Modern Day Witch Gladys Tay On Most Requested Spell & What She Won’t Agree To

“I don’t believe in using magic to bend someone’s will or cause harm, especially when it involves relationships.”

There’s a growing trend where people attempt to manifest good luck, find love, gain wealth or ensure the perfect wedding-day weather by buying spells from ‘Etsy Witches’. We chatted with one such witch, Singaporean Gladys Tay, a psychic and spiritual guide who curates personalised spells. Born and raised in Singapore, Gladys spent two decades in Minnesota, USA, but after leaving an 18-year marriage, she has recently returned to her home. Here she lets us in on the most requested spells, why she sometimes refuses certain spell requests and what she says to naysayers.

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You started your spiritual journey doing psychic readings for friends – have you always been psychic?

I have been psychic for as long as I can remember. As a child, I could sense, see and hear spirits and subtle energies, though at the time I often dismissed these experiences as imagination. Energy, after all, is intangible and as a young girl still learning about the world, I had no framework for what I was feeling. Over the years, through life’s experiences, I came to understand and embrace my abilities, communicating with those who have passed, receiving premonitions and reading people’s energy through presence, thought or even photographs.

Much of my early practice was with friends and family, and their encouragement eventually gave me the courage to share my gifts more widely. For many years, I worked as a designer and vintage dealer in Minneapolis, and while I loved the beauty and history of that work, I always carried the quiet knowing that my true calling was waiting. I’ve often joked that my dream was simple, to sit at home surrounded by my favorite vintage objects in the background, dressed in one of my favorite kaftan dresses, as people came by for readings. What once felt like a lighthearted wish has now become reality, a life where I am fully devoted to offering clarity, healing and spiritual insight.

How did you get into making spells?

Since I was 15 years old, I have lived as a vegetarian, and later as a vegan. My choice was not only about health but about energy. Everything we consume carries vibration, and foods provided by Mother Nature hold a living energy that influences how we feel, think and connect spiritually. When we eat in alignment with vibration, we raise our clarity, expand our intuition, and strengthen our ability to heal.

Herbs, in particular, are powerful allies. Each carries its own unique vibration and purpose. For instance, lemon balm lifts the spirit and soothes a broken heart, while yellow dock is known for drawing in clients and opportunities for business. By learning how to work with these natural vibrations, we can weave them into daily life not only as nourishment but also as tools of transformation.

Over time, I also discovered how crystals and candles, when paired together, could create a potent concoction of energy, amplified by intention and love. It began as a process of curiosity, which includes reading and self-education, experimentation, and noticing what worked and what did not. Slowly, through practice and experience, these experiments became part of my spiritual journey, evolving into a practice of spell work.

What would you say is the most requested spell?

One of the most requested spells I receive is for debt relief and financial abundance. In many ways, this reflects the times we are living in, with the rising cost of living and growing uncertainty in job security, it is only natural that so many seek stability and freedom. Financial ease has become less of a luxury and more of a heartfelt necessity. While magic cannot erase every challenge, it can offer relief, a sense of empowerment and a way to invite in greater flow and opportunity.

Do you have any interesting stories on whether your spells work?

Over the years, two stories in particular have stayed with me. One was of a woman who came to me with the hope of rekindling her relationship with her current partner. Her request was very specific, so I created a spell tailored just for her. I always remind clients to allow at least one full moon cycle to notice results, and to stay open to the subtle signs the universe may send along the way. About six weeks later, she reached out to me. To her surprise, instead of reigniting her current relationship, it was her former lover who returned and contacted her. As we sat together in consultation, she began to realise that what she thought she wanted was not what her heart was truly asking for. Beneath her wish to repair the present relationship was a deeper truth, she was still in love with her ex-partner. The spell had gently guided her toward clarity and honesty with herself, helping her uncover what she truly desired.

Another client sought a spell kit for prosperity and relief from financial stress. We designed the work carefully, choosing specific days and times to align with her intentions. When I reconnected with her two months later, she told me she had been hoping for something immediate, even something as small as a lottery win. Yet what unfolded was far greater, she was offered a new job with a much higher salary and stability, something that not only exceeded her expectations but brought lasting comfort to her and her family. What she thought she wanted was different from what she truly needed and the universe responded with wisdom.

Both of these experiences affirmed for me that spells work in alignment with our deepest intentions, even when we are not fully aware of them ourselves. We may ask for one thing, but the layers of our hearts often reveal another. The universe listens closely, responding not just to words, but to the truth beneath them. And when we surrender to divine timing, the outcome often turns out better than what we imagined.

Have you ever been asked to concoct a spell that you have refused on ethical grounds?

Yes, I have been asked many times to cast spells on others and I have always declined. Spells are not about control. They are about aligning with our highest intentions. I do not believe in using magic to bend someone’s will or cause harm, especially when it involves relationships. True spell work is meant to amplify, to support and to open pathways, never to manipulate.

When we attempt to cast against another’s free will, the energy never brings good. The universe reflects back what we send out, often tenfold. If we pour out love and integrity, that is what returns to us. If we send out force or harm, the same will circle back. This is why I always guide clients who come with such requests to instead turn their focus inward.

When we shift our own vibration, the world around us responds. People may no longer affect us in the same way, and sometimes their very attitude changes without us forcing anything at all. In the end, the most powerful magic begins with ourselves with our energy, our healing, and our intention.

What do you say to naysayers who might say selling spells deceives people who may be vulnerable?

That is absolutely true. I do not deny that the selling of spells can sometimes be misleading, which is why I always advise people never to buy blindly. Before purchasing, take the time to research, understand what the ingredients are meant to do, and set clear intentions about what you truly need. Clarity is key. Just as important is knowing who you are buying from. The market is vast, and it can feel overwhelming to decide whom to trust.

In moments of uncertainty, it is wise to turn inward, to listen to your intuition and your guides. If you feel naturally drawn to someone’s energy, their practice, or their aura, that is often a sign of alignment and trust already forming. Choose only from those who feel right to you, and never because someone pressures or convinces you. In the end, the best guidance always comes from within. Your inner knowing will lead you to the right person, the right tools and the right path.

Do you use spells on yourself?

Yes, I do cast spells for myself but they are always gentle, focused on clarity, happiness and strength. I never ask for anything complicated or material beyond reach. Often, it is the simplest intentions, such as peace, that open the greatest insights, helping me see my path with clarity and grace. I trust deeply in divine timing, allowing life to unfold as it is meant to, rather than pushing for a specific outcome. In that surrender, the universe always reveals what is truly needed.

Is witchcraft something that anyone can get into or do you need to have a special calling?

White witchcraft can be practiced by anyone, for we all carry the gift of intuition, the ability to sense, to feel and to see beyond the surface. Like any skill, it blossoms with practice. The more we lean into it, the more we learn to trust our inner voice, and the more natural it becomes to walk in alignment with it. Intuition is a quiet power that can be nurtured, refined, and strengthened over time.

For some, however, the calling goes deeper, a pull to serve as healers, guides or channels for others. Yet even in this path, the most important work always begins within. When we heal and ground ourselves first, our practice grows stronger, more balanced, and more powerful. In this way, our own light becomes the foundation from which we can safely and compassionately support the light in others.

The word “witch” has historically been used to shame certain women. How do you reclaim that word as a source of empowerment?

The word witch has a heavy history. For centuries, it was used to shame or silence women who were seen as too independent or too intuitive. Reclaiming it today, for me, is about turning that story of fear into one of empowerment.

When I call myself a witch, I’m choosing to honor intuition, to live in rhythm with nature, and to embrace practices that heal and uplift. It’s also a way of paying respect to the women who carried this wisdom quietly before us, often at great risk.
So instead of shame, the word witch becomes a source of strength, a reminder that our voices, our choices, and our magic are powerful and worth celebrating.

You recently moved back to Singapore after living in Minnesota – what led you to move there originally and why have you decided to return?

I recently returned to Singapore after choosing to end an 18-year marriage, a decision I knew was the most loving step I could take for myself. Though Minnesota has long been home, Singapore has always been where my roots run deep, with family, friends, and a sense of belonging that never left me. In this season of rediscovery, being back here feels like a sacred reset, a chance to reflect, to realign, and to explore where the next stage of life will lead. It is both grounding and exciting, a new beginning that carries the strength of my past and the hope of what is yet to come.

Have you noticed a difference in how people accept your vocation as a psychic and offering spells in Singapore compared to the US?

I feel that practices such as meditation, energy work and spiritual rituals are becoming more widely accepted across the world as society evolves and opens to new ways of healing. That said, in America there can still be stigma attached to words like ‘witch’ or ‘witchcraft,’ which is understandable given its history and associations. In Singapore, however, spirituality is expressed differently and often more openly, whether through temple prayers, offerings for blessings, or mediums entering trance states, these practices are part of the cultural fabric and widely embraced.

White witchcraft, while a more recent concept here, carries a spiritual essence that makes it easier to accept and understand. It bridges cultures by showing that, at its heart, this work is not about fear or superstition, but about intention, alignment and the universal desire for healing. In every culture, the language and form may differ, but the human longing for connection with spirit remains the same.

Tell us about the cute kids in your pics

When I was younger, I often imagined the idea of having children of my own. At one point, I thought marriage might naturally lead me there, but deep inside I knew I wasn’t ready to step fully into motherhood. My heart was drawn toward building my career and learning more about myself first. Though I have always loved children, I eventually came to accept that remaining “single” might be the path I was meant to take.

Yet life has a beautiful way of filling the spaces we think are empty. My cousins’ children (pictured) came into my world and, almost instantly, we bonded in a way that felt natural and profound, as though they were my own. This connection has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Not only do I get to share in their laughter and growth, but I also have the privilege of gently guiding them on a spiritual journey. I’ve introduced them to crystals as sources of calm and strength, and even showed them how to use apps that help protect their energy and nurture their sense of inner peace. Watching them embrace these practices with such openness and curiosity reminds me that family and love can take many forms, and that the role of a guide is every bit as meaningful as that of a parent.

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