Romania’s witches sell love spells over the internet

Record ID: 1411403

  • Title: Romania’s witches sell love spells over the internet
  • Date: 3rd May 2019
  • Summary: POSTER ON FENCE READING (English): "THE MOST POWERFULL (sic) WITCH FROM EUROPE, MIHAELA MINCA"
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2019 10:29
  • Keywords: Romanian witches spells internet Romanian witches use internet belief technology
  • Location: MOGOSOAIA, NEAR BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
  • City: MOGOSOAIA, NEAR BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
  • Country: Romania
  • Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA002ADCJ0BD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A family of Romanian witches are enhancing their powers thanks to the help of the internet.
    Matriarch Mihaela Minca and her daughters sit and chant as they perform a love spell via a video call to a paying client in India, over 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) away.
    The session, in a decorated shed in a back yard 15 km (9 miles) north of Bucharest, is one of many consultations the family holds online, alternating them with rituals livestreamed on Facebook to build up their digital following.
    Witch Cassandra Buzea said a truly powerful witch can solve problems from a distance.
    The power of the internet has allowed Romania's busy witch community to gradually migrate their ancient practices onto the web.
    Witchcraft has long been seen as a folk custom in the eastern European country, and many of its estimated 4,000 witches are luring customers from Europe, Asia and the United States.
    Buzea said the idea to go online came from the younger generation, but her mother quickly got on board.
    The craft is still the same but it is easier for the witches to be in contact with clients from other countries, said Minca, who taught her daughters the family craft.
    They would not disclose how much they earn but said a tarot reading starts at 50 euros ($56.11).
    However, many of the special rituals, often to do with love, health or money, last weeks and can run into the hundreds of euros.
    The witches have also recently turned their attention to politics, joining anti-corruption protests.
    Minca said that a spell they had recently cast would help those who are good for the country to stay in power but those who aren't would suffer health problems and lose their positions.
    In 2011 Romania's government made witchcraft a taxable profession in the country, making it obligatory for fortune-tellers, tarot card readers and witches to produce receipts for any work which they carry out and to have a permit to practice.
    (Production: Emily Wither, Louisa Naks)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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