Rituals for Resistance: Using Spirituality & Spellwork for Activism & Social Justice
“Keep going. Tyranny is eroded by a sea of small acts. Everything matters.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The intersection of spirituality and activism is as old as the fight for justice itself. Across cultures and centuries, individuals and communities have used spiritual practices, rituals, and magick to not only connect with higher powers but to fuel collecting healing and transformative action against oppressive systems.
People drawn on sacred traditions to inspire resilience, foster community, and invoke transformative energies. For modern-day changemakers, integrating spiritual practices into activism not only nurtures the soul but can also deepen the impact of social justice efforts. In this blog we'll explore how solidarity, sisterhood, and spiritual practices can guide us toward a world where all people feel whole, safe, and free.
Spirituality can provide a grounding force, a sanctuary for activists to reconnect with one’s roots, regulate one's nervous system and reignite a sense of passion and purpose.
History & Background
From ancient traditions to modern-day witchcraft, spirituality has always had a deep relationship in the persuit of rebellion and liberation.
Witches call it spellwork
Spiritualists call it manifesting
Christians call it prayer
Atheists call it placebo
Scientists call it quantum physics
Throughout history, magick, spellwork and spiritual practices have been used as tools for justice, protection, and resistance. Here are several key events where such practices played a role in shaping movements for the greater good:
The Anti-Slavery and Underground Railroad Era (1800s): Enslaved Africans and their descendants used Hoodoo, rootwork, and other African spiritual traditions for protection, guidance, and liberation. Harriet Tubman, often referred to as "Moses," was said to have had prophetic visions and spiritual guidance that helped her lead enslaved people to freedom. Many believe she was divinely protected in her work.
The Civil Rights Movement (1950s-60s): Conjure women and rootworkers supported activists by creating charms, protection spells, and rituals to shield marchers from harm. Some Civil Rights leaders carried mojo bags or engaged in spiritual cleansing rituals before major protests.
The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804): One of the most famous instances of spellwork aiding justice, the Haitian Revolution was ignited by Vodou rituals, including the Bwa Kayiman ceremony. Led by Vodou priestess Cécile Fatiman and priest Dutty Boukman, this gathering called upon spirits to protect and empower the revolutionaries. The rebellion ultimately led to Haiti becoming the first free Black republic.
The Salem Witch Trials Resistance (1692): Though the Salem Witch Trials were fueled by hysteria and misogyny, there’s evidence that accused women and their allies used quiet acts of spellwork for protection. Some surviving women may have used folk magic, herbalism, and protective charms to ward off persecution.
The Women’s Suffrage Movement (1800s-1900s): Some suffragettes in the US and UK incorporated symbols, sigils, and protective spells into their activism, using talismans and rituals for strength and endurance. The influence of spiritualist movements, which often included women’s rights activists, supported their cause through séance circles and channeling spirits of past feminists.
The Irish Rebellions & Resistance Movements (1700s-1900s): The banshee (bean sí) and other protective spirits were believed to guide and warn Irish rebels fighting against British rule.
Many Irish freedom fighters carried charms or used folk magic as a form of resistance.
The Mexican Revolution & Protection Rituals (1910-1920): Revolutionary leaders like Emiliano Zapata were protected by curanderas and brujas, who provided amulets, herbal remedies, and spells for safety in battle. Folk magic traditions like curanderismo and Santa Muerte veneration were used to shield activists and rebels.
The Fight Against Fascism in World War II (1939-1945): In 1940, a group of British witches, including Gerald Gardner (the founder of modern Wicca), allegedly performed a large-scale ritual called "Operation Cone of Power" to prevent Hitler from invading Britain. The ritual was said to have weakened the Nazi forces and contributed to the failure of their invasion plans.
The Resistance Against Apartheid (1948-1994): Indigenous spiritual leaders and sangomas used traditional spells, protective charms, and ancestor work to guide activists like Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid revolutionaries in South Africa.
We are all one. As we rise, we must always ask: Are we lifting others along the way?
Actionable Steps & Ideas
In times of political strife or when toxic currents of hate and callousness dominate, that’s when magic can be particularly potent. It’s in these moments, when the world feels off-kilter and the status quo seems impossibly skewed, that magic for justice is most needed.
Magick, at its essence, is the art of changing consciousness—shifting the way we see and relate to the world. YOU have the power to inspire change, to mobilize energy for the greater good. Use spellwork to empower marginalized communities, support human rights, and fight against injustices of all kinds.
Integrating spirituality into activism can take many forms. Let this magical work reinforce our collective desire for a better world, and serve as a reminder that spiritual and practical actions can go hand in hand.
To call yourself a warrior, pick a worthy cause, believe in it and fight, fight, fight.
Setting Intention
At their core, spells, prayers, and manifestation all involve focused intention. When you cast a spell, say a prayer, or set an intention, you’re not just engaging in a ritual—you’re activating deep psychological and energetic forces that shape your reality and the world around you.
Take a mindful moment to center your energy and focus your intention clearly. What problem are you meant to solve? What agitates you is often a clue to the problem you're here to address. This deep restlessness is the force that pushes you to grow and step into your higher purpose and become who you are meant to be.
Set your intention to dismantle toxic systems of oppression and toxic personalities and behaviors:
the patriarchy
white supremacy
predatory capitalism
narcissism
racism
sexism
classism
ableism
misogyny
bigotry
exploitation
domination and control
Call in systems that embrace and foster reciprocity, diversity, equity and inclusion - recognizing the unique value that every person and culture holds.
You can also set an intention to bless your activist spaces and efforts, protecting your protest routes, meeting spaces, or invite greater resilience and courage.
Remember your power. You are a solution to the problems of the world - an angel, a miracle, a prayer answered to someone in need.
Create Sacred Spaces/Altars
No matter the spiritual tradition, setting a sacred space is vital to channel your energy and intentions. A simple altar or intention table corner can ground your work in spiritual purpose, making it easier to align with the collective work of justice. Y
Honor ancestors and heroic figures across history. Offer items like flowers, food, or incense, before you ask for their guidance in your work. Don’t show up empty handed when you ask for big favors, though!
"Justice is what love looks like in public."
Cornel West
Visualization
Visualization can be a powerful tool in social justice work by helping activists and advocates manifest change, strengthen resolve, and inspire collective action. By envisioning a just and equitable future—where systemic barriers are dismantled, communities are empowered, and marginalized voices are heard—individuals can align their energy and actions with that vision.
Visualization can also be used in rituals, meditation, and spellwork to focus intention, amplify courage, and call forth protection, liberation, equity, and accountability.
Visualize symbols that represents freedom, refuge, and the ideals of justice.
The Statue of Liberty
The Scales of Justice
Visualize the qualities of justice—truth, empathy, compassion, courage—filling your being and emanating outwards to others.
For every wound, for every lie
The scales of justice shall reply
No curse I cast, No harm I send
Only balance in the end
With steady heart and focused eyes
Justice returns and karma will rise
Sound Healing
A simple but powerful act, ringing a bell sends out the energy of your spell. The Liberty Bell’s crack symbolizes imperfection, but also the light and transformation that come from that imperfection. Let the ringing serve as a call to action, an invocation of the spiritual work that will continue to heal and guide us.
Grounding In Nature
After building energy, it’s important to ground it. Touch the earth, release the disrupted energy into the ground, ask it to be transmuted and thank the forces that have guided you in this work.
Hex the Patriarchy. The magic we make together unravels oppression at the seams.
Candle Magick
Candle magick is a simple yet powerful practice for focusing energy. Choose a candle color that aligns with your cause—green for environmental justice, black for protection, or pink for peace and love. Carve symbols, names, or affirmations into the wax, and anoint the candle with oil infused with herbs that align with your intentions (e.g., rosemary for clarity or lavender for harmony). Light the candle, visualize the change you seek, and let it burn as you meditate on your activism goals. The flame represents the light of liberty, truth or protection.
Brew rebellion. Cast resistance. Enchant the revolution.
Allies & Ancestors
Activists can invoke deities, ancestors, and archetypes that resonate with their specific causes. Ancient Goddess or even political figures who are revered for their work in liberation, can provide guidance and strength. Try to develop deep, reciprocal relationships with spirits and harness their energy and wisdom-
As you engage in spiritual work for justice, it is also important to recognize the land you are on. This can be as simple as taking a moment to acknowledge the Indigenous communities that have historically cared for the land and continue to resist its ongoing exploitation. Land acknowledgments help to honor the past and create space for reconciliation and justice.
Exist. Resist. Return to Sender.
Human rights activists throughout history embody the resilience, courage, and transformative power that can be invoked in social justice spellwork and rituals. Their spirits serve as powerful guides for justice, protection, and resistance against oppression.
By honoring these changemakers, or carrying symbols associated with their impact, practitioners can channel their energy into modern struggles, reinforcing the ongoing fight for equity and human dignity.
Examples:
Harriet Tubman
Mahatma Gandhi
Rosa Parks
Malcolm x
Audre Lorde
Dolores Huerta
Marsha P Johnson
Similarly, there are dozens. of examples cultures of goddesses, dieties and mythical or folkloric characters associated with the themes of liberation, rebellion, freedom, truth, transformation, justice and the duality of good and evil.
Libertas (Roman) – The Roman goddess of liberty, often depicted with a pileus (freed slave’s cap) and a scepter. She symbolizes personal and political freedom and was an inspiration for modern representations like the Statue of Liberty.
Eris / Discordia (Greek/Roman) – While often seen as a goddess of chaos, Eris also represents disruption of the status quo and challenging unjust systems.
The Morrígan (Celtic) – Also called, Badhbh A goddess of war and sovereignty who often aids warriors in battle, ensuring justice and the rightful rulers ascend to power. She embodies fierce independence and the fight for one's destiny.
Durga (Hindu) – A warrior goddess who slays demons and represents the destruction of evil forces. She embodies fierce justice and the power to liberate the oppressed.
Sekhmet (Egyptian) – A lion-headed goddess of war and justice, known for punishing wrongdoers and restoring balance. She represents both destruction and healing, often seen as a force for righteous justice.
Anat (Canaanite) – A goddess of war and liberation, often depicted as a fierce fighter who protects her people and brings vengeance to oppressors.
Lilith (Jewish) – A dark feminine figure who refused to submit and chose exile over oppression, whose archetype has become a symbol of feminist liberation, indepedence and personal agency.
Kali (Hindu) – A fierce goddess who destroys evil and illusion, often associated with revolution and breaking societal constraints.
Oya (Yoruba) – A goddess of storms, transformation, and change. She is a warrior who fights for justice and is associated with revolutions and social upheavals.
Hecate (Greek) – A liminal goddess of the crossroads, magic, and protection. She is sometimes seen as a guardian of outcasts and those who seek transformation.
Pele (Hawaiian) – The goddess of volcanoes and change, embodying both destruction and creation. She represents the power to reshape the world and stand firm against opposition.
Brigid (Celtic) – A goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft, later associated with social justice, peace, and protection of the oppressed.
Baba Yaga (Slavic) – A complex figure who lives on the fringes of society, often portrayed as a wise woman who helps or sometimes challenges those who seek truth and justice.
Ixchel (Mayan) – A goddess of midwifery, medicine, and transformation, associated with cycles of renewal and the power to bring change.
Medusa (Greek) - one of the three Gorgons, monsters with snakes for hair, whose gaze turns people to stone. She is a female symbol of resistance, empowerment, and liberation.
Affirm: “I am safe, I am strong, I am protected.”
Protection Rituals
Activism can expose individuals to spiritual, emotional, and physical risk so practitioners must engage in self-protective rituals. Always practice your own protections first before serving others
Carry protective talismans, such as black tourmaline or amulets blessed with protective energy.
Cast a protective circle before protests or activism by visualizing a shield of light around yourself and others.
Repeat simple mantras like, throughout the day to reinforce your energy.
Invoke Hecaté’s Four Guardians—Abaek (East/Air), Pyrhum (South/Fire), Ermiti (West/Water), and Dimgali (North/Earth)—powerful warrior spirits best called upon in times of dire need. Visualize them filling their thrones and taking position.
A mojo bag is a small, cloth pouch filled with herbs, stones, charms, and other magical items, used in folk magic for protection, luck, love, or other intention.
Focus on justice being served and empowering and protecting others for the ultimate good of all.
Dark Magick
It's important to direct your hate and anger productively and not just let the emotion fester. Sometimes, reclaiming your power requires taking action to neutralize harm. Certain spells, when performed with pure and selfless intention, are a way to protect yourself or others from bullying behavior, energy parasites or toxic systems.
Banishing Spells
Banishing spells are used to remove or drive away unwanted or harmful energies, typically negative influences, people, or situations. The intent is to cleanse and create space for something more positive.
Defensive banishing is more passive- used to remove negative energy, toxic influences, or harmful entities from a person, space, or situation. Offensive banishing, on the other hand, is more proactive and forceful, used to push away specific toxic or corrupt people, energies, systems or forces that are actively causing harm.
Ultimately, the nature of a banishing spell depends on intention, ethics, and execution—whether it's about creating peace and safety or driving something away with force.Examples:
Using sage or another purifying tool to remove negative energy from your space.
Removing toxic people or cutting ties with a person who brings negativity into your life, using symbols like salt or black candles.
A spell to sever unhealthy emotional connections, often using a symbolic object like a broken string or thread.
Write your affirmations/desires on a piece of paper. Drip some of your tears onto the words, imagining the energy of your intention being magnified with each drop. Visualize the ripples of energy spreading your manifestation into the universe, and your enemy drowning in emotion.
Make a "Banishment Bag". Write and repeat the following words, or a version of them that speaks to you, on a piece of paper. Before putting the paper in the bag, crumble it up and step on it, repeating the name of the enemy. Put the paper in a plastic bag with vinegar, repeating the sentiment that this person is out of everyone's life and current timeline. Seal with a banishment symbol: (Swipe R, L, Up, Up.) and affirm " this baneful magic spell will minimize harm and maximize benefit." Throw it in the trash and be done!
Spell for Collective Peace, Healing, and Justice
With sacred spirit, I weave this spell, To break the chains and lift the veil.
From this moment, let wounds be healed, Let truth be spoken, let love be sealed.
I call for balance to take its place, hope to shine with steady grace.
The scales align, the tides will turn, the light that's ours, we shall now earn.
Oppression’s grip, be cast away, No longer shall it block our way.
Hate and harm dissolve, be gone, A dawn of healing now moves on.
Tear down the lies that greed has spun, Release corruption—let justice run!
I call upon the winds of change, To cleanse this world, to rearrange.
With open hands, I plant the seeds, Of peace and care for all in need.
Where there was harm, let kindness grow, Where there was fear, let courage flow.
The past released, the wounds now mend, The cycle shifts, the pain will end.
We rise as one, our light shines bright, Together forging what's made right.
By the moon and stars above, I seek only peace, justice, and love.
With harm to none, I seal this spell, In unity, all is well.
Binding Spells (Defense)
Binding spells are used to restrict or contain someone, typically to prevent them from causing harm or continuing negative behaviors. It's not about removing them, but about limiting their words, actions, behaviors or influence, often for their own good or the protection of others. Examples:
Binding harmful behavior or someone who is behaving maliciously or abusively, to stop their negative actions without causing harm to them.
Stopping gossip a person from speaking ill of others, often using a knot or tied cord to symbolize the restriction of their words.
Preventing a person from casting a hex or sending harmful energy your way by binding their intentions or actions.
Write the bully’s name on the paper, surround it with a circle of salt, and tie a black thread around the paper while repeating: “You are bound now. I prevent you from causing harm.” Repeat seven times. Leave overnight, then flush the salt and burn the bound paper.
Place the name or photo in the jar, add water, and say: “I extinguish your power to harm.” Seal the jar, tie it with black ribbon, and rotate counterclockwise three times while visualizing their power diminishing. Freeze the jar.
Hexing Spells (Offense)
Hexing spells are revenge-based spells used to bring bad luck, misfortune, discomfort or harm to someone or something that has wronged you or others. This is a more aggressive form of magic, typically intended to create negative consequences for those who are guilty of corruption.
Hexing is based in the principles of karma - that the energy you put out is the energy you get back. The key is to create balance, transmitting the same suffering of the victims, to the perpetrator.
Examples:
Cursing an enemy or causing bad luck or misfortune for someone who has wronged you, often using items like black candles, dark herbs, or symbolic objects associated with harm.
Returning negative energy, ill intentions sending the harm someone has caused you back to them, often by using a mirror or reflective surface.
Inflicting obstacles, creating difficulties or roadblocks for someone, preventing them from succeeding or making progress in their endeavors.
Stare into a candle flame and imagine their heart exploding,or smoke filling their lungs.
Imagine the roots of tree winding around their torso and squeezing the life from his carcass.
Every time you use the toilet, write a name on the toilet paper with your finger then flush it.
"Curses are like young chickens; they always come home to roost."
Robert Southey
Reminders:
To avoid karmic backlash, always perform spells from a place of inner strength, empowerment and confidence to defend and protect one's self and marginalized communities. Protect yourself before and after.
Remember to inquire and contemplate what all the threads of injustice are connected to. Zoom out really far to see the forces at play on a larger scale, and target things at all levels.
Every spell has a different intent and purpose: banishing is about clearing, binding is about control, and hexing is about retribution.
Solidarity & Unity Rituals
Rituals performed in groups, especally around the new or full moon, can create unity and shared intention, amplifying the energy behind activism. Magick in activism is not about individualism and isolation, but about solidarity.
Create collaborative rituals that connect you to your community, such as collective chanting or group prayer circles
Organize a group ritual where participants write down fears, doubts, or injustices they’ve witnessed, then burn the papers to symbolically release them. Follow this by holding hands and sharing visions for a just and equitable world under the moonlight.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Audre Lorde
Self-Care for Activists
Activism can be draining, and it is essential to replenish your energy regularly. Self-care practices that focus on nurturing the spirit——are key to maintaining long-term resilience in the fight for justice. Recalling the sacredness of your own being and honoring your emotional needs is crucial in sustaining the strength to continue fighting for change. These practices allow you to stay connected to your higher purpose, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Start by incorporating small spiritual practices such as herbal rituals, prayer, or visualization into your daily routine to maintain balance and resilience.
Grounding meditations, self-care rituals like gratitude journaling, or simply spending time in nature can recharge your spirit for the hard work of activism.
Above all, strive to "Do no harm." You have an ethical responsibility to use spiritual practices with mindfulness and respect, ensuring that one's actions are pure and serving the higher good.
The Practical Approach
Magic for justice is not a replacement for action, but a complement to it. As you work your magic, continue to engage, organize and mobilize in your community to create change
contacting representatives for legislative change
donating and advocating to humanitarian causes
marching or protesting, organizing, and voting
amplify marginalize voices
self-study on allyship and activism
Together, we can channel our inner power for compassion, healing, and justice in a world that desperately needs it.
Spiritual Justice is Social Justice
The fight for social justice—whether personal, collective, or global—requires deep wells of courage and commitment. Spiritual practices like witchcraft, magick, and ritual can amplify this work and help sustain us through long, hard fights for change.
The key is not to view magic as a replacement for action, but rather as a complement to it—an invitation to deepen our commitment to justice and transform the world in tangible ways. In these terrifying times, YOU are the light, you are the solution, you are the relief - no matter how small your efforts. You were put here in this place and moment of time, for a specific purpose to make a difference. Your voice and actions are needed in however you can give them.
As we harness all of our sacred tools and resources, we acknowledge the interconnectedness of all life, remembering that the work of liberation is complex because it is both spiritual and material.
As we rise, we do so together, united by the shared goal of love and freedom for all. Do not despair: a more just, equitable, and compassionate world awaits.
You are here in this moment for a reason. Despite the chaos, uncertainty, and noise in the world today, you have a unique purpose for being here now: to HELP. Do it imperfect, sacred, raw. We need you now more than ever. You are not free until we're all free.
Erin is a certified feng shui consultant, energy healer, wellness coach and holistic growth strategist.
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