You have probably heard a great deal about black and white Magick; in the church where you grew up, in movies cranked out by Hollywood, and by the authors of lurid novels who find imaginative plot material in the mystic realm of occult Arts. What you haven't likely heard are the facts from anyone who really knows Magick; such as your friendly, neighborhood, Witch or Shaman.

Magick is an energy, not unlike electricity. It can be applied for helpful purposes, or to cause harm. As such, Magick is not, of itself, either black or white. It simply exists. It is pure energy that every human being has and can learn to use in fulfillment of desired goals.

You'd certainly agree electricity is a good thing. It is used to provide light in darkness, heat our homes in winter, and power the computer you used to get here. It also appears to be everywhere. It is used to start your car. It then powers your instrument display so you know your speed, how much fuel you have, and other information regarding the status of your engine. It powers your air conditioning, the radio, the interior lights, the headlights and everything else you need to get somewhere. It powers the traffic lights that regulate traffic flow, as well as the gas pump where you refuel. It powers the lights of a city so you may see your way in the darkness.

Have you ever had the electricity go off in your home due to a power failure, only to find yourself flipping light switches as darkness comes? You smile when you realize the futility, since you knew the power was out; yet you were flipping that lifeless switch anyway. We depend on electricity to be there when we need it, and are only surprised when a flip of the magical switch fails to produce results.

Without electricity, we would be in desperate trouble. A hospital could not cope without electricity. The city or town in which you live is dependent on it. A television wont work without it, nor is the broadcast station able to televise a signal. Most telephones now in use would be out-of-service. All of this was made quite apparent recently when the Western United States was stripped of power when a large power station in California failed, taking down "the grid" in the bargain.

Yet, electricity will kill you. Electrocution arises from an unfortunate interlude with downed power lines and usually is immediately fatal. Electricity is used as a means of execution in penitentiaries where capitol punishment is administered. Being struck by lightening is injurious in the extreme. You'd agree, if you have common sense, it is unwise to work on electrical devices without unplugging them. Does knowing that electricity is deadly mean that electricity is a bad thing? No, of course not. Electricity simply exists. It is not good or bad on its own merit. It cannot be perceived as good or evil, since it has no capacity for reason. It has no intent. What we choose to do with that power.... Ah, now that's a besom made of different straw.

What determines whether electricity is good or bad has more to do with our intent in how it is used. What motivation lies behind our use of this power? Do we seek to brighten the world, or jump-start a failing heart; or do we dispatch criminals back to Summerland with a jolt from the electric chair? What is our intent when we use electricity? To help, or harm?

The same is true of Magick. Like electricity, it is a power. It is neither good nor bad on its own, but simply exists, bearing no will or intent. It is present in all of us, everywhere in the world, at all times and in all things. Nothing exists without the power of electricity, which is found at the atomic level of even the hardest stone. Likewise, nothing exists without the power of Magick. It is a primal energy by which all things are.

Magick is used by the Witch in diverse ways. One might use it for healing, another for protection and a third for working the weather. Perhaps you need a new job, or you would like protection when going into a threatening situation. Maybe you need a new home or apartment and have had difficulty locating one that suits your needs. My High Priestess and I often simply exert influence over traffic lights when running late for a meeting or appointment. (It's harmless and fun, as well as being good practice. As a bonus, it helps us stay punctual as well.) These are all helpful, practical applications one might enjoy. Such Magick is considered "white" since there is no intent to harm another being. Its use is for positive purpose.

Magick can be used to harm others with curses or hexes that release negative energy. This is looked upon as Black Magick, as the purpose is to ill use the Art. Black Magick can punish or extract revenge from our victim. It can cause misadventure, illness, misfortune, and even death of someone with whom we have enmity. It should be carefully understood here that I am not, by any means, condoning the use of black Magick; far from it. We all have the ability to use black Magick. That we can perform such working does not mean we should do such working. We all have the ability to jump off a cliff; but simply because we can does not make it a good idea. Black Magick, in my Witch opinion, is a very bad idea. Why?

Both are bound to the "Law of Threefold Return,"and Witches understand the consequences of their actions. If you do positive Magick, then you may receive thrice the good in return. If you do harmful workings, then you will be repaid with thrice the negative energy as a result. Therefore, if for no other motivation than pure self-interest, the Witch does not perform black Magick. They understand that whatever harm they send into the universe will return to them...with friends. What negativity is sent against another will come back to the roost with triple power. White Magick, designed to send out positive energy, also returns triple.

Theoretically, if I do a prosperity spell for someone, to bless them with increased wealth, I can reasonably expect a reward thrice whatever the other person got. Providing that my intent to help another was pure, and not tainted by a desire to "get something for nothing." If my intent is more to help myself than another, why would such conduct be rewarded? By the same token, if I wish the other party to suffer financial ruin, I suppose I cant complain if I find myself living under a bridge somewhere. I'll get back whatever I sent out...in spades.

The Karmic principal involved in the Law of Threefold Return is understood in every religion. The Christian knows the rule "As you do unto others, so shall it be done unto you." Even the disenfranchised street person will tell you; "What goes around, comes around." The knowledge of this rule seems virtually universal, and peppers our daily language. "Pay backs are a bummer..." or "You'll get yours!" are phrases everyone knows. So with this in mind, what wisdom lies in harmful work?

Does this mean I would never use Magick against someone if it seemed that circumstances called for it? That's a tough one and would depend on whether I felt the working was justified. Would I be ready to accept responsibility of what I have done and endure the consequences? Would I be prepared to deal with the karmic backlash?

While Witches work positive Magick, there may come times when there is no alternative other than fire a blast of negative energy. A wise person once said,

"To everything there is a season; a time to make peace, and a time to make war." There is a time for white Magick. Similarly, when cornered, when left with no other choice, when the lives of myself or my family hang in the balance; I might resort to harmful Magick.

There is a saying in the Craft, "A Witch who cannot hex, cannot heal." The two are flip sides of the same coin. If you understand how to work one, you know how to work the other. It should be remembered that Witches of old were known to speak curses on those who put them to the flames. Under such circumstances, they were willing to endure whatever karmic backlash might exist to curse those who cruelly persecuted them. The Karma couldn't possibly get worse than the torture they had already endured, and the horror of human immolation they were about to undergo. This led to the charming custom of ripping the Witch's tongue from hir mouth before leading hir to the stake.

While we devote ourselves to positive Magick, we may be justified in the use of negative Magick under some extraordinary circumstances. The practice of positive Magick does not mean we have an invisible tattoo on our foreheads saying, "Tread on me..." The use of Magick to protect ourselves and family from being harmed may involve harming another.

If some miscreant were to break into your home and have a gun trained on your child's head, Magick may be your only hope of saving that child. Would you really take time to work through the ethis of Magickal use at such a time? I think not.

Yes, the typical answer is to provide your child a safe environment and strong shields, but the fact remains that Wiccan people fall victim to crime too. When the Rede says, "An it harm none, do as ye will," does that not also applies to the Witch. If I allow harm to myself or another by my failure to act, when I have the means and power to do so, violates my Rede. If I suffer harm to myself because I do not want to harm another, I have violated my Rede. The Oracle at Delphi had an inscription over the arch, saying: "To thine own self be true."

What I have said is the kind of thing Witches debate more hotly than anything else. Is there ever a time when Magick may be used to harm another? In the book by Katherine Kurtz, "Lammas Night," we see the Witches of England working together to protect their homeland from invasion by Hitler. Magick was used against an imminent Nazi invasion and the Witches were prepared to accept the consequences of their actions. There is a lesson to be learned from this fictional episode, which is based loosely on an actual event.

Negative Magick is to be shunned. My view is that it should never be undertaken unless there are extreme circumstances compelling its use. The Law of Threefold Return is not a joking matter and the consequences may be catastrophic, either in this life or the next.

Whether one exercises white or black Magick, the Law of Threefold Return will operate. I have seen it do so with alarming efficiency. When we work Magick, we are personally responsible for whatever we send out and will bear the Karmic repercussions. It's really just that simple. Good workings return good in kind, while those of harm return such harm in ample measure. Yet, under compelling circumstances, such a working may be the only alternative to a critical situation. The bottom line is that the individual Witch must arrive at their own decision and be prepared to reap whatever the Witch has sewn.

In all things, bear the Rede to heart: "An it harm none, do as ye will." The Gods will guide you if your Spirit listens. If you have a sneaky feeling that a working may harm another, dont do it. So Mote it Be.