Spellcasting Statistics: What People Ask a Witch For, and What It Costs

This page collects the figures people most often ask about spellcasting: what people come to a witch for, which problems a spell can and cannot help with, what it costs and how it works. The shop figures are counted directly from the WitchWhisper catalog every time the site is published, so they stay current. The national figures come from a Pew Research Center survey. Nothing here is an estimate or a guess.

What do people turn to spellcasting for?

The WitchWhisper catalog is organised by the situations people bring to a witch. It currently offers 319 personal spells and readings across 19 intentions. The largest group is Apology, Forgive, Loyal, with 54 spells. Many spells belong to more than one intention, so the counts below add up to more than the total.

Of the 319 services, 318 are spells and 1 is a tarot reading; 70 are bundles that combine two related intentions in one ritual.

Which problems can a spell help with?

A spell gives an intention focus and a clear beginning. It is strongest alongside practical steps. The table shows the situations that come up most, what spellwork focuses on, and what to pair it with.

What does choosing a spell look like in practice?

The examples below are illustrative. They show how someone in a common situation might choose; they are not customer stories and they do not describe results.

• An interview on Friday. Someone preparing for an interview chooses a job interview success spell, cast the same day, and spends the rest of the week practising answers. See career spells.
• A relationship that has gone quiet. Someone whose partner has become distant starts with a sweetening or communication spell before considering anything stronger. See sweetening spells.
• An ex who keeps coming back to mind. Someone who has decided a relationship is over chooses a cord cutting, then mutes the person on social media. See a single-candle cord cutting.
• A new home. Someone moving house chooses a home protection spell and sets a salt ward at the door on the first night. See home warding with salt.
• Not sure what to do. Someone torn between two options starts with a tarot reading rather than a spell. See spell or tarot reading?

How much does a spell cost?

Across all 319 spells and readings, prices range from US$37.92 to US$230.48; the highest prices are custom spells that combine several intentions. Prices are in US dollars and the shop can display other currencies.

How does casting work, and how long does it take?

I explain each step in what happens after you order a spell, and timing in how long a spell takes to work.

How many Americans use tarot and astrology?

The Pew Research Center surveyed 9,593 U.S. adults from October 21 to 27, 2024. Its report, published in May 2025, found:

Pew also found that nearly a quarter of adults aged 18 to 29 consult tarot cards at least annually, compared with 3% of those 65 and older, and that 43% of women aged 18 to 49 say they believe in astrology. Most people who use these practices told Pew they do so mainly for fun rather than for guidance.

What does research say about rituals?

Psychologists have tested what rituals do for the people who perform them. These studies measure feelings and behaviour, such as grief, anxiety and confidence; none of them tested whether a spell changes outside events, and none studied paid spellcasting.

A widely cited 2016 study claiming that rituals improve performance by reducing anxiety was later retracted by its journal, so it is not included here.

How many Americans hold spiritual or "New Age" beliefs?

An earlier Pew Research Center analysis, published in 2018, looked at four beliefs often grouped under the "New Age" label:

Pew found these beliefs among religious and non-religious Americans alike, and in larger shares among women than men on all four measures.

How much does WitchWhisper publish about the craft?

The Learning Witchcraft library holds 52 guides and 5 reference tables with 63 entries, covering candle colours, moon phases, days of the week, crystals and herbs. Safety notes cite 63 public sources, including the ASPCA, the National Institutes of Health, the Gemological Institute of America, NASA and the National Fire Protection Association.

How are these figures produced?

• Shop figures are counted from the live catalog each time the site is published. They include personal spells and readings on sale, and exclude gift cards, tips and priority upgrades.
• Intention counts count each spell once per intention it belongs to. Bundles, tips and custom builds are ways to order rather than intentions, so they are not listed as intentions.
• Survey figures are quoted from the Pew Research Center reports linked below; see their methodology for sampling details.
• Research is summarised from the published abstract and record of each study, linked below. Retracted studies are left out.
• This page reports published research and public data rather than customer success rates.