Love or good luck, the choice is yours. With just one click, everything can be yours.
At least, that’s what the so-called “Witches of Etsy” promise. They claim to be able to cast spells that do everything from bringing good luck to improving the weather.
And interest in this type of magic seems to be growing. Online retail platform Etsy says searches for weather spells and witches have risen significantly this year.
But what exactly do people want from these online witches? Why do young people seek help from them?
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For one of the "Etsy witches," there's apparently a steady stream of people looking for extra luck.
Ellecia Cahill, from Erskine, describes herself as a "mystic" who has amassed more than 2,000 online transactions through divination readings and channeled letters. A so-called psychic letter is a message purporting to come from a deceased loved one. She also sells crystals and amulets.
While one might think love spells are the most popular, she says it's actually a different category of product that customers are particularly keen on.
That's abundance spells, in other words, a little help attracting money, success, and opportunity.
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She claimed that a tech investor from the wealthy Mediterranean city-state of Monaco saw a "significant increase" in his net worth after purchasing an abundance talisman.
Browse the websites of other similar online retailers and you'll find spells for just about any occasion, including ones that promise to prevent rain on your wedding day or help secure tickets to a sold-out concert.
An Etsy spokesperson told BBC Scotland that they had noticed an increase in interest in adding "magical touches" to occasions such as weddings.
They said searches for spells to ensure the sun shines on your wedding day increased by 206%, while overall searches for wedding-related spells and witches rose by 105%.
Whether these spells actually work is another matter entirely. In fact, Etsy's rules state that spells can only be promoted for recreational use.
For Cahill, it's not all business.
The 24-year-old woman said that although young people are very accustomed to looking at things with rational thinking, they still want to believe in something magical.
She said many young people feel lonely and she wants to be a "safe space" for people and bring them comfort.
"As humans, we need to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Curiosity is natural," she said.
"I think a lot of times, people actually know what answers they want, they just want peace of mind."
"Even if magic isn't real, if it helps someone become more confident, then why not?"
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Laura Blair, an actress from Glasgow, bought a spell to help her achieve a specific work goal.
The 29-year-old woman told BBC Scotland: "I paid for a working spell and then they assigned me to a witch. I had to send her my full name and more details and she then sent me a video of the spell being cast."
Although it didn't turn out the way she expected, her acting career did take a positive turn overall.
She said: "Since casting the spell I've had a number of acting roles, in fact it's been the busiest period of my career."
Another user, Chloe, also from Glasgow, was less than happy with the results.
"It was a waste of time and money," the 22-year-old said. "I wish what happened didn't happen, but I guess it's an interesting story."
"I had just gone through a breakup and wanted my ex to come back to me, but in hindsight, maybe it was a good thing that it didn't work out."
"Commodification of Spirituality"
Alexandria Arthur-Hastie is a researcher in the sociology of religion at Leeds Beckett University. She believes the rise of online witches is part of a broader shift away from traditional religion and toward more "personalized forms of spirituality."
Hasty says it's not surprising that witchcraft has expanded online, like so many things in modern life that have moved to digital platforms.
"This is just the latest step in the commodification of spirituality," she told BBC Scotland.
image copyrightAlexandria Arthur-Hastie
She said TV shows such as "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and "Charmed" brought magic into mainstream culture, and now people can access witchcraft through social media.
But the scholar said there are deeper reasons behind the appeal of witchcraft.
For some young people, she said, turning to witchcraft can be a way to find support when life is filled with uncertainty, whether in relationships, careers or worries about the future.
"People go online to find solutions to these life problems, but they're actually looking for solace," she said.
Hastie said many contemporary witches see themselves not as mystical figures but as healers focused on helping themselves, others and wider society.
"They see it almost as a caring profession, sort of like counseling," she said.
This article was originally written in English. We used artificial intelligence to assist in translation and was reviewed by BBC journalists before publication. Learn more about how we use artificial intelligence.
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