Practical Magic: Why What We Believe Matters
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.’ Practical Magic
One of the most powerful cinematic duos of our time is Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic. Try and change my mind. You can’t.
The way these women showed up for each other in the 1998 film is a beautiful display of sisterhood, love, and of course, magic.
For those who haven’t seen it (but really should), Practical Magic is about two witch sisters, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small Massachusetts town.
In the beginning of the film, we learn about the Owens family history—their gift of magic and a curse bestowed upon any man who loves an Owens woman.
We see Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Jilly (Nicole Kidman) grow up without many boundaries, while experiencing a deep connection to each other. “We’re gonna grow old together” is a promise they make before going separate ways in adulthood.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.’ Practical Magic
Right from the start, viewers are given this invitation into a lineage of strong, independent women. There are no men around—and this is a family dynamic I’m personally quite familiar with.
I love the energy of aunts, sisters, and daughters being in union with one another. There is beauty in it. Not to mention, so much power!
Despite this power and the magical talents the Owens family held, they were judged and feared in their hometown for centuries. All Sally ever wanted to be was normal, and Jilly couldn’t wait to escape.
To stay in touch after Jilly’s move, she and Sally wrote letters to each other.
Sally’s were about the man she fell in love with, the botanical shop they were going to open, and the two daughters (more women in the lineage—yay!) they had together. The family she built gave her the “normal” life she so desperately seeked.
Jilly’s letters, on the other hand, were about her single adventures in sunny towns and her newest crush, Jimmy Angelov. “He’s strong. So much stronger than me. He can survive the curse.”
Sadly, Sally’s husband could not, and she hears the deathwatch beetle signifying his impending death too late. While she’s ripping up the floorboards in their home, Sally’s husband is hit and killed by a truck.
She knew the curse was real. She felt that it was inevitable. But that didn’t stop her from trying to find the beetle. The first place she goes after Michael’s death?
Her aunt Fran and aunt Jet’s house.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.’ Practical Magic
She pleads with them to use their magic to bring him back. Sandra Bullock’s angst and heartbreak in this scene is so palpable, I can’t help but cry every time I watch it.
The aunts explain to her that if they did perform magic to bring him back, he wouldn’t be the same. In fact, he’d be something dark and unnatural.
Sally surrenders, and decides to move back in with her aunts—this time, with her children. I love the juxtaposition of Sally moving in with the aunts after the death of her father, and then again after the death of her husband.
The comparable scenes give us this air of all roads leading back to this home, back to these women, and back to her most authentic self.
Even though we, as the viewers, might feel comfort in Sally being back in the home she grew up in, she’s less than enthused and sets ground rules for her aunts to follow while helping raise Kylie and Antonia.
“My children will never do magic. Ever.”
Given that her sister is hurting so badly, Jilly can sense the pain and takes an impromptu road trip to be there for Sally.
In a very intimate and child-like way, Jilly slides into bed with Sally to make her presence known. They don’t exchange many words. They don’t need to.
“I was really, really happy,” Sally says through tears. All Jilly does is hold her, and yet it’s the most loving response she could’ve given.
They spend the next few days in Sally’s room, sharing stories and memories, laughing and crying. Connecting again—where their true power lies. Jilly uses their mom’s death by a broken heart as the convincing that Sally needs to continue on with her life.
“Do you forgive our mother? You’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t get out of bed,” Jilly says gently. To our hope and surprise, Sally gets out of bed and spends the next few months opening the botanical shop she always dreamed of.
Outside the shop, Sally hears the all too familiar taunt, “Witch! Witch! You’re a bitch!” being said to her daughters. I found it peculiar that this wasn’t something they heard until after their dad passed.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.’ Practical Magic
It proves the point that without men in the picture, the Owens women are more harshly judged. Now they’re witches and bitches and sluts. I think this actually says a lot about society and the way we feel about a woman’s role.
Practical Magic uses witchcraft to portray the utilization of personal power. But what about women in our society that use sensuality, confidence, autonomy, and self-love to find personal power? They’re punished too.
Inequality and judgement aside, Sally admits, “I just want someone to love me. I want to be seen. There is no man, Jilly, only that moon.” (I love that last line, and I think I’m going to use it whenever my family asks me if I have a new boyfriend yet).
While Sally is yearning for love, Jilly is running from it. Or rather, running from Jimmy, who turned out to be an abusive asshole. The person who feels her distress immediately? Sally.
Together, they kill a man twice, make poor magical decisions, drink margaritas with the aunts, and divert Officer Gary Hallet just as Sally is beginning to fall in love with him.
You can watch the movie for the rest of those parts!
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.’ Practical Magic
The biggest reason I wanted to review this film is because I love what it offers to our perspective on “witches.” They are not ugly, old, and scary in Practical Magic. Instead, they are beautiful (truly—have you seen Sandra and Nicole?!), lively, and fascinating.
They practice herbalism, meditation, palm readings, and connection with the spirit world. “There’s no devil in the craft.”
We, as a society, have come a long way from The Salem Witch Trials. In the circles I run in, being woo woo is trendy. Calling yourself a witch is prideful. And for me, practicing magic is the strongest way to connect with the universe.
“Magic isn’t just spells and potions…It has power because you believe it does,” Sally says. That’s my favorite message of the movie.
No matter how I practice magic (burning incense, pulling tarot cards, looking for angel numbers, manifesting with crystals, drinking tea), it will always have power because I believe it does.
