Gen z and the witchy aesthetic: why we all want to look like mystical beings

What does it look like when a Gen Z witch casts a spell on you? Do you magically stop using the millennial pause in the videos you record, or do references to Harry Potter, Friends, and The Office suddenly become cringe, along with the typically ironic millennial jokes at your own expense about being chronically tired, underpaid, traumatized by childhood, and lost in a capitalist world that demands you act like an adult, jokes that Gen Z often sees as performative and generally exhausting? Well, perhaps magical rituals with outcomes like these will become more common, because Gen Z is increasingly obsessed with witchcraft. As a member of this generation who knows almost nothing about witchcraft beyond what my more experienced colleague Tijana has the patience to explain to me, and when she does not, there is always TikTok, where witchcraft is currently having its peak moment. Since I have been spending a shameful amount of time online lately, I have a strong desire to look like a mystical being, a fairy, an elf, or a witch, to have my home be a remote, secluded wooden cabin overgrown with ivy, while I walk through a candlelit house in a long, dark green silk nightgown, and my For You page keeps showing me that I am not the only one.

Why is Gen Z increasingly turning to witchcraft?

Gen Z’s turn toward witchcraft actually has little to do with a literal belief in magic as imagined by older generations. It is more of a cultural, emotional, and aesthetic phenomenon than a belief in spells. First and foremost, there is a need for a sense of control in a world that feels unstable. Climate anxiety, political chaos, economic insecurity, the pressure of algorithms. Witchcraft offers a framework in which uncertainty becomes something you can work with. You light a candle, draw a card, set an intention. Even without belief in magic, the ritual itself brings structure and calm. And you have to admit, it is incredibly fun. At some point in your life, a friend has probably read tarot cards for you in her small apartment filled with incense smoke and massive layered candles, and you felt as though she knew all the secrets of the world and that you were on the verge of discovering your fate. Is that not thrilling? Okay, maybe I am too deep on witchtok.

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Second, it is anti institutional, but not aggressive. Many members of Gen Z do not trust organized religion, states, or corporations, but at the same time they do not want rigid belief systems. Witchcraft is flexible, you choose the rules, mix traditions, and believe as much as you want. There is no authority, no hierarchy, no strict control, at least in theory. Is there anything more Gen Z than that? There is also a strong connection to identity and gentleness. Witchcraft allows you to be emotional, intuitive, changeable, spiritual, imperfect, everything that does not fit into a culture of constant productivity. It values feelings, cycles, rest, and intuition rather than nonstop output. This resonates especially with a generation that grew up in a state of chronic burnout.

Aesthetics matter too. Crystals, candles, tarot decks, astrology apps, gothic fonts, forest motifs. Witchcraft translates perfectly to TikTok and Instagram. It is visual, symbolic, and instantly legible. You do not have to explain much. It is enough to show the atmosphere. There is also a connection to feminism and queer identities. Historically, witches were outsiders, women who did not follow the rules, people punished for knowledge or autonomy. Gen Z adopts this figure and turns it into a symbol of power rather than shame. Saying “I am interested in witchcraft” often also means “I do not fit into your norms and that is fine with me.” Finally, witchcraft also functions as a language. Astrology, tarot, and magical terms help people talk about emotions, relationships, and patterns without a clinical or moralizing tone. Saying “Mercury is in retrograde” is often easier than saying “I am overwhelmed and everything feels wrong.”

Inspired by this recent potential new identity of mine, which may last anywhere from a few days to a few months and will likely leave long term consequences on the look of my home, my wardrobe, and my surroundings, below I am bringing you a few accessories for your home, your closet, and your overall energy, if you too feel the urge to embrace your new mystical identities.