# data[].attributes.body
Joana Galang, working individually

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 2 Red Flag: Ancient Wisdom (video)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 2 Red Flag: Ancient Wisdom (video)

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
The Red Flag Ancient Wisdom pertains to the belief that practices and medicines used in ancient times are better than what we have today.

Connection
This video about foot binding or "lotus feet" demonstrates the red flag Ancient Wisdom because as shown on the video, even with the 1911 ban on foot binding there are still these last women who were in their 80's that have bound feet. The pain they have endured at a very young age because it was still believed at that time that women with bound feet are better wives than those that have no bound feet.

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 3 Red Flag: Ideological Support (image)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 3 Red Flag: Ideological Support (image)

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
Ideological Support red flag is points to the claim that in the spiritual belief is the new science.

Connection
This article about witchcraft as the religion for the modern day people is an Ideological Support red flag with their gods and goddesses worship and tarot reading and the use of symbols. This also includes the increase in the number of the so-called witchcraft as more and more people believe it to be the perfect religion for them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What ties together crystals, feminism, polyamory, lapsed Catholicism, and tarot cards?

Besides being increasingly of the moment, they are all related to modern witchcraft, a movement that is being propelled out of the forest and into the mainstream. The hook-nosed, broom-riding, pointy-hat-wearing, cackling witches of yore have transfigured into hip, feminist, millennial women with slick websites and soothing advice on manifesting your dreams. Instead of a bubbling cauldron filled with eye of the newt, they're slinging essential oils seeped with wild herbs.

Search Meetup and you'll find dozens of spell-casting covens in your area. The hashtag #witchesofinstagram brings up more than 360,000 posts from practitioners like @ TheHoodWitch, who posts pictures of her long, lacquered nails hovering over tarot cards; @witcheryway, a Canadian witch who sells spell kits and incense burners out of her shop, and @light_witch, a self-described feminist in New England who spends her time swanning through outdoor landscapes in capes.

The witching web world carries over into mortal life, too. Stores are popping up across the country, selling crystals, spell kits, and tarot cards. And K-Hole, the trend-forecasting firm responsible for inserting "normcore" into the pop culture lexicon, has anointed "mysticore " the zietgeistiest of current zeitgeists.

And its popularity isn't just growing: It's basically levitating. Alex Mar, author of the 2015 book Witches of America, estimates there are up to one million practitioners of witchcraft today around the US in big cities, tiny towns, and in the countryside. In other words: Witches are everywhere. "I started to feel that you could toss a pebble in this country and hit a witch," she says.

Who are witches?

Anyone can be a witch-it's an inclusive movement-but it tends to appeal to a certain type of demographic. Back in the 1600s, witches were persecuted for being financially independent, single, and essentially good with herbs-all things that are regarded admirably by today's young, liberal women. The typical witch nowadays (and it's mostly she, though more men are starting to join in) examines her dreams for clues about her unconscious and fills her life with rituals. She probably attends new-moon gatherings or has an altar in her home. She might casts spells using crystals or herbs for manifestation of wealth and love. And she likely believes in polyamory, too.

Most witches just dabble in the spell side of things, pulling a tarot card every morning and showing up for major pagan holidays (such as Samhain, which is around Halloween). "And then there are people who are very serious practitioners, who train for years before initiation, and start their own covens," Mar says. "And that is a whole other level."

The edges of this group also bleed into other more mainstream arenas such as yoga and meditation, mindfulness, new-age spirituality, and even sex positivity.

Some witches practice wicca, which is a narrow subset of witchcraft with more specific gods, goddesses, symbols, and holidays. But many more practice a broader, indefinable brand of witchcraft based on intuition. The edges of this group also bleed into other more mainstream arenas such as yoga and meditation, mindfulness, new-age spirituality, and even sex positivity.

"I don't think it's a mere passing trend," says Carolyn Grace Elliot, whose magazine ( badwitch.es) has 10,000 regular readers. "We are in the midst of a beautiful, occult, witch renaissance."

A brief history of modern witchcraft

In essence, witchcraft is the practice of paganism, which is a collection of eclectic indigenous beliefs with a hazy history dating back to medieval Europe. In many ways, paganism functions a lot like other major world religions, including Christianity. Both of these religions encompass many different traditions, practices, and beliefs. Both have long histories stretching back thousands of years. Both involve magical thinking (though Christians may take offense at that characterization) and the belief that there is something out there greater than humankind that can be invoked through ritual.

However, while some Christian denominations shame "deviant" sexuality, expect deference from female adherents, and gives men permission to subdue and rule over the earth, witches believe that all types of sexuality should be cultivated and celebrated, that women can also be spiritual leaders, and that nature is sacred. Witchcraft is especially interesting for lapsed Catholics who might miss the mysterious rituals of the church-the incense burning in a brass censer, the invocation of Christ's body during communion-but can't abide by its patriarchal structure, homophobia, and control and shaming of women's bodies.

Back in the 1600s, witches were persecuted for being financially independent, single, and essentially good with herbs-all things that are regarded admirably by today's young, liberal women.

"When thinking about what it means to me, a witch is a woman who worships herself as her own god. She is the creator of her own life, the healer of herself," says Maura from Chicago, who brings meditation practice into schools. She had a tarot-card reading four years ago and fell hard for the powerful message of the occult. "We live in this time where social structures, institutions, and organized religion is failing us massively. That's why I was drawn to it initially, because I didn't feel like I was drawn to any of those mainstream ideologies."

Witches today are essentially picking up where the Baby Boomers left off. The resurgence of witchcraft began in the late 1960s and 1970s, on the eve of second-wave feminism and sexual liberation. It has ebbed and flowed since then, but now that feminism has become mainstream again, sexual identities and relationship structures are becoming more fluid, and social media is providing an easy way to find covens and spells. "Finding healers was so much harder before!" says Juliana Sabinson, a self described artist and healer who comes from a line of witches. "Now people find me through my Instagram or Facebook. I don't have to post an ad in the paper-you text me, and then we have a session." The internet is certainly a driving force behind the re-popularization of the craft, which has helped it cast its spell over the millennial generation.

A hexed name

The moniker "witch" remains a loaded term that many women are trying to circumvent. "It's so trendy to call yourself a witch," Sabinson says. "I don't identify with that word. It's what people call me because I do something they don't understand. It stings a little bit, because it makes me scary."

Other woman are proud to adopt the label, however. Like the words slut and queer, some women are taking back the term witch from the patriarchy and reshaping it to be a compliment. "I choose to call myself a witch in part because it's a confrontational term," Elliot says. "The word witch has been so demonized in our culture, and there literally was a vast genocide of witches." She's talking about the infamous "burning times" era of the 16th and 17th centuries, when thousands of women and men were accused of witchcraft and burned (in Europe) and hanged (in North America). "There was a mass extinction of the highly developed, sensitive people, especially women. That is the root of so much misogyny and suffering in our present culture," she says.

In contemporary times, we have heard Hillary Clinton called a witch and accused of practicing the dark arts by the right wing media. "What's ironic about extreme right wingers calling Hillary Clinton a witch in a derogatory way is that they don't understand that it's associated with being a powerful, independent, spiritual woman," Mar says.

Everyone has a little witch in them (even if they don't know it yet) so being able to tell who's an everyday witch isn't always as obvious. "There's an idea that somehow you can see a witch from across the street," Mar says. "Just like you can't tell the religious beliefs of the average person you meet in the grocery store, it's the same with a witch."

She or he could be any ethnicity, any gender, have any sexual identity, and any career. (And they most likely won't be wearing a cape and pointed hat.) Instead, keep a look out for that friend who collects crystals and talks about "manifesting" their goals. They might not even know it yet-but they're probably a witch.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Witchcraft is the perfect religion for liberal millennials

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What ties together crystals, feminism, polyamory, lapsed Catholicism, and tarot cards? Besides being increasingly of the moment, they are all related to modern witchcraft, a movement that is being propelled out of the forest and into the mainstream.

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 4 Red Flag: Appeal to Authority (video)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 4 Red Flag: Appeal to Authority (video)

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
This Appeal to Authority Red Flag uses people in position or lab coats to make the product appear effective.

Connection
This video demonstrates well the Appeal to Authority red flag as this commercial uses a dentist in a clean white lab coat and and ordinary people mentioning dentist recommended. It makes it more believable when people hear dentist recommended and even seeing a person in a lab coat do the talking for people to buy it.

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 5 Red Flag: All Natural (article)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 5 Red Flag: All Natural (article)

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
The Red Flag All Natural explains the benefits of using all natural product or ingredients. Being all natural does not mean that it is always safe to use.

Connection
This article connects well to the All Natural red flag as it explains that St. John's Wort it is regarded as a powerful antidepressant. But there have been cases that the use of St. John's Wort causes side effects. And even with all of these side effects, this has not been regulated as a drug would since it is a dietary supplement, it does not need to provide if its safety when used.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
St. John's wort is natural. It's an herbal supplement that doesn't require a prescription and you can buy it at a health food store.

Sounds good, but that doesn't necessarily make it harmless, according to a study published in 2015 in the journal Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide compared adverse events of St. John's wort and the antidepressant drug fluoxetine (Prozac). The team used information from doctors' reports to Australia's national agency on drug safety.

Between 2000 and 2013, there were 84 adverse reaction reports for St. John's wort. There were 447 reports for Prozac.

Since reporting adverse events is voluntary, researchers said it's likely that adverse events are underreported.

Side effects of the two substances are similar.

They include vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, panic attacks, aggression, and amnesia. There are also serious concerns about drug interactions.

The benefits of St. John's wort

St. John's wort ( Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant.

The flowers are used to make liquid extracts, pills, and teas. The popular herbal therapy is often used to ease symptoms of depression. People have been using St. John's wort for centuries.

A Cochrane systematic review found that St. John's wort can be effective in treating major depression.

A 2016 review of 35 studies concluded that St. John's wort reduced symptoms of mild to moderate depression more than a placebo and similar to prescription antidepressants.

A 2017 analysis of 27 studies determined that St. John's wort had similar effects on mild to moderate depression as antidepressants. Those researchers also noted that fewer people stopped taking St. John's wort, compared to antidepressants.

Another study indicated St. John's wort can be effective in treating wounds, bruises, burns, and sores.

However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the substance for depression or any other medical condition.

The FDA, in fact, classifies St. John's wort as a dietary supplement, not a drug. Therefore, the agency doesn't test it for safety and effectiveness.

Jeremy Wolf, a licensed naturopathic physician, explained that St. John's wort creates many actions in the body.

"It is a strong antidepressant and may elevate mood in individuals with mild to moderate depression," he said.

He notes that St. John's wort is not recommended for individuals with severe depression.

Wolf said St. John's wort also has strong antiviral activity that may also promote healing and repair of wounds.

He cautioned that the herb is not a fast-acting cure. It may take weeks or months before you notice any effect.

How much St. John's wort should you take?

Blair Green Thielemier, PharmD, told Healthline in 2015 that dosing varies due to non-standardized manufacturing.

A normal dose range would be anywhere from 300 to 1200 mg a day. It's usually taken in divided doses (300 mg three times daily or 600 mg twice daily).

The effects of St. John's wort on the body are not fully understood.

A number of the supplement's active ingredients, including hypericin, hyperforin, and adhyperforin, may be responsible for its medicinal benefits.

These ingredients appear to increase the levels of chemical messengers in the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.

These then act to lift and regulate your mood.

The downside of St. John's wort

FDA regulations for dietary supplements are not the same as those for drug products.

Unless there's a new dietary ingredient, a firm doesn't have to provide FDA officials with the evidence it relies on to substantiate safety or effectiveness before or after it markets its products.

"Natural" doesn't mean it can't cause harm, said Thielemier.

The main concerns about the herb center on the metabolic pathway known as cytochrome 450.

She explained that this pathway consists of the enzymes our body uses to clear drugs and ingested chemicals from the bloodstream.

"These enzymes are responsible for breaking down everything from the glass of wine you may have with dinner to a daily vitamin you take to keep your bones strong," said Thielemier.

Other substances can influence these enzymes.

"If you have ever heard that grapefruit juice can interfere with your medications, then you know of this process we call enzyme induction," said Thielemier. "St. John's wort, like grapefruit juice, induces the body to produce more of these enzymes in order to clear the chemical from the bloodstream [faster]."

That can rob other medications of their power.

Wolf suggests the herb may work similarly to fluoxetine. If it inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, it would explain the similar side effects.

It also interacts with many common pharmaceuticals.

"When combined with SSRIs [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors] and MAO [monoamine oxidase] inhibitors, it may lead to elevated blood pressure and could induce what is known as serotonin syndrome," said Wolf. "This includes confusion, fever, agitation, rapid heart rate, shivering, perspiration, diarrhea, and muscle spasms."

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, in addition to antidepressants, St. John's wort interacts with oral contraceptives, anti-seizure medications, and anticoagulants.

It can also interfere with anti-rejection medications, heart medications, and some drugs used for heart disease, HIV, and cancer.

One 2011 study indicated the herbal supplement can reduce the effectiveness of Xanax, an anxiety medication.

Wolf noted that pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid St. John's wort.

So should people who are sensitive to sunlight, as the herb can intensify the effect.

These side effects have prompted the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota to recommend people not use St. John's wort if they are taking prescription medications.

Regulation process not the same as drugs

Should natural and herbal products include warnings and go through the same rigorous testing as prescription drugs?

Thielemier thinks so.

"How else will we know whether they are safe and effective? The problem lies in the insane costs of proving safety and efficacy through clinical trials," she said.

"I always advise individuals and remind them of the importance in checking with their healthcare provider or a trained practitioner before starting supplements and herbs due to the potential for side effects and interactions," said Wolf.
Editor's Note: This story was originally published on August 6, 2015 and was updated on June 6, 2018.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
st. john’s wort depression infections anxiety

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
st. john’s wort not regulated by the fda

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
St. John's Wort: The Benefits and the Dangers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
St. John's wort is natural. It's an herbal supplement that doesn't require a prescription and you can buy it at a health food store. Sounds good, but that doesn't necessarily make it harmless, according to a study published in 2015 in the journal Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology.

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 6 Red Flag: Confirmation Bias (image)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 6 Red Flag: Confirmation Bias (image)

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
The Red Flag Confirmation Bias refers to the search for  meaning that makes one person's belief to be true.

Connection
This image of the full moon shows that a lot of people believe strange things happen during the full moon like people get more crazy and then when it coincides with the full moon they will say that is the reason. It is an example of Confirmation Bias as this makes people believe that whatever is happening may be because the moon is full and they don't look at any other day that there is no full moon with the same tendency as when it is the full moon.

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 7 Reason for Belief: Patternicity (image)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 7 Reason for Belief: Patternicity (image)

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
Patternicity is the way humans assign patterns even in simple or common things.

Connection
This image was taken in Pajala, Swedish Lapland and this demonstrates Patternicity as the person who took this picture associates it with the shape of the fox or wolf.

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
The reason for belief Agenticity is the belief in agents like aliens, gods, ghosts, and spirits.

Connection
The video shows that a person was interviewed because he said that he was abducted by aliens 45 years ago. This clearly is an example of Agenticity as whatever happened to him 'he attributed to aliens abducting him.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Man says he was abducted by aliens, 45 years ago

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 9 Reason for Belief: Simplicity (image)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 9 Reason for Belief: Simplicity (image)

# data[].attributes.body
Definition
Simplicity as a reason for belief  is when something cannot be explained with science or any logical answer then the simple one is the better answer.

Connection
This image demonstrates Simplicity as in the Philippines, it has always been believed that when a person dreams about his/her teeth falling out means that someone close to you will die. And if it happens that someone close to you after you dreamed of your teeth falling out then it must really be true.

# data[].attributes.headline
Post # 10 Critical Thinking Question Responses (Word Document)

# data[].attributes.subject
Post # 10 Critical Thinking Question Responses (Word Document)