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I discovered a YouTuber fairly recently, GrumpyOldCrone. I find her videos delightful — she’s talented and funny, and it’s refreshing to hear someone else complain about the same minor things that I find annoying, but don’t really have anyone else with which to gripe about them. She’s fun. I like her. You might, too.
Two months ago, she posted a video about AI’s increasing presence in witchcraft circles:
I watched it when it first came out, I agreed with it, and it recently popped up again for me. So, I thought I’d reiterate it here: I wholeheartedly agree that artificial intelligence doesn’t have a place in witchcraft.
Like, literally anywhere.
When it comes to spellcraft, why would the Universe heed something that nobody could be bothered to actually make? The process of performing a spell starts long before you’ve lit the candles, said the chants, et cetera. On top of that, a lot of thought, research, and history goes into developing a good magical working. A generative AI that pulls concepts from various internet spells (some of which are already highly questionable on their own) and mashes them together isn’t doing that. If it has any results at all, they’re likely to be unpredictable at best.
When it comes to herb lore, it’s a bad idea to trust a web-based hallucination machine to give advice. There are already problems with computer-generated foraging guides allegedly “written” by authors that have never existed. Of course, human error is also a thing. (As evidenced by that crystal worker who put an ore of mercury in a fire, and that lifestyle blogger who put out a cookbook that included a recipe for raw, chocolate-dipped morels.) This is why it’s important to read multiple sources, and to both vet and question what you read. This is getting increasingly difficult as it is as AI models begin to poison the well of their own information — if kludging together flawed information was a problem to begin with, it’s one that’s only getting worse as more computer-generated “guides” enter the info pool.
Have you ever seen the movie Multiplicity?
It’s like that, but with more poison.
Obtaining this information doesn’t have to be expensive or challenging, either. There are tons of Pagan, witchcraft, foraging, and nature crafting communities online, and in real life via Meetup groups. A library card and an app like Libby can give you access to tons of e-books. Scribd offers a free trial, during which you can straight-up download your choice of 3 books in PDF form. I have read some fascinating research on historical magical artifacts and techniques through Academia, for free. If you’re looking for instruction in a specific technique, Udemy often has sales where their courses are as low as $10 a pop.
The only challenge is that the seeker actually has to consume it and absorb this information themselves. It isn’t as easy as asking ChatGPT for instructions, then following them. Few worthwhile pursuits are.
I also want to take a second to bitch about the uptick in AI generated Pagan “art.” My objections here are twofold: For one, I hate that artists are having their actual work taken, mashed up, and squirted out of the digital equivalent of a Play-Doh Fun Factory as something with too many fingers and its legs on backward. I also hate that so much of it is legitimately ugly and bad. I’ve gone to marketplaces and seen a lot of Pagan-flavored AI slop, and it’s honestly really disheartening. I’m not exactly stoked about the proliferation of the same handful of resin mold and 3D printed designs either, but at least they require a modicum of effort (and have the right number of limbs).
Some things take time and work, and there isn’t really a way around that. The “industry disruption” phenomenon doesn’t work in every context, and this is one of them. AI is not making witchcraft more accessible; it’s providing something that poorly apes it. Even if it were to improve, it isn’t a substitute for learning from a human, or for community, or tradition, or genuine artfulness.
While there are some things that modern AI models can do and do much better than humans (accurately diagnosing certain medical conditions, for one, or processing phenomenally large amounts of data into a useful form and suggesting a course of action), witchcraft isn’t it.
https://marblecrowblog.com/2025/03/19/does-ai-have-a-place-in-witchcraft/
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Replies
Ahhh, this just came to mind. AI had helped decipher some ancient Egyptian glyphs, writings. I was so excited to find out what it said. I thought it would say something mysterious or something but what AI said it said was, "wash your clothes and you'll live a long time" lol. Ahhh. lol
I.think it has a limited place in witchcraft. There's a native American belief all things has a spirit.That.incliudes Ai..there was a post about there is a spiritual presence in Ai The craft like everything else evolved
Witchcraft and spells need soul, and AI as we know, hasn't got any.
If a spellcaster wishes to use an AI spell, imo, go ahead, but be aware that most AI programmes will state they make mistakes. Saying that, there's still the need for research - time to check the advice given (at least its a specific item to look up). AI can't input intent. It can't work the spell out for the recipient's highest good for example. It can't slip into the witch's tools and shake the energy up.
It's basically just a to do list. The scammers will love them. Loads of money making scams there.
A witch using a random AI spell can make it their own though. Check the contents. Add the will and grab the intent tightly. Perhaps our computer helper, can come up with a few good ditties to help us in speaking out our spell, but you still need to put the right input into the machine, AND YOUR OWN HEART INTO YOUR WORDS.
We need to be familiar with AI to control it in our lives, imo. If you don't recognise it, or know how to use it it'll be in your life whether you like it or not. I have friends who spit at it and absolutely detest it, and the next second they're sharing AI art and are none the wiser.
We need to know the beast I think. We have to be the ones who have the choice over it. That might not last for much longer.
I wonder how many pictures we get from pinterest are A.I. and we don't know it. I did look up copyright laws for A.I. and a person can't copyright an A.I. picture. Now if they have an original picture that they drew to make the AI with that's copyrightable. But it's true, people do say that don't like it but then they like the photos I've done through AI. Also last night I was talking to my daughter about this and she told me that she "thinks" that if we share it on pinterest somewhere in the description it's suppose to say it's AI created. I havn't looked up all of the laws on it but I would if I needed to. I'm wondering but havn't looked this up yet if it's alright to sell AI generated art. What I've been seeing on Etsy is a lot of old old paintings that have long gone out of copyright but are cropping the paintings and selling them.
Spells, that would have to be up to the user. It's not really anyone's business except if they were going to sell it. I'm really interested in seeing one lol.
I asked the Copilot AI for a simple (quick to read) explanation on copyright law with AI images. . This is the reply ~
[Sure! Here's a simple explanation of AI copyright laws in the USA as of 2025 that you can copy for your friend:
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AI Copyright Laws in the USA (2025)
The U.S. Copyright Office has ruled that AI-generated works cannot be copyrighted unless a human makes a significant creative contribution. If an AI creates something entirely on its own, it does not qualify for copyright protection.
However, if a person modifies, arranges, or adds their own creative input to AI-generated content, those human-made elements can be copyrighted. The Copyright Office decides this on a case-by-case basis.
Regarding AI training, the U.S. Copyright Office is still debating whether AI companies can legally use copyrighted works to train their models. Some argue it falls under fair use, while others believe creators should be compensated.
More details: U.S. Copyright Office AI Report
---
Let me know if you'd like any adjustments! 😊]
I use to copy spells from the internet when I was first starting out. Right away I saw that it looked good when I read it, but when I started writing it out on paper, I could see, almost every single one had something in it I didn't like. It would have an "and" or a "or" which would take away being specific. Also, it just wouldn't vibe right with me after writing it out on paper. AI spells? I didn't know they existed. I'm going to look some up to see some.
As for spells if there is one I don't like the words/chant I change it
I can't stand AI, I think we have no choice because everything it seems is becoming AI. Since we are on the topic of technology, I was about to add an app to my phone that was great for spells etc. Only downfall was when I read the reviews and complaints apparently the creator of the app is hacking into people's phone's. Well this is what I read okay; I would like to say that I am not sure if this is true or not but I don't want to risk it either
I am skeptical of AI but I think we are going to have to cautiously accept it into our lives. As for apps with witchcraft user beware. I need to go through some and see what some of them are all about. I am starting to fall behind and I don't even have a TikTock (nor do I think I want one?!)
I stopped using many social media platforms, I didn't like the feel of the energy. Just do what you think is best I say.