Etsy the online marketplace is brewing trouble with witches after it bans selling spells

A petition to reverse the change in guidelines already has over a thousand signatures

Etsy became popular with supernatural sellers after eBay banned spells and other metaphysical products in 2012

Etsy has attracted the ire of so-called witches for banning the sale of metaphysical services, or spells.

As an online marketplace for handmade goods, Etsy became popular with supernatural sellers after eBay banned spells and other metaphysical products in 2012. Etsy had allowed such services to be sold as long as they didn’t guarantee results and came with something tangible, such as a wand.

The guidelines have since changed. A notice on the site reads: "Any metaphysical service that promises or suggests it will effect a physical change (e.g., weight loss) or other outcome (e.g., love, revenge) is not allowed, even if it delivers a tangible item."

In a forum on the Etsy website an administrator said that Etsy believes in freedom of thought, expression and religion, just as long as there was no promise that the object would effect physical change.

A petition to reverse the change in guidelines already has over a thousand signatures. It describes the change in guidelines as 'discrimination'.

"Etsy has begun banning sales of metaphysical goods of all kinds. This is discrimination against Pagan and Wiccan faiths, as this ban will target certain sellers and items," the petition reads.