Etsy , the popular online haven for handmade products, sells everything from jewelry to furniture. But there's one type of item you won't see for sale anymore.The Internet retailer will now heavily enforce an existing policy that has slipped through its cracks: banning the sale "metaphysical services" or spells and hexes. As the policy states, "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."The witch community was up in arms after the announcement and created a petition to put an end to the ban. The argument against the regulation is on the grounds of religious discrimination, since the community feels as though its specific faith group is excluded from participating on the site. Currently over 2,700 citizens have signed the petition, with both Pagans and non-Pagans alike joining forces.As one petitioner claims, "Freedom of religion and the freedom to practice one's faith - that is what America is supposed to be about. I am not Wiccan, but I stand by my Wiccan friends, brothers and sisters in this cause!"

Etsy claims its main goal is to protect the online community from business practices that prey on vulnerable shoppers. It's also not the only e-commerce site to uphold the regulation -- eBay enforced the same ban back in 2012.



