As any single person will tell you, the dating scene at the moment is, to put it simply, not great. After what feels like the hundredth Hinge swipe, or perhaps another bad first date, you might be tempted to give up on finding someone entirely — but what if there was another way? On a corner of TikTok, certain singles are putting their faith in a more esoteric power: the Etsy witch.

These aren't the dark-robed occultists of old, nor the Halloween caricatures with green face paint and broomsticks. No, the modern Etsy witch is an entirely digital service — a small business owner, if you will — with a storefront of spells. And it's not just single people they deal in. You can pay to attract your soulmate, hex your ex, protect your energy, or even control the weather on your wedding day. The possibilities of the Etsy witch, it seems, are endless.

What is an an Etsy witch and how does it all work?

While the exact mechanisms depend on which Etsy witch you choose, the premise is largely the same across vendors and storefronts (of which there are countless on Etsy).

NaturalisticBlessing, a storefront with 112.k sales, and an average rating of 4.9 stars, sells things like 'Contact Me Love Casting', and 'Soulmate Attraction Spell'. The latter, which is billed as an entirely digital download, is described as a "powerful true love spell" which "is designed to attract your one true soulmate—the person you're destined to spend the rest of your life with." According to Emily, the owner (or witch, if you will) of NaturalisticBlessing, the spell involves  "a mixture of candle and incense burning, herb burning, chanting and energy redirection."  She adds, "The typical manifestation period is 3-4 weeks, however results can vary from person to person so please be patient and allow the casting to fully manifest." All she needs from you in order to complete the spell is your full name and date of birth.

While Emily acknowledges that no outcome is guaranteed, her page is flooded with the kinds of reviews that could convert even the biggest sceptic. "Incredible. Works like a charm," one customer wrote, while another echoed, "Exceptional and it actually happened! I’m stunned but I’ve met my match and I am so thankful to Emily!"

Do Etsy witches actually work?