North Texas Daily

There is an undeniably strong stigma surrounding the word “witch.”

A quick Google search of the term brings up definitions wrought with evil, darkness and women on broomsticks with pointy hats.

However, Nick Robinson, local witch and owner of Blessed Be Witchery, thinks this stigma is untrue and harmful to people like himself.

Nick the Mystic models his handmade necklace on Feb. 27, 2023. Hannah Sutherland

“There’s a lot of negative stigma for many different reasons, but I think the biggest ones [are] just misrepresentation in media and ignorance,” Robinson said. 

Robinson was raised in the Christian faith but always felt detached from his religion. Instead, he discovered a strong connection with spirituality and nature from a young age.

“I always felt there was more to the elements — to nature — than what any church I ever went to taught about,” Robinson said. “There’s more power in the earth, the fire, air, water and all that than we realize.”

When he moved out of his parents’ house at the age of 18 after graduating from Marcus High School, Robinson began experimenting with witchcraft. After practicing for a while, he then began making spells for his own use out of dollar store jars and household items in late 2020.

“I started making little spell jars way before I even started the business […] because I wanted to take everyday items and make them spells,” Robinson said. “Through doing research and over time, I learned that a spell doesn’t have to be in a jar or something you burn or anything like that. At the end of the day, I believe a spell is something used to manipulate energy to where things can benefit you or others.”

From there, his business began. In May 2022, Robinson started selling spell jars at local festivals and markets. Eventually, he created an online storefront and added more products, such as candles, jewelry and witch kits, to his product lineup.

Today, he has products in several brick-and-mortar stores, including Salted Sanctuary Soap in downtown Denton, The Groovy Coop in McKinney and Fae’s Cabinet in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Nick the Mystic’s handmade spell candles are on display on Feb. 27, 2023. Hannah Sutherland

Robinson was a manager of The Storm Witch, a witchcraft supply store open for about a year on South Locust Street, until its closure in Dec. 2022. Since then, he has focused on his business full-time, creating products, making content for Instagram and TikTok and appearing at markets. 

“I haven’t scheduled any days off since I started being full-time in December, but I’m learning to work that in,” Robinson said. 

Jack Knepper, Robinson’s partner of two years and Denton resident, tries to help Robinson with his work. 

“I offer help where I can, usually with wicking the candles or lifting heavy things,” Knepper said. “A lot of times, when we’re relaxing, he’ll be working on stuff as well.”

Even though he stays busy with his business, Robinson helps manage his burnout by only making the products that interest him. He said he sees his products as tools, and if his heart is not in whatever he is making or if the product is not made by him, they are not authentic.

Denton resident and Robinson’s friend AJ Sauceda has purchased some of Blessed Be Witchery’s items and received them as gifts from Robinson, including candles, jewelry and cleansing spray.

“I have a candle Nick gave to me, and I have to light it every time I play [Dungeons and Dragons], or else everyone rolls really bad,” Sauceda said. “I love Nick’s products. They make me so happy.”

Blessed Be Witchery has existed for less than a year, but Robinson says he sees a bright future for the business. Along with running the online shop, he is currently enrolled at North Central Texas College, where he is pursuing an associate’s degree. Eventually, his goal is to become a counselor.

As his business grows, Robinson said he plans to donate profits to organizations that amplify marginalized voices. He hopes doing so will help heal the stigma around witchcraft. For now, he uses social media to speak on the issues that affect him as a queer man while sharing posts from people who address other issues he cannot personally speak on.

“There’s a lot of appropriation [in witchcraft], and I think a lot of people on the outside see that and obviously want to stray away from that,” Robinson said. “I think it’s about education and about not listening to the wrong people […] It’s about doing your own research and literally cross-referencing as if it was a college project and talking to people from other cultures and asking [what their view is] about certain things.”

Featured Image Nick Robinson sports his handmade earrings on Feb. 27, 2023. Hannah Sutherland