Ethics in Magick 101
Ethical Reiteration

We have written on a good bit of this idea before, as well as covering it previously in specific ways back through June of last year. Ethics in Magick is well worth a reiteration. As we come to the close of the Turn and some of you continue your Path elsewhere, let us rekindle a few things.

Mistakes

Do not worry about making “mistakes” or what others perceive as ‘mistakes’. The Universe has never told a Practitioner that the reason a spell failed was because ‘rue’ was used instead of ‘vervain’. It simply DOES NOT happen that way. The MAIN difference are when we are working with a deity or specific entity or energy and they REQUEST a specific item. (Typically Practitioners divine a change if needed, for example, a Plant Ally not found in their area.) Working with a “specific” item is often considered working Magick or Medicine on a “specific Path” and the deity or Higher Power should be consulted before one’s Ego “just decides” on throwing yesterday’s beans in the mix rather than inquire about adequite substitutes. Spellcasting is an Art and successfully practicing with it takes time that may include MANY lifetimes, and often, daily practice.

That coupled with “I am giving it the energy it deserves” and “I am giving my Self the energy I deserve.” Regardless, mistakes are inevitable! They are great ways to learn, to laugh at yourself, and very often to realize that the Universe is actually trying to send us a message. So, pay attention as you Journey onward, relax, and remember what is most important is that your personal connection to your Divine is the real energy that makes Medicine and Magick happen.

Magickal Etiquette

As stated, most Practitioners ask permission before using their Magick or Medicine to help someone else, no matter the circumstance. Protection. Banishment. Healing. etc. If we cannot, a sincere offering of energy for someone’s best outcome and well being is acceptable in most circumstances as it is simply provided in the astral environment by us and they can open to receive it by their own Free Will, such as Reiki. Even though there is Universal energy available for us all to pull from, not everything we desire to happen is what is going to happen. To flow energetically opposite of Universal energy can drain us, the Practitioner, immensely whether psychically, emotionally, etc. If we give energy to others, conduit for others, grounding and recharging is CRUCIAL magick for us to advance in.

Baneful Magick

It is the thought and practice of many that “baneful” magick is the effort to use magick for a purpose that is pernicious, damaging, toxic, or harmful. If we are planning to use magick for these purposes, to hurt or manipulate someone else, to get revenge or often an unfair advantage, or if we are worried that we will be harmed by someone else casting a spell for any of those or any other reasons, be assured that spell is not often going to work. Why? Acknowledgement.

Just as in Reiki we send out energy and healing to others that they often have to accept by their own Free Will from the Universe, the transverse is true here. It is liken to trying to drive a car without gas when a spell is done with Ego or emotionally driven only. If the fuel used to power a spell is fouled with anger, greed, or Ego, it more often than not fizzles in space or is quelled by our regular protective energies, just as “something in the gas” fouls an engine. Don’t feed into that. Remember, “like attracts like”. Do you WANT to be cursed? Why? DO NOT FEED INTO THAT.

It is further thought that those who continually have “bad things happen to them” examine their lives. Themselves. Shadow. Ego. Surroundings. Living space. Employment. etc.

However, some Practitioners have a ‘servitor’ just for such “baneful” purposes. And, truth be known, there are ways to cause havoc in someone’s life using transmuted energy from something just as nasty. (Remember “like attracts like’?) From Experience though, Reverend Richoz has yet to meet that Practitioner who can TRULY, magickally, hurt another on this plane. If you come across someone that “seems” to, give her a call. She will put them to the test. (So will other Practitioners who understand Universal Balance and what one can bring upon themselves practicing Arcane Art that may be questionable in nature.)

Something to personally consider when we feel someone is trying to magickally ‘harm” us is to NOT give it any attention (energy) and it will have even less power to affect us. Do YOUR PART to sever the link. Burn a cord. Stop answering texts. STOP TAKING THEIR CALLS/EMAILS. DO. YOUR. PART. to thwart their efforts at control or manipulation. P.S. the Art of Banishing is NOT baneful as it too can be a way of Protection for Self and others, ridding Self of thoughts or habits etcetera, REMEMBER? ;-)

Protection

Speaking of protection, to feel safer and stronger, we can put up a “bubble” of protection or simply keep a “return to sender” on file in our psyche. EXAMPLE: Visualize a magickal mirror which will bounce any negative energies back to their source—a great technique in any situation of negativity. And, in instances where we have been wronged, or something negative is happening, those types of spells work quite effectively,

Regardless, Nature shows us the remedy: Balance is one of the great laws amongst All That Is. Everything seeks balance. Plant. Animal. Element. Energy. The best and most effective magical strategy is to restore balance with positive/constructive spells for remedy, justice, healing, enlightenment, truth, love, etc. focusing it towards the source of negativity. Turn their heart. You may be surprised at the outcome.

Rules of Magick

Arcane Arts, or Witchcraft, has no ‘holy book’ or threat of punishment to drive people to act one way or another. Magick does have a holy teacher, The Universe …Nature. However, rather than referring to the divine wisdom of Nature, lots of Practitioners say they do not cast deconstructive Magick or Medicine. Some say this is dogmatic and fear-based in its reasons —such as The Threefold Law, which is primary to Wicca. Another one that hails from Aleister Crowley, a ceremonial magician from the last century:

And ye harm none, do what you will.

Many Practitioners interpret that as the Practitioner being free to do as they please, as long as the do not harm anything in the process. BUT, it requires one to be attentive to actions, to be responsible for them, and to do the least harm possible. It does not take into consideration that almost anything we do will have some impact on the environment of Earth, or the Universe. Everything has a “cost”, an ebb and flow. Ripples form in the pond when we throw rocks, and practicing magick is throwing energetic rocks.

There is a Universal Balance that one is wise to help keep maintained. If we do not, the Universe will seek its own flow of balance, and it may cost us more depending on our Intent. Simply stating that Crowley phrase in that way makes it not require any more than that. Stated more clearly, how it is stated does not seem to motivate any ‘affirmative’ or ‘positive’ action to be considered by the Practitioner. In many cases it actually justifies a kind of benign selfishness or Ego drive. Similar to the Threefold Law, it is not a complete ethical consideration for all magicks. Furthermore, “three-fold” does NOT just mean “it will come back on our three times” —as in multiplicity. It also means that anything we do energetically can come back on us in one of three ways from the Universe to maintain ITS BALANCE. That Work can return to us Physically, Emotionally, Mentally. On the rare occasion … spiritually.

Yes. The spirit can be burdened and have physical manifestations in Matter, our lives. We are wise to be mindful of all we do, BUT NOT FEARFUL. Respect the powers that be, seen and unseen —even those yet known to you, and they will respect you. BALANCE.

The Ethics of Witchcraft

Remember, in instances where we have been wronged, or something negative is happening in our life, Nature shows us the remedy:

Universal Balance is Universal Law.
As all things seek equilibrium, so shall we find that that is what truly drives us. Finding balance. Restoring balance in our life is one of the greatest magicks we can work towards. Finding our balance brings about a whole being, YOU. Or, us the individual.

Practitioners/Witches who practice regularly become Wise Ones, as those who have Journeyed in their practices, remained clean, clear, and curious – such as many of us have. We see the world as sacred, the Divine embodied in everything we perceive, by All That Is, whatever that means to you, the individual. Each of us, even when we are behaving different from others, should have an ethic, or magickal principle, rooted in our OWN Experiences of Matter, embodied divinity or personal practices. Our balance does NOT come from a person, who may or may not have an awakened to their Stream of Consciousness, trying to teach others their err as ‘the Way’, when there are MANY ways as “no two Paths are the same.”

This is the ethic many practice — who walk this Path of Arcane Arts:

Live in a sacred manner because you live in a sacred Universe.

Read that again. Take the word back from dogma and Ego that may be hindering you. Own the word.

Everything we need to know is already within us and all around us as we have learned to this point. All That Is embodies divinity and Mother Earth is constantly showing us how to live in a sacred manner:

• Live in balance and harmony as we are all a part of the Web of Life

• Take no more than we need and gratefully give back so there is always enough for ALL. Remember, we live in a closed planet system with FINITE resources here on Earth. (That means, “when its gone, its gone.”)

• Respect the sacredness of ALL beings/energies as we expect the same in return.

• Live in ways that contribute to the well being of ALL, Plant and Animal alike. Live in what you have learned as YOUR Truth. Model that behavior for others.