:silver_heart: Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Morality in Magick

[BryWisteria]

Merry meet!

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for last week’s Weekly Witchy Challenge - A Witch’s Cauldron

After toiling and troubling over the cauldron last week, we’re taking some time to acknowledge an important part of the Craft- it’s a personal, sacred part of developing your unique magickal practice that speaks through every spell and magickal action you take (or don’t take!).

The theme for this week’s challenge is…

Magickal Ethics

Developing your personal moral code in your Craft

Ethics are a person’s moral code- their guiding compass that helps them decide what is “right”, what is “wrong”, and what falls into the gray area in between.

From Oxford Languages

When it comes to magick, we all have our own magickal ethics- these are the guidelines we have placed for ourselves that help tell us what we feel is “right” within our practices. It is our magickal ethics that guide our spellwork- they are the core of each intention we set, and help direct each spell we cast

A practitioner’s magickal ethics can come from a variety of sources- they may come from religious or cultural beliefs, expectations or customs of society, philosophical values, magickal traditions, and more.

Being aware of your magickal moral code can help guide your practice and allow you to feel more grounded and aware of your Craft. No one can (or should!) set your morals for you- while having trusted mentors and friends can help shine a guiding light, setting your own magickal ethics is a personal journey that is unique and sacred to you.

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This week’s challenge is all about your magickal ethics - how you choose to take on this theme is up to you!

So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

A gentle reminder that magickal ethics are very personal- “right” and “wrong” are subjective terms, based on a person’s past history and experiences. Please be respectful and mindful of your fellow Coven members in your replies. Thank you!

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STEP 1 : Exploring Your Ethics

This challenge is all about magickal morals - but as always, how you choose to take on this theme is up to you!

Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few ways in which a witch might approach this challenge.

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Learn more about magickal morals

If you’re new to the idea of magickal ethics, why not dig in and expand your knowledge? Feel free to explore resources on the subject- different traditions and religions have different ethical beliefs that might be explored. Feel free to share what you learned as your entry this week. Here are a few places you might start!

The Threefold Law: Do I Have to Follow It?

The Wiccan Rede Song

Casting Spells on Others: The Ethics of Consent

Related resources and discussions:

• Ethical Witchcraft What are your thoughts?
• The ethics of love spells

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Thoughtful reflections

Tackle this challenge in a thoughtful way by reflecting on your magickal morals. Feel free to let your mind wander, or use some journal prompts to help you direct your reflections.

Suggested reflection prompts:

• How do you feel about using Black/Baneful Magick in your practice?

• How do you feel about casting Love Spells?

• Do you feel you must ask someone’s permission before casting on/for them?

• Do you follow a code of ethics from a magickal or spiritual tradition (such as the Wiccan Rede, Threefold Law, karma, Law of Attraction, etc)?

Suggested reflection activity:

• Write a list of three spells or intentions that you feel align with your morals, three spells or intentions that you would never cast, and then three more things that are “grey”- you wouldn’t usually do them, but might cast them under certain circumstances.

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Defining your magickal code of morals

When you have a solid idea of your own code of magickal morals, consider adding an entry to your Book of Shadows, Grimoire, or Book of Mirrors! This could be anything from a formal dedication note promising to uphold your chosen magickal morals to a casual entry reflecting on your personal beliefs.

If you’d like a formal page, feel free to use this blank entry printable page for your Book!

From Spells8: Book of Spells Divider Pages

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… And More!

The suggestions above are just a few ideas to help kickstart your creativity- if you feel called to explore magickal ethics in another way, please feel free to do so!

As always, all witches are encouraged to embrace their own unique practice with how they explore the challenge theme

Picture from Pixabay

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STEP 2 : Share Your Experience

Click here for a note about challenge inclusivity

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge by practicing magick in line with the current theme. For lurkers and those who don’t feel comfortable sharing, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge but keep your entry personal. Feel free to join in spirit and do what feels most comfortable for you!

That being said, please know that if you would like to receive a prize and a public shout-out, it is required that you share your experience.

Getting Your Credit

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Should I Share My Entry?

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note : If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 6 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, December 5 at 7:00 AM EDT (Eastern US Time)
2023-12-05T12:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)

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Prizes

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums on Tuesday.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

Picture from Pixabay

A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice

If you have any doubts about if something is acceptable to post or say, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team.

And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways

Picture from Pixabay

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Right or wrong or shades of grey-
It matters not what others say.
So set your compass and keep it in view,
What really matters is that you stay true to you!

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Blessed Be!

[Susurrus]

Ooohhh… this 1 is going to be a thinker for me I actually feel like writing something out or where I was & currently am may help. Or exploring the prompts suggested with my own practice… I think I gave myself too much to think on

[tracyS]

Mmm I may tackle this from a traditional witchcraft angle, what’s my personal tradition, that would take me on a trail to the Vikings, across the high seas. Are my ethics today sticking to those traditions? Would their ethics of old be acceptable today? I definitely live in the grey zone (black and white zone is too organised ). Got me a thinking, research required

[Susurrus]

@tracyS

Are my ethics today sticking to those traditions? Would their ethics of old be acceptable today?

Oh no… a new option to explore for me I’m a bit gray & also follow a more Irish Paganism/ Witchcraft path. It plays a lot into my practice too I feel a separate thread for my entry

[Amethyst]

I’ve read books on ethics, but for the life of me, I can’t remember them now. LOL! This should make for an interesting challenge.

[Phoenix_Fire]

challenge entry
This ones going to probably be a simple challenge entry compared to others. I hope thats ok. Theres no practical thing xan think of to explore this theme so i guess its more just sharing my views on the topic n of course they are just how i practice, others may do things different n thats ok. N that probably itself falls under what values i hold in that i believe honoring your practice is accepting that you may practice or have different views on things than others n thats ok, i dobt believe in judging others cause they have different views to me, even if they may judge me for havung different views to them.
Another value i have, not sure if tgats word lookubg for but anyways is that whatever i do, that it’s not causing harm to myself or others. I know thats a wiccan pov, whivh is cool, even if i dont specifuvally see myself as wiccan( my clan is made up of multiple gods n goddesses notvjust one god and one goddess) but that a view or value that i do follow.

I probably dont have alot of specific values other than that… maybe just that whayever i do also showing respect for nature, spirits and others etc in whatever i do.
Oh i also prefer if possible to only collect nature that has already fallen from a tree /plant. While if i managed to grow herbs or veg etc if needed to harvest i would do it respectfully n thank plant gor its gift but when collecting nature i will normally only take whats dropped to ground not take frok the tree or plant. I feel ifvits on the groubd its already been given by nature n im grateful. But if the day ever called for harvesting anything direct from tree or plant i would not do lightly, i would ask permission n do respectfully n thank plant or tree for gift n give something back.

I cant think of any other specific values that mighy try hold in practice n i respect tgat others might have different views . . Im not sure if this fits into the theme of this week ok. I think thats kinda what its about though may also have other aspects to the tbeme. . I hope i was at least on the right track of the themr or in the vacinity of it lol

[Artemisia]

@BryWisteria

A gentle reminder that magickal ethics are very personal- “right” and “wrong” are subjective terms, based on a person’s past history and experiences. Please be respectful and mindful of your fellow Coven members in your replies. Thank you!

Hmm as I am an extremely conflict-adverse person, I have to weigh if this challenge might be too uncomfortable for me to participate in. I’ll think overnight.

[Susurrus]

@Artemisia oh, please make sure its a comfortable subject for you to participate in Everyone should be mindful & respectful of others practices & thoughts on the topic. At no time should it become a heated, upsetting, or other type of uncomfortable discussion.

As always how you choose to explore the topic & post a challenge entry is up to you. Even if its looking into ethics in general & more of an informational exploration rather than yourself in particular.

Absolutely do what is best for yourself as far as participation in the challenge. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out

[starborn]

Challenge entry.

I read the title of this one and got a sinking feeling in my gut. That’s a new one.

Well, at least everyone knows this is a personal thing… And this is probably the last place I’ll get burned at a stake for it.

How do you feel about using Black/Baneful Magick in your practice?
It has its uses, I guess. I wouldn’t be against using it personally, but I haven’t had a desire to do anything on my own related to others since that freezer spell I jumbled together – Harmony's Shield: A Freezer Spell for Conflict Resolution

But if you told me that I could cast baneful magick years ago… Maybe it would have saved a few people. I don’t know. That’s the thing about the past – it’s in the past and I ain’t no time-travelling witch! If I was, I might go back and enjoy some more of the old Macca’s Create Your Taste era.

[source]

YOU COULD MAKE YOUR BURGER HOWEVER YOU WANTED. And they were better than all the fancy overpriced burger places. RIP.

Anyway, my partner puts it well, I think. They say something like: When harm does need to be done, approach it like removing a tumour – we do not get angry at the tumour, but we acknowledge that this procedure must be done to protect others, and we do it. So, I think I would try to take that approach. But then again, I haven’t found a desire to, so it’s all just hypothetical.

How do you feel about casting Love Spells?
A bit creepy. Love is hard enough to navigate without being influenced by someone’s spell. Or my own spell on my own ass.

I guess I just think that love in all its forms, whether it’s self-love, platonic love, romantic love, and so on, is best when it’s worked on with the self/person. And that anything else is a bit of an illusion at best.

For example, with the self, I think affirmations are good – they’re the act of building a foundation for loving oneself. But if there was a potion that one could take that does that for them, without teaching them why they deserve self-love, I think that’s a bit of a monkey paw scenario.

I guess another way to explain how I see it is that I think a holistic approach is ideal. But then again, that’s my overall thing. Holistic all that $#it!

Do you feel you must ask someone’s permission before casting on/for them?
Considering I didn’t ask with the freezer spell, I’m a nope.

Jokes aside, it’s still a nope. I’ve cast a few healing spells without asking for permission. (For the record, though, I haven’t cast anything on/for anyone here. You all have to ask me. Sorry. )

Do you follow a code of ethics from a magickal or spiritual tradition?
Not that I know of. I think if I do, it’s incidental. Especially since most of my personal morals come from reading philosophy and debating things with my partner. I haven’t actually looked into something specifically magickal and tried to adopt it.

When reading into magickal/spiritual traditions with the intent to learn and adopt things, I think the first thing I threw out the window was the Threefold Law.

I can’t not hear that in my head now. I just want to throw everything out the windoOow.

And I’ve never been a believer in Karma. I think they would require me to think there’s more order in the universe than I do. Or think that using fear of personal consequences is a good motivation system. I don’t know what it is exactly, but something about how I think would have to be vastly different. I’m weird.

That being said, the things I do follow are:

• help people when it’s within my means,
• don’t harm anyone for personal gain,
• try to leave places better than they were before entering them, and
• try to be a better person than I was yesterday.

So, if the rules of the universe change tomorrow, saying that I’ll go to The Bad Place for these, I guess I’m going to The Bad Place.

[source]

… Maybe I’ll get used to the torture. I hope so.

Anyway, that’s… All I’m going to write on the topic. I thought I would find it more difficult to write, but I didn’t. Yay?

Oh well, time for lunch. Burn me later.

[CelestiaMoon]

Challenge entry

My moral code is a simple one and it works for me… be as loving as possible with the capacity you have today And I believe this is a universal one too. Due to all kinds of things many people don’t have that great capacity, but the good news is that it’s something everyone can work on.

Deep down I’ve always felt how everything is connected and we’re all one. If I harm someone, I feel it too, so baneful magick for me is right out. Unless it’s some kind of a kinky thing and I have their consent

Harm and hurt are different things to me, as are pain and suffering. Harm is something caused by bad intention, and something I avoid causing. Pain and hurt are sensations, and as such highly subjective. Can be fun to play with. Suffering is what we feel when our expectations don’t live up to reality, and something we can only cause ourselves.

Love is nonjudgmental. I strive to see another being as they are, not trying to change them in any way. It’s so freeing I don’t need to be responsible for them, just myself. And it can open up to learning so much.

Love spells? Only if they don’t override anyone’s consent or overstep anyone’s boundaries.

@BryWisteria

Do you feel you must ask someone’s permission before casting on/for them?

Generally yes. Sometimes I might send someone some good vibes or healing energy though, assuming consent if not told otherwise.

@BryWisteria

Do you follow a code of ethics from a magickal or spiritual tradition (such as the Wiccan Rede, Threefold Law, karma, Law of Attraction, etc)?

I like these two from Crowley
“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law”
“Love is the law, love under will.”

I’m drawing some inspiration from the yamas and niyamas of the Yogic path, as close as how they apply where I’m in my life right now.

[tracyS]

CHALLENGE ENTRY

Well, I don’t know whether I’ll be joining @starborn in The Bad Place , but Hiya, if I do, we can open the cafe together. .

First off, I follow Loki. So where does that put my moral Magickal code . The gods don’t live by our codes of conduct. (Much less the god of chaos ) I was always taught to be careful what I asked of a god. For example, Dear Loki please can you help me come into some money, I work so hard and always get passed over with any promotions at work, I never get the payrise, it’s not fair. So Loki hears you. And a week later you get a phone call saying grannies died, and left you her inheritance! . There’s the point on morals. You’re horrified, but the gods? Well he did what you asked, you just didn’t tell him how! So I was taught to think very carefully before you ask an entity whether it be god/demon/angel for help, because they are not off this world.

Baneful magic. Yes, I do. Sorry. I use hoodoo in my practice (my mum does too, as did my grandmother, though neither of them ever declared they’re witches and don’t know where all their potions come from, they were just passed down the line). So I have done baneful Magick. To curse and hex? No. Too much energy on my part to maintain that, and that just keeps the anger fired up. I’d rather let that go. But to defend my family from harm? To keep toxic people away from me? To get justice or truth exposed from those that are liers and wish to hide their ill intent? Yes I would and yes I have. Does baneful come with a price. I think yes. It’s draining to perform regardless of how much you ground and centre. It requires alot of thought to make sure you’ve done it right and not caused unnecessary harm. And you need a cool head or it can go horribly wrong.

Do I believe in karma? No. Why? I follow Loki and his way is about accountability. You are responsible for your life. For me there’s no outer force that’s manipulating events so you’re here in this place because of this and that. You’re in this place because you did this and that, and because sometimes shit happens.

So now the beastie. Well, he’s grey for sure, if he’s any colour at all. There are 9 Lokean Values (Loki’s Pagan Portals) Not all of them apply to morals/ethics in Magick but a few do

1 Be true to yourself. So if you’ve set yourself a moral code, live by it. Don’t pretend to be one thing to others and another behind closed doors. In other words if you do baneful, say so. If you follow the threefold law, do so.
5 Transformation. If you find that you were wrong in your moral outlook, change it. Change is part of growth, don’t get stuck, be prepared to learn from others and make adjustments in your outlook.
7 Accountability. You are in charge of your life. Accept that responsibility and apply that to your Magick.
8 Empathy. Be a shapeshifter, see another’s point of view, try to understand why before you cast that spell. It may change the way you do the spell

So I think that’s it. I go about each day to try and be truthful, to correct errors, walk in the shoes of others, and feel their feelings so that my actions don’t harm others. But it is important we protect ourselves, there’s badness in the world that doesn’t respond to kindness. And above all, I’m very careful not to be selfish in my practice, and Especially what I ask of Loki.

So do I need to reserve my ticket to Hell?

[starborn]

@tracyS

we can open the cafe together. .

Afterlife goals! I’ll bring the bottle of Jack, and I promise, no Coke! I’ll be good with this one thing!

[tracyS]

@starborn Sounds fabulous. I’ll bring chocolate cake.

[Devenne]

Challenge Entry

Well I’ve been thinking on this and my views have changed. As when I started learning I thought I’d be following the wiccan rede and the right hand path of only good.

Now after a few months and a lot more studies and soul searching and what feels right for me things have changed

I’m kinda leaning towards the light cannot exist without the darkness. Darkness came before the light. Before we we were born all we knew was darkness. When I died all I saw was black nothingness. Quiet and peaceful.

@BryWisteria

• How do you feel about using Black/Baneful Magick in your practice?

I’m opening up to this currently. As my view is changing I believe in the use of black magick or baneful magick when there are no other options. When someone gives you no choice and more drastic measures are needed. I think if it has to do with someone hurting children or doing something really bad I would use this magick to protect myself and others. Some people don’t get the nicer hint. Some people are bad. This is where the power to stop them comes in.

@BryWisteria

• How do you feel about casting Love Spells?

I think🖤 it’s extremely dangerous to cast love spells I think that’s when😂. People end up on TV killing each other. I don’t believe in interfering with someone else’s personal will. I think it’s a dangerous thing to play with even if u think u will always be together.

@BryWisteria

Do you feel you must ask someone’s permission before casting on/for them?

Jury is out on this one for me. As I’m still in my infancy. I’m not against casting without permission. I just am not completely sure on it yet

Over the last few months my views have been changing. I’m not surprised being as it’s only the beginning of my path. I can’t wait to see how I’ve grown in the next year. There’s so so so much to learn and it’s never ending like a revolving door. I’m a very open minded person and have been leaning into my fears and trying to embrace them and explore them. Make friends with it so the fear no longer survives.

Id say I’m living in the gray of it. I don’t judge other people and their path . I never have the thought of your wrong when reading another person’s way of things. I believe we all have our own path and our own way. Noone can tell u what u believe or what path to take nor can they judge you for your choice in magick. Feel free to be yourself fully and express who you are and what path you follow. Who is anyone to tell u differently. I am always open to suggestions and will never be mad for someone sharing their opinion or the way they practice. I love seeing different views and different ways as it gives me so many options in my own practice. I’m kind of gluing things together from many different avenues and beliefs. I feel as if I can learn from anyone and everyone no matter how our paths may differ.

[kirsty4]

Challenge Entry

Oh this is a good one, I tend to practice my own magic using intention and what I feel is right. I believe if you cause harm then it will come back to you so I don’t like doing revenge spells. I am more of a healer and tend to do spells which involves healing others whither it is physical or mental. I often look up spells but then adapt them to suit my own intentions. Below are a few of my own spells. Before casting spells on anyone I do ask if they are ok first as I feel casting a spell on someone without knowledge may cause harm. I look to my ancestors for guidence and I also pray to Hecate, Cernunnos, Brigid and Freya. I have Celtic and Norse roots so combining them I feel for me they help. Hecate has called to me so I often thank her for her protection and guidance.

For strength and guidance

Mother Devine
Show me the way
Shine a light on this darkest day
Lost I may be but here I stand
Give me a sign
Give me a helping hand

Father God
I hold you dear
Keep me safe from the darkness I fear
Lost I may be but here I stand
Give me a sign
Give me a helping hand

Earth, Fire, Water and Air
My spirit calls
for you, to hear my prayer
All unite to give me strength
Keep all harm at arms length
For Lost I may be but here I stand
Give me a sign
Give me a helping hand

For protection I often do this when the moon is bright.

I close my eyes

And all I see, the light from the moon

Casting down on me

Keeping me warm and safe inside

I no longer want to run and hide

Here my call, see my plight

I stand here tall, I’m ready to fight.

I cast a sacred circle

With perfect love and perfect trust

I will feel no pain nor feel no lust

I ask my ancestors to unite

Hear my call, I ask for love and light.

The circle is cast the spell is done

I thank you and bid you goodnight.

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When sending healing to other this is my spell

I place my feet firmly on the ground

I ask you, to keep me (us) safe and sound

I feel the earths’ energy flow

I feel the roots as they slowly grow

I call upon the element Earth

To ground me, protect me

and send healing energy

So it is now so mote it be.

[kirsty4]

I believe knowledge is power and learning about how others practice without judgement only gains more knowledge and I like to adapt anything I learn to my own practice. I am Wiccan and follow the Wiccan rede but I do love learning new things and how others practice.

[BryWisteria]

@Artemisia

I have to weigh if this challenge might be too uncomfortable for me to participate in.

Just chiming in to second Susurrus with reassurement that this a non-judgemental space organized to help everyone sort through their own thoughts and beliefs (with the additional hope that inspiration/encouragement can be found through reading the entries of fellow Coven members!)

That being said, it is a deep and personal topic this week, and no one ever has to do anything they aren’t comfortable with

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If anyone is uncomfortable sharing their reflection about personal morals but still wants to participate in the challenge, feel free to post an entry note saying that you’ve explored the topic in solitude through reflections/journalling/a dedication/whatever methods you chose. Out of understanding for the sensitive nature of this subject, those representative notes will count as entries this week!

[BryWisteria]

The world of morals can be murky- it’s a challenging theme to explore, and can raise a lot of internal questions! But I think these deep and fundamental questions help one to learn more about themselves and their practice- the pursuit of answers can help one find clarity and stability (and hopefully a sense of pride, too!)

Again, there are no set “rights” or “wrongs” (and never any need to apologize for your beliefs!)- there is only what is “right” for you. And knowing that- knowing yourself- is something to celebrate

Thank you to everyone who has started to ponder on the theme, and a huge thank you to everyone who has jumped in and shared an entry so far- all of the entries here so far are absolutely beautiful!

[korvo]

Challenge Entry - Ethics and Morality

Hmm, well here are my thoughts on the subject.

Ethics at one level implies Free Will. If you read the linked entry from Sam Harris’ book on the subject you may decide to agree with him that free will does not exist (and that way oversimplifies his arguments). Another viewpoint is that we are the sum result of our own causes and conditions. There is a story of a 12-year old boy living on the street in Malaysia “taken in” by pirates who offer him a “home” who goes on to learn how to rape and pillage with them. Given the same path, the same causes and conditions the story goes, any person with the same life experiences would be likely to become the pillager and rapist that boy became. And then there is moral compass, which is dictated by our views and beliefs, the views and beliefs of our community, and our time and place in the world. Just as there can be no beauty without ugliness, there can be no good without evil…

What’s legal today is suddenly illegal tomorrow because society says it’s so, and what’s illegal yesterday is suddenly legal because everybody’s doin’ it, and you can’t put everybody in jail. I’m not saying this is right or wrong. I’m just saying that’s the way it is. (Billy Hayes, Midnight Express).

All that said…for whatever reason I am seemingly conscious and I am able to introspectively look at myself (for better or worse). Thanks to an evolutionary flaw, I have an over-sized pre-frontal cortex so, if I can live a self-examined life, I can (hopefully) keep my ethical sailboat from capsizing, I can look back and apply lessons learned, look forward and imagine the kind of person I want to be, and at present try to meet that ideal by placing one foot in front of the other and chewing with my mouth closed. My dog, by contrast, doesn’t think too much about ethics. He lives his life snapping at flies, chasing squirrels, living in a symbiotic relationship with me that is largely centered on food and security, and barking at the Fedex delivery guy. But, if someone kicks my door in, and threatens the sanctity of my family (not my possessions, they can walk away with those), introspection aside, I will kick, scream, shoot, cleave with all my might to keep my family safe.

And that said, I read lots of books about neuroplasticity, consciousness and ethics: Stoic classics, Buddhist texts, Pagan ethics, Taoist classics—and try to live by the principles they put out there. At the simplest level, it is living by the golden rule, not intentionally harming others, not killing, stealing, lying or inflicting self-harm, and accepting the consequences of actions. Peace.

[peter3]

Challenge entry

This is an interesting challenge, I have been enjoying reading and learning from everyone. So here’s a thought of mine concerning ethics and morals in a magical, spiritual context.

As a personal example, and a turning point or crossroads for me, I offer the following experience. I had a neighbor who was really into guns. Like really, really into guns. He would be out in the woods shooting for hours on end several times a week. I don’t have the money or desire to move away and there is nothing illegal about him blasting away all day long here but it was ruining the quality of life I sought being perpetually surrounded by the sounds of gunfire. So what were my options? I could ask a potentially dangerous and kinda crazy person to change his ways, not a good option. I couldn’t call the police or township as gun rights are an issue they are afraid to interfere with. But I could use magic to tip the scales in my favor to get this guy to stop or go away. If I used energy work or a poppet I could be tying myself personally closer to him in some ways, not something I want. Like what is sometimes called the “strawberry jam effect.” It’s delicious but it’s sticky and can get on you more and more as you eat it, and eventually you can end up with a mess on your hands. It’s an idea similar to the threefold law but less rigid. I tried petitioning the gods for help but to no avail. I called for aid from local spirits and ancestors with no results. I tried for two years. I needed a stronger presence to turn the tides in my favor. So I turned to Hekate.

Now here’s where it perhaps seems a little murky, morally speaking. I was really at the end of my patience and was about to sell my home and move but I gave it one last shot. I decided to go old school and use a spell of compulsion from the PGM known as the “Document to the Waning Moon.” Its a strange one to be sure and the target of it’s compulsion would be not my neighbor but the Goddess herself. Takes a bit of courage to think one is going to tell Hekate something like “You will do what I say or there will be consequences!” But that is just what this ancient spell requires. And its a spell meant to destroy ones enemy so… yeah, best not to be taken lightly. Without getting too far into the weeds on the spell itself, (PGM IV 2241-2358) you basically assume the mask of Hermes and compel the Goddess to deal with your enemy and “Hurl him to this ill…” because “I know your good and great majestic names” and “Tomorrow does not come unless my will is done” so “perform for me.” When I heard about this spell I thought is this really a good idea?

Remembering the witches pyramid, this was a chance, I felt, to partake of “To Dare.” So on the final night of the waning moon I invoked the Goddess Hekate and performed the rite. I didn’t ask for his destruction but that he be forced to sell his property. I even threw in an extra bit of magical slander of sorts and told Hekate that his presence abuses her land and prevents her devotee (me) from giving her the devotion she is due so she must make him go away. The rite was intense and though I delivered it with confidence, afterwards I was admittedly slightly nervous. In the days that followed I had to ask and reached out to Hekate just to be like “Are we still good?” I really don’t get too much direct communication from her in terms of hearing her actually speak words to me, it’s usually just a feeling, a vibe, maybe a stern glance or perhaps a smile. But this time her response was clear as a bell. “It’s about time you finally found your voice.” And that smile. All three of them. A few weeks later, at the end of the next waning moon, the “For Sale” signs went up on my neighbors property and peace and quiet has returned to my home.

So do I think I really compelled Hekate to my will? No. But what I do think happened was that she was happy to see one of hers stand before her and dare to look her in the eyes as her equal to express their will with confidence and authority, a fearlessness born not of desperation but of determination and she did what she always does, grant favor to those who are hers. It was an instance of genuine spiritual growth for me and it would not have happened had I held to any particular dogma, rules or laws that held me back from any sort of wrath or baneful work (no idea what happened to the guy to make him sell after only being here 3 years). And I feel if I had done it without real conviction or with arrogance, I would have been the one putting up the for sale signs and running for the hills.

There is a song “Called Lady In Black” that wasn’t written to be about Hekate but I find it’s lyrics speak to something similar and feels like Hekate to me. Basically making the point that evil cannot be used to defeat evil but when you need help, She will be there. The lyrics are as follows:

She came to me one morning, one lonely Sunday morning
Her Long hair flowing in the mid-winter wind
I know not how she found me, for in darkness I was walking
And destruction lay around me from a fight I could not win

She asked me name my foe then, I said the need within some men
To fight and kill their brothers without thought of love or God
And I begged her give me horses to trample down my enemies
So eager was my passion to devour this waste of life

But she would not think of battle that reduces men to animals
So easy to begin and yet impossible to end
For She the mother of all men did counsel me so wisely then
I feared to walk alone again and asked if she would stay

Oh lady lend your hand I cried or let me rest here at your side
Have faith and trust in me she said and filled my heart with life
There is no strength in numbers, have no such misconception
But when you need me be assured I won’t be far away

Thus having spoke she turned away and though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw her black cloak disappear
My labor is no easier but now I know I’m not alone
I find new heart each time I think upon that windy day
And if one day she comes to you drink deeply from her words so wise
Take courage from her as your prize and say hello for me

“Lady in Black” by Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep - Lady in Black (AI video)

Ok maybe I made a point that I hope is useful or interesting. I think it helped me just to write it out so woohoo! for that at least. Thanks for reading!