Witchcraft, psychics, mediums, or other purveyors of magic or mysticism have been sought for centuries during times of change or uncertainty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yelp noted a 74 percent increase in Americans searching for psychics, and a 63 percent increase in searches for astrologers. After Trump’s first election in 2016, American witches performed mass witchcraft to try to bind him. Witches on TikTok and Instagram similarly hacked Trump and his supporters in the wake of the January 6, 2021 coup. After Brexit, some people turned to astrology to see what might happen next.
Vanix’s audio indicates that, once again, people are turning to magic for help. EtsyWitch222, who actually sells services on Etsy, is offering new requests. He is one of thousands of people in what venture capitalists call the “mystical services marketplace,” which includes other popular topics like astrology. In 2019, this market was worth more than $2 billion.
In her video, EtsyWitch222, indicated that she was the one who cast the spell for Vanix. She wasn’t — Venks told WIRED that the practitioner she worked with asked to remain anonymous — but her claim caught people’s attention, and inspired some to follow Venks’ lead. “I just thought it was hilarious and then it blew up,” says EtsyWitch222. “I never thought anyone would see it, I thought my friends would.”
More than 170,000 people watched the video and 26 went to EtsyWitch222’s store and paid $7.99 for a package to curse Musk. She says she became so interested in the topic that last weekend she hosted a TikTok Live attended by more than 240 people, posting a video ahead of time so attendees could gather the necessary ingredients. (These include a white candle, cayenne pepper, lavender, salt, and bay leaf).
EtsyWitch222 says she doesn’t necessarily believe in hexing or curses, but instead encouraged participants to focus on what they want to see in the world. She says she used the money to buy some components for TikTok Live but will donate the rest to the American Civil Liberties Union.
During the TikTok live, EtsyWitch222 says, beyond Musk himself, other members of Trump’s circle, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., whom Trump has tapped to become secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Focused on. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who led the lawsuit to end the Biden administration’s asylum policies for immigrants from Cuba, Venezuela. Haiti, and Nicaragua. (A U.S. District Court judge dismissed the case in March.)
EtsyWitch222 says she is now thinking about holding these sessions on a more regular basis.
As for Venks, she says her hack was specifically designed to make sure Musk suffered some sort of mental torture. “I want him to never know peace,” she says. Although she admits she may never know if the hack worked, she’s okay with that. “I’m a fact-based person who believes in science,” says Venks. “But I still think there’s something to be said for the millions upon millions of people wishing for your downfall.”
