Agatha All Along: A Daoist Lens on Witchcraft Ethics and the Balance of Power

From a Daoist perspective, Agatha’s journey in the Marvel series (played by Kathryn Hahn) can be seen through the lens of Yin and Yang—the balancing forces of light and dark in the universe. In Daoism, living fully arises from understanding and harmonizing both sides of any spectrum, including the light and the dark, aligning one's actions with the Dao (the natural order) and embracing all aspects of existence. Agatha’s connection to darker, mysterious magic symbolizes her alignment with Yin, embodying the subtle, unseen, and intuitive. Her adaptability and ambiguous nature reflect wu wei (non-action or effortless action), where her power flows naturally rather than through overt control. Agatha’s internal balance, wielding power without losing herself, mirrors the Daoist pursuit of harmony with one’s shadow while maintaining alignment with the larger balance.