Magical Ethics

I think ethics are a very important component when it comes to practicing anything, especially magic and Witchcraft. However, even the most common sense ethics can manifest in undesired results.

I came across some "questions" someone posted about what to think about when planning on doing a working, however I see some flaws in these..."ethical questions".

1) "Am I doing this work with the permission and full knowledge of those that are to be affected"
--Unfortunately not everyone is available obtain permission for each and every work. Sometimes a situation could be so dire that you need to do it right away and you cannot obtain permission in time. Do we sit back and do nothing because we were unable to obtain permission?

2) "Am I doing this thing with good intentions and to their specifications?"
--The specifications shouldn't be the issue here, especially if YOU were the one who created the spell. It should be cast exactly the way you envisioned it.

The issue is the intention. Even the best intended spell can yield the worst result. One can cast with the best intention (say to stop a person from harming themselves with addiction), casting with your own personal intention in mind could end up making the person indulge more. One needs to be careful with intent and be absolutely sure about what it is they are doing. IS it right, and IS it the right time??

3) "Will this spell negatively impact others while I am helping this person?"
--Most likely. A job spell could result in the job being taken away from another person just so you can get it.  If you focus too much on how a spell is going to negatively impact another, you'd never cast spells. All spells will have both positive AND negative effects on other people. The thing to do is to weigh the pro's and con's, and determine which is more important.

4) "Am I taking away the free will of the persons involved?"
--Most likely you will take the free will of a person away when you cast. Essentially you are determining the direction of another's life through casting. Sometimes, though, you need to, especially if someone is participating in a destructive activity (i.e. drugs). Again, you need to determine if it's necessary. For the most part, though, many spells have nothing to do with another's free will, so you really don't need to worry about this.

5) "Am I working this spell while keeping it in a positive moral parameter?"
--That really depends on your OWN "moral parameters". One could consider what they do as being within "positive moral parameters", while an outsider could see it as being within "negative" moral parameters. Some people think casting curses is considered "negative" in the moral guideline. I think it depends on the situation. If you're cursing to protect yourself, then that's perfectly acceptable, but if you're cursing because someone spread an untrue rumor about you, then that's UNacceptable. Whose "moral parameter" are we working with, and is it meant to be universal?

6) "Is this spell something that is realistic and not overly fantastical in expectation?"
--This one I think hits the nail on the head and I have no criticisms for. If you're going to cast, MAKE SURE what you wish for your desired outcome is realistic and not based on fantasy. If you're watching a fantasy program and get the idea that you can change your hair color without the aid of a hair color treatment, but with an incantation...that's an example of unrealistic expectations. The only way you can change your hair color is through the use of hair treatment. The only way to change your eye color is by using contacts, the only way to lose weight is through exercise and a healthy diet. It's unrealistic to expect spells to drastically change your physical appearance. Realistic expectations is to cast a money spell and expect it'll come in it's due time, and through realistic means (i.e. a new job, a raise, promotion, etc).

7) "Are those involved within full understanding of what they are asking and responsible for?"
--I would certainly hope that ANYONE casting would understand what they are asking for and are responsible for what they ask for. If you don't understand what you're asking for, then you shouldn't be casting. If you don't want to be responsible for your actions, then you shouldn't be casting. It's simple as that.

8) "Is this spell for the person requesting it or is it simply for my own gain?
--Casting can be done for both, and be perfectly acceptable. You can cast a spell for a person requesting that you do so. My problem with that is funds...I would think a person casting for another would do so because they want to help, not for profit. If the requesting party wishes to donate money or supplies, then that's fine, but when someone says "I'll do X for X amount of money"...that to me gives the sense that they're only in it for money, not to help. I feel working for profit makes our craft cheap, and brings it down as a whole (but that's just my opinion).

Working for self gain is also acceptable. There's NO law ANYWHERE that forbids or prohibits a Witch or spell caster from casting for personal gain. The idea that you can't originated with "Charmed" and seems to be perpetuated by so many teen Witches. The fact is, EVERY spell cast is cast with some sort of "personal gain" attached. You cast them, and you gain either through the satisfaction of helping another, or to get something for yourself. And there's NOTHING wrong with that. It's ok to be selfish now and then.




Everyone needs ethics when they cast, but you need to take reality into account. Not all ethics work well with the reality of casting spells. If you're too ethical, you'll never cast, but if you're not ethical enough, you could hurt someone. Determine what's enough, and go from there.

Spells: A Right?

An individual watched a YouTube video in which a "Pagan" or whatever proceeded to rant about people using money spells, and determined those who are poor deserve to be so as per "Karma".

While this got my blood boiling considering my husband and I have numerous debts in which we never intended on having (no thanks to greedy lawyers), I don't see how this is karmic retribution and have a strong feeling this person has no idea what "Karma" is outside of the Wiccan bastardization of the word (meaning that it's a rubber vs. glue situation, and only about punishment).

But I digress. The point of this post is...is it our RIGHT to cast spells and do we have the RIGHT to cast what we want?

Personally I believe it is my RIGHT to cast what I want, when I want so long as I take the personal responsibility for what I do (meaning I accept the consequences of what I do).

I don't need someone telling me what I can and cannot do with my craft. I have the free will to determine what I feel is necessary to do with my craft, however unethical it may be to another. My craft holds no bearing on another, and if I deem something to be negative or against my own PERSONAL ethics, I won't do it. But because another feels the need to determine that I am in the wrong for practicing money spells (to boost my need for funds, certainly not out of greed) or that I have no "right" to do them, who is she to determine this, or what my rights are as a Witch?

I don't tell people what to do. I may speak generally when I say many people feel certain acts are unethical, but I would NEVER say to someone that they have no right to cast certain spells. I personally see love spells geared towards certain people as unethical, but people can cast them all they like; I also see spells for petty revenge unethical as well, but people are free to cast them all they like as well. They may be against my own PERSONAL ethic, but it's not me doing the casting, and it's not me who must face the consequences, so to each his own...let them cast what they will. It's not my place to police spell casters...in fact it's NO one's place. There's no such thing as a spells police, so why act as if there is?

I believe it's a person's right to cast what they wish and let their own personal ethics and feelings determine what they feel is right and wrong regarding what they do, and leave other people out of it. It reeks of fluffy when someone has to determine for others what they can and cannot do.





Ma’iingan

"What's Wrong with 'Harm None'": A Forum Topic

Oh, I wish I could have written something like this myself. This is so well written, and SOOOO needs to be said in a big bad way. This thread discusses the Wiccan Rede, and why it does **NOT** say "Harm None".

I think everyone...new, old, in between NEEDS to read this, because there are entirely TOO many people out there perpetuating the belief that the Wiccan Rede is saying "Do No Harm Ever".

Please, please I urge you to read this, and then research the word "Rede".

http://www.wiccantogether.com/forum/topics/the-rede-or-what-s-wrong-with-harm-none





Ma’iingan

Gardner's 161 Ardanes and Their Applicablity to Today

In yet another of the varied classes I have taken over the years, one lesson asked to read over Gardner's 161 Ardanes or Laws, and determine which you agreed with and which you didn't.

Many people think that Wicca's laws ARE these 161 Ardanes...however many of these "laws" really aren't applicable to today's society (not to mention the fact that many "Wiccans" have never heard of these laws to begin with, even though they were written by Wicca's creator").

Here are some examples of what don't really apply to today and modern ways of Wicca:


   *4. "As a man loveth a woman by mastering her" 

--Firstly, I know of no woman who feels loved by her "man" when he "masters" her. Most women feel degraded and belittled when their husband's/significant other's believe themselves to be "masters". I also believe that no man should master a woman, just as no woman should master a man. Each should live by equality, not by dominence, so that neither side is denied anything nor attaining anything in excess.

   *24. "So be it orgained that none but the Wicca may see our mysteries, for our enemies are many and torture loosens the tongue of man".

--I think that...Today...this doesn't apply. For the most part we have freedom of religion and belief (at least here in North America), and that we should bring the Wicca (and other Pagan practices) out of the shadows and freely practice. Yes, it may not be so simple, but necessary acts aren't always so pleasant in order for true freedom to be attained.

   *35. "And if any break these laws, even under torture, THE CURSE OF THE GODDESS SHALL BE UPON THEM, so they may never be reborn on earth and may remain where they belong, in the hell of the Christians".

--I think that to resort to the low form of Christian threat is a negative thing, particularly with a religion that prides itself upon tolerance. I realize that this was written in the early times of Wicca's beginnings, however, today, I don't feel this applies, as no Wiccan believes in the Christian hell.

   *51. "If  you would keep a book, let it be in your own hand of write. Let brothers and sisters copy what they will, but never let the book out of your hands, and never keep the writings of another." 

--What I DISAGREE with in this, is where it states: "Let brothers and sisters copy what they will". I believe that it should be at the discretion of the book's owner. If the owner of the book does not wish to allow another to copy contents within the book, the owner has the right to deny access to it.

--I also want to note a contradiction to this law: "...and never keep the writings of another". To allow a brother or sister to copy what they will of your book, as stated in the beginning of the second sentence of this law, and regardless of if the writing is in your own handwriting, it still belongs to the owner of the book from whom you copied, thus you are keeping the writing of another. You would be violating this law by following it. A contradiction.

   *61. "Keep all thoughts of the craft from your mind".

--This being written in times when the last of the Witchcraft laws were JUST being repealed, I don't think this can apply to our society or community anymore, as again, we have the freedom of belief, and today, we can freely think all we like about our craft, we can even talk openly about it.

On the flip side though, here are some examples of "Laws" that could remain valuable to the Wiccan community today

   *36. "Let each High Priestess govern her Coven with justice and love, with the help and advice of the High Priest and the Elders, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of the Gods if he cometh".

--I feel that in a coven setting, the High Priest and Priestess should be the leadership role in which the coveners look up to for help and advice, and when a problem arises, they are to resolve it. They are the representatives of the God and Goddess, thus shall take on such a role.

   *51. "If  you would keep a book, let it be in your own hand of write. Let brothers and sisters copy what they will, but never let the book out of your hands, and never keep the writings of another."

--I agree with the first part of this law, that the book should be of your own handwriting, as this infuses it with your energeis, your time, your essence. This (as with any tool) makes this item truly YOURS

   *54. "Learn as much as you may by heart and, when danger is past, rewrite your book, an it be safe".

--I agree with the first part of this law, that you should learn as much as you may by heart, because I think ritual and spell work should be memorized, that way we're not confined to a book, and when conducting in nature, one does not need to carry their large book with them, merely to conduct ritual.

   *79. "Never boast, never threaten, never say you would wish ill of anyone".

--I agree with this merely because I was brought up to never think ill of another, lest something happen actually happen to that person. I was raised to believe that even thoughts can have actions and outcomes, so to be careful of what we think. The first two in this sentence just go with common sense. Boasting never leads to anything positive, nor does threateneing anyone.

   *76. "Let the colors of the hilts tell which is which."

--No one likes to be confused on their tools :)

I think it's important that if one is to go over the Ardanes, that they should take them with a grain of salt, and realize that they WERE written in a time when it was still quite dangerous to be open about your occult practices. Because today things are a little more calm, many of these Ardanes are no longer applicable, and should maybe be seen as a historical reference as to how things were at the beginnings of Wicca.

Ma’iingan

The concept of "Sin"

I answered a question asking if Witches believe in "Sin" or if they believed it to be a Judeo-Christian concept.

Naturally I answered that I don't believe in sin, for that sin is merely a guilt trip to make people feel guilty about doing or feeling things that are actually quite natural for the human body.

However, I noticed another answer by another seasoned answerer that actually made sense to me.

"Erisian" said: "What *I* would consider a sin, is offense against the Self: i.e. Not following one's own moral guidelines. Since we are each tasked with developing our own morality, it is sinful in my mind to do something that you know will lead to a sense of guilt or dispair, and the guilt and dispair is the punishment"
(you can find both of our answers here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjeB0MaSRy63wM3sPkUIuabq1KIX;_ylv=3?qid=20120215002700AAzSNZ0)

This got me thinking. That makes a lot of sense. Sin doesn't necessarily have to be  a Judeo-Christian concept, it can be a Pagan one too...depending on the context. While when we typically hear the word "sin" we think of the Christian concept, in which whatever we do that is against God (that is..the God of Abraham)...will thusly be tallied up and at the end of this life, that tally is totalled and you are either sent to heaven or hell...however, "Sin" in a Pagan construct could be a sin against the self...in which you go against YOURSELF and your morality. When you feel guilty about what you have done or not done, that is your punishment for your own personal sin.

It's interesting when others give you new insight to something you never bothered to take a second look at...especially when you have been biased for so many years. This is why most of the time I give Christians the benefit of the doubt about their beliefs...because when you're biased against them, you miss something you would have never thought of that shed a better light for you, regardless of the context or situation.


Thank you "Erisian Trubble"





Ma’iingan

Cause and Effect, and Magic

I have a bit of a problem with many people's ideas about "Cause and Effect" and the role it plays within magical practices. I know many people like to repeat at nauseum things found in books without much thought (this doesn't mean everyone, so don't get your panties in a bunch), but many people like to repeat an idea within physics that I don't think they really understand.

This whole idea about "cause and effect" returning energy to the sender or a loose form of the "Law of Three" I still don't understand how people can still cling to this idea like a security blanket.

In physics we understand the theory of motion..."for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". What is it then that the energy sent out is hitting to cause it's return to the sender? Energy (that which is sent out by a person) is in a sense particles, let's say. Everything is made up of energetic particles. In a sense, the way I see it, energy would either merge or go through objects or things in it's way...so what is this energy bouncing off of, to cause it's return to the sender?

Again, why I don't subscribe to this idea of "Law of Three" or "Law of Return". It doesn't make sense, metaphorically, or physically. For the "Threefold Law" to make sense or even work, it would have to violate this "Law of Motion", because of the simple fact that it states "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". For the Threefold Law to work, the law of motion would say "for every action, there is a multiplied and opposite reaction". The Law of Motion doesn't work this way, therefore the "Threefold Law" doesn't make sense.

"The Law of a Witch"

I'm rather tired of having people assume that because I'm a Witch, I automatically follow the Wiccan Rede and Threefold Laws. Because of this, I have come up with my OWN "Law", stating what I believe and shall do...my own ethics. I call it "The Law of a Witch"

Now, I'm putting this up for others to view. If you should choose to add it to your own Book of Shadows, **PLEASE** can we be grown up and 1) ask permission before you do, and 2) cite this as my work. You wouldn't try passing off Scott Cunningham's work as your own, so please don't do that with my (or anyone else's) work
Thanks.

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