By the fruits of the tree
Do you take into account when evaluating a magical system shared by an author, the results the system had for the author?
I want to have a healthy body and a long life. I want to have a loving marriage. I want to be content finanically. I want to enjoy my job and be recognized for my artistic talent.
So, why would I follow a magical system shared by someone who died young of a terrible disease? Had a series of bad relationships? Whose businesses failed and who struggled to have enough money to get by?
Many of the most popular and revered magical spokespeople lived pretty crappy lives. And some of the most widely panned and poorly reviewed authors live content, successful and healthy lives.
Should I write off Silver Raven Wolf? Fiona Horne? Phyllis Curott? They write some pretty fluffy stuff that gets various levels of negative criticism. Silver is happily married, well to do and active in pagan rights. Phyllis survived through some bad times and found magic pulled her out of it, and now she lives her dreams. Fiona Horne is famous and gorgeous, that seems to be exactly what she wants. On the other hand, some of the more widely acclaimed authors, didn't have it so good (I don't want to insult anyone, but I am sure you can think of admired authors who died young, divorced often, etc.)
Is success of the author, testimonials to the effectiveness, or anecdotes that support how and how well the spell worked something we should take into account? How much would it influence your choice of practice?
Many witches only use their own intuition and develop all their spells from scratch? Is that unnecessarily re-inventing the wheel? Or is it the only way to be sure it will work for you without the mistakes of others involved?
This is a topic submitted for discussion and healthy debate
I want to have a healthy body and a long life. I want to have a loving marriage. I want to be content finanically. I want to enjoy my job and be recognized for my artistic talent.
So, why would I follow a magical system shared by someone who died young of a terrible disease? Had a series of bad relationships? Whose businesses failed and who struggled to have enough money to get by?
Many of the most popular and revered magical spokespeople lived pretty crappy lives. And some of the most widely panned and poorly reviewed authors live content, successful and healthy lives.
Should I write off Silver Raven Wolf? Fiona Horne? Phyllis Curott? They write some pretty fluffy stuff that gets various levels of negative criticism. Silver is happily married, well to do and active in pagan rights. Phyllis survived through some bad times and found magic pulled her out of it, and now she lives her dreams. Fiona Horne is famous and gorgeous, that seems to be exactly what she wants. On the other hand, some of the more widely acclaimed authors, didn't have it so good (I don't want to insult anyone, but I am sure you can think of admired authors who died young, divorced often, etc.)
Is success of the author, testimonials to the effectiveness, or anecdotes that support how and how well the spell worked something we should take into account? How much would it influence your choice of practice?
Many witches only use their own intuition and develop all their spells from scratch? Is that unnecessarily re-inventing the wheel? Or is it the only way to be sure it will work for you without the mistakes of others involved?
This is a topic submitted for discussion and healthy debate