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Post by aiyanna on Feb 27, 2006 13:28:23 GMT -5
The following is information from Spells that Work website. For all text please log onto the site. • Never shall you use Magick, nor the Craft, to cause harm, for this is misuse of the Power, and it is not to be condoned. To cause the death of another through the Craft is to require the death of the Self in sacrifice. • No one of the Wicca may do anything which will endanger the Craft, nor bring any of the Wicca into conflict with the Law of the Land, or with any of our persecutors. • You shall never take unduly from any human, animal or elemental that which is not yours to take - for if you steal from another, in the end you will have to sacrifice something dearer to you in order to attain the balance. • The Law of the Goddess is that none of the Wicca shall take and wed someone who they do not love, whether it is to harm another, or for some form of material gain. • Remember that your children are Goddess-spawned, and are free spirits. You do not own nor control them. They are your brethren, come to visit for a while, that they may share in the vision of your love and wisdom. Let each parent realize that although they may teach and guide with love, the child shall also teach the parent, and aid them in their growth and lesson.
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Post by aiyanna on Feb 27, 2006 13:29:09 GMT -5
A short essay on Pagan ethics and the act of casting spells. "An ye harm none, do what ye will". This simple but elegant statement should stand alone without a lot of explanation. It is the Golden Rule of Pagans. But like the Golden Rule it is not that easy to abide by. "An ye harm none...". This includes a prohibition of harming yourself. It includes a prohibition of casting spells that alter the natural cycle of the Earth, of casting a spell to obtain someone else's job, or lover or property. I have become aware recently of two incidents which illustrate this rule. A woman's father was extremely ill and was in a nursing home. This was very difficult for the family as he had always been a vibrant and strong personality. Without asking and without being asked, this woman visualized her fathers death so that he would no longer be in this debilitating state. BUT...she did not have the right to do so. He may very well have fought to stay alive to enjoy his time left with his family, to resolve issues that still plagued him. She denied time to him. She denied any resolution to those things that may have been important to him. In another instance a woman cast a spell so that her son's little league team would beat the other side. Innocent fun? Maybe. But she also denied the kids the right to win or lose based on their own merits and abilities. Spell craft is not a game. It is not to be treated as such or always viewed as ethical. While we may yearn to help people in need we should not go beyond the normal to twist events which will alter the outcome of the future. What we may define as "doing good" may, in fact be the opposite. We cannot know the consequences of our actions without all the information at hand. If the woman's father had told her that he wished to die, that he was satisfied with his life and he asked her help to do so--to pass on in a normal way--then it may have been appropriate action to take. We do not have the power of life and death because we are Wiccan. We must observe the higher laws and principles given by the Goddess and the God. Lately there have been many books published on the use of spells. I call these books "spell fluff". They are superficial and they distort the purpose of Wicca. It is important that we educate people about what we really are and what we are about--not add to the perception that we are self-serving and irresponsible. There is no harm in casting spells to help ourselves or others. But they should not be specific. If we are lonely and want a mate we should ask for one and define the attributes we are seeking--but we should not manipulate people by casting a spell on a particular person. That removes the free will option that people have a right to. Generalities should be used. If we would like our neighbors job we don't ask for his job but for one like it. We should not seek things at the expense of another. For some reason I have always been unsuccessful in obtaining material things for myself through spells. I believe it is due to a belief I have that I should not use it for myself. Ritual and spell work should be reserved for higher issue--the survival of species, for protecting cultures,people and the Earth. Because of that feeling I will probably never succeed in getting that new car because it really isn't all that important. "...do what ye will". This is to be done with common sense. While it may not harm anyone, to have children at a ritual and to permit people to go skyclad may not be appropriate. We should examine a little more closely the intent of our actions and who are present. Pagan ethics have long been debated in the Pagan community. This is as it should be as there are always two sides to every issue. However, we must act according to the laws of nature and realise that for every cause (ie., "spell") there will be an effect--perhaps one that we do not anticipate. As the old adage states, "be careful for what you wish, for you might receive it".
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Post by aiyanna on Feb 27, 2006 13:31:19 GMT -5
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Post by aiyanna on Feb 27, 2006 13:41:20 GMT -5
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Post by aiyanna on Feb 28, 2006 23:19:43 GMT -5
Ethics of Love SpellsSo you're all set to turn your love life around and actually HAVE a love life. That's wonderful. You've set aside time for the spell and a have a victim all picked out for a target. Um, STOP! Like every other aspect of magick, love magick has certain laws and limitations. Love is complex, a magick in itself for non-believers with laws both unique to it and some still conforming to the greater physics-like laws of magick in the greater universe. The ethical guidelines to working love magick fall well within the boundaries of the laws of magick. Most of the time, using magick unethically produces results in keeping with the unethical behavior - for example, if a person does a love spell to force someone to fall in love with him or her, either the spellcaster will have difficulty ending the relationship (which guaranteed will go bad) or will later have a spell cast on him or her of a similar fashion. The law of three is more than just a random threat to keep beginning witches in line -- it is a fact of universal law. When working love magick, the most important issue to consider beforehand is how the spell will affect free will. Violating free will is the same as raping a person -- it's just on a spiritual level so you can't see the results. The long term effects on the person are always bad, even if you "didn't mean any harm." Those effects can include obsessive-compulsive behavior, trust issues later in life or these people can develop abusive behaviors that would likely not have been modeled without the effects of a compelling love spell. Forcing someone to love you meets with disaster so just don't do it. After all, voluntary love affairs are sweet and healthy, even if they might not last as long. A few good experiences outweigh a long term relationship that only remains because of the effort of conquest. Next on the ethical checklist is knowing what you want and how you are willing to change. Wanting a date to have a little fun is far different from looking for a soulmate; this can affect the spell you choose and what you project for when casting the spell. When you cast a spell, even if you only half-believe in the effectiveness of magick, be prepared to get what you ask for in a sometimes literal sense. If you project for "the dangerous type" you just might be asked out by a local drug dealer a week later. Think through your requests, always. In ideal relationships, Mr. or Ms. Right adore you as you are. However, Mr.s and Ms.s bring baggage, perspectives and lifestyles with them since most that stepped out of the universe created for you now exist only in mythology (and those too tended to meet with disaster). Whenever you meet and become intimate with a new person, you change, just based on the information you absorb about the other person. Are you willing to let your life as it is change? Some people only seek partners because they fear being alone. In an ideal world or an ideal state of mental health, they would recognize that love relationships are meant to enrich an already full life, not fill a void. However, culture at large places such a high value on partnerships that many people will seek out lovers and stay in unhappy relationships for too long because of a fear of the stigma of living aone. Knowing yourself also tells you who you are and aren't compatible with -- the most important part of love magick. Many times, who you are attracted to is not who you are compatible with but learning that is a process that can take decades. Again, you might project for someone sexy and exciting only to find that that person might be fun in bed but has a maddening habit of flossing his or her teeth while watching television. Who are you? By knowing who you are, you can define who someone is that you can live with -- it sounds a little sad, but some people really do need to add good hygiene as a requirement for a partner in a love spell. Finally, love magick based on voluntary guidelines means that you are not making a contract to "take what you get." Part of the purpose behind love magick is to give yourself more freedom to choose - you can choose to be alone or not to be alone; you can also broaden your selection of interested partners to make sure you find the man or woman you want! If you choose to enact love magick, act in accord. Remember to take care of any needs you might have first before starting - if there is a family member sick, stress at work (or unemployment) or other problems that can distract, it is most likely a good time to wait. Make sure you have time and interest in being social; if the person doesn't "click" then just decline a second date and go on with your life - -someone will come along soon! Present yourself as more attractive and most importantly, have fun!
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Post by aiyanna on Mar 3, 2006 19:44:35 GMT -5
Doing Spells for YourselfFrom Terri Paajanen, Your Guide to Pagan / Wiccan ReligionA commonly held attitude towards spellwork and ethics, is that doing spells to benefit oneself is not 'allowed'. Personally, I disagree. Am I not just as important as anyone else (in a cosmic sense)? Why should my own needs or wants be unaddressed, while those of other people are fair game? I think part of the underlying cause for this belief is the cultural influence of Christianity and other religions that preach how denying oneself is supposed to bring you closer to God. Going without is holy, and wanting anything for yourself is sinful. How depressing! Unfortunately, this mindset is common even among people who don't consider themselves Christian. It can be difficult to break. If you spent many years in law school, would it be wrong to take a well-paying position in a legal firm? Should you not use the skills and knowledge you have acquired for the betterment of your own life? You should look at magick the same way. If you have to skills to accomplish things in your life, why not use them? Prosperity or money spells tend to be the one's that make people stop and think about using magick for their own gain. Well, a typical prosperity spell doesn't result in a bucket of money showing up at your doorstep. There are many ways for it to manifest itself: a promotion at work, opportunity for an extra shift or overtime, new employment offers, or any number of other ways. In all of these cases, you are still required to earn the extra money. Since you have earned the money yourself, I see nothing improper about the situation. I think that when your needs or wants become selfish, greedy or extravagent, then it becomes a different matter. But greed can come into play with or without magick. Use the same judgment as you would when making any decisions. These are my own personal views on the matter, and shouldn't be taken as 'gospel'. Trust your own heart when it comes to deciding whether or not you should work magick for your own benefit. Just don't deny yourself anything because of misplaced spiritual guilt.
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Post by aiyanna on Mar 3, 2006 19:44:53 GMT -5
The ethics of casting love spellsFrom Terri Paajanen, Your Guide to Pagan / Wiccan ReligionBefore I begin, I want to make sure you understand that the following is my own views on the ethics of doing love spells and may not be the same as the opinions of others. The standard position among Pagans is that you should never do spells to make a particular person love you. This is pretty much set in stone. Trying to change the emotions of another is clearly manipulation and should not be attempted. Besides, it's not really love and the relationship will inevitably end badly for both you and your 'victim'. Do not try to delude yourself by thinking he (or she) really loves you, just doesn't realize it or is afraid to act. Even if this scenario is true, that doesn't make it OK for you to force the issue. But there are variations of love magick that many people (including myself) consider to be acceptable. The best way to perform magick to improve your love life is to stick to rituals or spells that will draw love to you, but that do NOT have any references to particular people. Sort of like creating an astral love beacon. Perhaps make a red charm bag filled with items like rose petals, rose quartz crystal, orris root, and a bit of patchouli oil. Envision the bag as a magnet, drawing a loving relationship towards you, and let nature take its course. Other ethical uses for love-related magick would be to help heal or improve an existing relationship, as long as you are not trying to specifically force the other person into feeling something that is not there. You should get permission from your other half before doing any spells of this type. Better communication, having more time to spend together, or even a spicier sex life are all possible aspects of a relationship that might need some help. One more thing to mention. You might also cast a spell inwards rather than outwards: magick to increase your confidence, improve your conversational skills, or even to bring you a bit of extra money so you can afford to go out a bit more. There are spells, often called 'glamours' that can supposedly change your outward appearance, and make you more physically attractive. I don't know anyone who actually does magick like this, and I personally find the idea a little iffy. Even if such a spell did work, eventually your new love will see the real you, unless you plan on working magick on yourself every day for the duration of the relationship. Of course, magick can only do so much. If you spend all your free time sitting at home, no spell will be able to help you. Even with a spell working for you, you still need to get out of the house, be social, and get talking to people.
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