The Rules of Magick, According
to Wiccan Belief
I thought it would be a good idea to include this. So everyone could get an idea of how we view and for what purposes we use magick.
What we DON'T do
Wiccan Witches do not put curses on people.
We don't shed blood in ritual, although some women may make a menstrual offering, and some may offer a drop of their OWN blood in ritual, we do not slaughter anything to offer to our dieties, for they don't need blood to be duly worshipped.
We don't use magick for frivelous, egotistical, or selfish reasons. This cheapens the effects of this gift. The Power should never be used for profit either. If you want to accept a donation, this is fine, but don't require the person you're casting for to give you anything. Greed only swallows those who wield it into its clutches.
We don't use magick to bend someone's will. Meaning, we don't cause people to fall in love with us, because more than likely this is not a "love" spell it's a LUST spell, and you really REALLY may not like the results of this. However, if your signifigant other has consented to such a ritual of magick to make the love stronger between you, or something of this sort, then it may be ok, just be careful what you ask for. Being in love for eternity (for *example*) and being together forever are two totally different things! Attracting the "perfect" one to you is also not the same as "I want so-and-so in particular to fall in love with ME!" Results of these kinds of spells are not usually what you want. How would you feel if YOU were on the other end of the spell? What if you didn't care at all for the caster of the spell? Think this one over!
Beauty spells is another I have heard in the past several months. I think this could be attributed to the release of the science fiction movie "The Craft" First of all, why would the God/esses want to change who you are in this life? Secondly, the movie was a piece of fiction, magick doesn't work like that in the real world. As far as changing our looks, even if you are a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim whatever your belief system is we are all put here for a purpose, and yes, our looks go along with this. These things make us who we are, and define our purposes. We are here to learn, and to make the best of our lives. I'm not trying to offend anyone, I'm not extremely happy about what I look like! But I'm happy about who I am. A friend of mine told me once that I look like a model, but I doubt the whole world has that view about me. *grin* But seriously, be happy about who you are! Hold your head high and know that you are beautiful. We all have something to be proud of. You don't need a spell to do this, go get your hair styled, or your nails done, or do anything nice for yourself, a spell isn't going to change the world for you.
We also don't use any drugs when in ritual. Sometimes, however, Wiccans sometimes drink wine in the "Simple Feast" which follows a ritual. It's not to "get plastered" though, just a small cup full, and the Wiccan usually offers a bit of Wine, and cakes, to thier Patron God/ess. This is done either in a libation bowl, or poured directly into the ground. Herbs can also be burnt as an offering. We don't always use wine, as an example, during an Esbat (a moon rite; usually done on the full moon, but any moon-related ritual connecting the Goddess to the Moon is considered an Esbat) Wiccans sometimes use milk (it's white like the moon).
I also cannot stress enough
the importance of precaution in herb-use in rituals. If they are burned
or ingested make sure they are among the non-poisonous variety, and make
sure you are not allergic to it. Even if it is a non-poisonous type (like
cinnamon, garlic, parsley etc) there could be a chance that you might be
allergic. Allergies are nothing to fool with. If you think you are having
an allergic reaction: Call a Poison Control Center or call your local emergency
number, in most places, in the USA, it is 911. Find out what yours is,
and keep it near a phone (you should do that anyway). I'm being quite serious.
You don't have to tell the Poison Control people what you were using the
herb for, just tell them you need help to know what to do in case this
is an allergic reaction, and tell them what you think caused it (the name
of the herb, or whatever caused the reaction).
As far was what we DO use Magick for is simply this:
The Types of Magick
Healing: Healing a person, ourselves, animals, even plants, and Mother Earth.
Divination: Fortelling possible outcomes. A useful tool when working magick. Scrying is the most well-known of fortelling the future (crystal balls is the most well-known method, the first crystal ball used for scrying was not quartz, however. It is a crystal called beryl.), tarot cards, crystal balls, lakes, glasses of water, magick mirrors, and even lenses can be used to scry. It only takes concentration and practice.
Attraction Spells: Not to be cast on specific people, however. They can be used for attracting friends, like if you move to a new area and you'd like to meet people who won't be an untrue friend to you, you would use this kind of spell. Or to attract a lover in the same manner, not a specific person, but a person who would be your ideal love. Also attracting a job, money, or anything else you want to draw to you is an attraction spell.
Money drawing: Yes, it is ok to do this as long as it is for a good purpose. Like money for a bill that is due, not "I need to win a million dollars!" After all, where does this money come from? Let us refer to the story "The Monkey's Paw," even though the family needed to make a mortgage payment that was due, the fact was that somebody died so they could get the money. I don't believe good magick works in this way. If it's a true need, then it would be ok. But if you would want it for selfish reasons, then you'll only get the bite in the end.
Binding Spells: This one is
a tricky one. Binding could mean binding an object to you, like your Book
of Shadows, or something. Binding could also mean binding a person from
doing harm, or binding somebody to you. This is probably a spell catagory
that is best left alone until the true need arises, or until the caster
is ready to decide when it should be used.
These are just a few of the major reasons to cast a spell.
Black and White Magick?!?!
Why is magick colorized? Well..
in the common sense of the words, black represents "evil" and "white" is
good, right? Wrong! To the Wiccan, white magick represents spells that
you would cast during a waxing to full moon. All the powers that reside
in this time are the attracting kind. The definintion of black is therefore
the opposite, the time in which the moon is waning to new is the time of
banishing type rituals. Banishing a bad habit, banishing an ailment or
disease, banishing bad energy, etc.
Spells can usually be performed
any time, but the proper timing just gives it an extra boost.
"So What Good is Magick then, Anyway?"
I feel that magick is a gift
that the elders gave us, to use properly, to grow and to heal. If you want
machines of war and harm, don't look here. If you want the world to worship
at your feet, look somewhere else. Wicca's magick is a blend of Nature,
energies, and love & light. It is not a tool of destruction. Use the
Power wisely, for greed and corruption quickly controls the holder of this
power if used incorrectly. That is not what magick is.