The Digital Witch Hunt: European Witchcraft in Modern Media and the Rise of Online Mysticism

Introduction: From Stakes to Streams

European witchcraft, once synonymous with dark persecution, public executions, and moral panics, has undergone a radical rebranding in the digital age. Once vilified, witches are now icons of empowerment, mystery, and ancestral knowledge. What was burned at the stake in the 15th century is now broadcast in high-definition on YouTube and TikTok.

In today’s media landscape, creators like Jason, who explore occultism, ancestral wisdom, and metaphysical commentary, are central to a growing movement that revisits old beliefs with new purpose. But what does this say about the collective psyche of Europe—and the world?

I. The Historical Context: A Europe Haunted by Its Past

Between the 15th and 18th centuries, Europe was the epicenter of one of the most prolonged mass panics in human history—the witch hunts. Countries like Germany, Scotland, and France saw tens of thousands of people—mostly women—accused, tortured, and killed in the name of spiritual purity and social control.

Modern scholars increasingly see these witch trials as more about control, land ownership, gender dynamics, and religious consolidation than actual belief in magic.

Today, that history lingers not as shame—but as content.

II. YouTube and the Rise of the Modern Witch

On platforms like YouTube, creators are reshaping the narrative. Consider a creator like Jason, who speaks about ancestral powers, spiritual warfare, and suppressed wisdom systems. These videos often feature:

• References to esoteric European symbols like runes, grimoires, or Celtic mysticism.

• Comparative mythology, linking European paganism to African, Native, and Asian cosmologies.

• Discussions on the role of media, empire, and religion in hiding “true knowledge.”

Jason’s type of content reflects a deeper hunger: people want to believe in magic again—but with a political edge. Witchcraft is no longer “devil’s work”; it's ancestral resistance, psychological liberation, and reclaiming of forgotten power.

III. WitchTok and the Aesthetic of Witchcraft

On TikTok, the “WitchTok” subculture merges spellcasting with social media virality. Think crystals, sigils, moon phases, and cottagecore aesthetics. However, there's a duality here:

• Surface-level engagement: Pretty aesthetics, manifestation trends, love spells.

• Deeper revivalism: Some users genuinely study European folk magic, like Slavic Rodnovery, Norse Seiðr, or Italian Stregheria.

TikTok commodifies witchcraft into bite-sized spiritual escapism, while also functioning as a pipeline to more serious study—or misinformation.

IV. Netflix, Hollywood, and the Archetype of the Witch

Mainstream media has transformed the witch into a feminist and anti-hero figure:

• "The Witch" (2015): A grim New England horror story that portrays witchcraft as an escape from Puritan oppression.

• "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina": Blends teen drama with Satanic imagery and political themes like patriarchy and gender identity.

• "A Discovery of Witches": A scholarly witch falls in love with a vampire—alchemy, magic, and academia blend together.

These stories tend to sanitize and romanticize witchcraft, transforming it into a lens for personal empowerment rather than communal trauma. Yet they also tap into something real: a deep disillusionment with institutions and a longing for autonomy.

V. Digital Witchcraft: Rebellion, Identity, and Commodification

In the modern era, witchcraft is being used in three major ways:

1. Rebellion
   For many, especially women and LGBTQ+ individuals, the witch is a symbol of resistance to patriarchy, Christianity, and colonialism. It's not about spells—it’s about sovereignty.

2. Identity
   Witchcraft lets people reclaim heritage. Celtic, Norse, and Balkan pagan revivals let Europeans explore pre-Christian identities, often filtered through genetic tests and online ancestry myths.

3. Commodification
   Witchcraft is big business. From Etsy spell kits to influencer tarot readings, mysticism is monetized. There’s both empowerment and exploitation in this.

VI. Jason, YouTube, and the Hidden Narrative

Creators like Jason straddle the line between philosopher, preacher, and provocateur. Their content speaks to those disillusioned with mainstream religion, yet skeptical of pop-spirituality.

Jason (and similar creators) emphasize that modern media distorts real esoteric knowledge, often accusing Hollywood and Western governments of “hiding the truth” about magic, spiritual warfare, and human origins. Whether you see it as conspiracy, myth, or metaphor, the popularity of such content shows something crucial:

We no longer trust the story we’ve been told.

Witchcraft, in this context, becomes less about spells and more about epistemology—what counts as knowledge, who controls it, and why some truths were buried.

Conclusion: Europe’s Witchcraft Legacy in the Mirror of Media

European witchcraft is no longer confined to medieval forests or inquisitor’s chambers. It's now woven into TikTok trends, YouTube rants, and Netflix scripts. It lives in both the algorithm and the astral plane.

But as we revisit these practices, stories, and archetypes, the real question isn't whether magic is real. It's:

Why did Europe need to kill the witch to build its modern world?

And now that the witch is resurrected—in pixels, not flesh—what world will she build in return?

Further Reading & Watching

• Books:

  • The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present – Ronald Hutton

  • Caliban and the Witch – Silvia Federici

• Channels:

  • Jason Black (if you meant this creator) or other esoteric spiritualists

  • Angela’s Symposium (academic pagan YouTuber)

• Podcasts:

  • “Witch Wave” – Interviews with modern witches and thinkers.

  • “Occult Unplugged” – For deeper conspiracy-spiritual crossover content.