First eBay, now this?! Etsy has banned users from selling spells. To get technical, a vendor can still sell them, but are prohibited from claiming that they do anything.
Etsy, leave our witches ALONE!
When eBay banned the selling of spells and other metaphysical objects in 2012, people turned to Etsy for their metaphysical products. It had fairly simple rules about the sale of these objects—as long as the seller provided some sort of tangible object, proof that the spell had been cast, and warned that spells may not work, everything was permissible. Now Etsy has revised its policy on the sale of services, saying, “Any metaphysical service that promises or suggests it will affect a physical change (e.g., weight loss) or other outcome (e.g., love, revenge) is not allowed, even if it delivers a tangible item.”
According to The Daily Dot (the article’s author, Jaya Saxena, purchased her own amazing sex spell on Etsy), many users have reported either items being removed or entire stores taken down. Some say they received a warning first, but many claim they never got so much as a notice; however, interested parties can still sell some select metaphysical items on the site. An admin on an Etsy forum stated, “You may sell astrological charts, tarot readings, and other tangible objects, as long as you are not making a promise that object will effect a physical change or other outcome, such as weight loss, love, or revenge. Medical drug claims or claims of a medical cure are also not allowed.” Currently the “Spells, Rituals & Readings” category is still accessible on Etsy, however another adminreports, “[Spells, Rituals & Readings] will then be removed in our upcoming quarterly taxonomy update to prevent any confusion.”
Etsy has been extremely cautious regarding legal boundaries since the site cracked down on sellers of soap and other bath & body items a few months ago for violating FDA rules about making health claims about their items. Even so, buyers and sellers of metaphysical objects are outraged, claiming the protocol change as a deliberate censoring of Wicca, witchcraft and other pagan faiths.
A petition has been started to stop the ban on metaphysical items, as well as a thread on Etsy with nearly 1000 responses about the change in rules. Hopefully, the company will reconsider its decision regarding these products; until then, any interested BUSTies can show their support by by signing the petition here.
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Product Image courtesy of MMRitual on Etsy