What the UK Believes About Witchcraft

A figure in black riding a broomstick through the night sky is a classic image from stories throughout history. But how true are these representations of witches?

We’re exploring how the UK feels about witchcraft and what they believe it all means. Working from answers from 1,007 respondents, we get a much clearer understanding of how Britons think and feel about witchcraft beliefs.

So grab your cauldrons and let’s take a look at beliefs about witchcraft in the UK.

Nearly 74% Of Britons Believe In Witchcraft

Before we look at what witchcraft truly embodies, it’s interesting that 73.7% of respondents believe in witchcraft. A further 57.9% have personally encountered someone practising witchcraft, which is pretty surprising since a lot of us don’t hear about witchcraft all that often.

84.2% of Britons think that witchcraft is a form of religion or spirituality. In fact, 73.3% of respondents truly believe in the magical powers of spells and rituals. This is a genuine representation that many believe that witchcraft can make a difference. Still, 63.2% haven’t performed spells or rituals themselves.

But the above isn’t surprising if you consider that 7.8 out of ten respondents haven’t sought advice or guidance from a witch or practitioner of witchcraft. This shows us that while people can believe they may not be comfortable taking part.

The thought of covens or gatherings of witches can be quite scary for those that don’t understand the meaning of true witchcraft. Still, just over 31.6% of survey respondents have participated in these types of gatherings. Additionally, 26.3% have attended a witchcraft-related workshop or event.

What turns most people off witchcraft is the fear of something influencing people or events through magic. This has been a fear for many throughout history, and you only need to look at the execution numbers in witch trials to see what that fear can bring about. During the trials, being accused of witchcraft meant almost certain death.

Astonishingly, only 57.9% of participants believe in the historical persecution of witches.

But if we consider that 73.3% of respondents believe in the power of spells and rituals and only 52.6% believe these spells can do something to influence others, there’s a discrepancy there. Still, 57.9% believe that witches have special abilities or powers.

84.2% of Britons Think Witchcraft Can Be Used for Healing Purposes

When you break down all the assumptions about witchcraft, something is missing…what it actually is. Since the dawn of man, there have been spells and rituals to harness action, whether it be for good or bad.

For the most part, witchcraft throughout history has been about healing people. So, it’s great that 8.4 out of 10 participants believe this. A further 89.5% associate witchcraft with nature-based practices.

68.4% of respondents have purchased items associated with witchcraft. Along with that, 43.2% of participants believe in the existence of supernatural beings associated with witchcraft.

If you want to see what these items entail, check out our witchcraft supplies and discover what the world of witches has in store. It’s not all wands and dark magic, we stock goblets, crystals, cauldrons, and everything in between.

Most Britons Believe That Witchcraft Is Morally Acceptable

Witchcraft hasn’t always been accepted by the general public. It’s often been associated with supernatural powers and evil spirits – which is why witch-hunting was so prevalent.

Luckily, today 94.7% think that witchcraft is morally acceptable. This may be because the world today is far more informed about different religions. We also live in a society that can live together in harmony most of the time.

But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be some clashing. For example, 52.6% of respondents don’t think that witchcraft is compatible with mainstream religions.

This may be down to the fact that 89.5% of participants don’t feel that the media accurately portrays witchcraft. If the representation is off, then it makes it near impossible to open the public to what witchcraft is.

Still, it hasn’t stopped 63.2% of participants from discussing witchcraft with friends or family members. Luckily, 84.2% are familiar with the different traditions and types of witchcraft, so the discussions are informed.

These discussions are a fantastic way for more people to learn. The more we learn, the more we grow. 68.4% of respondents agree that the practice of witchcraft does have an impact on societal beliefs and norms. In fact, 73.7% believe that witchcraft can be learned and practised by anyone.

So, if you’re interested in learning more, we highly recommend doing your research and chatting with others about witchcraft beliefs.

63.2% Believe in the Concept of Karma or the Rule of Threefold Return in Relation to Witchcraft

Many participants believe in the concept of karma, something that is believed by various groups and religions. What’s different is that 42.1% have witnessed or experienced unexplained phenomena that they attribute to witchcraft.

If that sounds interesting, have a look at our range of ghost-hunting equipment to see if something from the great beyond is coming through.

A staggering 73.7% think that witchcraft is more prevalent in certain religions and cultures. But when we consider that 78.9% think that witchcraft is still practised secretly today, there may be a large number of witchcraft practitioners that don’t want to come forward.

However, this might change as 78.9% of respondents are comfortable being identified as supporters or believers in witchcraft. In fact, 84.2% would be open to learning more about witchcraft.

FAQ

How many witches are in the UK?

In 2019, 70,000 people identified as witches in the UK. These numbers are increasing year on year as more want to learn about witchcraft beliefs.

Where can I learn more about witchcraft beliefs in the UK?

SpiritShack offers a range of services, including spell services. We can take you through what witchcraft is, witchcraft beliefs and the types of spells there are with our group of talented witches.