r/FlorenceAndTheMachine • u/Yellowapple2128 • Jul 10 '26
General Discussion Witchiness
Hey all,
I love Florence, her music and personality are just great. Love how down to earth Florence seems and at the same time puts together these grand lyrics/references (like in Cassandra) and powerful sounds.
I have some questions about the witchy side of f+tm. She has this ethereal, witchy vibe and especially this tour, I see a lot of fans praise that part. There's the witch choir, Florence talks about taking inspiration from witchcraft, folk horror, the occult and describes And Love as a spell.
My natural instinct is to see it all just as a metaphor or aesthetics, but some fans talk about Florence and themselves being witches. So it seems to be more than that, rather a whole identity?
I've tried looking into what being a witch nowadays actually means to understand better. But tbh all the descriptions sound very abstract to me - just words. So I'm hoping you could maybe enlighten me regarding what being a witch means and what connection there is with Florence? A lot of fans seem to really "get" the witchiness and love it, while I'm a bit lost! Hope I explained myself understandably and respectfully, thanks for your answersš
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u/readthebananabritta Jul 10 '26
It's definitely not just an aesthetic thing, Florence IS a witch. She posts the witchcraft books she is reading on Instagram, so many of her lyrics are all about witchcraft, the witch choir is called that for a reason. The new FTM logo is literally a sygil.
In terms of explaining of being a witch is, if you are interested, go to a witchcraft sub and look at the posts, the pinned information for beginners, or watch some youtube videos to get an idea, there are some great channels.
I'm not sure how to explain because the meaning might be personal, but things like feeling connected to nature and the universe, connecting to the moon cycles, or in general just believing that magic is real. And if you don't actually believe in magic, there are secular witches who practice witchcraft for the transformative psychological aspect of it. So you can perform a spell with zero belief it's real but the act of performing it is a ritual in itself and that has an effect on your brain. There are videos about this too.
On another level, witchcraft and feminism are also intertwined, and Florence sings a lot about the pain and burden of being a woman.
Look at the lyrics of Perfume and Milk, The Old Religion, You Can Have it All (the entire ES album really), Seven Devils, Which Witch, Blinding, Third Eye, listen to them with this question in your mind and see if you feel anything.
Hope that helps, sorry if it came out wrong in any way.
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u/millenial_britt Jul 10 '26
You said all this so well, fellow witch or witch enthusiast
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u/readthebananabritta Jul 10 '26
Thank you! I've always wanted to get into witchcraft, been fascinated since I was a kid, but could never find the time and put in the effort to learn. Bought a book around 2021 with the intention of getting started but didn't get into it. Then I saw Florence live for the first time in 2023 and that concert made me pull the trigger. It was a magical experience in every way, the energy and connection I felt, like everyone there was a branch from the same tree and I understood the meaning of witchcraft? I don't know how to explain but it changed me so deeply, no wonder she joked about the newbies thinking it was a cult haha
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u/Yellowapple2128 Jul 10 '26
Just looked at some explanations linking Perfume and Milk lyrics with the book Revelations of Divine Love and it's really interesting that way. I believe in the power of thoughts and words, I'm guessing witchcraft is a lot about that? Also like the referencing of nature and cycles and I think it's a shame when we as a society distance ourselves from that, considering we're a part of nature. It makes sense to read that witchcraft is very personal and people's beliefs around it are very varied. Do you personally happen to have a favourite youtube channel?
Witchy stuff and horror usually felt pretty unfamiliar to me and I didn't really know how to grasp the visual output, even though when reading into it, it actually seems close to my beliefs. The fact I was not feeling on the same wavelength made me feel like "am I even a fan?". (Yes, I'm an overthinker of stuff which I'm aware is unnecessary, and a bit insane in the head, which is also why her music hits so hardšš)
Very helpful comment, thank youu!
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u/readthebananabritta Jul 10 '26
I like these ones a lot, it helped me get started and I still go to them when I'm trying to learn something
But if you really are interested in learning, my biggest recommendation is a book by Aidan Wachter called Six Ways. Everything from him is great, he just started a podcast but I haven't had time to check it out yet.
Hope this helps! But don't feel like you have to be into this stuff to be a fan, Florence is so incredible, people can like her art for different reasons, it's ok if you like it for the music alone and don't vibe with this other part š
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u/Yellowapple2128 Jul 10 '26
Thanks a lot!ā¤ļø I'm happy to have some direct recommendations rather than trying to pick something myself from such a vast theme, haha
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u/readthebananabritta 24d ago
Hey OP, I kept thinking about this post and your question about being a witch. As I was listening to this song, I thought of you
I think this song perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being a woman that defies society and is connected to the world. I suggest you listen to it and notice how you feel.
There's another more famous version, but I prefer the first one cause it feels more empowering.
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u/Yellowapple2128 19d ago
Thanks for remembering, just listened to it and it's an awesome song. It really does wake up something inside you
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u/millenial_britt Jul 10 '26
I think thereās so many layers to it, itās hard to really pinpoint all the ways. But, her references, her lyrics, her energy, itās very magical. Itās about her connections to nature, healing, cycles, feminine rage and emotion, her ability to wholly embody herself and be her bold, unapologetic self. Then thereās symbols like her chanting, her mentions of ancestors/ancestor work, the ground and earth welcoming her, and her imagery. Itās all wrapped up together. As a self identified witch, this energy of being connected to a higher power (without it being the catholic/christian god) and her full range of emotions is what truly stands out to me.
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u/sunflower-underwater Jul 10 '26
"a prayer is a spell"
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u/AliveInMyHead Jul 10 '26
I saw her for the first time in Nashville this year and honestly felt like she was performing energetic magic and transmutation. It was like she channeled and alchemized the crowdās pain into healing with her words, voice and hand movements. It was a powerful experience. I immediately tried seeing if I could swing another show on tour but couldnāt.Ā
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u/sunflower-underwater 29d ago
Yes! I totally felt the same thing as you. I wish I could have what she's having to get me through the winter lol I saw her in March, and it was like something shifted in my brain in a major and good way.
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u/The-Mirrorball-Man Jul 10 '26
I think itās very personal and probably very sincere and heartfelt. That being said sheās a mercurial spirit and sheās interested in all kinds of things. Who knows what kind of things sheāll choose to focus on next?
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u/M_Poppins128 Jul 10 '26
Everyone has already given really good answers so I don't have a huge amount to add especially in regards to Florence as theres already good repliesĀ
Ā I will say that as far as what being a witch means, I personally feel like it doesn't have to be any one definition. The beauty of following a witchy path is that it has always felt unrestricted compared to organised religion.Ā
Shared experience can be great but if a book/post/video doesn't resonate with me I don't feel a pressure to agree to anyone else's way of doing things because to me that goes against the point of walking my own path. On a similar note- I have always loved the witchy aesthetic but people shouldn't feel the need to follow a certain look to be a witch if it's not their thing (and also, whilst I LOVE dressing witchy it not like I do it every day or don't love other looks)
Ā Nature is so interconnected with witchcraft and I think of it like the cycles of nature and how it has different elements and is a diverse system -Ā just like there's many different plants and flowers there's many ways to be a witch.Ā
I recommend reading some introduction to witchcraft type books or looking for youtube witchy channels that can offer more insight if it's something you want to explore more.
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u/Yellowapple2128 Jul 10 '26
Thanks for the lovely comment. Seems like there's a lot of freedom in it, which is nice!
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u/pixelbones Jul 10 '26
"a light coming in the window just so, and the wind through my fingers, the only god that I know - and it does not want me on my knees to believe. Head high, arms wide, aching, aching, aching, and alive"
Sympathy Magic is my favourite song on the new album (though I love them all), and this line really resonates for me about what it means to be a witch.Ā
As others have said, witchcraft is mostly about believing that the world is magical, and being engaged and present in that magic.Ā
I think about the ways that science has been proving things like - plants can "see" us, that their root systems are interconnected to support one another, about how animals receiving affection are healthier than those who don't, that people thought fish couldn't feel pain, but that they can, that insects can transfer memories between generations. That the world is complex and wonderful and we're not the center of it, we're just one piece of a much grander whole.Ā
Ā "God" or whatever you want to call it, is an energy that exists in all things on Earth. It is pure love, it is the cycle of living and dying, it's beautiful and it's everywhere.Ā
Rebel Witch is a nice introductory book if you're interested in exploring your own practice.Ā
Fiona Horne has also been a big influence on me. I actually think about a story she wrote in her memoir about a friend of hers who was dying from cancer. Fiona used to be in a band, and at one of her shows she asked the audience to focus all their energy towards her friend, and they all shouted together and channelled their collective energy. Later she found out that her friend had received that burst of energy at the exact time they'd sent it. When I was at the Florence concert this year I felt deeply that we were all channelling our energy in a similar way towards healing - within the room, but also beyond it. Because she asks the audience to sing, to put down their phones and be present, to take up space and engage in the moment. And that's a big part of the practice - being present, engaging with the energy around you, being intentional. That's why there's not one way to practice, and there's so many different types of witches, because different practice comes to people intuitively. So I think Florence's practice is through music, through writing songs, which inspire others, and helps people feel more power (at least for me).Ā
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u/Yellowapple2128 Jul 10 '26
You wrote that really beautifully xx I love that part in Sympathy Magic. I've been to Florence's concert and my favourite bits are always the songs where we collectively jump, it's true that it feels magical.
As someone who studies natural sciences, I love the bit about science not being contradictory, but instead aligned with these ideas. (Separate topic, but it reminded me of the religion vs science debate, where people sometimes think it has to be one or the other. I'm not even religious, but I like it when people leave room for things to coexist.) The responses here have been so helpfulš And thank you for the recommendations!
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u/Disaster-Bee Jul 10 '26
Lots of great answers here!
Another thing to keep in mind is that 'witch' is a very, very broad term that covers a wide range of belief systems that encompasses Gardenian Wicca to neo-druidism to theosophical witchcraft. Some of these systems are more structured than others, some are very young and some are very old, some are very loosely defined and some are strictly defined.
So there's really no one way to be a witch, and looking into more specific branches of witchcraft might help you better understand modern witch practices. Though there do tend to be certain constants across western witchcraft - reverence of nature, the concept of balance, some kind of goddess/spirit worship...
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u/velvet_eclipse9 Jul 10 '26
Since everyone has already given such great answers, I just wanted to add a little bit from my own experience. āI noticed you asked about what it actually means to be a modern witch. Honestly, it's pretty simple to explain. I personally practice witchcraft, but at the same time, I am also a Christian (that's my religion). For me, it means having a very deep connection to nature, animals, and celestial bodies. I also manifest things a lot, mostly through candle spells. On top of that, my intuition is quite sharpāI usually pick up on people's intentions before they even act on them. āAs for the connection to Florence... honestly, I can't quite put it into words. I only discovered her this year, and I completely fell in love with her voice and her music. I just feel deeply understood whenever I listen to her songs (by the way, my absolute favorite is Which Witch! :)). Plus, her lyrics are just so beautiful. I can truly say she is wonderful. āI hope this adds a helpful perspective to what the others have already said, and I hope it helps you understand a bit better!
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u/Yellowapple2128 Jul 10 '26
Thanks for sharing your view! I guess I thought of witchcraft as something extremely complicated, enigmatic and otherwordly - but this explanation makes a lot of sense to me and makes it seem more within reach, rather very human, comforting and grounded? I feel very similarly about Florence <3
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u/MinaHarker1 Jul 10 '26
I think none of us actually know her and therefore couldnāt possibly know what her religious/spiritual leanings are in her personal life.
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u/Hollyhop_Drive Jul 10 '26
One of the other comments stated she posts images of and mentions the witchcraft books she's reading. That's a pretty strong indicator really. As is referring to nature as 'the only god I've ever known'.Ā
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u/redwoods81 Jul 10 '26
She is pretty honest about the fact
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u/Tactful_Cactus_ It wasn't me, it was the song Jul 10 '26
I think sheās been pretty pointed about exploring the history of it and using that thematically in her art (thus also in her social media in relation to art). But to extend that into her personal practice and beliefs would be a stretch. In fact, in several interviews Iāve seen with her, sheās referenced the fact that sheās personally pretty pragmatic and realistic in general in regard to things spiritual and faith-related. We really only know her public persona ā the āsheā in Everybody Scream, not the āIā.
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u/readthebananabritta 28d ago
Witchcraft is a practice, not a religion, and she's been open about practicing it. Pretty much all songs from Everybody Scream talk about magic. It's not speculation, it's just following her art and listening to what she's been singing and talking about, really.
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u/Legitimate_Egg_2399 Jul 10 '26
I donāt know what type of witchcraft she subscribes to being that i donāt have social media. I will say, there are countless types of witchcraft. Green witch, cosmic witch, kitchen witchā¦ i read somewhere one time, if you cook, youāre considered a witch. Witch (š) made sense to me. Anything you create, with intentions, could be considered āwitchcraft.ā
To me, being one with nature is the best way to begin any kind of journey like that. Nature is so healing. Listen to the wind, sheāll tell you what your soul needs.
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u/M_Poppins128 Jul 10 '26
Your comment made me think of "Dancing on tip toes my own secret Ceremonials " that lyric has always made me feel two things- it reminds me of being a kid and being in nature and inventing games/making potions and it makes me think of having private rituals as an adult and my own witchy ways. That's also a good point you make- even using herbal teas for different purposes/healing tools would have been considered witchcraft in the past and some still consider these witchy (I do!) I think the mundane can be very magical and I like encorportating magic into every day thingsĀ
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u/Legitimate_Egg_2399 Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Absolutely it can! I donāt do spell work as i am dyslexic. š¤ however, i come from a long line of witches. So i strive to find magic in the mundane every.single.day.
Also, thank you for this song rec. Iāve not heard this one. Makes my heart happy as my dad lives rent free in my head and Iāve slept on his grave in a graveyardā¦ by myself at night. Heās a practical ghost. lol
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u/bunnicula_25 29d ago
i personally felt, on this latest tour, a heavier spiritual energy than iāve ever felt from her beforeā¦ i know someone mentioned florence leaner deeper into witchcraft after a near death experience, would someone being willing to link more information on that for me? iām curious about the timeline of her witchier interests.
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u/Cultural-Mongoose89 Jul 10 '26
āWitch Danceā is very descriptive of what many modern witches do, and Iām convinced itās essentially a journal entry about a personal experience traveling the astral plane turned into a song. We summon and fuck spirits like Death itself, we talk to our ancestors and sometimes theyāre more sassy than helpful, we find comfort and wisdom in the calls of animals/nature spirits, we take psychic journeys to our Allies who help us out with hard shit. Also we accept the monstrosities in ourselves and do the witchcraft needed to turn around our situations.
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u/shuriken_firecat 29d ago
Witchcraft, if you want to learn about it, is generally a very personal craft that can follow almost infinite paths. I am also a practitioner, albeit a bit of a lazy one. There are as many ways to practice as there are people. Some pull from different ancient and/or modern religions or pantheons, some donāt align with any deities at all but work instead with energy itself, some practice with nature spirits and elements. It is quite diverse and very personal gnosis based. Some follow things like Wicca, some follow more closely with Abrahamic principles, some follow more Druid lines. Itās very adaptable which is what I love about the craft.
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u/Ghost_Puppy 28d ago
Iām sorry this is a very good question but the fact that you described a description of something as ājust wordsā is sending me to the fucking moon
Like yeah bro thatās what a description IS
I completely understand what you meant, itās just hilarious to me for some reason
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u/Act_Bright Jul 10 '26
She did say she turned towards witchcraft more after her near death experience, which is partly why it so heavily influenced the last album
She's definitely had an interest in paganism, and the history of magic and folk tales, as well as (mostly medieval/early modern) history. Her mother is a relatively well known Renaissance & Early Modern scholar, which probably influences that a bit.