Julie Aspinall, 60, who lives in Coventry, was 'born a witch' and she says she's been able to manifest things for herself and others since she was 15 years old
A Coventry witch who kept her "true identity" under wraps for years now confidently helms a TikTok coven that's gone viral. There, she boasts her spells can bring about wealth and even heal the sick.
Julie Aspinall, 60, who trains security dogs by day, embraced her witch persona at 15, having delved into spirituality and the occult in secret. The mum-of-two and nan-of-five practised her craft in the shadows, wary of judgement from those close to her, and even concealed her magical practices from her late husband.
However, everything changed in 2015 when she stumbled upon a community of like-minded individuals on Facebook. This discovery led her to start her own group and, three years later, establish an actual coven named the Coven of Gaia, which began with 17 members and allowed her to feel "less alone".
Now, the coven flaunts their rituals to over 780,000 TikTok fans, specialising in spells for manifestation and prosperity. Despite lacking scientific proof, Julie claims they've performed wonders such as curing cancer and saving lives.
Speaking to PA Real Life, Julie revealed: "From reading about witches, at about age 15, I realised I was a witch and I could easily manifest things for myself. A few years ago I was looking to move house and had this ideal image in my head, so manifested it, then the next day, a mutual friend put their house on the market which was almost identical (to my vision).
"I’ve protected family and friends, and can manifest money when I need it." Julie reminisced about her time in a convent secondary school where she was "always getting in trouble" for questioning Catholic teachings, as she felt herself "not understanding" them.
However, by 12, Julie suspected she harboured "a gift", pondering if she was perhaps a "special child of God". She recalled how things seemed to align in her favour.
She claimed: "When I wanted something, I used to be able to get it." For example, she said she could somehow "earn some money really easily" whenever she needed a gift for Mother’s Day.
Her curiosity in the mystical realms ignited at 14 when her brother's friend gave her an astrology book, leading her to probe deeper into the "spiritual world". Seeking more knowledge, she requested "anything spiritual" from her local librarian and stumbled upon witchcraft, which resonated with her as her "true identity".
For many years, Julie honed her craft in quiet secrecy, experimenting with spells and manifestation, confiding only in her brother. Laughing, she added: "If my dad knew, he probably would have gotten someone to perform an exorcism on me!"
Through her twenties and thirties, life unfolded conventionally—marriage, two kids—but Julie's practice as a witch continued discreetly. She maintained a daily ritual of a "morning blessing", thanking Mother Earth for each new day.
Her habits didn't go completely unnoticed. She revealed: "My late husband (at the time) knew there was something – I mean, nobody would have as many candles in the house as I did!" Despite his awareness, he was supportive and pragmatic, opting to "just leave me to it."
Julie, a widow for nearly 18 years, has found new love with a man who, despite being "very pragmatic" shows no interest in her witchcraft practices. Around 2015, Julie's daughter introduced her to Facebook groups for witches.
However, unable to find a group that resonated with her unique interpretation of witchcraft, she decided to establish her own. She said: "I didn’t think my daughter knew I was a witch but clearly she sensed it!" Her online group, described as "eclectic" and allowing members to "follow what they want" quickly attracted thousands.
In 2018, she formed an in-person coven, the Coven of Gaia, which now boasts 17 members. The coven meets for spell-casting sessions and hosts an annual Festival for Pagans and Witches every May.
Their meetings are held in Julie’s garden room, adorned with altars dedicated to Mother Earth, Gaia, and Odin, and filled with crystals, candles, and herbs. As an elder of the coven, Julie is assisted by a council of five mentors who guide the other witches.
In the summer of 2023, they launched a TikTok account to demystify witchcraft, showing that witches are "just normal people". They regularly post spells for prosperity, abundance, and sleep, using herbs and chants.
Their account has amassed over 780,000 followers, generating enough revenue to expand their spell room. Julie shared: "We wanted to raise some money for charity, so did a manifestation spell, and the next day one of our videos got one million views. We were able to donate £1,000 from the money we earned."
When it comes to conjuring prosperity, their approach involves a specific ritual. "Each spell is different, but for a money spell, which we conduct on the first of every month, we blow cinnamon into the house and it’s all about your intentions," Julie explained.
The group frequently performs manifestation spells with the goal of making a positive difference in people's lives. Julie recalled an instance where the group conducted a healing spell for someone battling cancer, and despite the lack of medical evidence supporting such claims, she firmly believes their collective energy played a role in the person's recovery.
"We focus our healing on a specific point and send our energies there," she elaborated. "She was told she was going to die, so we sent healing signals from ourselves to her through a photograph of her, and she survived."
In a remarkable coincidence, the woman had a dream about witches coming to her aid, which Julie sees as a testament to the power of their spell. Julie also credits a similar spell with healing her own dog's tumour. "My dog had a tumour on his spleen, and we did a big spell on him and when the vets cut him open to remove the spleen, the tumour had gone," she recounted.
Protection spells have long been a part of Julie's practice, particularly when it comes to safeguarding her loved ones. She attributes these spells to saving lives, citing two family members who walked away unscathed from car accidents.
While these claims are not supported by medical evidence, Julie remains unwavering in her convictions. To those who doubt the efficacy of such practices, she advises: "If someone doesn’t believe in the power of the mind, then they should do a lot of research and see what miracles can happen when people use the power that they’ve got inside them."
