I was recently watching a YouTube channel called “Real Life Fake Wizard,” or something to that effect-which I’ll come back to later because of how ironic that name is. The creator claims that Hollywood keeps producing “satanic” films and that Disney movies focus on the “Occult.” As I watched, I found myself shaking my head and talking back to the screen: “That’s not the Occult!” - as if the person on the other side could actually hear me.

The movies he referenced were largely based on Christian symbolism of evil and modern pop-culture horror. These are themes rooted in familiar tropes surrounding Witches and demonology-concepts that originate more from Christian belief systems than from genuine esoteric traditions.

Hollywood typically portrays modern-day Witches, Pagans, and Occultists through a narrow horror lens. Add a pentagram surrounded by black candles, a statue of Baphomet, some splashes of blood, and a group of hooded figures preparing for human sacrifice, and you have the standard image that many “normies”- like this so-called “fake wizard”- associate with the Occult.

Even some modern TikTok “Witches” buy into this aesthetic, embracing the trope of “dark sorcery” wholesale. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a punk or goth aesthetic, but some people take it too far - likely for attention or to stand out.

In reality, modern practitioners-such as myself, following English Traditional Wicca-are not spending our days casting spells on bad drivers. We’re planning the next full moon rite, preparing Samhain incense, or picking up grape juice for an upcoming esbat because Jerry and Susie don’t drink alcohol. When we gather, we talk, laugh, sing, dance, eat, drink, and celebrate. If there is spell-work to be done-for example, for Sally’s upcoming job interview or Nathan’s knee surgery-and they fully support it, then we focus on that during a full moon ritual.

We create sacred space, invite our deities, and channel intention toward positive outcomes. There is no human or animal sacrifice, and no blood is spilled. Some may wear robes; others may practice skyclad. Those who do wear robes might choose different colors, but rarely are they hooded, and there is certainly no giant blood-stained pentagram at the center-at least not in my experience.

As for daily life, I wake up each morning, perform a ritual, meditate, read books or PDFs, and watch videos on topics like Kabbalah and the history of Western magic. I also read posts, write articles (like this one), and look for videos to respond to-which brings me back to the “Fake Wizard.”

It’s quite ironic that he presents himself with a fake beard, a pointed “Gandalf-style” hat, and calls himself a “fake wizard.”

\"The word “wizard” itself has an interesting history. It comes from the early 15th century-*wisard*-meaning “philosopher,” “sage,” or “a person possessing great wisdom,” sometimes with a suggestion of using that wisdom for questionable ends. It derives from the Middle English *wys* (“wise”) combined with the suffix *-ard*. Related words in Lithuanian-*žynystė* (“magic”), *žynys* (“sorcerer”), and *žynė* (“Witch”)-all stem from *žinoti*, meaning “to know.” At its core, the word implies knowledge, perhaps even knowledge of the future.
The more modern meaning-“one with magical power” or “one proficient in Occult sciences”-did not clearly emerge until around 1550. In the Middle Ages, the lines between philosophy and magic were often blurred. Later, in the 20th century, “wizard” even became slang for something excellent.\"
Etymology Online

Historically, those who studied what we now call the “Occult” included astronomers, philosophers, alchemists, surgeons, poets, artists-even early scientists. They observed the natural world, measured it, analyzed it, and experimented with it. Their work gave us insights into planetary motion, the properties of light, mathematics, and eventually contributed to the development of the scientific method-shifting emphasis toward empirical understanding over purely metaphysical speculation.

At its core, studying the Occult is about asking questions and seeking knowledge. In contrast, the biblical imagery of babies sacrificed to Moloch or Witches cursing kings into impotence reflects fear-based narratives rooted in Christian attempts to discredit other belief systems.

To be fair, there have been some films that explore Occult themes outside of the typical horror framework-such as Kenneth Anger’s Lucifer Rising. However, these are rare. What we need are more honest, modern portrayals of what Occult practices actually look like.

So, to Mr. “Real Life Fake Wizard”: in one respect, we agree. These tired horror tropes are outdated. They belong in the same cultural graveyard as the Satanic Panic of the 1990s-alongside fears that heavy metal music or Dungeons & Dragons would turn kids into devil worshippers. It’s old, and it’s time to let it go.