RISE.
CBS2'S ALLIE BAUMAN TAKES US
INSIDE THE SECRET WORLD OF
MODERN-DAY WITCHES, TO EXPLORE
WHY SO MANY SAY THEY ARE
FALLING UNDER ITS SPELL.
ALL HAIL TO THE GUARDIANS.
AND I AM THE HIGH PRIESTESS.
IT IS INCREDIBLY RELEVANT IN
TODAY'S SOCIETY.
WE KIND OF WORK ARE MAGIC
TOGETHER.
Reporter: NESTLED IN THE
HEART OF HUDSON VALLEY IS THE
CHURCH OF THE ETERNAL CIRCLE.
THE ONLY LEGALLY RECOGNIZED WE
CAN CHURCH IN THE STATE OF --
WICCAN CHURCH IN THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.
WE FOLLOW THE TRADITION OF
THE CRAFT OF THE WISE.
WE ARE WITCHES.
Reporter: WHERE FOR THE VERY
FIRST TIME, MEMBERS INVITED
CBS2 TO ATTEND THEIR SERVICES.
[ SINGING ] MY THOUGHTS CAN
HEAL.
Reporter: LISA STEWART AND
HER HUSBAND, ANTON, OR THE
FOUNDERS OF THE CHURCH.
THERE ARE MORE THAN YOU
THINK.
Reporter: IT ESTIMATED MANY
PEOPLE IDENTIFY AS BEING A
WITCH IN THE U.S., WITH 20% OF
THE POPULATION TO BE IN NEW
YORK.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PROFESSIONALS OF ALL KINDS.
Reporter: INCLUDING A
LIBRARIAN, A COMPUTER
SCIENTIST, A NURSE, AND A
HOMEMAKER.
VERY NORMAL PEOPLE ARE PART
OF THIS RELIGION.
Reporter: IN ADDITION TO
PRACTICING WITCHCRAFT, DOCTOR
DAVID'S BLOG, A METHODIST, IS A
PRACTITIONER OF INTERNAL
MEDICINE.
JOE, A SCULPTURE CONVERTED FROM
CATHOLICISM.
UNLIKE ITS POP-CULTURE
PORTRAYAL, MEMBERS SAY
WITCHCRAFT IS ACTUALLY GROUNDED
IN LOVE AND SPIRITUALITY.
THE STEREOTYPE OF COURSE IS
THE BOOM.
IT'S FOR SWEEPING YOUR
CIRCLE IN CLEARING THE ENERGY.
NOT FOR FLYING.
Reporter: THIS IS A SOMBER
CELEBRATION MARKING THE START
OF WINTER.
IN THE WINTER -- WICCAN
CHURCH, THIS IS KNOWN AS A
NIGHT OF SOULS WHERE WITCHES
HONOR THEIR ANCESTORS.
AND MAGIC IS SIMPLY THE BELIEF
YOU CAN MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A PRAYER.
Reporter: THERE IS NO DEVIL
WORSHIP, ONLY A LOVE FOR THE
GODDESS OF CREATION AND
INSPIRATION.
ALONG WITH THE ANTLERED GOD OF
ALL THINGS WILD AND FREE.
WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THAT I AM
A WITCH, I MET SOMETIMES WITH
HORROR.
Reporter: BUT, THIS IS BASED
ON OLD MYTHS.
THESE MODERN-DAY WITCHES NOW
WANT TO DISPEL.
IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL WAY