I have refrained from writing about Wicca and its more intricate parts here, because unless one is a student of the Way, the knowledge is supposed to remain hidden. That one is probably a bit hard to swallow for some, considering how many books are out there encouraging all sorts of novices into attempting things without understanding the potential implications. That's what happens when those barely above novice themselves think they are WISE enough to write guidance for others. I agree that one teaches best what one most needs to know, but true WISDOM teaches that not all knowledge should put on the platter at one time. It is dangerous to make assumptions about people's morality, while giving access to potential power to harm others. It goes against the very grain of Wicca. The quote is actually from the O.T.O., Aleister Crowley's bunch, but is applies to any well-meaning pagan: "An So Ye Harm None, Do What Thou Wilt." Let me translate: An means IF...not AND. Harming none means not even yourself. Do what thou wilt is not license to greed, avarice, or decadence (something horribly misunderstood by too many who call themselves OTO, or OAA.) The whole quote in essence means that as long as you are not doing anything morally wrong, pretty much go for it. We ALL know in our minds and hearts what is truly Wrong. We know it before we do the action, though we may still do it, feeling it to be for the right in the long term. Acceptance of the consequences of one's actions is proof that one also has wisdom.
I digress a bit. A friend and student had his patience and his morality tested recently and reacted as many of us might under the same circumstances. I make no apologies for his choices, but rather want to emphasize what he now knows: binding spells, spells that attack another or attempt to force another's will should be considered FORBIDDEN.
Once, and only once, in this life, I attempted to bind someone I loved dearly, thinking I was helping him stay a course. I bloody well nearly killed him, and removed that binding so fast I suspect his head spun. He never, ever knew what I had done, nor will he, but I know what it cost me in the long run: his friendship. All spells of this nature have a tendency to rebound on the caster, and as one who has taught quite a few now, I cannot state enough that they rarely do what we try set in motion, but often more trouble than there was before.
What my young friend did, he knew within a few hours was probably not very smart, but it is also very hard to take back. He will have to deal with any consequences born of the spell, good or bad, knowing he brought them to his own doorstep, thru blindness and irrationality. Still, even the best of us can find ourselves tried to the point of exploding. I hope for his sake, and the sake of the child involved in all this that it smooths over, leaving him to raise his daughter with a smidgen of greater wisdom.
We often have to fall down to truly understand how to stand up.
There is a REASON for a year and a day. There is a reason why studying the Kabalah used to be limited to those who were over 40 and had gone the path of family and children already. Wisdom is not something one can get out of a book. If fact, no teacher can grant you that either. We can speak what we know, but we cannot give the experience to anyone else, not even thru visions. It is something that each must attain with time, and age. As much as anyone under 25 hates hearing it,unless have you walked to the very gates of Hel itself (the correct spelling incidentally,) survived every possible horror the world could offer up, and managed to hold your grace and your temper, you do not in all likelihood have the remotest clue what I am talking about.
Trust me, like it or not, you will. And you will look back at the arrogance of your youth with as much embarassment as most of us do. It's okay. It's called growing up.
I think I got off subject a bit. Sometimes I just need to get stuff out. I know these same words are going to bounce right off the brains of the onesI think I am aiming them out, and later, they will look back, realise, and hit their foreheads with the stupidity of realization. Just don't screw with magic....I don't mean those jackass sleight of hand people on TV, I mean the real stuff. It is quite real, and only meant to be a tool. It cannot change your life if you aren't willing to change. It can do you great harm, if your eyes aren't open.
And learn from a real person- not a bunch of freakin' books.......too many opinions, too many directions, only lead to confusion. We don't need any more of that in this world......