Ethics
©2001 Cerelia and Eileen Holland, All Rights Reserved

This material is from a book-in-progress that we call A Witches' Book of Answers.
This book is based on questions that have been asked on the OpenSesame e-list
over the years, and our responses to those many questions.

WHAT ARE THE ETHICS OF WITCHCRAFT?

 When you say, "An it harm none", that is exactly what it means in your work. It is important to say this, because you are therefore asking for an outcome that will not harm anyone. If you ask that no one gets harmed in the process, you are stating that your intention must be granted only under these terms. If it is not possible that no one gets harmed, then it will not be a fulfilled spell. With practice, you will get in the habit of saying "harm to none" readily. I think of my family especially, and do not want them to come to any harm because of a spell I might cast. This fact alone may make you very careful of always saying it. If you forget, just say it out loud afterwards and visualize harm coming to no one. - Cerelia

 A basic rule of Witchcraft, for me as a Wiccan, is that I cast spells for people and not on them. Unless there are very special circumstances, I never cast spells for anyone without their permission. Interfering with someone else's karma affects your karma too. This might be something you have to straighten out with that person in your next lifetime. Remember what you learned in Physics: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Magic is the manipulation of energy, so this definitely applies. - Eileen

WHY DO I HAVE TO SAY 'WITH HARM TO NONE'?

 For one thing, "with harm to none" protects anyone who may get in the path of one of your spells, even your own family members. This is very necessary, to me. - Cerelia

WHO OR WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE EVIL IN THIS WORLD?

 There is no blaming anyone but ourselves when we do something evil. I tell my son that good people do good things, and bad people do bad things. That's a simplistic explanation, but it is also a true one. We each have free will, are each personally responsible for our actions and inactions. There are Christians who may try to claim "the devil made me do it" as an excuse, or New-Agers who blame the planets, but Wiccans know that we are each responsible for ourselves, and accountable for our actions. - Eileen

HOW DOES A WITCH KNOW WHEN HE OR SHE IS TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE, OR IF IT IS REALLY FOR SELF-GRATIFICATION?

 We all struggle with our intentions with every spell. Your own conscience will usually let you know if there are selfish reasons for your spells. I don't see this as a major problem for Witches with good hearts. - Cerelia

HOW DOES A WITCH KNOW IF THE GOOD THEY ARE DOING IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR EVERYONE ELSE?

 Sometimes you don't. That is why magic should be taken very seriously and used sparingly. - Cerelia

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DO NO HARM.

 Wiccan experience proves otherwise. - Eileen

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE LAW OF THREE?

 The most important thing to know about the Law of Three is that it relates to everything we say and do (or do not do), not just casting spells. Just as what goes up must come down, what we put forth must come back to us. Witches and different magical traditions quibble about how many times the return is (threefold, tenfold, or samefold), but I don't think anyone can deny that what goes around, comes around. Put forth positivity, and you get back blessings. - Eileen

DOES THE THREEFOLD LAW MEAN THAT A MURDERER WILL BE MURDERED, AND A RAPIST WILL BE RAPED?

 The return isn't always so literal, like Jeffrey Dahmer being killed in prison. Sometimes it's a lot more subtle, or drawn out. Sometimes a cosmic sense of humor can be seen in the way things work out. Whatever the case, even if it takes several lifetimes, balance is achieved. - Eileen

HOW WOULD KARMIC JUSTICE APPLY TO A MURDERER?

 As an example, he or she could come back in his next life as a victim, instead of the murderer.  He or she could even suffer the fate of a victim while in prison in this life, or he or she could suffer the loss of a loved one in the next life. The examples are really endless. It can be instant karma, or in a future life. - Cerelia

I FEEL THAT YOU CAN ONLY 'DO AS YOU WILL AND HARM NONE' UNTIL YOU GET PUSHED TOO FAR. DO YOU AGREE?

 How far is too far? What would have to be done to any of us to justify harming someone else? Is murder justified if someone you love is murdered? Will the law agree with you that you were just pushed too far? I doubt it. I know that I would do just about anything to protect my family or myself from physical harm, or from extreme mental harm. Yes, I would even kill someone if it were in self-defense, but your question relates to magic.
 We should always try first to get help from the proper authorities, before depending on spells to physically protect us from extreme danger and life-threatening situations. If we truly believe in the threefold law when it comes to our spells and such, we never ask for someone to be killed. Instead, we ask that they be bound, caught, arrested, and put away for a very long time. We also remember that in asking for someone else to be harmed, it can come back not only on us, but to on any member of our family, or on someone we love. If we truly believe in the threefold law, are we willing to take that risk?
 These are questions are tough ones that you have to answer for yourself. The Threefold Law sounds so simple, but no one ever said the threefold law was easy. It's a lot harder to abide by than one may think, especially if you think all your problems can be solved by magically harming someone. Save these kind of decisions for the big things in life. We shouldn't have too many of these kinds of decisions to make, if we reserve this kind of magic for life and death situations. - Cerelia

I KNOW WHATEVER WITCHES DO COMES BACK ON THEM THREE TIMES, BUT SOMETIMES, DON'T YOU THINK IT FEELS LIKE IT'S WORTH IT?

 You might want to think about some of the things that could really happen, and if they did happen, whether or not it would have truly been worth it. It's easy to talk about hexing before the results come back and bite you in the butt. Remember, I don't judge anyone's magic, nor anyone's decisions. They are yours, and yours alone. These are just thoughts for you to consider, to try to help you understand that your decisions shouldn't be taken lightly. Your magic shouldn't be taken lightly, but like many things in this world, many Witches have to experience the results of the threefold law before they believe in it. Some lessons come hard. - Cerelia

AS LONG AS I FOLLOW MY CONSCIENCE, I BELIEVE THAT MY INSTINCTS ARE BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE'S. I THINK ANYONE WHO CAN'T SEE THIS IS IN THE WRONG RELIGION!

 I absolutely agree. I hope you find a religion that agrees with your thinking. - Cerelia

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE THREEFOLD LAW BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT AS LONG AS MY INTENT IS GOOD, ANYTHING I DO IS OK. IF I REALLY BELIEVE WHAT I AM DOING IS FOR THE BEST OF SOMEONE ELSE, MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR, AND THAT IS ALL THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.

 What does your conscience have to do with you invading anyone else's freedom of choice? Yes, everyone knows whether they are doing right or wrong (or most people do, anyway). But what is right for you, may or may not be right for someone else. You deciding what you think is best for anyone and everyone is very wrong thinking. What gives you the right to make decisions for them, or feel that in your mind, you have all the answers for everyone? - Cerelia

IF I CAST A HEALTH AND HAPPINESS SPELL FOR MY FRIEND'S NEW BABY, WILL THIS CAUSE SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO MY BABY?

 Oh no, don't worry about that. When you cast positive magic, you receive blessings in return. Blessing your friend's baby could only have a positive impact on yours; but if you were envious of her child and cast something negative for it, such a spell would impact you in a very negative way. Remember not to cast anything for her or the baby unless you are sure that she would welcome the spell. - Eileen

DO PEOPLE ALWAYS GET WHAT'S COMING TO THEM?

 Yes. This is physics as well as metaphysics, in my view. - Eileen

ARE WITCHES JUSTIFIED IN CASTING REFLECTING SPELLS, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT SURE WHO THE NEGATIVITY CAME FROM?

 I do protection spells on a regular basis, as do most practicing Witches, as I believe we should. If you have absolute proof that a particular person is causing you harm, you can reflect the negativity back.
 Keep in mind that some Witches believe that when you do this, anyone can get in the way, and harm can be caused to someone innocent. Also keep in mind that it can become very dangerous when two or more Witches start sending these types of spells back and forth. - Cerelia

I WORK IN A BOOKSTORE, AND THE WICCA HANDBOOK WAS RECENTLY STOLEN RIGHT OFF THE SHELF.

 What goes around, comes around. I stole hundreds of books from public libraries when I was a kid, because of anger, angst, dysfunctional family... all the usual reasons that kids indulge themselves in negative behaviors. I have been making up for this in my adult life, by donating books to libraries and in other ways, but I can only shake my head and laugh if my books are being stolen. - Eileen

ISN'T IT A KARMIC CRIME TO SPEAK OUT FOR ONESELF?

 A karmic crime, to speak out for oneself? That's ridiculous. - Cerelia

HOW DO YOU TELL IF YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, OR IF YOU WANT TO HELP YOURSELF BY HELPING OTHERS?

 That question never even comes up, for me. I help someone because I want to help them. I never think about what blessings might flow back to me because of it. - Eileen

IS IT ETHICAL TO DO SPELLS FOR YOURSELF?

 I think the hardest thing to change in our minds when coming to the Craft is feeling that we are greedy when we ask for what we or our family need. This is really what the Craft means to me, making a better life for my family, myself, and anyone else I can help along the way.
 I believe this feeling goes back to our upbringing, because we were told that we were not worthy unless a god tells us we are. We dare not ask for anything, only he will give it to us when he deems us worthy. This is a hard idea to get rid of, when most Witches have heard it all their lives.
 Don't be afraid to ask for what you think is good and wonderful for you and your family. You are just as entitled as anyone else. Working through your spells and rituals, in a responsible and loving way, is how you draw all the good things in life to yourself and those you love. There is not a thing wrong with that, but if you start wanting everything in sight, and don't care if anyone gets harmed in the process, that's when you start running into problems. - Cerelia

IS WORKING MAGIC TO BENEFIT MYSELF BLACK MAGIC?

 Why? Just because you want to attract good energies to yourself, this does not mean that you are sending anyone else bad energies. One misconception about Witchcraft, is that trying to help yourself in any way is wrong. We were taught in our former religions, when we believed in a god that served punishments or rewards, that we were not worthy, that we were sinners. We have to get over that idea. That idea is wrong, to me. You are a child of the Universe, entitled to everything good and wonderful and magical that you can possess through magic and/or hard work. You have every right to want and expect all the wonderful, good things out of life. That does not make you a bad person. You are no less nor more than any creature of the God/dess. If you were to ask for anything with the intent of harming another in the process, this would be wrong. But directing the subtle energies for yourself, or for anyone else, is part of being a Witch. It's not really confusing. If you always do your spells or rituals for yourself, or for anyone else who you love and want to help, from your heart and for the good of all, it is all the same. Whether you help yourself or another, it is good magic. - Cerelia

ISN'T IT WRONG FOR WICCANS TO USE MAGIC FOR PERSONAL GAIN, OR TO BANISH SOMEONE?

 There is nothing wrong with personal gain, so long as it isn't our sole focus, and we don't seek to harm anyone else in our efforts to help ourselves. There are situations in which it is very necessary to banish certain people from our lives. You can banish someone without harming them. - Eileen

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU FORGET TO SAY 'WITH HARM TO NONE'?

 A good example would be casting a prosperity spell, then having a loved one die and leave you money in their Will. You may or may not have caused the death with your spell, but if you had added 'with harm to none' it wouldn't be something you'd have to wonder about. - Eileen

ISN'T HARM SOMETIMES ACTUALLY A BLESSING IN DISGUISE?

 I hope this isn't what it sounds like, an attempt at an excuse for hexing. - Eileen

IS IT OK TO WORK SPELLS FOR SOMEONE WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE?

 My belief is that if the person does not know of your offerings or prayers or support, he or she will either feel the affect of it, or if they do not want it, on some level, it will just not work. I don't believe there is any adverse effect to you by offering love and best wishes to others. Everyone thinks with goodwill towards those we love, especially at times of crisis such as operations, hard times in their lives, and so forth, but if you are consciously working a spell, I would not do it without their permission. Sometimes, without knowing it, we are messing around with someone else's life lesson. We don't have the right to try and change that. That's when we run into trouble. - Cerelia

 Casting spells on people without their permission falls under the heading of magical meddling. Who are we to decide who is right for who, or whose personality needs adjusting? Interfering magically may prevent the person from paying a karmic debt, or learning a specific karmic lesson they are here to learn, for all we know. Questions about interfering magically with other people's lives usually come from Witches who are very young, or very new to the Craft. It's one of those things you wise up to as you progress along your path. Some Witches say that if you cast a spell on someone without their permission, even if you do it with the best of intentions, it comes back on you negatively. - Eileen

IT'S SILLY TO FOLLOW ANY RULES. IT REMINDS ME OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND WHY I LEFT. DON'T YOU THINK THAT DOING HEALING AND PROSPERITY SPELLS FOR PEOPLE, EVEN WITHOUT ANYONES KNOWLEDGE, IS ONLY COMMON SENSE AND FOR THEIR OWN GOOD?

 There is only one rule, "An it harm none". It's sad, to think you find that silly. Many people have life lessons to deal with. Your interference may not be welcomed by them, or it might interfere with a lesson that they may have to learn again, in another life, because of your interference. It is not your decision. You may be a Witch, but you are definately not a Wiccan if this is how you think. I am sure there are many Witches who think the way you do. To me it sounds like complete selfishness; doing whatever you want, and anyone else be damned. I am not disrespectful of your opinion, just in total disagreement with it. - Cerelia

WOULD IT BE ALRIGHT FOR ME TO LIGHT A CANDLE FOR SOMEONE, OR TO ASK THE GODDESS TO WATCH OVER HIM?

 That should be fine unless a prayer to the Goddess would be an affront to his belief system, whatever that may be. You could just send or hand him an encouragement card instead, with your well wishes. - Eileen

IS IT ETHICAL TO DO A READING FOR SOMEONE WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE, WHEN YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEM?

 With the person or situation in mind, I would just ask the cards, "Tell me what I need to know." If the meaning of the card or cards I drew was unclear, I'd draw a clarification card. If that still didn't set everything straight in my mind, I'd wait a few days and repeat the process. - Eileen

ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVIL?

 Deliberately hurting another is active evil. Passive evil is driving right past an accident, or not calling the authorities when you know a child is being abused, or not going for help when you see someone drowning, and so on. - Eileen

IS IT ETHICAL TO CAST SPELLS FOR FRIENDS, LIKE FOR SUCCESS?

 Most Witches cast spells like that for friends all the time. I burned amber incense and an orange Success candle all day today, to help a friend who had a court date. (I wasn't meddling, she had requested the help.) Her case was postponed for several weeks, which was a good outcome for her. - Eileen

ARE WE ALLOWED TO CHARGE MONEY FOR CASTING A SPELL?

 Magic is not for sale. To accept money for casting a spell is to dishonor yourself, and to dishonor the Craft. A greedy Witch is usually a frustrated Witch. It's generally considered ethical to sell things you make, your craft, but never ethical to accept money for casting a spell. - Eileen

IF I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO MANIPULATE ANYONE OR ANYTHING, WHY BOTHER CASTING SPELLS?

 This is exactly what some people of other faiths and spiritual beliefs think we condone and practice: manipulating others, and causing harm to others. This is not ethical, and not what we do. The purpose of spells and casting is to attract the subtle energies to ourselves, to improve ourselves and to improve our lives. Witches also do this for others. Witches should not want to change others. A Witch who strongly wants to manipulate others is the one who has the problem. Changing ourselves for the better is hard work. We think there is nothing wrong with us, that it's everyone else who needs help. Manipulating and harming others is fun, to some Witches. As individuals, we must decide if we want to learn to be a better person, and let the law of three, or karma, take care of those who we think need manipulating. As Witches, we must learn to take responsibility for ourselves, and to leave so called justice to the God/dess... to the Universe.
 Though some Witches cannot see it, there is great freedom in finally realizing that you really don't want to harm anyone. You just don't have the time to waste on petty people. You know that justice will be there in this life, or the next. It is really a release, a wonderful feeling. You must practice and believe in this every day, in order to attain this freedom of thought. This is much harder, and makes a much more powerful Witch, than a Witch who uses every excuse to manipulate or harm others. To me, that is very depleting. - Cerelia

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER RELIGION ASKS ME TO CAST A SPELL FOR THEM?

 There is no one answer to this. It depends on the request, on who makes it, on what your relationship is with this person, and on what the circumstances are. Prayers are not likely to offend a Christian but spells and rituals might, depending on their religious and personal beliefs. Lighting a candle for a Catholic who asks for help is usually a good way of helping them, though. - Eileen

 I would think that person was having doubts within their own faith. Since they obviously do not understand mine, I would decline; but of course, the choice is yours. I would not cast spells for others of different religions. This is mainly because they really don't understand why or how magic works, or because they think that going outside of their own faith was their only way out of a problem. - Cerelia

DO WE EVER USE BODY PARTS IN SPELLS?

 Old spells often call for blood, hair, or nail clippings. I think that kind of stuff is creepy, and have never had to use any of them in a spell. A picture of the person, a poppet named for them, or their name written on a candle or piece of paper, work just fine. One's own menstrual blood (or that freely given to you by your female partner) is the only kind of blood considered ethical by some Witches. - Eileen

IS IT TRUE THAT WORKING WITH YOUR OWN HAIR IS DANGEROUS, IN SPELLS?

 Once again, it depends on your outlook. As far as being dangerous, in my opinion any spell can be dangerous if you do not take great care. I work with my own hair during some spells. I don't think there is anything more personal than your own hair. It feels very powerful to me, yet Eileen will tell you she doesn't use hair because it feels creepy to her. As always, it is a personal decision. - Cerelia

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WORKING WITH BLOOD?

 We have talked, many times, about giving your own menstrual blood back to Mother Earth. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, but pricking and poking for blood is not my thing. I won't do that to myself. It is definitely wrong to use someone else's blood without their knowledge. Some Witches find it creepy to use human hair. I have no problem with that. Using their own menstrual blood is also very creepy to some Witches, but I have no problem with that either. This is a Witch's choice, and has nothing to do with black magic. Sacrificing or using someone else's blood without their knowledge or consent, no matter what your intent, is definitely considered unacceptable by ethical Witches. - Cerelia

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU NEED TO CAST A SPELL, BUT HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITS ETHICS?

 When this issue concerns you, but you feel there is a need for the spell, add a line to it asking the Goddess to only let the spell work if it is accord with the Universe. Word this in any way that makes sense to you. - Eileen

ISN'T IT ALWAYS WRONG TO BIND SOMEONE FROM SPEAKING THEIR THOUGHTS?

 There are situations in which binding someone from spreading false rumors could be necessary. - Eileen

ARE THERE ETHICAL ISSUES ABOUT SMOKING?

 I cheerfully admit to being a total health nazi when it comes to smoking. I loathe the smell of cigarette smoke, and can never understand why so many otherwise intelligent Witches smoke cigarettes, since cigarettes are a direct violation of the rule against harming others, or harming yourself. I can't imagine that any addiction doesn't interfere with Witchcraft, but that's just my opinion. People who smoke near children, especially babies, make me sick to my stomach. Nicotine is a terrible addiction that millions of humans are unable to break, but there is no excuse for smoking anywhere that will risk another person's exposure to your toxic cloud. People who smoke near other people are unforgivably selfish, in my view. I think smokers should be at the bottom of the list when lungs become available for transplant, and that people who didn't cause their own diseases should be given preference.
 Congratulations to everyone who has been able to beat this terrible addiction. Giving up smoking is a great kindness to Mother Earth and all her creatures. Just think about how much pollution one smoker sends into the air each year, and how much toxic trash one smoker throws on the ground in a year. Blessed Be everyone who stops smoking, and everyone else who helps their loved ones to stop. - Eileen

IS IT CHEATING, TO CAST A SPELL TO PASS A TEST?

 No, because no spell will get you a good grade on an exam unless you have done all your reading and studying as well as cast a spell. - Eileen

WAS IT OK TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM, SO THEY WOULD FINALLY STOP DRINKING?

 It's a good thing they were just praying, not casting spells, because 'rock bottom' could have harmed many people. Suppose rock bottom would have been having to deal with the consequences of drinking, driving, and slamming into a school bus full of kids? Or if rock bottom had meant becoming so dissolute that her own children were taken away from her and placed in foster care, where they were abused or molested? Or if ... well, I can imagine a lot of horrible scenarios. - Eileen