Are Witches Going to Hell? Let’s Have a Little Chat…

Are Witches Going to Hell? Let’s Have a Little Chat…

Let’s talk about that nagging question many folks carry when stepping into witchcraft—especially if you grew up hearing Sunday sermons and warnings about eternal fire:

“Am I going to hell because I’m a witch?”

If that thought has ever tiptoed through your mind, you’re in good company. Many Witches and other interesting magickal beings have wrestled with that fear, thanks to a long history of religious storytelling, power plays, and a dash of good old-fashioned fear-mongering.

So, grab your favorite brew, and let’s stroll through history to see where this fear really comes from—and how to leave it behind.

The Devil, Witches, and a Very Human Agenda

Here’s something that surprises a lot of folks:

In early Christian Europe, witchcraft wasn’t originally linked to the Devil at all.

Before the 1400s, most accusations of "witchcraft" were about maleficium—harmful magic, like cursing a neighbor’s cow or causing illness. Even then, it was treated more like a local dispute than a grand cosmic battle between good and evil. The Church was far more concerned with heresy than whether Old Nan was selling charms for a better harvest.

But by the late 15th century, things changed. The Church, facing political shifts, plagues, and social unrest, needed a common enemy—something to unite people in fear and obedience. Enter the Malleus Maleficarum (1487), a book written by two inquisitors with an imagination worthy of a horror film director. This text cemented the idea that witches were in league with Satan—and it spread like wildfire.

Suddenly, folk healers, midwives, herbalists, and anyone a little too independent or knowledgeable were branded as devil worshippers. The idea wasn’t based on actual practices but on a fabricated narrative designed to control.

And let’s not forget—hell itself, as a fiery torture chamber, was also shaped during this era. Early Christian texts describe more of an absence from God than lakes of fire. It was medieval poets like Dante Alighieri in The Divine Comedy (1308) who gave us vivid images of infernos and eternal torment. Artists and preachers ran with it, painting terrifying pictures—literally—to keep folks in line.

Before That? Witches Were Just... People

If we rewind even further, we find that in pre-Christian Europe, witches—or whatever local term was used—were community members who worked with nature, spirits, and ancestral knowledge. They weren’t seen as evil; they were the ones you visited when you needed a remedy, a blessing, or a charm for safe travels.

Even in the Bible, the infamous “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18) is a mistranslation. The original Hebrew word “mekhashepha” refers more to a sorcerer who causes harm, not the village herbalist. But that nuance was lost—and used to justify centuries of persecution.

The Fear Crosses the Ocean

When European settlers came to the Americas, they packed that fear in their spiritual suitcases. The Salem Witch Trials (1692) weren’t just about witchcraft—they were about land disputes, personal vendettas, and a rigid Puritan belief system that saw the Devil lurking behind every tree.

Meanwhile, enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples had their own rich spiritual traditions, which were also demonized under this "Christian vs. Devil" mindset. Anything outside church-sanctioned practice was labeled witchcraft—and by extension, evil.

So, this fear?

It’s a man-made invention, reinforced over centuries to suppress spiritual independence, cultural practices, and personal power.

And Yet... That Little Voice Lingers

Even today, with all our knowledge and modern sensibilities, many still carry that whisper from childhood:

"Witchcraft equals devil worship... and that equals hell."

But here’s the truth that history reveals:

Witchcraft is older than Christianity.

The Devil, as painted by medieval Europe, has nothing to do with most witches’ practices.

Hell, as a place of fire and brimstone, is more literary fiction than divine decree.

How to Break Free from Centuries of Fear

Knowing the history is powerful—but how do you quiet that conditioned fear when it creeps in during your full moon ritual or when you draw a tarot card? Here’s how to reclaim your peace:

Study the Roots of Witchcraft (Not the Myths)

Learn about ancient pagan practices, folk magick, and how spiritual traditions thrived long before anyone uttered the word “heresy.” When you see yourself as part of a lineage of earth-honoring, wisdom-keeping folk, that fear starts to feel misplaced.

Question Who Benefits from Fear

Ask yourself—who gained power by making people afraid of witches?

Spoiler: It wasn’t the witches. Recognizing fear as a tool of control makes it easier to set it down.

Redefine Your Spiritual Beliefs

You’re allowed—encouraged, even—to craft your own understanding of divinity, morality, and the afterlife. Many paths, including paganism, animism, and even mystical Christianity, don’t believe in hell at all.

Ritual for Releasing Fear

Light a black candle (for banishing) and a white candle (for clarity).

Write down every fear-based belief you’ve carried:

"If I practice magick, I’ll be punished."

"I’m doing something wrong."

Burn that paper safely, saying:

"I release what was never mine to hold. My path is my own, guided by wisdom, not fear."

Find Community That Gets It

Talk with others who’ve untangled themselves from this web. Sometimes hearing “I’ve been there too” is the most healing thing of all.

You Are Not Walking Toward Fire—You Are Walking Toward Freedom

When you strip away the centuries of fear, you’ll find that witchcraft isn’t about rebellion against some devilish figure—it’s about reconnection. To the earth, to spirit, to your ancestors, and most importantly, to yourself.

So next time that little voice whispers “You’re going to hell for this…”

Remind it—gently but firmly:

“No, darling. I’m walking my own path—and fear doesn’t get to lead the way anymore.”

Amen, Blessed Be, Ashe, and Ayibobo.