Aesthetics
The Witchcore Aesthetic
Human Beings. The definition of a human being is a member of the Homo sapiens species, characterized by walking on two feet, opposing thumbs, five fingers and binocular color vision (“Human-Being Meaning.”). This is what is set in stone that gives a generalized idea of what we are. Although, this is not who we are. How would we define who we are in a simple or complex way? How would we define what we wear, how we choose to live, or the atmosphere around us? It could be the environment that we grew up in or choses that defined us. Except we are talking about the outside appearance to others or the way your home looks on the inside when guests come over. Aesthetics are used to define or show this. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste and with the creation and appreciation of beauty (“Aesthetic.”). Instead of giving details of thousands of aesthetics that are out there, I will focus on one in particular. At the same time, the approach is the same when looking into the other aesthetics out there, but also an approach to who a person really is.
The one chosen for this is witchcore. Witchcore is an aesthetic centered around the themes of witchcraft. Although, it is not to be confused with witchcraft (Bancroft, Esther). This is not talking about devil worshiping or sacrifices, but of the unknown, energy and self-growth that witchcore brings. This is its essence. For someone that is in witchcore this is what they see themselves as; a person that like the beauty and energy of the unknown and self-growth. To others at first glance, it’s a rebellious phase that they will grow out of. The real question is if it “just a phase” or is it a lifestyle and why did a person choose this.
Now when most think of witchcraft, its dark, horrifying, and full of sacrifices and blood. This is the opposite. It has some elements of cottagecore or naturecore since some of the aesthetic revolves around the outdoor setting (“Witchcore | Aesthetics Wiki | Fandom.”). Cottagecore and naturecore evolves around the feeling of nostalgia. The dainty, light, and breezy vibes of cottagecore are not so with witchcore (Danielle. A Complete Guide to Witchcore Aesthetic | My Cottagecore.). Yes, it was part of the movement of cottagecore and naturecore, but it is only on the forest and earthy aspects of the genre. So, unlike the feelings of nostalgia promoted by cottagecore, witchcore is centered more around energy, self-growth, and the unknown (Danielle. A Complete Guide to Witchcore Aesthetic | My Cottagecore.). It’s the mystery of witchcore that draws people in.
For the official witchcore vibe and aesthetic, there are some traits that are to be considered. Before getting into the different areas of witchcore, let’s start off with the basic aesthetic. The basic aesthetic has general traits and décor such as the following: glass bottles often used as “potions”, plants alive and/or dried such as succulents, moss, and herbs, forest themes, lanterns or candles, tarot cards, crystals, smoke, and tea (“Witchcore | Aesthetics Wiki | Fandom.”). These can be placed around on shelves, used as center pieces, and conversation starters. Books that are bound by leather with recipes for potions or drawn pictures of herbs with their healing traits are lined on the bookshelves next to animal skulls with candles dripping down. Old fashion furniture with vintage lace draped over their back and a cat sprawled out on its cushions. Imagine all of the possibilities that can be created with making the perfect witchcore aesthetic. This is what makes up the general “exterior” of witchcore. Where does your imagination take you? If this was your place, how do you imagine it decorated?
Have you got an image? Now, let’s break that down in detail and go from the “exterior” and into the interior”. When referring to interior, it is of the literal and figurative sense. For the literally, this involves some of the following: floor pillows, tapestries, models of celestials (sun, moon, and stars), stones, and incense (“Witchcore | Aesthetics Wiki | Fandom.”). Figuratively, is the interior of a person. It’s the mindset that makes you feel like a witch.
The calming of finding self-growth, your own energy, and grasping the unknown which is what witchcore is about. It’s sitting on the floor reading a book with candles glowing around the room and soft music being played in the background. It’s a meditation of self-growth brought with the smell of incense and the sound of a cat purring, frogs croaking, or an owl hooting. It’s peaceful, but also can be on the noisy side.
Music of witchcore is another genre that ties into this, and many think that is what witchcore is, just the music. There is so much more then media that makes up the witchcore genre. ASMR Weekly on YouTube is the calm ambience side of witchcore music and Electro Music on YouTube is the witch house upbeat side of witchcore. Each is part and yet separate as it fits each person differently and they are just on opposite sides of the witchcore spectrum. It’s not just music either, it’s tv shows, movies, and books. Harry Potter, Hocus Pocus, Fantastic Beasts, Black Butler, American Horror Story: Coven, All Souls Trilogy, The Addams Family, Locke and Key, etc. are just to name a few (“Witchcore | Aesthetics Wiki | Fandom.”). What media or music would you consider apart of witchcore? As your thinking on that keep in mind that with the different types of music, also plays into the types of fashion a person with the witchcore aesthetic will look like.
Fashion also has a wide range. As stated above music ties into fashion. For someone that listens to witch house, they would have a more gothic grunge style with chains thick chokers and grunge boots. For someone that listens to witchcore ambience, they would have the vintage styles of soft goth, thin chokers with flat comfortable shoes or even barefoot. There is a wide variety and selection for each, but to be considered witchcore it involves certain traits. These traits include the following: the utilization of a variety of dark hued, natural colors and black, vintage wear such as dresses or nightgowns (of the gothic/ goth/ nu-goth theses and hippie/boho themes.), wide brim hats, black lace camisoles, homemade flower crowns, and can be comfy shoes, boots (laced or grunge), or barefoot (“Witchcore | Aesthetics Wiki | Fandom.”). So, in general, imagine an outfit of a vintage black lace dress fitted with a brooch up at the neck, and paired with plain black tights, short laced up boots, and a wide brim hat. Can you picture the aesthetic now? Can you picture what the fashion of witchcore can be? What the aesthetic has to offer of the many options to choose from?
Overall, the witchcore genre involves the combination of as least two of either exterior, interior, media, and fashion. It is an aesthetic that has a mystery and unknowingness to it that make people want to submerge themselves into the knowledge and genre of witchcore. A person can have hardcore witchcore to where it’s their lifestyle through and through, or a person can have softcore witchcore where they only fit into a part of the genre. It could be sitting in a dark room with only candles glowing for light, or it can be a nice walk in a forest or wooded area. Spending time in the gloomy lighting amongst nature, even just for a walk, fits the witchcore aesthetic well (Danielle. A Complete Guide to Witchcore Aesthetic | My Cottagecore.). In all honesty, it depends on the level of witchcoreness that someone wants to be.
Now, let’s look at what people think of the aesthetic when given pictures to look at. This is initially to get a feel for what a person saw, felt, or their general opinion. First, starting with an outsider’s perspective on witchcore. This involved a set of three picture and asked question on each of the pictures. What is your opinion of them? What do you see in them? And how do you feel about them?
With the first photo of a dark aesthetic room, they said it look Victorian (Balfnria, Branda). “A bunch of gold fancy frames with black/dark paintings in them. Same with furniture; just black paint on wood or whitewashed” (Florence, Nancy). They said it was mysterious, some haunting feelings but would want to explore tunnels and secret places. “There seems to be hidden passageways and walls that could move, but too dark to live there” (Florence, Nancy). The second picture was of a person that they said looks desperate and troubled (Kah). “Not pure. Wants to be used and manipulated. Wants to appear soft evil, but just death oriented. Not “for life. A drag that’s not fun to be with. Shallow” (Florence, Nancy). The third picture was of a different cozier style room (“Homedecoredestiny.”). “Warm and cozy. I want to live there and thrive. Unique and not cookie cluttered. Realistic with window to nature and live in harmony with nature, organic, book person, readers that has a thoughtful mind” (Florence, Nancy). They said that the third has appreciation. “They were okay with past or history, more genuine or authentic” (Florence, Nancy).
Second, from an insider’s perspective on witchcore involving the three pictures. With the first picture they seemed to be intrigued (Balfnria, Branda). They said, “it’s a good take on the witchcore aesthetic but it only involved the interior aspect of witchcore. Yes, Victorian frames and dark hues resemble the aesthetic but there is more to it. It involves more on the middle picture (third down from the middle as they were pointing to it). This is more on the lines of witchcore with the skulls, glass bottles, and old books. If they add a more natural setting with plant, they would have hit the aesthetic perfectly. Overall, it’s a little too much on the darker side then allowing the natural balance that should be incorporated in it” (Anonymous).
With the second picture they choose only a few that they considered witchcore (Kah). They chose the third, fifth, tenth, and twelfth picture as a witchcore aesthetic. They said, “Only four of these photos are in the witchcore aesthetic; all they others would be more on the fairy aesthetic. You can tell because the fairy aesthetic is lighter colored with pointy ears or horns. They others would be considered witchcore from the style, color, and look that she is going for. The black goth dresses, nature themes backgrounds, but most of all the dark hue colors and nature tones (Anonymous).” With the third picture they said it wasn’t witchcore, but more cottagecore and naturecore (“Homedecoredestiny.”). “These aren’t close enough to witchcore as it is more natural with brighter colors. There are no candles, glass jars, skulls, or incense in any of the pictures. If you combined the firsts with this one, then you have the perfect combination that fits into the aesthetic. The one that comes somewhat close would be the second photo although a few tweaks would make it into witchcore. (Anonymous)”
In conclusion, both people have a good point of how they perceive witchcore in their own mind. These days it is difficult to tell just by looking at something (a person or a picture) what it truly is trying to capture or trying to be. A person on the inside will have a better understanding and appreciation of an aesthetic then a person from the outside. From other perspectives you can draw a conclusion on what you believe is witchcore, but also look at it from another aesthetics perspective. It is stepping into the shoes of another person. If a person dressed in a gothic outfit walked by, what is your initial reaction? What would be your thoughts if you looked the same or felt the same way as they did? Society as a whole is based on the different aesthetics, the different personalities, the different genres, the different lives of each and every person. It is how we look at each one that gives the majority their view and most of the time it’s not even close to the truth.
Work Cited:
“Aesthetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aesthetic. Accessed 13 Feb. 2022.
Anonymous. Interview. By Shannon Frasher. 12 February 2022.
Balfnria, Branda. “Vrendahexx.” Instagram, 12 Feb. 2022, www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/vrendahexx.
Bancroft, Esther. “#Witchcore: The Trending Aesthetic.” The Everyday, 9 Nov. 2021,
theeverydaymagazine.co.uk/opinion/witchcore-the-trending-aesthetic.
Danielle. A Complete Guide to Witchcore Aesthetic | My Cottagecore. 22 Oct. 2021,
mycottagecore.com/witchcore/. Accessed 21 Jan. 2022.
“Homedecoredestiny.” Instagram, 12 Feb. 2022, www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/homedecordestiny.
“Human-Being Meaning.” Human-Being Meaning | Best 5 Definitions of Human-Being,
https://www.yourdictionary.com/human-being.
Kah. “Nosferachu.” Instagram, 11 Feb. 2022, www.instagram.com/nosferachu.
Florence, Nancy. Interview. By Shannon Frasher. 13 February 2022.
“Witchcore | Aesthetics Wiki | Fandom.” Aesthetics.fandom.com,
aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Witchcore.