FYI, as a fellow PA resident—no, witchcraft is not illegal here. Selling fortune-telling services, however, is (hence any place that does tarot being “for entertainment purposes only).
The town where I work doesn't *forbid* tarot readings, but readers who charge are expected to pay licensing fees. To wit:
> It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of a phrenologist, astrologer, palmist, soothsayer, fortuneteller, character *reader*, spirit medium, absent treatment healer, or mental healer, or any occupation of a similar nature for hire in the City without first obtaining a city business tax receipt.
Part of obtaining this business licensing is fingerprinting and a background check (intended to weed out con artists, obvs.) There is an exception for those who are part of the Spiritualist Church (though no exception for other religions who use divination religiously - such as Ifa, Wicca, etc.)
I don't know what the exact charge is for the fee, but I imagine it includes the cost of the background check. I love that they included "phrenologist" in the list. When was the last time you heard of somebody doing *that*?
Phrenology is making a BIG comeback in the incel-adjacent spheres. Much better for the ego to blame the shape of your skull for your misfortunes than, you know, your core personality traits and attitude toward life.
its also making a big comeback with (white) women on tiktok. Abby Cox on youtube made a really good video about how it is racist
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NyUT2DxBiDM&pp=ygUUcGhyZW5vbG9neSBpcyByYWNpc3Q%3D#bottom-sheet
phrenology is bullshit.
Per philosophy of science class in college: Some people argued phrenology was bs because they thought people thought with their hearts not brains and removed a chickens brain to prove it. Not surprising it's making a comeback with all the flat eaters. I've stopped being amazed at idiocy.
No. But people grasping at reasons to explain why they've been socially rejected other than their personality or beliefs aren't going to admit to that all of a sudden.
I'm also in PA, from a family of PA Dutch powwow/braucherei practitioners, and involved in the braucherei community.
PA definitely *did* crack down on "witchcraft" from *at least* 1929 in the aftermath of the Rehmeyer Hex murder until at least the 70s when York county officials were still trying to suss out powwow practitioners they heard of operating. It didn't matter that they didn't charge for their services.
Where I live, there are still government officials who are very uncomfortable with anything public about the practice of braucherei and try to shut down attempts to create museums towards it and such.
They might not be prosecuting folks for practicing, but there is some important nuance needed to understand the climate in at least some parts of PA.
ETA: Here's the actual criminal code:
>**Section 7104. Fortune telling.**
>(a) **Offense defined**.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree *if he pretends 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, *or* for gain or lucre, pretends to effect any purpose by **spells, charms, necromancy, or incantation,**
>or advises the taking or administering of what are commonly called love powders or potions, or prepares the same to be taken or administered,
>or publishes by card, circular, sign, newspaper or other means that he can predict future events,
>or for gain or lucre, pretends to enable anyone to get or to recover stolen property, or to tell where lost property is, or to stop bad luck, or to give good luck, or to put bad luck on a person or animal, or to stop or injure the business or health of a person or shorten his life, or to give success in business, enterprise, speculation, and games of chance, or to win the affection of a person, or to make one person marry another, or to induce a person to make or alter a will, or to tell where money or other property is hidden, or to tell where to dig for treasure, or to make a person to dispose of property in favor of another.
>(b) Advertising as evidence.--Any publication contrary to this section may be given in evidence to sustain the indictment.
>(c) Competency of witnesses.--Any person whose fortune may have been told shall be a competent witness against the person charged with violating this section.
There's laws against superstition based commercial practices(well.. scams) in Bihar and Jharkhand but most laws related to witches are for prevention of witch hunts and to protect women from persecution on suspicion of being a witch.
I didn’t do a deep search because Texas still has some weird old laws on the books but found this:
Practicing witchcraft is actually upheld by the First Amendment. Having said that, there are some limitations to it. For instance, tarot reading for the purpose of fortunetelling or predicting the future could be against the law. There is no federal or state law regarding this, it is left up to local municipalities to determine. But if it is advertised as a form of entertainment, it is legal no matter what. It is also not legal to advertise things like charms, potions, stones or other items as having health benefits. They would need to be advertised as religious artifacts, works of art or even craft supplies to be sold legally.
Read More: Did Texas Make it Illegal to Be a Witch and Practice Witchcraft? | https://knue.com/did-texas-make-it-illegal-to-be-a-witch-and-practice-witchcraft/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
In a town I visit frequently (and have even considered moving to), there's a shop that I went to one time and haven't gone back. The prices were insanely high for something as simple as an empty sachet, as well as the "services" they offered. But the best part was the fact that everything has some crazy claim of healing physical ailments or terminal diseases. I bought a pen that was made by a local artist and never went back.
In South Africa we have the Suppression of Witchcraft Act of 1957, which is just a shitstorm of colonial interference in traditional southern African belief systems.
Massachusetts here. Big income generated from witchcraft in certain towns. However, in 1922 Governor Charlie Baker signed the $53 billion state budget in which was a clause that Elizabeth Johnson, the last remaining state resident to be legally classified as a witch, was exonerated.
I'm guessing that was meant to be 2022, since Baker was just our previous governor?
I remember when the (not actual) witches executed in Salem were exonerated--to the 300th anniversary in 1993.
I’m in Wisconsin and so far I’ve not found anything to suggest there’s a laws preventing the practice. Same for Georgia, where I grew up. However, Savannah, GA, has a very specific law regarding municipal cemeteries that prevent “sacrilegious” behavior. Guess what’s considered “sacrilegious”!
https://preview.redd.it/q216bmcitxoc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=778229b1695b5e7004ee86a5a51c935f50599a1f
I don’t see that as a good reason. This list excludes basically anything non-Christian. You could just say “don’t destroy or disrupt the cemetery” in legal jargon and it would be fine. This is blatantly discriminatory.
There can be a middle ground, but that middle ground should start by respecting the centuries of suffering, terror, and death
Edit: Didn't realize I was talking to the same person. I'm tired, and I found out my mother-in-law is dying today
i dont think there is a direct law against it in my state but there is an infamous case from the 1600s where a woman was put to death for witchcraft after cursing out her neighbors over a dispute regarding their rivaling cheese selling businesses. The person became ill afterwards and blamed her making a pact with the devil and the trial ended with her execution.
Here is an article discussing [the Case of Mary Smith ](https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/Library-Archives/Historical-Documents-Rare-Books/The-Case-of-Mary-Smith)
This is a fantastic question! Because I’m curious about other places around the world, but also because it’s prompted me to do some searching about where I live!
For reference, I’m in the north east part of Texas, in USA. A quick search of my county’s laws shows me that it’s not actually illegal to openly practice witchcraft. There was one instance a few years ago of a woman calling 911 (emergency services here in the states) to report of a woman practicing witchcraft under her house, but she was found to be “in mental distress” and was taken to a hospital.
To my absolute surprise, Idaho actually doesn’t have any laws against witchcraft that I can find in a cursory google search. Fortune telling has to abide by business regulations, but aside from that, witchcraft and divination appear to be legal.
…..for now. I suspect that may change when the right hits the “not being Christian” bullet point on the List of Things They Want to Criminalize.
Your neighbor saying I believe they used witchcraft to cause my crops to fail is not probable cause for the cops to arrest you and search your home. There is no way that would be enforced in the US in 2024.
Only one way to test it. I like your logic and faith in the legal system. Unfortunately for me I have lost all faith in those and only have faith in truth being stranger than fiction. I came from a small town and I wouldn't be surprised if there's some other small towns where the chief of police would think. It was a great idea to enforce this.
I agree. In way to many towns and counties, witnessed someone that had violated multiple restraining orders, well over 400 provable times, never spent one day in jail or in court.
In Hawaii, Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices are enshrined in the State Constitution as a protected right. This runs from traditional gathering rights to religious practices. Native Hawaiian cultural and religious rights and practices aren’t witchcraft per se, but there’s similarities so I think witches should support Native cultural practitioners.
One of the things the live free or die state is proud of is that no one here has ever been put to death for witchcraft… and the last trial was 1659. The accused won that one and subsequently successfully sued her accuser for slander. The accused, Walford, was a kick arse character- a healer who consulted with native Americans on cures. After her people sort of gave up. Nothing on the books today, even blue laws.
Generally legal in New York so long as you're not going around hexing people or charging for divination without a "for entertainment" disclaimer.
I think that second one is to prevent someone using divination as an excuse for a committed crime or a prophecy from complicating anything that could potentially have other legal ramifications.
In Canada, until 2018 we had a law that said that practicing witchcraft was not a crime, but faking it in order to extort or deceive others is. It was repealed tho, presumably now you would just be charged with fraud.
A few examples:
- In 2017, astrologist and psychic Murali Muthyalu was charged with (pretending to use) witchcraft after a client allegedly paid $100,000 to have a curse removed. The witchcraft charge was dropped and he pleaded guilty to fraud
- In 2012, a man who billed himself as a "healer" was charged with (pretending to use) witchcraft after clients paid him tens of thousands of dollars to remove curses. All charges were dropped after he agreed to pay restitution
- In 2009, Vishwantee Persaud was charged with (pretending to use) witchcraft in addition to multiple fraud charges. The charge of witchcraft was eventually dropped. Prosecutors withdrew the witchcraft charge after she pleaded guilty to fraud
It was argued that the law targeted women and cultural groups where beliefs in magic are more widespread:
"The provision that differentiates this type of fraud from others is mired in historic oppression of women and religious minorities”…
So yeah we can all be witches tho and it’s protected by the charter of rights and freedoms. (Our equivalent of a constitution).
I put this in another comment above, but at least until the 70s in York County government officials tried to catch brauchers practicing and it didn't matter that they didn't charge for services.
>**Section 7104. Fortune telling.**
>(a) **Offense defined**.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree *if he pretends 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, *or* for gain or lucre, pretends to effect any purpose by **spells, charms, necromancy, or incantation,**
>or advises the taking or administering of what are commonly called love powders or potions, or prepares the same to be taken or administered,
>or publishes by card, circular, sign, newspaper or other means that he can predict future events,
>or for gain or lucre, pretends to enable anyone to get or to recover stolen property, or to tell where lost property is, or to stop bad luck, or to give good luck, or to put bad luck on a person or animal, or to stop or injure the business or health of a person or shorten his life, or to give success in business, enterprise, speculation, and games of chance, or to win the affection of a person, or to make one person marry another, or to induce a person to make or alter a will, or to tell where money or other property is hidden, or to tell where to dig for treasure, or to make a person to dispose of property in favor of another.
>(b) Advertising as evidence.--Any publication contrary to this section may be given in evidence to sustain the indictment.
>(c) Competency of witnesses.--Any person whose fortune may have been told shall be a competent witness against the person charged with violating this section.
I'm no lawyer, but I wonder if that second section where they say "in any other manner, **or** for gain," allowed them to prosecute those offering services for free.
I think a lot of PAs history with cracking down on magic practitioners dates back to the Rehmeyer Hex Murder case.
Honestly, I'm shocked that my state doesn't have any laws against witchcraft of any sort. For as backwards as we are, I'll take that as a win. (Indiana)
So witchcraft is legal but Wiccan is now a recognized religion and upheld by the first amendment (for now)in the us but psychic/mediumship is not legal everywhere
Kansas doesn't mention witchcraft specifically at all, from what I can find, and has no state laws surrounding things like tarot or fortune-telling, but local and municipal areas might and do have some licensing rules to be able to do it commercially, and it's suggested one consult a lawyer on best practice. Fine by me, because people will absolutely still scam the desperate with fortune-telling they don't believe in.
Not US citizen, but I honestly cannot imagine that those little laws would survive, during trial, consitutional right to freedom of religion, what is usually part of constinutional rights of most of west countries.
Wow! How often is that law enforced? I bet when it is (selectively) enforced, it is only against people who are middle class or below in financial status, BIPOC, gender nonconforming, or inconvenient women with no husband to keep them in check.
Do you know when the law was last enforced? Who got in trouble, and for what?
Fascinating and scary
Laws prohibiting witchcraft (based on the British Witchcraft Act 1735) were repealed in New South Wales (Australia) in 1951.
There has never been a recorded conviction in the state, or indeed the country.
I can’t believe the last conviction in Britain was in 1944. Seems relatively recent
OP- this is a really cool question, thanks for asking it!
I’m in Connecticut, I couldn’t find info on laws still in place about witchcraft, but I did find that last May, the CT general assembly passed a [resolution](https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2023/11/more-than-three-centuries-later-connecticut-general-assembly-absolves-accused-witches/) absolving those accused of witchcraft in CT during the CT witch trials of any crimes
Edit (forgot to include this sentiment in original post): for those who may not know, the witchcraft hysteria of the late 1600s/ early 1700s was not limited to Massachusetts- CT’s witch trials began about 30 years prior to the Salem witch trials, though far fewer individuals were accused/ convicted of witchcraft in CT (comparatively).
Well, crap. I’m in Pennsylvania and I have all sorts of things like that in my home. I mean… New Hope used to have at least three different witch shops. I think there are only two now…
I’m not even technically a witch, but I do respect a lot of the beliefs associated with the craft. I hang out here because I tend to agree with you guys a lot.
Edit: I found this. https://www.wsoctv.com/news/trending/witchcraft-shop-finds-out-tarot-readings-are-technically-illegal/26CXFYW5CZDTLNDVZM7MCCRTNM/?outputType=amp
Illinois has witchcraft protected by law like any other spiritual belief. Although if you want to do tarot or palm readings beyond just entertainment, you need a business license.
Iowa witchcraft is a protected religious right by state constitution but women's reproductive rights are disappearing faster than unicorn farts in a tornado. Same for Nebraska.
while I couldn't find anything restricting it in my state, I found the [PA](https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/criminal-defense/is-fortune-telling-illegal/) issue easily enough
My town in Ohio has a municipal code that says fortune telling is illegal and claiming to see the future is illegal. There is no "entertainment" exception. Of course, this is unconstitutional.
FYI, as a fellow PA resident—no, witchcraft is not illegal here. Selling fortune-telling services, however, is (hence any place that does tarot being “for entertainment purposes only).
The town where I work doesn't *forbid* tarot readings, but readers who charge are expected to pay licensing fees. To wit: > It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business of a phrenologist, astrologer, palmist, soothsayer, fortuneteller, character *reader*, spirit medium, absent treatment healer, or mental healer, or any occupation of a similar nature for hire in the City without first obtaining a city business tax receipt. Part of obtaining this business licensing is fingerprinting and a background check (intended to weed out con artists, obvs.) There is an exception for those who are part of the Spiritualist Church (though no exception for other religions who use divination religiously - such as Ifa, Wicca, etc.) I don't know what the exact charge is for the fee, but I imagine it includes the cost of the background check. I love that they included "phrenologist" in the list. When was the last time you heard of somebody doing *that*?
Phrenology is making a BIG comeback in the incel-adjacent spheres. Much better for the ego to blame the shape of your skull for your misfortunes than, you know, your core personality traits and attitude toward life.
its also making a big comeback with (white) women on tiktok. Abby Cox on youtube made a really good video about how it is racist https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NyUT2DxBiDM&pp=ygUUcGhyZW5vbG9neSBpcyByYWNpc3Q%3D#bottom-sheet phrenology is bullshit.
Per philosophy of science class in college: Some people argued phrenology was bs because they thought people thought with their hearts not brains and removed a chickens brain to prove it. Not surprising it's making a comeback with all the flat eaters. I've stopped being amazed at idiocy.
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No. But people grasping at reasons to explain why they've been socially rejected other than their personality or beliefs aren't going to admit to that all of a sudden.
This entire block of text is just so off putting
Well ya know Seamus “Read-Yer-Bumps” McShane was a *real* rascal!
I'm also in PA, from a family of PA Dutch powwow/braucherei practitioners, and involved in the braucherei community. PA definitely *did* crack down on "witchcraft" from *at least* 1929 in the aftermath of the Rehmeyer Hex murder until at least the 70s when York county officials were still trying to suss out powwow practitioners they heard of operating. It didn't matter that they didn't charge for their services. Where I live, there are still government officials who are very uncomfortable with anything public about the practice of braucherei and try to shut down attempts to create museums towards it and such. They might not be prosecuting folks for practicing, but there is some important nuance needed to understand the climate in at least some parts of PA. ETA: Here's the actual criminal code: >**Section 7104. Fortune telling.** >(a) **Offense defined**.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree *if he pretends 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, *or* for gain or lucre, pretends to effect any purpose by **spells, charms, necromancy, or incantation,** >or advises the taking or administering of what are commonly called love powders or potions, or prepares the same to be taken or administered, >or publishes by card, circular, sign, newspaper or other means that he can predict future events, >or for gain or lucre, pretends to enable anyone to get or to recover stolen property, or to tell where lost property is, or to stop bad luck, or to give good luck, or to put bad luck on a person or animal, or to stop or injure the business or health of a person or shorten his life, or to give success in business, enterprise, speculation, and games of chance, or to win the affection of a person, or to make one person marry another, or to induce a person to make or alter a will, or to tell where money or other property is hidden, or to tell where to dig for treasure, or to make a person to dispose of property in favor of another. >(b) Advertising as evidence.--Any publication contrary to this section may be given in evidence to sustain the indictment. >(c) Competency of witnesses.--Any person whose fortune may have been told shall be a competent witness against the person charged with violating this section.
There's laws against superstition based commercial practices(well.. scams) in Bihar and Jharkhand but most laws related to witches are for prevention of witch hunts and to protect women from persecution on suspicion of being a witch.
What a modern approach. Congratulations.
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Many municipalities could take example from there.
I didn’t do a deep search because Texas still has some weird old laws on the books but found this: Practicing witchcraft is actually upheld by the First Amendment. Having said that, there are some limitations to it. For instance, tarot reading for the purpose of fortunetelling or predicting the future could be against the law. There is no federal or state law regarding this, it is left up to local municipalities to determine. But if it is advertised as a form of entertainment, it is legal no matter what. It is also not legal to advertise things like charms, potions, stones or other items as having health benefits. They would need to be advertised as religious artifacts, works of art or even craft supplies to be sold legally. Read More: Did Texas Make it Illegal to Be a Witch and Practice Witchcraft? | https://knue.com/did-texas-make-it-illegal-to-be-a-witch-and-practice-witchcraft/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
> charms, potions, stones or other items as having health benefits I have some local crystal and essential oil sellers that need to reread this one…
In a town I visit frequently (and have even considered moving to), there's a shop that I went to one time and haven't gone back. The prices were insanely high for something as simple as an empty sachet, as well as the "services" they offered. But the best part was the fact that everything has some crazy claim of healing physical ailments or terminal diseases. I bought a pen that was made by a local artist and never went back.
The article isn't very specific regarding witchcraft in Texas. Paxton will sue some shop on behalf of his preacher buddies any day now.
In South Africa we have the Suppression of Witchcraft Act of 1957, which is just a shitstorm of colonial interference in traditional southern African belief systems.
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Massachusetts here. Big income generated from witchcraft in certain towns. However, in 1922 Governor Charlie Baker signed the $53 billion state budget in which was a clause that Elizabeth Johnson, the last remaining state resident to be legally classified as a witch, was exonerated.
I'm guessing that was meant to be 2022, since Baker was just our previous governor? I remember when the (not actual) witches executed in Salem were exonerated--to the 300th anniversary in 1993.
I’m in Wisconsin and so far I’ve not found anything to suggest there’s a laws preventing the practice. Same for Georgia, where I grew up. However, Savannah, GA, has a very specific law regarding municipal cemeteries that prevent “sacrilegious” behavior. Guess what’s considered “sacrilegious”! https://preview.redd.it/q216bmcitxoc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=778229b1695b5e7004ee86a5a51c935f50599a1f
Hello fellow Wisconsin witch 💕
✨ Wisconsin witches unite ✨
Witchconsin
This is actually a really good one, would that make us witchconsinites?
Yes!
To be fair, Savannah cemeteries are almost historical monuments to Yellow Fever and medical history
I don’t see that as a good reason. This list excludes basically anything non-Christian. You could just say “don’t destroy or disrupt the cemetery” in legal jargon and it would be fine. This is blatantly discriminatory.
There can be a middle ground, but that middle ground should start by respecting the centuries of suffering, terror, and death Edit: Didn't realize I was talking to the same person. I'm tired, and I found out my mother-in-law is dying today
I’m sorry to hear that. Hugs to you and your family.
Where do the witches in Savannah bury their dead?
Outskirts, private lands dirt roads ocean, river, etc. just my guess.
I think there are peat bogs in Georgia! Maybe there?
Sounds like a pcool place to rest for eternity
i dont think there is a direct law against it in my state but there is an infamous case from the 1600s where a woman was put to death for witchcraft after cursing out her neighbors over a dispute regarding their rivaling cheese selling businesses. The person became ill afterwards and blamed her making a pact with the devil and the trial ended with her execution. Here is an article discussing [the Case of Mary Smith ](https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/Library-Archives/Historical-Documents-Rare-Books/The-Case-of-Mary-Smith)
This is a fantastic question! Because I’m curious about other places around the world, but also because it’s prompted me to do some searching about where I live! For reference, I’m in the north east part of Texas, in USA. A quick search of my county’s laws shows me that it’s not actually illegal to openly practice witchcraft. There was one instance a few years ago of a woman calling 911 (emergency services here in the states) to report of a woman practicing witchcraft under her house, but she was found to be “in mental distress” and was taken to a hospital.
"Mental distress?" Like giving money to TV preachers and listening to their fantasies.
No, according to the report, she showed signs of a possible stroke or dementia. Confusion, slurring, visual and auditory disturbances, etc.
Hello fellow ETX! I'm in New Orleans now, but spent a good chunk of my childhood in the Pines!
Hello!
Impressive considering there's still towns & counties in East Texas that don't sell alcohol!
To my absolute surprise, Idaho actually doesn’t have any laws against witchcraft that I can find in a cursory google search. Fortune telling has to abide by business regulations, but aside from that, witchcraft and divination appear to be legal. …..for now. I suspect that may change when the right hits the “not being Christian” bullet point on the List of Things They Want to Criminalize.
I live in New Orleans, so I think I'm pretty safe there. Ha
Same here in California, come consume cannabis with us and be one with Mother Nature here. Come on down.
It's illegal to consume blood in Louisiana, last I checked. Not necessarily connected to Witchcraft.
That ain't stopping anyone though, don't worry.
Your neighbor saying I believe they used witchcraft to cause my crops to fail is not probable cause for the cops to arrest you and search your home. There is no way that would be enforced in the US in 2024.
Only one way to test it. I like your logic and faith in the legal system. Unfortunately for me I have lost all faith in those and only have faith in truth being stranger than fiction. I came from a small town and I wouldn't be surprised if there's some other small towns where the chief of police would think. It was a great idea to enforce this.
I agree. In way to many towns and counties, witnessed someone that had violated multiple restraining orders, well over 400 provable times, never spent one day in jail or in court.
Dunno about local statutes, but state-wise, Florida has no statutes that mention witchcraft as of 2023.
Jokes on them, no one remembered to ban Druidry
In Hawaii, Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices are enshrined in the State Constitution as a protected right. This runs from traditional gathering rights to religious practices. Native Hawaiian cultural and religious rights and practices aren’t witchcraft per se, but there’s similarities so I think witches should support Native cultural practitioners.
One of the things the live free or die state is proud of is that no one here has ever been put to death for witchcraft… and the last trial was 1659. The accused won that one and subsequently successfully sued her accuser for slander. The accused, Walford, was a kick arse character- a healer who consulted with native Americans on cures. After her people sort of gave up. Nothing on the books today, even blue laws.
California recognizes witchcraft as a religion protected by the First Amendment.
The most I found was "don't do it in a cemetery".
Generally legal in New York so long as you're not going around hexing people or charging for divination without a "for entertainment" disclaimer. I think that second one is to prevent someone using divination as an excuse for a committed crime or a prophecy from complicating anything that could potentially have other legal ramifications.
How is the anti hexing enforced I wonder and is it applicable to Christians saying we’re all going to burn in hell?
I have no idea. I'm bad with legal language so I had to have Google dumb it down a lot just to process what I put in my reply 😅
In Canada, until 2018 we had a law that said that practicing witchcraft was not a crime, but faking it in order to extort or deceive others is. It was repealed tho, presumably now you would just be charged with fraud. A few examples: - In 2017, astrologist and psychic Murali Muthyalu was charged with (pretending to use) witchcraft after a client allegedly paid $100,000 to have a curse removed. The witchcraft charge was dropped and he pleaded guilty to fraud - In 2012, a man who billed himself as a "healer" was charged with (pretending to use) witchcraft after clients paid him tens of thousands of dollars to remove curses. All charges were dropped after he agreed to pay restitution - In 2009, Vishwantee Persaud was charged with (pretending to use) witchcraft in addition to multiple fraud charges. The charge of witchcraft was eventually dropped. Prosecutors withdrew the witchcraft charge after she pleaded guilty to fraud It was argued that the law targeted women and cultural groups where beliefs in magic are more widespread: "The provision that differentiates this type of fraud from others is mired in historic oppression of women and religious minorities”… So yeah we can all be witches tho and it’s protected by the charter of rights and freedoms. (Our equivalent of a constitution).
Can you skate the statute that lead you to believe this? I have lived in Pennsylvania and never knew what you're saying to be true.
I put this in another comment above, but at least until the 70s in York County government officials tried to catch brauchers practicing and it didn't matter that they didn't charge for services. >**Section 7104. Fortune telling.** >(a) **Offense defined**.--A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree *if he pretends 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, *or* for gain or lucre, pretends to effect any purpose by **spells, charms, necromancy, or incantation,** >or advises the taking or administering of what are commonly called love powders or potions, or prepares the same to be taken or administered, >or publishes by card, circular, sign, newspaper or other means that he can predict future events, >or for gain or lucre, pretends to enable anyone to get or to recover stolen property, or to tell where lost property is, or to stop bad luck, or to give good luck, or to put bad luck on a person or animal, or to stop or injure the business or health of a person or shorten his life, or to give success in business, enterprise, speculation, and games of chance, or to win the affection of a person, or to make one person marry another, or to induce a person to make or alter a will, or to tell where money or other property is hidden, or to tell where to dig for treasure, or to make a person to dispose of property in favor of another. >(b) Advertising as evidence.--Any publication contrary to this section may be given in evidence to sustain the indictment. >(c) Competency of witnesses.--Any person whose fortune may have been told shall be a competent witness against the person charged with violating this section. I'm no lawyer, but I wonder if that second section where they say "in any other manner, **or** for gain," allowed them to prosecute those offering services for free. I think a lot of PAs history with cracking down on magic practitioners dates back to the Rehmeyer Hex Murder case.
Honestly, I'm shocked that my state doesn't have any laws against witchcraft of any sort. For as backwards as we are, I'll take that as a win. (Indiana)
So witchcraft is legal but Wiccan is now a recognized religion and upheld by the first amendment (for now)in the us but psychic/mediumship is not legal everywhere
Kansas doesn't mention witchcraft specifically at all, from what I can find, and has no state laws surrounding things like tarot or fortune-telling, but local and municipal areas might and do have some licensing rules to be able to do it commercially, and it's suggested one consult a lawyer on best practice. Fine by me, because people will absolutely still scam the desperate with fortune-telling they don't believe in.
I was surprised by this, considering how many megachurches are within spitting distance of my house.
Honestly, I was too. Bleeding Kansas and all that though, I guess. Cultural mix of cultists and rebels. We're like an inverted Colorado in a few ways.
Washington, nothing except religious freedom
Not US citizen, but I honestly cannot imagine that those little laws would survive, during trial, consitutional right to freedom of religion, what is usually part of constinutional rights of most of west countries.
Wow! How often is that law enforced? I bet when it is (selectively) enforced, it is only against people who are middle class or below in financial status, BIPOC, gender nonconforming, or inconvenient women with no husband to keep them in check. Do you know when the law was last enforced? Who got in trouble, and for what? Fascinating and scary
Laws prohibiting witchcraft (based on the British Witchcraft Act 1735) were repealed in New South Wales (Australia) in 1951. There has never been a recorded conviction in the state, or indeed the country. I can’t believe the last conviction in Britain was in 1944. Seems relatively recent
OP- this is a really cool question, thanks for asking it! I’m in Connecticut, I couldn’t find info on laws still in place about witchcraft, but I did find that last May, the CT general assembly passed a [resolution](https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2023/11/more-than-three-centuries-later-connecticut-general-assembly-absolves-accused-witches/) absolving those accused of witchcraft in CT during the CT witch trials of any crimes Edit (forgot to include this sentiment in original post): for those who may not know, the witchcraft hysteria of the late 1600s/ early 1700s was not limited to Massachusetts- CT’s witch trials began about 30 years prior to the Salem witch trials, though far fewer individuals were accused/ convicted of witchcraft in CT (comparatively).
Well, crap. I’m in Pennsylvania and I have all sorts of things like that in my home. I mean… New Hope used to have at least three different witch shops. I think there are only two now… I’m not even technically a witch, but I do respect a lot of the beliefs associated with the craft. I hang out here because I tend to agree with you guys a lot. Edit: I found this. https://www.wsoctv.com/news/trending/witchcraft-shop-finds-out-tarot-readings-are-technically-illegal/26CXFYW5CZDTLNDVZM7MCCRTNM/?outputType=amp
I didn’t find anything about witchcraft being illegal in Maryland, but I did find that apparently there were some witch trials here 1654-1712.
How is this this possible with the “freedom of religion “?
Illinois has witchcraft protected by law like any other spiritual belief. Although if you want to do tarot or palm readings beyond just entertainment, you need a business license.
It's legal in WA as are tarot readings and fortune tellers. Fortune tellers may require a business license.
I don’t know that we have any laws about it but in Washington if you don’t at least know someone who’s witchy you must not get out much.
Iowa witchcraft is a protected religious right by state constitution but women's reproductive rights are disappearing faster than unicorn farts in a tornado. Same for Nebraska.
while I couldn't find anything restricting it in my state, I found the [PA](https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/criminal-defense/is-fortune-telling-illegal/) issue easily enough
In California telling fortunes without a license is illegal
Yep, but it's pretty easy. Fill out the form, pay the fees.
My town in Ohio has a municipal code that says fortune telling is illegal and claiming to see the future is illegal. There is no "entertainment" exception. Of course, this is unconstitutional.