In a way, however small it may be, it's a moral issue in the manner of why they'd want a spell to lose weight (i.e. don't want to maintain the discipline to change their diet versus of having tried everything including following a doctor's orders to a T and then still no luck; the former's intentions are not as noble as the latter's). If it's cheating hard work and it's lazy, while it may not be as major of a moral issue as say, abortion, it's still the matter of doing a good thing versus doing a bad thing
( ... )
I have some small amount of disdain for people who get plastic surgery to cover up things like laugh lines or boobs that aren't as perky as they used to be (thought the older I get the more I sympathize, haha). I may view such people as having a weak character, perhaps. But is it morally wrong? I'm not so sure
( ... )
I'm inclined to agree here. Without adding too much of my own opinion (which is too uninformed and inexperienced at the moment), I'd think magical ethics must come down to a simple question of "What harm can it really do?"
Paganism isn't really a "judge others" sort of gig. It's a matter of how much help or harm you are willing to happen to yourself!
My views on "appropriate" is not someone else's views on appropriate. I would not, for example, use magic in lieu of non-magic means out of "laziness" to follow through. Sometimes, however, my non-magic means need a kick in the ass so to speak. Like casting for focus, which would help maintain a current exercise regimen. However, I do not do spell work for other people the vast majority of the time. I'm not comfortable with it. There are some few exceptions to this but in general I won't. That does not mean that I begrudge someone else the ability to cast for others nor is it my place to tell people what they should and should not use spellwork for.
Sometimes, however, my non-magic means need a kick in the ass so to speak. Like casting for focus, which would help maintain a current exercise regimen.
Agreed. Granted, I don't do spell work often (in fact, my last full-blown spell was when I was a late teen), but I do meditations and such (i.e. to focus on loving and caring for my body) to get myself into a certain mindset (i.e. to be more diligent about what I eat and how I exercise). It's just a kick in the pants to get me motivated and moving. ;)
I think I've only ever used a spell once for someone else, and that was when my grandfather was in the hospital for the first time. I think I was 15 or so, and I made an herbal poppet to help him heal. I have otherwise never done spells for other people, and will hesitate if asked (I can only surmise, as I've never actually been asked outright before except to offer healing energies).
I agree. I think using magick is such a personal choice. I have definately used magick to "boost" the effects I am aiming for in my "normal" life. Magick is such an integral part of a witch's life that it just seems natural to use it in conjuction with whatever goals you have set for your self. I also think it is just fine to cast for others as long as the advantages and/or disadvantages have been discussed with them as well.
I think in the two examples you provided, a spell would be fine. Spells to strengthen willpower or focus would probably do better than spells to lose weight or pass a test.
I'm intrigued whenever something like this comes up, because I wonder what the tragic downfall of magic abuse supposedly is. I view magic as a form of prayer, and I've never once heard anyone (besides internet cool guys trying to be edgy) criticize the notion of praying too much.
I don't think magic can fix problems without some kind of mundane action to support it. If a magician or witch uses magic to fix a problem and does go out and do the action to support it, I think the manifestation is weak at best, but mostly likely fails more or less. I don't think magic should be used a substitute as magic alone for that reason. Magic by itself often amounts to little more than wishful thinking. That's not a moral question one as much as one of effectiveness
( ... )
Please forgive any incoherency, I'm dead on my feet as I write this.
For me, spellcraft is appropriate if you are doing something mundane to affect the situation (or would if you could). A glamour to help you gain the shape you want along with proper diet and excercise, or a spell to get a job you have applied for/are suited to, etcetera. I can understand doing a spell to help the outcome of a test if something actually prevented you from studying properly (an emergency, a bad bout of insomnia, whathaveyou
( ... )
Comments 34
Reply
Reply
Reply
"What harm can it really do?"
Paganism isn't really a "judge others" sort of gig.
It's a matter of how much help or harm you are willing to happen to yourself!
Reply
Reply
Agreed. Granted, I don't do spell work often (in fact, my last full-blown spell was when I was a late teen), but I do meditations and such (i.e. to focus on loving and caring for my body) to get myself into a certain mindset (i.e. to be more diligent about what I eat and how I exercise). It's just a kick in the pants to get me motivated and moving. ;)
I think I've only ever used a spell once for someone else, and that was when my grandfather was in the hospital for the first time. I think I was 15 or so, and I made an herbal poppet to help him heal. I have otherwise never done spells for other people, and will hesitate if asked (I can only surmise, as I've never actually been asked outright before except to offer healing energies).
Reply
Reply
I'm intrigued whenever something like this comes up, because I wonder what the tragic downfall of magic abuse supposedly is. I view magic as a form of prayer, and I've never once heard anyone (besides internet cool guys trying to be edgy) criticize the notion of praying too much.
Reply
Reply
For me, spellcraft is appropriate if you are doing something mundane to affect the situation (or would if you could). A glamour to help you gain the shape you want along with proper diet and excercise, or a spell to get a job you have applied for/are suited to, etcetera. I can understand doing a spell to help the outcome of a test if something actually prevented you from studying properly (an emergency, a bad bout of insomnia, whathaveyou ( ... )
Reply
Leave a comment