The Cycle Continues: The Contemporary Witches Of Wellington

Words by Phoebe Robertson (she/her) 

There has been a shift in Wellington over the past few years. Stores such as Covenant and Elysium have emerged, characterised by black interiors and the lingering aroma of incense. Cosmic's assortment of spell candles, incense, and miniature cauldron candle holders has progressively expanded, encompassing an ever-growing array of items. Nowadays, my friends suggest meeting at crystal stores and performing tarot readings on me. Asking for my star sign has become a standard greeting. It's evident that witchcraft, or at least practices and motifs influenced by it, has gained popularity in our city. 

I reached out to Vixen Temple and Cheryl*, who both participate in witchcraft, to explore what witchcraft means to them, the cultural appropriation in witchcraft, and how they define their own practices. 

Witchcraft is defined as a practice—it involves activities like praying or meditating. Wellington-based performer, sex worker, activist, and witch Vixen Temple wanted to emphasise this point clearly. During our discussion about her practice of witchcraft, she took care to distinguish it from religion. "Although there are witch religions, at its core, witchcraft is more of a spiritual practice than a religious one," she pointed out. It transcends the limitations of binary thinking and is not confined to being solely good or evil. Rather, Vixen elaborated, witchcraft is something that emanates from within, taking on the meaning you, as an individual practitioner, assign to it.

But what does it mean to actually practise witchcraft? Cheryl, another Wellington witch, introduced me to a variety of named witchcraft practices: lunar, cosmic, plant, sea, and solitary witches. These are just a few examples from the diverse ways in which people engage with and relate to their own witchcraft. Cheryl personally resonates most with the practices of green and lunar, while also drawing inspiration from others. This indicates that their "practice is largely based on [their] connection with the earth and the exchange of energy [they] have with her and the universe”. 

Inviting me into their room, Cheryl showed me a meticulously arranged shrine adorned with several candles, an array of different crystals, and incense. They proceeded to demonstrate one of their practices: manifestation.

First, Cheryl lit the incense, using it to cleanse the space and the room. With the lights turned off, the only source of illumination came from the flickering candles on their shrine. Next, they took a piece of paper and explained that they were going to write something on it, intending to manifest their desire. Holding the paper in their hands, they focused deeply on what they wanted to bring into reality and then placed it beneath an unlit candle. After whispering a few words, they proceeded to light the candle positioned over the paper. They elaborated on the fundamental principle of witchcraft, which centres around the transfer of energy. In this ritual, the written words on the paper symbolised their manifestation, and by igniting the candle, they engaged in an act of energy transference. The energy flowed from the candle, connecting their desire to the universe. They emphasised that for the process of energy transfer to be effective, the candle had to burn all the way through.

I sensed the palpable energy in the air. It was truly a special and captivating experience to witness. It reminded me of a past theatre performance I’d been involved in, where we explored the concept of death, ultimately linking it to the idea that everything is composed of atoms and that energy can only be transferred, not created or destroyed. This led us to conclude that energy continues in some form after death. Watching Cheryl's candle burn, the thoughts came rushing back to me, and I couldn't help but believe that the energy they invested in writing on the paper and burning the candle would indeed undergo a transfer.

Vixen shared a similar perspective. She integrates her mixed Pākehā-Māori heritage into her witchcraft, explaining, "One of my favourite things about being Māori is our inherent understanding that everything possesses a soul, wairua." She harnessed this profound connection to the spiritual essence of all things in her craft, adding a deeply meaningful layer to her practice.

Vixen’s witchcraft stems from her mixed heritage. Cheryl is actively expanding their practice to focus on their Scottish heritage and Celtic roots. Both made it clear to me the necessity to research and understand the history of the practices that they were taking part in. 

Witchcraft has a fraught journey into contemprary practice.  An example is white sage, frequently used by contemporary witches and promoted on platforms such as TikTok. White Sage is used by indigenous Americans, and has been culturally appropriated by contemporary Pagans. Dreamcatchers, also of indigenous origin, have become a widely consumed product in an out of witchcraft, used by many people without understanding thier history. The Romani people also experience this cultural appropriation. The term ‘gypsy’, is a racial slur used to persecute Romani people, but is now used by countless brands to market a bohemian look through fortune-telling and crystals.

Even the term ‘witch’ was brought over to North and South America by European colonisers, the word first used to demonise the spiritual practices of indigenous peoples and survivors of the Trans Atlantic slave trade. Today, the majority of people I see identifiying as witches are young, cis white women on TikTok. There’s no denying that witchcraft’s use today stems from a harmful history, leading to contemproary practices that can be problematic. Modern witches navigate their craft by understanding the history situating witchcraft, and the personal roots that shape how individual practice takes place.

Vixen's practice originated from intuitive witchcraft, and she described how the transition to sex magic felt entirely natural, as it was deeply intertwined with her journey from girlhood to womanhood and her exploration of sexual expression. "If magic is about working with intention and energy to manifest a desired outcome, then sex magic is about channelling sexual energy and intention to bring my desires into reality," she told me. Vixen harnessed her sexual energy, her taera, into her practice, finding it as inherent and effortless as identifying themselves as a ‘sex witch’, takatāpui, or a woman. 

Embracing sex magic provided a space for them to connect with their sexuality and desires, embracing the inherent power that stems from it. It became an empowering practice, allowing them to assert their presence and claim space in a patriarchal world. Vixen expressed that in their eyes, "stepping into my sexual autonomy for my own pleasure and desire is a radical act". For them, witchcraft creates a supportive environment that welcomes those who challenge the status quo and patriarchy. They emphasised the strength they find in the community of witches in Wellington, Aotearoa, and beyond, where they derive a sense of belonging and empowerment.

Cheryl was eager to dispel the misconception that the witches portrayed in TV shows and cartoons represent the reality of living or practising as a witch. They expressed concern that these depictions often perpetuate negative and hurtful stereotypes about the witchcraft community, which persist in today's society. "TV and films tend to depict witches as evil beings from the underworld, using their powers to bring harm to people," Cheryl explained. These portrayals, they  emphasised, are unfounded stereotypes arising from misogyny and fear of the unknown. “In the communities I have witnessed, [witches] are nothing but kind and caring individuals with a profound connection to the natural world," they told me. Cheryl firmly believes that witches do not deserve to be burdened with the negative connotations attached to them.

As someone who had personally previously defined witchcraft by media portrayals, I felt pleasantly surprised by the authenticity of Cheryl’s practice when they invited me to witness it. 

Ultimately, for Vixen, witchcraft has been a transformative and empowering experience. “Witchcraft has taught me that to be human is a nuanced and spiritual experience. It’s shown me that life is a constant cycle, like the change of seasons we too experience change. Or like a caterpillar's journey of becoming a butterfly; we are all on our own journeys in life. And witchcraft has taught me that I already possess all of the tools I need in order to live a fulfilling life. And one day, when I am an old crone, I will be able to bestow my knowledge and teaching on those around me. And thus the cycle continues!” 

Thus, the cycle continues. 

*name has been changed