Witch, Don’t Kill My Vibe

How Reclaiming the Word “Witch” Is a Feminist Act in a Patriarchal Society

Once upon a time, being called a "witch" could get you burned. Today, it might get you a book deal, a tarot deck, or a wildly popular TikTok following—and honestly? About damn time.

But let’s get one thing straight: reclaiming the word witch isn’t just about crystals and aesthetics (though I do love a good smoky quartz moment). It’s a radical, roaring no to centuries of patriarchal control. It’s about identity, resistance, power—and making sure no one gets to define your magic but you.

The Witch Trials Never Ended—They Just Rebranded

The word “witch” has always been loaded. For centuries, it’s been weaponized against women—especially those who dared to be loud, weird, wise, sexual, or simply unbothered by male approval. Midwives? Witches. Healers? Witches. Women with opinions? Definitely witches. The patriarchy labeled anything it couldn’t control as dangerous. And what’s more uncontrollable than a woman who listens to her intuition, trusts her body, and doesn’t need a savior? Fast-forward to today, and while we’re no longer facing literal pyres, the metaphorical ones still smolder. Women are still called “hysterical” for expressing emotion. “Difficult” for asserting boundaries. “Too much” for taking up space. Sound familiar?

Reclaiming witch is saying: I see your centuries of shame, and I’m setting them on fire—with intention, herbs, and maybe a full moon playlist.

The Feminist Power of Naming Yourself

Reclaiming a word isn’t just semantic. It’s spellwork. Language shapes perception. When we choose to identify as witches, we’re not just embracing a label—we’re casting a spell that says: I am powerful. I am wise. I am whole. I will not be silenced or sanitized. Calling yourself a witch is an act of radical self-definition. It says, “I don’t need permission to be who I am.” And that’s revolutionary in a world that still tries to shrink women into palatable, profitable, pretty little boxes. Witchhood is about agency. It’s about trusting your inner voice over external validation. It’s about leading from your gut, not your guilt.

Feminism and witchcraft? They’re sisters. Maybe even twins.

Magic as Resistance

Here’s what they don’t teach you in school: spiritual practices—especially those tied to the divine feminine—have always been a form of resistance. When women gather in circles to heal each other, that’s resistance.When we meditate instead of self-medicate, that’s resistance.When we manifest joy in a world that profits from our self-doubt? That’s pure rebellion. Witchcraft is a reminder that our power doesn’t come from systems that were never designed for us. It comes from within—from our intuition, our rhythms, our rage, our softness, and our shadows. We’re not asking for a seat at the table anymore. We’re building our own damn coven.

From Burnout to Burn Baby Burn

Let’s be real: modern life is exhausting. Late-stage capitalism is a grind culture that thrives on burnout. Witchcraft offers a counterculture—a return to cycles, slowness, and sacred rest. It teaches us to honour energy over efficiency. It gives us permission to feel, to flow, to say “no” without an apology. In a patriarchal system that tells women their worth is tied to productivity and people-pleasing, this is nothing short of revolutionary. So when I light a candle, whisper a spell, or pull a card on a Monday morning before diving into my inbox, I’m not being cute. I’m taking my power back. I’m creating sacred space in a society that would rather I stay small, silent, and over-scheduled.

Final Spell

Reclaiming witch isn’t about trend-following or edge-lording. It’s about remembering. It’s about honoring the women who came before us—who dared to heal, to speak, to live outside the lines—and ensuring we carry their fire forward.

So call me a witch. I’ll take it as a compliment.

Because if believing in my own power makes me dangerous,If trusting my intuition makes me irrational,If taking up space makes me too much—Then witch, don’t kill my vibe.