seattle in the US, Luna is one of Instagram’s most-loved witches, with more than 290K followers. Her page is filled with visually stunning images. It’s witchcraft-meets fashion: you’ll find pictures of crystals and tarot cards, and loads of affirmations – even from Solange Knowles, telling us that no-one should steal our magic. It’s powerful and pretty, just like Luna herself – a truly wicked combination.

When I ask her what being a witch means to her, she laughs. ‘There’s no “one size fits all” way to define a witch,’ she tells me. ‘I believe every woman is a witch – and she may not even know it. To me, being a witch is more than spells and candles: it’s the freedom and power to boldly and unapologetically embrace nature, heal yourself and your community, and embrace all aspects of whoever you are – fiercely.’