Witches Cast ‘Mass Spell’ Against Donald Trump
But America’s witches are more optimistic.
At the stroke of midnight on Friday, followers of witchcraft across the US performed a mass spell designed to remove the president from office.
A Facebook group devoted to the ritual has attracted over 10,500 likes, and coined the hashtag #magicresistance.
The development has sparked fury among Christian conservatives, who have accused the witches of “declaring spiritual war”.
Writer Michael Hughes, who describes himself as a “magical thinker” posted a version of the spell online, saying he had seen multiple versions on private witchcraft groups.
In it, he suggests using a stubby orange candle, an unflattering picture of Mr Trump, and a Tower tarot card.
Mr Trump’s supporters don’t escape either, as the spell asks that their “malicious tongues” be curbed too.
Mr Hughes suggests that instead of the normal closing line, “So mote it be!”, witches could burn the former Apprentice host’s image with the words, “You’re fired!”
The writer said he published details of the spell because he felt “it would be very welcome to a lot of people”.
Under the tenets of witchcraft, a “binding spell” does not wish harm on its target, but aims to stop them from doing harm themselves.
“This is not the equivalent of magically punching a Nazi,” Mr Hughes wrote. “Rather, it is ripping the bullhorn from his hands, smashing his phone so he can’t tweet, tying him up, and throwing him in a dark basement where he can’t hurt anyone.”
MaryPat Azevedo, who took part in the ritual in Arizona, said she saw the ritual as “a unity prayer”.
She told the BBC: “A true witch would never cast a spell on anyone without their permission. This prayer is for wellbeing and peace for all beings.”
Ms Azevedo said she hopes to see “physical, emotional, and spiritual changes in Donald Trump and American politics”.