The Truth About Witchcraft Today

This excerpt was taken from The Truth About Witchcraft Today by, Scott Cunningham, with the permission from the publisher, Llewellyn Publications.

This premise, the idea behind most religious civil codes of conduct, is universal. Harm none means just that-not yourself, not your enemies-none. Harming here includes physical, emotional, me spiritual, and psychic damage. Manipulation of others (such as forcing someone to fall in love with you) is also taboo, as is harming the Earth and its treasures.

The so-called evil magicians do exist, but they're rare. Why? Perhaps it's because they find simpler, surer ways to do their dirty work. It's far easier to beat up your enemy, sleep with his wife or her husband, rob them, or practice blackmail than it is to perform destructive magic.

Practitioners of negative magic burn themselves out. As we've seen, the projection of personal energy in magic is an expenditure of the life-force within. Once a magician has wreaked metaphysical havoc, there's no turning back-the current is closed. In programming personal energy with negativity, the magician infuses her/himself with negative power by unlocking it within, which paves the way for a life of darkness and, eventually, an early grave. Evil magicians destroy themselves with their own curses.

The vast majority of folk magicians, however, work with positive, healing, loving energies. They do so because:

Magicians respect life. All living creatures, including humans and animals, are manifestations of the universal power. As such, they're respected and loved, not cursed out of existence.

Magicians respect the Earth. Long revered in religions throughout history, the Earth is respected as the most intense manifestation of divine energy within our reach. It is also a source of incredible power. Therefore, magicians walk lightly upon the Earth and do nothing to upset its intricate balance, such as maliciously ending a life or cursing a human being.

Magicians respect the power. As the ultimate, universal force, the power is inconceivable. The energy that created galaxies, DNA, humans, and billions of forms of terrestrial plants and insects isn't something to challenge. It's even more unwise to misuse the power. Most folk magicians aren't afraid of the power; they wisely respect it.

Reverence of this energy is the basis of all religions. It is that which has been called God, Yemaya, Goddess, Kwan Yin, Grandfather, and every other human conception of the divine.

Power sent will be received in like kind. Performing negative or destructive magic ensures that such energies will be returned to the magician. Healing, peace, and prosperity are far more pleasant energies to receive. Some magicians accept the concept of the "law of three," which states that magical actions are returned in triple strength to the power-wielder. Performing a ritual intended to harm another person- even if it isn't effective-may bring death to the magician.

Magic is love. It is a loving movement of energy from one or more natural sources to effect positive, healing changes. For magic to be effective, the magician must have love for the self, love for others, and love for the Earth. Without these feelings magic stagnates and festers, turning into a brew of destructive energy which ultimately destroys the magician.

Heavy, isn't it? Yet it's so simple. Magic isn't hatred; magic is love. If we love ourselves we're willing to improve our lives. If we love others we're willing to help them find love, health, and happiness. If we love the Earth we're willing to work toward healing it of the ravages that one hundred years of "progress" has created.

Folk magicians harm none. They don't work magic to change other people's lives, even in seemingly positive ways, without first receiving permission to do so. Healing rituals aren't attempted without the consent of the sick. Folk magicians won't weave an aura of love-attracting vibrations around a lonely person without first asking.

To those who've been reared on the idea that magic is the ultimate weapon against humanity, these truths may be boring-but the truth often is.

While wide-eyed audiences watch curses and death-spells flying across flickering screens or running along the pages of cheap books, folk magicians continue to happily spread love, health, prosperity, peace, ad security in their own lives and in those who've come to them.

They do this because they accept the basic rule of magic- Harm none.