In the tangled webs of ancient folklore, witches have long been depicted as enigmatic figures, feared and misunderstood by society. These spellbinding women, too sexy, too smart, and too powerful, were branded as outcasts in a world that struggled to comprehend their mystique. But oh, how times have changed! Welcome to a realm where the cackles of those wicked enchantresses have transformed into an empowering chorus within pop culture. Are you ready to be spellbound?
Of Wicca and Witchcraft
Today, the word “witch” has taken on a remarkable metamorphosis – shedding its historical shackles of fear and prejudice to soar freely as a symbol of strength and independence. In a nutshell, Wicca is an inherently feminine, nature-based, pre-Christian spiritual path that has seen a resurgence in modern times. Witchcraft is a form of supposed magical practice involving spells and rituals, and many Wiccans practice witchcraft as part of their spiritual and religious beliefs.
Many people are increasingly embracing Wicca and witchcraft, largely due to pop culture figures who have appeared to embrace it. Whether this is an image they’ve chosen to cultivate or they’re truly on this spiritual path remains to be seen. But let’s look at some popular singers who have real or imagined connections to Wicca and witchcraft.
Stevie Nicks
Obviously, she is the OG pop music witch. We all know and love the multi-platinum-selling rockstar and Grammy award-winning artist Stevie Nicks. She is an icon and has left a long-lasting impression on the music industry and fashion. But there is another side to Nicks that some may be aware of—her supposed ties to Wicca and witchcraft.
So, what has given people this impression about her? It all goes back to her own upbringing. Her parents were avid spiritual and metaphysical readers who encouraged Nicks to explore her own faith.
“I wasn’t raised in any religion… a long, long time ago, I decided I was going to have a mystical presence, so I made my clothes, boots, hair, and whole being go with that. But it wasn’t something I just made up at that point. It’s the way I’ve always been. I’ve always believed in good witches-not bad witches-and fairies and angels.”
~Stevie Nicks, Interview Magazine, July 1998
A spiritual and philosophical movement emerged in the vibrant and transformative 1970s, known as “The New Age.” Bringing together elements of occult practices, herbal medicine, and indigenous traditions, this movement captivated the imagination of many. Tarot reading, crystal healing, and moon rituals became popular expressions of the New Age, often associated with feminine spirituality.
In 1972, the Eagles released their hit song “Witchy Woman,” which perfectly encapsulated the essence of the archetypal New Age woman. However, the listener never gets to hear directly from the Witchy Woman herself. This fascination with the feminine mystique finally found its voice in Stevie Nicks and her chart-topping song “Rhiannon.”
The enigmatic Stevie Nicks often introduced “Rhiannon” in live performances as “a song about a Welsh witch.” This introduction immediately invokes the mystical folk tradition from which the character of Rhiannon originates. Nicks first encountered Rhiannon’s name in Mary Leader’s 1973 novel Triad: A Novel of the Spiritual. Unbeknownst to her at the time, Rhiannon’s origins are actually found in the Mabinogion, a collection of Middle Welsh prose folk stories dating from the 12th to the 14th century.
While Nicks may have yet to be aware of Rhiannon’s original context while writing the song, she remained faithful to the canon in her portrayal of the character. Birds, flight, and love are significant themes within the Mabinogion, which also found their way into “Rhiannon.” Over the years, Nicks has further delved into the folklore, utilizing stagecraft to enhance her performances. For example, during the song, the stage’s backdrop often depicts wild horses running through a stream. This imagery alludes to the belief that Rhiannon, in the Mabinogion, is closely associated with the Gaulish horse goddess, Epona.
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By 1976, Nicks had fully embraced the ‘Rhiannon’ persona in her performances. Long, flowing black chiffon and velvet dresses, accompanied by whimsical floating sleeves and shawls, became synonymous with her presence on stage. This bewitching attire harked back to the medieval era, and the purposeful design of these costumes was instrumental in embodying her femininity and enhancing the mystical aesthetic that permeated her music.
Stevie Nicks’ fashion choices have mesmerized concert-goers and infiltrated the broader realm of popular culture. During the iconic 1977-78 Rumours tour, the impact of Nicks’ distinctive style became undeniable. People began emulating her fashion blueprint, donning black outfits adorned with top hats and morphing into their version of Stevie. Mick Fleetwood recollected observing countless fans dressed identically to Nicks. It seemed as though her stage costume had leaped from the pages of magazines and television screens, leaving an indelible mark on the fashion choices of her devoted followers. Some even called Nick’s female fans her ‘coven.’
Though she’s denied being a witch, she has leaned into her persona over the decades. One significant moment in her journey occurred in 1998 when she was asked to contribute music to Griffin Dune’s film “Practical Magic.”
More recently, in 2014 and 2018, Nicks made on-screen appearances as herself, often referred to as “the White Witch,” in the TV series “American Horror: Coven” and “American Horror Story: Apocalypse.” Throughout these episodes, Nicks’ iconic songs like “Kind of Woman,” “Gold Dust Woman,” “Rhiannon,” and “Seven Wonders” serve as the backdrop, enhancing key moments in the storyline. Notably, one of the characters, Misty Day, adopts Nicks’s signature style, adorning herself with curled blonde hair, flowing shawls, and a crescent moon necklace, symbolizing her dedication to the White Witch persona.
The crescent moon necklace worn by Nicks and featured in the TV series has become a powerful symbol embraced by fans worldwide. By donning this necklace, individuals proudly showcase their allegiance to the White Witch and easily identify themselves as part of the “Sisters of the Moon” community. Nicks’ music and vibrant persona have allowed her to build a remarkable legacy, seamlessly blending the traditionally masculine genre of rock ‘n’ roll with alluring feminine energy that all began with her iconic song, “Rhiannon.”
Lorde
If you haven’t noticed, there’s been a pop-culture revival of all things witchy for the last decade or so, attracting young pop stars and their fans to the aesthetic. Another pop performer who may be witchy – or just using the symbolism for effect (she’s not telling) – is Lorde.
In the summer of 2013, Lorde burst onto the music scene with her hit single “Royals” and debut album Pure Heroine. This happened to coincide with the resurgence of the witch revival. ’90s movies and shows like The Craft and Buffy the Vampire Slayer were suddenly ‘in’ again; witches became more popular than ever, and Lorde found herself caught up in this wave of fascination.
Lorde’s witch aesthetic is primarily influenced by the goth witch style, characterized by her choice of all-black clothing, dark lipstick, and wild hair. Her appearance often invokes imagery of a witch wearing a cape. Unlike most of her pop star peers, Lorde fully embraces this witchiness, making it an integral part of her unique brand. She was even dubbed “the Queen of Darkness” by Vanity Fair. In an interview with Teen Vogue, she openly admitted to occasionally embracing a goth-witch vibe. Onstage, she would move her hands as if casting a spell, adding to the mystique surrounding her. In an interview with The Telegraph, she said, “I’m basically a witch.”
Lorde’s witchiness gives her a distinct sense of girl power. It allows her to dismiss criticism about not conforming to traditional standards of femininity. Her dancing style, for instance, is not conventionally sexy or pretty but rather witchy, and she embraces it wholeheartedly. In a casual conversation on Reddit, she humorously acknowledged that her performance might resemble Gollum from The Lord of the Rings and expressed her coolness with it.
Lorde’s aesthetic is often associated with an anarchic spirit. It liberates her from the pressure of adhering to notions of prettiness and enables her to focus on expressing specific images and emotions. She doesn’t feel the need for impeccable clothing or perfectly styled hair. She can be raw and angry in her lyrics and still maintain her power. A prime example is her memorable performance on Saturday Night Live in March 2017, where she appeared in an antique lace nightgown and a matching headdress, symbolizing her desire to resemble a moth. This unique choice garnered rave reviews.
Lana Del Rey
It’s easy to imagine any female artist who dresses in a way associated with Wicca has made that spiritual choice, but Ms. Del Rey has actually publicly cast a spell. In 2017, she took to her Twitter account to weave a little magic in hopes of banishing Donald Trump from power. She unapologetically confirmed her involvement, stating in an interview, “Yeah, I did it. Why not? Look, I do a lot of things.” This bold statement not only sheds light on Del Rey’s adventurous nature but also hints at her belief in the power of the mind and the potential influence it holds over the world.
Delving deeper into her thoughts on the matter, Lana Del Rey aligns herself with the ideologies of legendary artist John Lennon. She believes that thoughts possess a profound vibrational energy capable of driving change. According to her, thoughts give birth to words, words become actions, and actions eventually result in tangible transformations.
But does this mean she actually dabbles in witchcraft, or is it just branding? Probably the latter. She did author a book on witchcraft that contained mostly tongue-in-cheek spells like ‘How to time travel to 1969’ and ‘How to possess an assistant manager at Urban Outfitters,’ so perhaps she’s showing us how silly it all is – or maybe she’s trying to throw us off (evil witch laugh.)
This hasn’t stopped fans from looking for clues, though. Internet lore tells us that in 2015, when Lana dropped her 4th studio album called Honeymoon, the track “The Blackest Day” contained a love spell at the 4:20 mark of the song. With the release of her album Lust For Life, fans noticed the track “Cherry” lists herbs that are usually used in love spells, tying this to the alleged spell on The Blackest Day and saying both songs were part of a single work of witchcraft.
Beyonce and the Illuminati?? Really??
While there are plausible reasons to believe and accept some performers have embraced an alternate spirituality, some links to pop stars are downright stupid. In terms of internet conspiracy theories, nothing quite compares to the decades-long lore of the Illuminati, a secret society of American elite positioned for world domination. Theories of involvement began with a focus on political actors, but they quickly spread to the music world. By the 2000s, the Internet was rampant with rumors exposing popular musicians for their supposed allegiances to the power-hungry group.
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This is not the first time we’ve seen accusations of darkness in the music world — it rode the tails of controversies of the 1980s (Satanic Panic) in which popular musicians, most notably Led Zeppelin, were accused of hiding satanic messages that could be revealed by playing their music backward.
Modern-day accusations have been directed heavily at Beyonce, who has been portrayed as one of the reigning modern-day leaders of the group. Her and her husband, Jay-Z’s, use of a triangular hand gesture has been tied to the Illuminati’s signature eye-in-triangle symbol, a connection with which theorists ran. Speculators tied various symbolism and imagery in their music videos to the original Illuminati symbol of an all-knowing eye resting in a triangle.
In 2018, Kimberley Thompson — a former drummer of Beyoncé’s — attempted to sue the singer for allegations of “dark magic” and “witchcraft,” even going so far as to allegedly claim that she sacrificed her pet kitten.
Earlier this year, A North Carolina pastor went viral after labeling Beyoncé ‘a witch’ and furiously shamed any Christian who plans to attend her concert.
Tiphani Montgomery, a self-proclaimed ‘prophetess’ who founded the Covered By God ministry, shared a video on her TikTok and YouTube accounts, saying, “any of you who are going to Beyoncé’s concert I rebuke you in the name of Jesus, how dare you call yourself a Christian.’
She went on to suggest Beyoncé is a witch and her fans are part of a ‘hive,’ declaring that when a witch has a coven, it’s normally a small thing, but “When it becomes thousands it’s called a hive. Y’all a part of that lady Beyhive? And you call yourself a Christian? May the dealings of the Lord come upon you.”
Lady Gaga’s use of occult symbolism was also quickly indicted as wholehearted satanism.
While the historical background behind these rumors may be storied, they haven’t quite held up in the modern day, and they were largely dismissed by the general public as what Beyonce refers to in one song as “that corny Illuminati mess.”
Conclusion
It must be remembered that entertainers have always used gimmicks to sell themselves to the public. Whether some have embraced an alternate spirituality is irrelevant to their musical contributions. It also goes without saying that powerful women have been labeled ‘witches’ throughout history, often with dire results.
We must be accepting of everyone’s individual beliefs and not be quick to judge them if those beliefs look different from our own. We all have the right to make decisions about our faith and practices without having to worry about judgment or scorn from others. Witchcraft and Wicca should no longer be viewed as dark or evil practices but rather as legitimate and respected practices that can help us to connect to the universe and live in harmony with it.
The allure of witchcraft in pop music speaks to desire as influence rather than touch — a form of power that appears again and again in our Sex, Desire, and Power in Pop Music coverage.
