Is Witchcraft Illegal in Oklahoma?

We're a week into spooky season now. Oklahomans are getting their creepy decorations out and planning Halloween movie nights. One of my favorite Halloween movies is "Hocus Pocus." It's a Halloween classic! Of course, it's about three witches that lived in Salem, Mass. during the Witch Trials and came back to life several years later with the lighting of the Black Flame Candle.

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Obviously, the Salem Witch Trials occurred on the East Coast, but that doesn't mean Oklahoma didn't have any witches back in the day. We've seen the story of Oklahoma's witch's grave, and I'm sure there are many other tales of witches in Oklahoma. Some might even live amongst us today.

I saw a video on TikTok recently about a metaphysical store owner in Pennsylvania being accused of witchcraft by the local police. And this is in 2023, not the 1600s. Apparently a local police officer read a local article about the store and its offerings of fortune-telling, which is apparently illegal in Pennsylvania.

@thestitchingwitch Lmao last word was cops but ‍♀️ #witch #witchcraft #witchtok #pagan #paganism #witchesofpa #papagans #pennsylvania #pa #christianity #xtian #extian ♬ original sound - The Stitching Witch

So is witchcraft illegal in Oklahoma?

This got me wondering if witchcraft or fortune-telling is illegal in Oklahoma. With a quick Google search, I had my answer! The short answer is that witchcraft or the practicing of Wicca is not illegal in Oklahoma. Wicca is considered a protected religion in the United States.

Which is why in 2000 the ACLU got involved with a 15-year-old student in Oklahoma that was accused of hexing a teacher that resulted in an illness. Here's an excerpt from the ACLU of Oklahoma's press release:

While the ACLU has defended students’ religious beliefs in Wicca and other minority religions, Bell (ACLU of Oklahoma Executive Director) said the Oklahoma lawsuit is believed to be the first in the country involving actual accusations of witchcraft.

Although witchcraft itself might not be illegal in Oklahoma, fortune-telling is!

Under Oklahoma State Statutes (section 1, chapter 59, Session Laws of 1915), it states the following:

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, pretending or professing to tell fortunes by the use of any subtle craft, means or device whatsoever, either by palmistry, clairvoyancy or otherwise, plying his or her trade, art or profession within the state of Oklahoma, to make any charge therefor either directly or indirectly, or to receive any gift, donation or subscription by any means whatsoever for the same.

Although this has been a law in Oklahoma since 1915, it has rarely been enforced. But in 2017, and Oklahoma fortune-teller was charged and prosecuted for telling fortunes and accepting money. According to an article from The Oklahoman, the fortune-teller plead guilty to telling fortunes under false pretenses and accepted money.

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So there you have it! Witchcraft is legal in Oklahoma, but fortune-telling sure is not!

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