Witch way to spirituality? Alternative practices are becoming more popular and visible

Don't call it a comeback, it's been here for thousands of years.

No, I'm not talking about LL Cool J's music. I'm discussing witchcraft.

OK, maybe it's not witchcraft, but tarot cards, palmistry and other "alternative spirituality" practices are becoming more popular, even though many of them have existed for centuries − some even predating Christianity.

So, why are these practices seeing a resurgence? And what exactly are they?

Witchcraft

Let's start with witchcraft, which includes paganism and Wicca. This is one of the fastest-growing spiritual paths in America, increasing from around 8,000 practitioners in 1990 to roughly 1.5 million in 2018. Those numbers are expected to be much higher now, but it's hard to determine since many followers don't always openly admit to it.

A 2014 Pew Research Center study projected that the number of Americans practicing “other religions” — faiths outside Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism — would triple.

So, what is the main reason for this increase? Various studies cite different reasons, but the biggest is an outright rejection of mainstream religion.

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"As a society, we've been coming through challenges that have tested our faith in … well, faith. Our humanity has been tested by the pandemic, political and economic upheavals and pending environmental catastrophe," said Rissa Miller, a former journalist, York native and local supernatural expert. "Many folks feel isolated and even lost, and the things and spaces that once offered comfort are now bringing in more doubt, or for some, even judgment of lifestyle. Nature-based systems of faith can present another path, one that can be walked alone or with others, and may or may not even have a deity. The overall openness and acceptance holds a strong appeal. After all, when some practices reject you just based on who you are, nature itself never will."

Miller added that she doesn't think that "these practices are gaining popularity as much as they are gaining visibility. And in many circles of people, they're also regaining the acceptance they once had."

But what exactly is witchcraft? That's not so easy to define, since it is an individualistic spiritual belief and it is open to the interpretation of the practitioner. Some people say it has certain elements, others say there are no rules, and that's what people like about it.

Essentially, if someone says they are a witch, they are one. Witchcraft doesn't always have to do with spell casting, magic or even "evil" intentions. It's just simply a belief system with roots in nature.

One example of how witchcraft can be practiced in different ways, and even intersect with mainstream religion, is "powwowing."

According to Glencairn Museum News, “powwowing” is Pennsylvania’s tradition of ritual healing, also called “white magic” or “Braucherei,” in Pennsylvania Dutch.

It “blends elements of religion and belief with health and healing. Combining a diverse array of Christian prayers, gestures, and the use of everyday objects, these rituals are used for healing the body, protection from physical and spiritual harm, and ensuring good outcomes in everyday affairs,” according to Glencairn.

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Astrology

Many people associate witchcraft with astrology, even though there are a lot of people who ascribe to astrology and wouldn't identify as a witch. Astrology is an ancient belief that you can use celestial bodies, such as planets and stars, to predict events. Astrology is everywhere these days, and even people who don't fully believe in it have been known to dabble in it.

Have you ever looked up your star sign? That's astrology. I am a Pisces and so is my sister, although we were born two years apart. If you look up the characteristics of a typical Pisces, you will have my personality in a nutshell. My sister is the total opposite of me, though, so I'm not sure how accurate astrology is.

But astrology goes beyond star signs and horoscopes and includes planetary retrogrades, like Mercury Retrograde, which some believers think can affect the way you communicate and even how well your electronic devices work.

Numerology

Similar to astrology is numerology, or the belief that numbers can predict events, or can even explain someone's personality.

Based on numerology, I would be a five (and yes, this does align with my personality) and my sister would be a seven, so maybe that explains our different personalities?

Either way, numerology dates back over 2, 500 years ago to Pythagoras, a Greek Philosopher and mathematician, and while many modern-day mathematicians and scientists ridicule the practice, it is growing in popularity. In fact, it has been associated with celebrities like Prince and Winona Ryder.

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Palmistry

I was obsessed with palm reading when I was a kid because I was certain my future was in my hands − or rather, on them. I learned about palmistry and how the different lines on our palms and fingers tell us about our futures.

According to my palm, I would have one marriage, and I have been married twice, so maybe this one's not for me.

Palmistry is found all over the world, with numerous variations. It's becoming more mainstream, with palm reading businesses being a popular stop for arty-goers looking for some entertainment and answer-seeking individuals looking for solutions.

Tarot

I will admit to having tarot readings done, and I'm not sure I fully believe in them, but I have been given some great advice by card readers. Tarot is often used as a tool for self-reflection, self-care and guidance during times of uncertainty in life.

The way tarot works is that the person seeking answers thinks about a question they want answered and then they pull cards, or they have them pulled by a reader. Depending on the cards and their positions, the person will have an answer to their question. The cards are largely up to interpretation, though, and there's no scientific proof they work.

Illegal spirituality?

Unfortunately, reading tarot cards, finding answers in palms or studying the stars for guidance is all considered fortune-telling in Pennsylvania, and it's illegal. Recently, The Serpent's Key Shoppe and Sanctuary at 10 Baltimore St., Hanover received a visit from police because they offer tarot readings.

The visit was to notify them of Pennsylvania Title 18, Section 7104, Fortune Telling, which makes it a third-degree misdemeanor in the event that someone is found guilty of "pretending for gain or lucre, to tell fortunes or predict future events, by cards, tokens, the inspection of the head or hands of any person, or by the age of anyone, or by consulting the movements of the heavenly bodies, or in any other manner."

Background: Witch hunt in Hanover over tarot readings? No, says police chief, just a friendly warning

Even though this law exists, these (and many other) "alternative" spiritual practices are gaining traction and a larger following, with many people mixing and matching them to find the perfect spiritual practice, and even adding them in with mainstream religious beliefs, such as Christianity.

"As long as we question, as long as we have choices, as long as there is a future, there will be a place for divination. The bigger question is whether it's shuttered or out in the open," Miller said.

Angel Albring is a business reporter for the York Daily Record.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: What is 'alternative' spirituality and why is it on the rise?