Witches Are Taking Over the Internet, Here's Why

[@pbsvoices]

Audio description is available for this video. Go to Settings - Audio Track - English Descriptive.

[@clementjohnson2666]

How can I get in touch with Ms . LEXX HEAVEY ? TELL ME PLEASE .

[@balthasardenner5216]

My Grandmother's name was Marie, because she was, you guessed it, Catholic. Guessing that a person from a Catholic background has a female relative with "M" in their name is not exactly "spooky."

[@pbsvoices]

As I said I lean more towards skeptic too, but I don't have a catholic background. And I wasn't expecting Peter to be able to guess Mary or Mari when her name was Maria.

[@balthasardenner5216]

@@pbsvoices Well if you're Filipino it would be a good bet to guess your family is Catholic. Like not all Italians are Catholic either, but if you're going to play the odds, definitely go for Catholic. And from there it's no stretch that there would be a female in the family with some variant of "Mary" as either a first or middle name.

[@memp9786]

@@balthasardenner5216 exactly! As an African American, my grandmother raised her children as Catholics in the 60s-70’s… they were given Catholic names & went to Catholic schools… so if you were to guess a male name, you might guess Anthony (Tony), Michael, or similarly common Catholic/ biblical names… and you would be right! Same with the females… Marie is definitely one of their middle names. So yesss, even across racial groups, Catholicism, like Christianity, has some basic commonalities that is soo easy to pull out of thin air using basic knowledge… that’s not at all impressive. Sorry! 🤷🏽‍♀️ Now pulling out specific events, bdays, family facts/ secrets, well now THAT’S impressive! 😊

[@TRISH.227]

@@pbsvoices As a skeptic, you should have taken into account that most "psychics" give cold readings which is what he gave you. If he was truly speaking with the dead, at minimum, the names would ALWAYS be correct. Yet, they aren't. He literally said, "Mary ... Marty" which obviously was incorrect. If the Afterlife is real, one would assume that we'd remember our own names, yes? Those vultures guess letters and then random names until they have what is called a hit. Most of the time, there's more misses than hits but people do not think of that at the time because they are desperate to reconnect with their deceased loved ones. "Psychics" / "Mediums" and whatever other name they want to call themselves just do this to take money from people and it's extremely sad. Always remember: "Extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence." This video of your reading did not provide that, but I am sorry for the loss of your Grandmother.

[@kts8900]

Prayer and ritual can be seen as a form of meditation, and however you call it these forms of mental exercises have been studied to show psychological and physical health benefits (in specifically controlled settings etc,) So no surprise that they help. What makes me fearful is when a subculture becomes insular to the point of harming the members' social or physical health by isolating them from their community, family, or effective medical therapy. Such a hard line to walk while respecting someones' beliefs.

[@ttthecat]

Thank you for this open minded look at occultism and witchcraft!

[@GullahGirlKitchen]

I love content like this! These are the practices my grandmother and her family shared. I also appreciate that you focused on other practices than Wicca and Mysticism.

[@secemoiraharrell1035]

This video is great, as a rootworkpractitioner, I appreciate this video

[@mascadadelpantion8018]

I wanted to wait till Halloween till I actually saw this video But being with this channel since the very beginning, it just made me a little sad to see that you said this might be the last video!! I just truly hope that this wonderful Channel comes back PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!!! PLEASE OH PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!!!!! I AM SORRY THAT IT TOOK SO LONG for me to watch this video. I've been here since the beginning so just please don't leave

[@simonsaysism]

I'm not spiritual, nor am I personally interested in anything under this "witchcraft" umbrella, but I'm happy to see the Christian majority dwindling and more people connecting with their cultural roots. Everything is better with diversity.

[@battlerushiromiya651]

Therre are christian witches as well and chrisrianity itself is a 'magical' religion

[@ronburgendy6999]

Some say Jesus used magic. He even had a wand.

[@LucidFL]

This is an entirely modern phenomenon and there are no “roots” about it. Anyways, atheists don’t have kids so I appreciate you volunatarily removing yourself from the genepool.

[@chigasaki06]

@@battlerushiromiya651 They are not "Christian."

[@battlerushiromiya651]

@@chigasaki06 Yes they are. The people who call them otherwise are hypocrites.

[@DeeVination]

You grandmother's name didn't just come to him. It's called "cold reading". Everything he said in your "reading" was based on your outer appearance and his assumptions on your background. Plus, it's a very safe bet to say that the loved one coming through is a grandparent because they are most likely deceased and of course that guess is followed up by "she/he wants you to talk with them, pray to them, they are here for you". Most people are dying to hear from them, so they won't dispute that message. Sad that people are taken advantage of in this way. Real connections can be made but sorry to say this one was not it.

[@bvtnFutureCorpse]

​@Jak I mean, depending on your age (20s), it's really not hard to imagine a grandparent wanting their grandchild to go to law school or medical school. Especially for certain cultures. It's really not that specific.

[@solsystem1342]

As a witch I hate mediums and psychics. It's nonsense and taking advabtage of vulnerable people. Regardless of who'se practicing and why.

[@solsystem1342]

​@@bvtnFutureCorpse yea, it would be more impressive (or impressive at all) if they could give you specifics. Like, putting them in a lab environment and testing how well they can guess things compated to "non psychics". Also, if they could actually speak to the dead they could just tell you things eithout the showmanship and cold/hot reading techniques.

[@princetonfaneearlblithe2334]

It’s only taking advantage of them if you actually make money of it that’s what I think at least.

[@ttthecat]

That was a long survey but I love you PBS!

[@chrisandreen1945]

Come on PBS! I NEED MORE SUBCULTURED!!!

[@stefanjakubowski8222]

Blessed Be, as a long time Pagan I want to thank you for.the open minded exploration of the Occult Funny , when people are unsure or being attacked these patterns become public, Luke in WW1 and the Spiritualism growth. The 60s and 70s, with the changing issues And now, when our rights to autonomy and even democracy are under a threat, it cones to the fore I watched the evolution and growth of Wicca from the 70s till now, and this was great, thank you again Blessed Be

[@jonhillman871]

the cold reading was so cringey. we've been through this. it's at best a parlor trick and at worst a con game.

[@elizabethdavis1696]

Please do a video on mythology, superstition and stereotypes surrounding redheads and why so many wear burned as witches during the Middle Ages.

[@robgau2501]

Great idea. I second that emotion.

[@rasslinreads5666]

💖

[@SlapstickGenius23]

Redheads have always been rare, but they’re much rarer today than they were even hundreds of years back.

[@ReaMoonASMR]

Love this!! So interesting.

[@WaryJester]

I like witchtok, but I wish there were two separate 'toks' (so to speak) for the aesthetic lifestyle and comedy and the spiritual side. I like both, but together it causes a lot of misinformation and misinterpretation, but that's just me.

[@pbsvoices]

That’s kind of what I was hitting on in my last question. What two names would you call the separate sides?

[@WaryJester]

@@pbsvoices Maybe the aesthetic could remain Witchtok, but the serious practicers could be 'craft-tok' or something like that.

[@SeaweedBeastboy]

Totally agree on that It’s pretty confusing for new practitioners (specifically on that platform instead of reading a bunch of books) and separating them into each categories would be amazing.

[@jaypatton217]

Holy shit I went to high school with Peter lol was NOT expecting to see someone I know in one of these vids..was always a nice kid 👍🏽👍🏽 Fun Fact: Our hometown (Lowell, MA) is home to one of the largest Cambodian populations in the US. 2nd to only Long Beach, CA.

[@peterveth2492]

🙏❤️

[@brothertaddeus]

9:03 is a textbook example of Cold Reading. That's a yikes.

[@Windds]

The witch thing is ironic in Europe because Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland all have Celtic ancestors and some of the witch stuff comes from.

[@josemangandi9349]

What an awesome breakdown! More Josef ❤

[@qwertyuiopaaaaaaa7]

For what has been a great series, this episode was a real stinker. Just a lot of platforming grifters and anti-intellectualism. I would rather have seen something discussing the rise of religious and spiritual belief on both the progressive and conservative movements and investigating why it’s happening now and how it is impacting policy and social discourse.

[@dannyfreeman5513]

This is not just new ages it been going for centuries not as popular like it is today. Most, of them that practice usually, you needed to know some one that know someone. Or you just know.

[@battlerushiromiya651]

0:23 32 Billion with a B?!!

[@pbsvoices]

WITH A B

[@tinzomusic]

love this episode and love the spiritual / witch community ❤

[@georgemillergman914]

This explains everything. Thank God I am not going crazy.

[@elpred0]

Yo, if Josef do a new video, I instantly click. I loved that you centered the conversation in spirituality, it is very important. For me, because I need to think about all of this as the same bs of some one guy almost 2000 yold walking over water. Anyway, Loved Lexx Heavy part, I want to know more about their culture roots. I do not care if is bs for me, the important thing is it is culture.

[@joshuaphillips755]

This i can agree with.

[@liamroberts2576]

Im a Wiccan witch

[@zarucarsha]

Tl;dr Because it's a choose-your-own-adventure religion where you can make up whatever nonsense you want as you go.

[@uberhobo2]

That's literally every religion. Tradition is optional.

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

I have two friends who have been practicing witchcraft for decades. I'm not interested but they are good friends.

[@chigasaki06]

It's demonic.

[@thesciencelair9556]

@@chigasaki06wiccans literally dont even believe in demons or satan or anything like that, they see their practices and the world/energy they connect with as inherently neutral and usually try to use it for something positive, especially bc they have a belief similar to karma where anything you do will come back to you. its not christian but its not evil

[@chigasaki06]

​@@thesciencelair9556​@thesciencelair9556 The problem is it's subjective. You used language like: "they usually try" , "they believe in karma" etc. Those are ambiguous suggestions no one really has to follow. These practices literally makes the individual god...which is right in line with Satanic beliefs (i.e. do what thou wilt). Not all Satanists believe in a diety either. The beauty of Christ is He is unambiguous about what is good v. evil, unlike these wishy washy self-centered demonic practices.

[@eric.norton]

Do the survey if you want a Season 2, and they need to make Josef the face of PBS, he's breathing new life into it

[@eric.norton]

@PBSVoices_ nice try scammer 😎

[@pbsvoices]

Hey Eric I don’t know who ya are but I appreciate you

[@AVOY66]

I just recommend better audio and a better 3/4 views of the host. I also wouldn't mind videos extending to 15min mrk.

[@GlenGarcia1961]

I'm attracted to the aesthetics, but being a religious skeptic, I don't personally believe in any religious system.

[@ronburgendy6999]

just goes outside and enjoy nature. :) Give thanks.

[@SeaweedBeastboy]

The aesthetics does actually look pretty cool tho. Maybe having a kitchen herb garden, crystals on the shelves and table, and mystical room decor. As long as you’re respectful towards the practice, you’re good. Its okay to be atheist or agnostic.

[@tux_duh]

Witchcraft isn't a religion it's a craft, a practice, that can be used devoid of religious substance lol. Most practitioners are pagan or wiccan however, but religion is separate from the differing practices bc every religion has its own practices. Appalachia had its own Christian folk magic systems that are still passively used today "knock on wood" for good luck stems directly from it

[@uberhobo2]

I am a flesh automaton animated by neurotransmitters. Spirituality means nothing to me.

[@DarzTheGuy]

when i hear witch, i think of bit-

[@lovejones1897]

I was into spirituality for years, got readings, did spell work. Experienced things when you open those doorS. I stopped and my heart is going to god. This is not what we are supposed to do praise falls idols talk to spirits.

[@Chosenones572]

💕💕

[@Da1stWINNINGTEAM]

5:05 Spirituality is misunderstood to an extent. Most people use it for bad or look at it as a bad thing. But if God is a spirit and you serve him you have no choice but to be spiritual.

[@francesb2295]

I'm not a witch, but I am aware.

[@stephaniehargraves9478]

Very easy why💲

[@macierasmussen2664]

epic

[@annramsey7907]

I do believe that the patriarchal aspect of the Christian religion is in many cases driving people to matriarchal based religions.

[@icedirt9658]

Fun

[@user-rh6ru5oz2o]

Textbook demonstration of cold reading

[@Astronomater]

sorry i fell asleep, but did anyone mention that there is no evidence that any paranormal or occult stuff exists?

[@terryfrey5293]

See bob larsen ministries...plenty of examples

[@Astronomater]

@@terryfrey5293 wow, he has scientific proof? haha, he should get a Nobel prize!!!!

[@Astronomater]

@@woodypigeon sometimes things are so unbelievable that it reaches the point of being impossible without some actual supporting evidence. don't forget that it is done for profit! keep you rmind open but not so far open that your brain falls out.

[@lovejones1897]

Go looking for things and call out to it I bet it will find you

[@SeaweedBeastboy]

Looking for physical evidences from spiritual sources is like looking for a bird in the Mariana Trench or a blue whale on the top of the Everest.

[@damonwatts3330]

Loved the video, but chicken head for most communities does not mean what he thinks😅 It might even be offensive to his community or women🙂

[@ComsiCaterpillar]

I've got witch friends, it doesn't bother me. Might not date one but . . .

[@Readera]

💗❤️💙

[@robgau2501]

That psychic totally played him.

[@giovanni545]

Revelation 14:12 King James Version 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

[@malibuconv1968]

If Witches are real, then one of you should be able to conjur up the winning Powerball numbers for me. I'll even kick you down 1% of the winnings if I win the Jackpot.

[@egotisticEgg]

So much of spirituality is tied to capitalism -- you have to buy crystals, tarot cards, herbs, pendants, pay for readings, etc. It really isn't something poor people can practice.

[@lsd8646]

Lies 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@SlapstickGenius23]

I don’t know yet.

[@SeaweedBeastboy]

Nope! True core of spirituality costs you nothing. It’s just you and the world around you. All those fancy tools you saw in the internet are essentials and no need to risk yourself into bankruptcy for them. You can make a wand from a fallen stick, stones on the floor as crystals (with you programming and clean them first), herbs? Nahh use anything you’re drawn to, readings are nothing if you don’t care about it (why is it even in your list lol). It’s true that Pagan capitalism is on the rise due to the command from the growing market but you dont have to follow them. If you don’t need/want it, just don’t. Being spiritual isn’t about gathering fancy tools, talking to deities, draw tarots and fancy oracles, doing crazy rituals with a hoard of crystals. It’s much simpler than you see right now.

[@margaretwordnerd5210]

Research before you judge. There are people who focus on what is bought and sold in any belief. Wicca can be practiced with focus objects found in nature or no tools at all.

[@thesciencelair9556]

Both of these things are true!! it exists in very genuine forms where buying things is unnecessary, but its been co-opted by capitalism over the years just like everything else, so many popular forms are now extremely capitalistic. It's important not to set up these false dichotomies where something either is or isn't, it's always more complex than that. And it's important to consciously avoid capitalist influence, otherwise it can corrupt everything you do.

[@AnaS-of8ri]

For anyone beeing skeptic about tarots and wants to try a safe and inexpensive way to try it out- I recommend watching Antia Sirene. She always hits the nail on the head for me and is great for skeptics (as I'm still one myself). I watched multiple videos of her where she does general readings and I don't know why but there were instances where she'd guess the colour of what I'm wearing or she'd randomly say that I have butterflys in my room (as a sign that the reading was for me) and I indeed have them all over my bedroom walls. Also, I wouldn't recommend to go off of Tiktok since there's been witchcraft and all beautys around it way longer than there was tiktok

[@the2dreamers]

the first word that I think of when I hear the word witch is fool.

[@RedStone576]

w h y

[@godsofwarmaycry]

How can a university professor believe magic is real? 8:01

[@DoraLuv-op7fr]

You were born a demon but grew up to be mixture of witches of Philadelphia

[@shaungorham7959]

💵$22.99

[@the2dreamers]

No they are not really in Jesus Holy Perfect Name hallelujah

[@terryfrey5293]

The bible says this is destuctive to ones soul. Please repent and follow Jesus Christ

[@uberhobo2]

Who?

[@fantuswitt9063]

There is no god and the bible is mumojumbo

[@ReneeStCyr-zm1jp]

The Bible is based on Sumerian. Mesopotamian, & Greek paganism….

[@SeaweedBeastboy]

Be respectful towards other practices like a proper human in 21st century already. If it harms none, why you even care lmaoo

[@angelagoodwin5758]

@@ReneeStCyr-zm1jp And Egyptian/Kemetian spirituality. Isis (Mary), Osiris (Deceased father) and Horus (Jesus).

[@galadrieltree]

Maria!!! What the heck!?!?

[@bakedjesus1177]

But you can practice any belief hoodoo voodoo Santeria Wicca witchcraft paganism Hinduism just of you practice it respect it if you dont then your mocking it not practicing it

[@Maximalistcollector]

witchtok is popular because is on tiktok, there no other explanation

[@SeaweedBeastboy]

With huge amount of young audience, it’s pretty clear why it’s getting popular fast.

[@SorrytobeGood]

If you know the craft you know they're fake. You can't just show everybody your craft...

[@tinadavy3990]

Opening evil portals one thinks are good.

[@SorrytobeGood]

@@tinadavy3990 wym?

[@StarLightNow]

Great series! Would love to see more!

[@pluspiping]

I don't go here, I am just a white rock nerd buying shiny rocks... but I have seen many requests from Native Americans asking outsiders to please stop smudging, as it is a closed practice. Consider that I do not live near a large Native population... and yet I see the smudging kits at many Shiny Rock Stores. That should raise some eyebrows. "Please don't appropriate / try to practice closed religions" isn't a suggestion, or trying to be cute or mystical. It's serious. Take it seriously.

[@Redambulant]

Umineko stans, i see you

[@timberlande.timberwolf6632]

Manipulation. Domination. Intimidation. Control.

[@colinleat8309]

Regardless of opinion on the subject, the most important thing is Critical Thinking. We should be spirituality aware, but also be smart. Be weary of con artists ( KZbin physics/medium).

[@TheGwizmiester]

Another bewitching banger of a documentary. More Subcultured pls! 🙏

[@Erieswitchcraft]

Interesting

[@gustafmohamed]

not the last episode for awhile!!!! more subcultured please

[@Lili-Benovent]

SOPHIE - Lili You know you don’t belong to us he said unto the child We found you poorly in the swamp deep within the mire Your eyes bright red by moonlight, grey blue before the fire We knew that you were different, a difference deep and wild And we were drawn by deepest love this pen cannot explain No thoughts could ever pass our minds of fleeing from the pain. - The pain of one so young and cold we took from death’s dark claws As you grew within our hovel, submissive, bright and smart A child, a girl with deep black curls, brown skin without a flaw We loved you more as time passed by and death called once again To take the man that you called Pa. You never shed a tear You watched the Moon, you understood as Nature made its claim. - I noticed then you hardly slept, in silent meditation deep Things would move before your stare, you never suffered ills You would sing verse you weren’t taught, drew creatures from their sleep And they would sing along with you, nightbirds, raccoons and frogs Until an orchestra of sound rose up so beautiful to hear Surprising to myself as well, I never suffered fear. - But when you grew past childhood, when blood began to flow You ventured nightly through the woods following the song That seemed to spring from all the trees, song I didn’t know When young men came along to call, they froze at your red eyes And went away not to return, then rumors began to grow Fear from all the Villagers, the stories, hate and cries. - One bright morning we were taken by a tap upon our door Standing there all dressed in brown, four girls of Sophie’s age They came inside and took her hand, outside a man on horse She knew them all, they took a draught, then all sat on the floor A chant began, rose to a scream, the sound was tempest worse They took her then, she bade Goodbye, her happiness I saw. - I live alone, shunned by all, inside my mind I know When Moonlight falls and nightbirds sing I feel that I am blessed She’s watching o’er my life and trials, she brings the sun and snow And as I age I feel her here when chairs and tables move A whisper low, a song I hear, the call of her pet crow. Blessed be.

[@bjdefilippo447]

I'm thrilled that folks are open-minded now. When I was growing up, most folks kept their beliefs and rituals private.

[@C_Kava]

Is it cultural appropriation to do chinese sorcery coming from a european?

[@WasBlind_NowISee]

Is it just coincidence a lot of people from the alpha community are also into the occult genres, spirituality and witchcraft?

[@VS-kf5qw]

They share a common ancestry in 20th century neopagan movements. Crowley popularized the idea of an edgy, self-empowering, individualistic occultism in the 20's and 30's - Gardner established a lot of the tropes of modern neopaganism in the 1940's, and 20 or so years later you get Anton La Vey. A lot of the modern wicca craze goes back to Gardner's version of it (especially the cultural mishmashing) - the alpha dudes are more in line with the ideas of LaVeyan satanism because it comes off as more masculine and focuses on power, confidence, and pursuing your desires.

[@nousernameplz2581]

Fascinating episode! Loved the conversation with Peter!

[@peterveth2492]

❤️🙏

[@ryat66]

All that preamble just to lead to the same cold reading that's been debunked again and again.

[@uberhobo2]

Not debunked it's real! Exploiting psychology is basically how modern advertising works.

[@ryat66]

​@@woodypigeon So what if I'm not? Better to be a wallflower than a scam artist's sucker.

[@ryat66]

@@uberhobo2 Major corporations don't tell you that they can help you talk to dead relatives. There's no mass marketing campaign telling you that AT&T can tell you how your dead uncle is doing in Heaven, and better yet, with their special ghost phone and the low-low price of $99.99, they can get you in touch with him (even though "in touch with him" turns out to be talking to a call center rep named Pam who doesn't know why you've called until your customer file pops up on her screen).

[@agrippa.the.cosmonaut-wiz]

Pretty lame you're giving some grifter a platform.

[@kidcaptainwembri]

Sound Field sent me!

[@eyesyt7571]

You rely on the word of spirits, but they lie like everyone else, maybe even more so. What do spirits have to occupy their time besides manipulating those living in the physical realm? A good spirit won't demand that you do all kinds of silly rituals either. It's not even about whether it's evil, it's about the fact that it isn't smart to trust strangers who have reason to lie to you. There's no guarantee they are who they say they are.

[@solsystem1342]

They don't exist so... pretty safe. Sincerely, an SASS whitch.

[@eyesyt7571]

@@solsystem1342 You're just an edgy athiest.

[@joshuaphillips755]

This is ridiculous. And I hope it doesn't stay that way for 10 minutes. So no, it's staying ridiculous. I have a better understanding of the varieties, but still fail to see how feel good rituals are beneficial to humanity.

[@feelin_fine]

Another great video. I understand the people who say the medium was doing a classic cold reading, but that doesn’t make mediumship any different from, say, Pentecostals using certain emotional techniques to have people go into trancelike states, faint, or make ecstatic utterances; if the moment makes someone remember or feel closer to a deceased loved one, that’s great. Any spirituality or individual can be manipulative and predatory, and the important thing is get past prejudice and try to understand what makes so many people curious about these practices in an age where recovering lost traditions, finding community, and pandemic dread are all around, which Josef did.

[@peterveth2492]

❤️🙏

[@roguegreyjedi]

The comparison with Pentecostals is a good one; they're also taking advantage of vulnerable people. And while it's possible they're also bringing those people healing, it's under false pretenses, which doesn't sit right with me.

[@richardrobbins1653]

Jesus said I will pour my spirit out in the last days. Seek. Jesus and you will find him

[@ebonyejohnson]

⚠️ THIS IS OF THE DEVIL‼️ PLEASE GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS, HE IS THE ONLY WAY .. PLEASE ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU... ⚠️⚠️ PLEASE STOP. TODAY YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF 🙏🏽❤️