Let's talk about witchcraft being simplified and liberalized to fit modern society mentality

What I know is that you don't need fancy items to do witchcraft. 

I think that, with witchcraft and paganism becoming more mainstream, the stigma surrounding it is starting to fade. it's not gone entirely, and probably never will be, but it's nice to know that in some ways people aren't condemning us as much. 

however, with it being more in the mainstream eye, it lends itself to a watering down of a complex and expansive belief system and practice into, what you said, throwing random ingredients together without an understanding of why they're there in the first place. interest always starts out with a blank slate knowledge-wise, and some people on TikTok do move on to actual study of the practice, but it seems like others don't move past this phase into actual research, instead choosing to play pretend because it makes them feel cool.

it also leads to companies trying to capitalize on its growing popularity. this is where the New Age Spirituality starts to happen; a system of beliefs masked as true spirituality, when in reality its nothing more than an attempt to sell things, and at times toxic beliefs (see the "feminine energy = compassionate, quiet, submissive vs masculine energy = leadership, decision maker, domineering," the "high vs low vibrations = good vs bad emotions," etc.)

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to buy witchcraft supplies from Walmart if you're unable to get them from another source, but the things marketed specifically as authentic tools for witchcraft being sold there feel disingenuous.

all in all, I agree with you on some of your key points, although the low attention span, ADHD thing  and "liberalizing" feels like an entirely different topic. 

My take on it is comparing the more modern witch to the more modern Christian. Not every Christian reads the bible every day and prays before every meal, its become a more simple, more fit for peoples busy everyday lives. And I think the same thing is happening to witchcraft.

you make a strong point about the oversimplification of witchcraft in modern culture. It’s true that deep study and dedication are often replaced by quick-fix trends, turning a once-sacred practice into something more like ordering French fries—fast, easy, and lacking depth. While accessibility can be positive, dismissing the foundations of any craft risks stripping it of its meaning. That said, perhaps this trend will inspire some to dive deeper rather than just skimming the surface.

Witchcraft today is being simplified and reshaped to align with modern beliefs, making it more accessible and less rigid than traditional practices. It’s kind of like how the Texas Roadhouse Menu adapts to different tastes while still keeping its essence. Whether for spirituality or aesthetics, people are embracing a more flexible, personal approach to magic.

That is what I was looking for, what information, present here at this site. 

Do I agree? Partially, but with important caveats. I understand the frustration. There is a trend, especially on
social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where witchcraft is
reduced to an aesthetic: crystals, candle colors, “hex your ex with a
lemon,” or claiming instant divine messages from mass-produced candles.
This can feel trivializing to those who’ve spent years studying
grimoires, herbal lore, ceremonial magic, or ancestral traditions. But, and this is crucial, this isn’t new. Every spiritual or esoteric tradition has gone through waves of popularization, simplification, and even commercialization.
In the 1970s, the “New Age” movement adopted a similar approach with Eastern
philosophies, tarot, and astrology. Before that, the Victorian occult
revival (think Golden Dawn) also sparked debates about “armchair
magicians” vs. serious practitioners.

I think many young people are turning to witchcraft not as a “TikTok trend,” but as a tool for agency, healing, and identity in a world that often leaves them feeling powerless. As scholar Dr. Helen A. Berger (author of A Community of Witches)
notes, contemporary Paganism has always evolved through personal
experience and adaptation. Witchcraft has rarely been a monolithic
“canon”; it has historically been folk-based, localized, and improvisational. 

Where I agree, however, is when:

• Sacred practices from closed or Indigenous traditions (e.g., smudging with white sage, invoking Orishas) are ripped from context.
• Complex systems (like Kabbalah or Goetia) are oversimplified into “manifestation hacks.”
• People claim mastery after reading one book, especially when those books are themselves modern reinterpretations (e.g., The Key of Solomon is a 17th-century text, not ancient wisdom).

So I think it is very nuanced, and I think if older, more experienced witches were more open to showing younger, newer witches the practice, there'd be way less of this "TikTokking" of Witchcraft. People would take it far more seriously when they have a serious mentor to show them what ACTUAL Witchcraft does, not shove a bunch of herbs in a jar and call it a day.