Witchvox Article

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Posted: February 3rd. 2002
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I knew this topic would come up. Every time I hear this little quote, I get the picture of Z. Budapest branded in my mind, a feisty young Witch in court for fortune telling, scowl firmly planted on her face. To keep from being seen as evil, it may be hard to find a Wiccan who will admit they have- or have thought of, hexing. How many naturopaths have avoided all poisonous herbs throughout college, because they could be used to kill someone? I rest my case.

Over the years, midwives and magickal people alike have had knowledge of herbs and charms that could be used to commit abortions (which, I have nothing against, there's no use bringing a unwanted child into this world, you'll just make their live miserable, but, hear me out), commit a painless suicide, etc. Think back to the Ardaynes, those who have read them. Is there not one that states Belladonna or a similar herb will be used in the case of an execution, for a painless death to s/he who was being hung? Obviously, this law is almost useless today, but death is a vital part of the Wiccan tradition.

All right. Let me get to the hexing. I know various groups and people that feel certain 'hexes' can and should be used in the cases of rapists, murderers, and other criminals if the law is not taking them seriously enough, or not providing adequate punishment. I respect that. The people I know who believe that are some of the most adequate healers I know. In Wicca, we respect that everything has an opposite. There is the God as a consort to the Goddess. There is death, and there is rebirth. There is dark, and there is light. There is winter, there is summer. There is hexing, and there is healing. One cannot exist without the other, or so my teachings have told me. S/he who can hex can heal, only because they are creating the ultimate balance between their self.

The term 'White Witch' has become overly New Age-y, and I'm sure you've heard that before. The word it's self reminds me of 'Lady Pink Fluffy Bunny of the Moon Barbie Tradition' or something to that extent. I have been taught, as I said before, that Wicca teaches the balance of all things in the universe, and in my opinion, we all have a 'shadow' side hiding within us. A large number of religions teach us to suppress the 'shadow' side, or embrace it to the point of suppressing the 'light' side. In Wicca, we are supposed to create a balance within ourselves, to begin creating balance in the universe. How can we be creating balance if we only focus on the healing aspect of our power?

If we look at different terms of magick, we have 'white' magick, 'gray' magick, and 'black' magick. The basic definitions are that 'white' magick is healing magick, abundance magick, basically all magick that if for a better good. 'Gray 'magick would be glamor magick, binding spells, and spells that are not creating higher good, but as in a glamority, making you something you aren't, such as performing a beauty spell. Hexes and other so-called 'evil' magick would fall under 'black' magick. Now, if we're striving towards perfect balance, don't you think we should be able to at least know 'black' magick, before we can perform 'white' magick? I'm not saying that you should hex, or you need to hex to create balance, but the knowledge should be sought out, at least as a tool that can be used if the situation arises.

A doctor doesn't just know how to bring life into the world, s/he knows how to end it. S/he needs to know over doses of certain drugs to prescribe the right amount. You cannot throw a doctor into a room and tell him/her to prescribe penicillin for a patient if s/he doesn't know how much to prescribe, and you cannot throw a Witch into a circle and then tell them to cast an abundance spell if they don't understand how to stop abundance. Following this certain example, the subject may need to know a spell to cause poverty, or end abundance, if they got a premonition of a loved one dying for them to get the money. This of course, is a scenario and a complete example, but I'm sure you're getting my point. If this Witch cannot create poverty, s/he cannot create abundance, because you must understand that abundance may come at a price higher then money. Everything has a opposite, and you must understand the opposite before you can wave a wand and chant out a few rhymes.

Hex creates a twisted scene in your mind, due to years of more persecution, as I'm sure you've had more then enough of. You don't think of a group calling down Egyptian Goddesses to bring justice, and catch a criminal in the act of stealing from the coven library. You think of a solitary Witch sitting alone in her/his room, burning dragons blood and dropping 'eye of newt' and 'tongue of dog' into a cauldron. I'm not saying to go read a Satanic Bible (and if you're reading this, I doubt you believe in Satan, but, hey, everyone to their own) and learn some hexes about how to kill your Science teacher, but do learn the art of bringing ultimate justice. Answer some questions about your own shadow side even: is it a direct reflection of you, or does it look different? Is it an entity in a parallel universe, or is it just a side of your personality you want to hide? If you have a group or a coven, you might think about having a class where you embrace the shadow side. Think of the Crone phase of the Goddess, what does she mean to you? Is she the Death Crone, or the bringer of rebirth? Does she have 3 facets, or is it the Maiden who makes the thread of life, the Mother who develops it, and the Crone who cuts it in the end? Read up on some God/desses of death and destruction, such as a personal favorite of mine, Kali of the Hindu tradition. I recently went to Kali Rama with my Hindu friend, which is a worship of the Goddess Kali. If you can find information on this ritual, you may wish to celebrate the Goddess Kali with your group. In Hindu tradition, it is Kali who brings death, and Shiva, her consort, who brings rebirth.

Those of you who wear white robes and call themselves 'Lady Pink Fluffy Bunny of the Moon Barbie Tradition', I respect that. You've got your beliefs out there. You know what you're up against. And for you who agree with me, I salute you, too. You're just as good as Lady Pink up there. But remember, for all those who work for the higher good, there'll be someone who's working to create only the darkness you shun. So try learning a hex or two, just for knowledge. Understand your shadow.

Sienna Swan

ABOUT...

Location: , USA

Bio: Sienna is a 13 year-old who worships a Eclectic Old Dianic tradition and stays very true to her beliefs. She's always held Wiccan traditions and beliefs, but only got into Wicca as a religion almost 2 years ago. She's a totally Beatlemaniac and is stuck in the 70s! She loves hearing from Wiccans from all over, and has a essay for parents, teachers, and friends who don't understand the Craft as a positive religion, if you ever need one!

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