Etsy may be known for handcrafted jewelry, custom gifts and artisanal décor — but it’s also become a popular marketplace for witches, psychics and spiritualists offering spells, charms and metaphysical services online.
According to The Wall Street Journal, so-called “Etsy witches” are selling everything from love spells and spirit cleansings to soulmate sketches and good luck rituals. One popular influencer reportedly hired an Etsy witch to ensure good weather on her wedding day — and ended up with clear blue skies.
Another Los Angeles creative director bought a spell to help the New York Knicks win Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in May. The Knicks won — but when he paid for another spell ahead of Game 6, they lost.
With spells promising specific outcomes for a fee, KTLA’s David Lazarus reports that some are now raising questions about whether digital witchcraft should face greater regulation. Should there be licensing requirements for offering spells and psychic services online? Should sellers have to disclose the likelihood — or unlikelihood — that the services will work?
Supporters argue the industry should remain buyer beware, much like horoscopes and traditional psychic readings — entertainment unless proven otherwise.
A quick search of Etsy reveals hundreds of spell-based listings, from soulmate drawings to $23.99 tarot card readings. Some argue the prices seem steep, while others say it’s all in good fun — or, in some cases, surprisingly accurate.
KTLA’s Kacey Montoya recalled a psychic pet reading that appeared to predict her dog’s medical issue before surgery. “It’s a long story, but if it wasn’t for the psychic, they wouldn’t have found something that was in her eye,” Montoya told the KTLA team. “And I wasn’t even a believer!”
Lazarus, on the other hand, recalled the time a psychic missed the mark entirely, failing to pick up on a chronic illness during a personal reading. “I didn’t mention the fact that I have a chronic illness,” he explained. “It never even occurred to her. You would think that’s the kind of thing a psychic would suss out.”
Still, the online demand for mystical services shows no signs of slowing. Whether it’s astrology, psychic pets or NBA magic, spiritual services have officially found a home in the digital marketplace — and for many buyers, it’s worth a shot.
The post Witches, spells and soulmates: Digital witchcraft booming on Etsy appeared first on KTLA.
