The Woke Witch

Liz Ramos, under the supervision of Robyn the cat, discusses empathy for our fellow humans and how it relates to witchcraft

Blessings witches! In today’s social climate, everything is chaotic, crazy, and downright wild. As we work together as witches as community members, I wanted to bring one thing to the forefront – Witchcraft is Woke, and it always has been. It has been an act of defiance, freedom, and has always pissed off people in power.

Looking into the history of the craft, the societal hierarchies throughout history where witchcraft and spiritualism were/are shunned are primarily patriarchal, and while some men were accused and persecuted for witchcraft, the majority of victims of abuse/death were women. And not just any women – women who were smart, who stood up to authority, who refused submission/dominion over them, who spoke their mind, cared for the sick/needy, owned land/possessions, or just weren’t liked that day. Many were midwives, healers, community pillars. Some questioned religion, or refused to hide their feminine rage at their male counterpart’s actions.

Continuing their practices and keeping the traditions alive is a reason we are able to practice today. Meeting in secret, incorporating practices into traditional religion (ie: Hoodoo and Saint Work into Christianity), and continuing to care for their communities is how our ancestral witches ensured that we could continue to carry the torch and keep the title of Witch alive today. Without these brave women, we would not have spaces like Salem, MA or local Pagan Pride events where we can openly thrive and celebrate the continuation of our practices. And while now more than ever it is acceptable to be a witch (whether you vend at an event, are active on WitchTok, or simply exist), there are still persecutions of us today. Christian churches have shamed us, especially after the changing of the bible by King James and the Malleus Maleficarum.

Even in Salem in 2025, oppression and spiritual persecution was attempted. Philip Renner of Philip Renner Ministries from Claremont, Illinois, led a group to The Witch City at the end of October 2025. While there, they walked the city with megaphones, preaching and harassing passersby on the streets. They went to local businesses and the Salem Psychic Fair and Witches Market, defiling booths and private property by rubbing “anointing oil” they brought with them on psychic’s photos; threw oil on business owners while shouting slurs -including “whore,”-, transphobic, and homophobic slurs; harassed patrons of private events; put their oil on ancestral altars at the stores; punched a shop worker in the face; and lastly, brought a giant wooden cross to a Halloween witch gathering that would have killed people if it was dropped on them.

And what was the police reaction to the harassment and assault?

Verbal warnings, written, warning, a no trespass order, swearing at the victims, and then forming a protective barrier around the people with the giant cross. Last February, I also saw on social media many southern Baptist communities openly writing they were forming Witch Hunting Committees, where they would be finding local events for us and attending with intent to harass and cause physical harm to attendees and event providers.

Why do I say all of this? I call you forward and remind you that if you call yourself a Witch, it isn’t a game or something to do when you decide to feel cute and dress up. It is a way of life, an act of outward defiance and activism, and a call to personal power and freedoms. It is a calling to help our fellow people and stand up when injustice is hurled. We witches know what it means to be persecuted. We do not need repeats done on our sisters and brothers. Rise Witches. Our time is NOW.

Elizabeth Ramos is a magic practitioner who specializes in nature focused, healing, protective, and ancestral magics. She is a Reiki Master-Teacher and lives with her husband and their several Feline Leukemia Positive kitties in Upstate New York.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.