US EditionIn tough times, Russians are turning to witchcraft
VTsIOM said 85% of Russians have tried magical practices as anxiety rises, while sales of protective amulets and crystal balls surged.
- Self-Described witch Natalia Malinovskaya reports a surge in clients from soldiers fighting in Ukraine, operating from her Moscow apartment and offering services ranging from love spells to protection from evil.
- State pollster VTsIOM published a poll showing 85% of Russians have dabbled in magical practices, attributing the surge to geopolitical stress; belief functions as a "tool of psychological defense" against military threats.
- Demand for crystal balls and protective amulets more than doubled last year, while sales of aspen stakes quadrupled, according to Russian cash register operator ATOL, citing consumer spending data.
- Patriarch Kirill, head of Russia's Orthodox Church, decried the "mass manipulative influence" of fortune-tellers in January, warning that fortune-telling involves "devilish power" and linking it to outlawed "satanism."
- Interest in mysticism previously surged during the final years of the Russian Empire when faith healer Rasputin influenced the tsar's family, and again after the Soviet Union's collapse amid chaos.
12 Articles
12 Articles
In tough times, Russians are turning to the supernatural
A growing number of Russians, including soldiers fighting in the Ukraine war, appear to be turning to mysticism, at a tough time of conflict and economic uncertainty. Some practitioners say people are looking for a sense of safety or a distraction, while opponents warn that people could be exploited.
Interest rose sharply against the backdrop of the war with Ukraine.
War Anxiety Fuels Russia’s Return to Mysticism as Witchcraft Demand Surges
In a Russia shaped by prolonged conflict and economic strain, a surprising trend is gaining momentum: a growing turn toward mysticism, witchcraft, and supernatural practices. From soldiers on the front lines to civilians navigating rising costs of living, many are seeking comfort and control in forces beyond the material world. This resurgence reflects a deeper […] The post War Anxiety Fuels Russia’s Return to Mysticism as Witchcraft Demand Surg…
In tough times, Russians are turning to magic
MOSCOW, April 16 - Self-described witch Natalia Malinovskaya has a new client base: men fighting in eastern Ukraine, who, like a growing number of Russians, are drawn to the supernatural against a backdrop of conflict and economic uncertainty. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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