"Black" "White" Magic, all is one.

I've had this sitting in my blog for a while, but so few people read my blog I thought I'd toss it out here and get some different outlooks on the concept of how so called, "White" and "Black" magic differ from one another. Below you find my opinion, what about yours?

I've heard much discussion on the matter of so called "Black Magic" and "White Magic", especially among newcomers. It is a very regular occurrence that I check the various occult forums I frequent and find posts in the beginners section asking for information on "Black" or "White" magic, as if they are completely separate things like water and oil.

The common misconception is that so called "White" magic involves such things as: Healing, Contacting Angels, Banishing Evil Spirits, Astral Projection, etc

Likewise the common misconception that so called "Black" magic involves such things as: Curses, Summoning Demons, Sexual Rituals, etc

Let me ask you this:

When a terrorist uses chemistry techniques to create liquid explosives do we call it "Black Chemistry"?
Likewise when a scientist uses chemistry techniques to create medicine do we call it "White Chemistry"?

No its just Chemistry, a science consisting of laws which categorize different effects, how they happen and how to use them to your advantage,

Just like Magic,

The same energy forces which can be used to kill a cancer can be used to cause somebody's organs to rot.*
Its about your intention, magic is just magic.

That is not to say morality is irrelevant, simply that so called "Black" and "White" magic are NOT different things, the same laws are being used, the same fundamental techniques, the same archetypal energy, the only difference is the INTENTION of the person behind it.

It is your Intention that determines if your magic is "White" or "Black" if you feel the need to use such labels.

When it comes to morality I will only say this:
Power must develop hand in hand with responsibility and restraint.

* I have personally attempted neither of these acts, the statement was based on my research in magical theory.

So that is my opinion, what is yours?

Tags: black, evil, good, magic, occultism, white

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alchemy on July 3, 2009 at 11:56pm: I feel magick is both ;whatever dwells within the heart of that particular witch but it SHOULD be kept in balance however you can do harm to your spirit if the balance is not equal.
Blessings,
Alchemy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ScorpioDragon: The StudWitch on July 4, 2009 at 2:48am: Aye, as defined by most, there is no black, nor white. No good, nor evil. As nature is a mix of the two, so is magick. By the scientific and occult rules of balance, even if one means harm to none, one individual may be deprived of what would have naturally been his/hers if not for magick. Therefore all magick is truly a mix of the two and is always gray of one shade or another. The intent of the practitioner, of course, is a huge deciding factor in the shade of the magick, whether it be BENEFICIAL or MALICIOUS. Otherwise your post is quite correct in it's theoretical views on magick itself :).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eistir - Satan's Sex Slave on July 4, 2009 at 4:16am: I'm confused about something. I see people saying that magic is magic, it is colorless. Yet in the same breath they say it's all in the intent. Well, then by that aren't you saying that the intent is what gives a spell or whatever it's color? For instance, magic is magic. But if you do a spell with the intent to harm someone, it is then black magic. Well, you're still giving magic a color. Which contradicts what you've previously said. Makes no sense to me.

Energy is energy. Magic is magic. There are no colors. Even if you intend good towards someone, something negative will happen also. "With every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Just do what you want. If it will make you feel guilty, maybe you shouldn't do it. Do what you want, as long as you can live with yourself. *shrug*; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ScorpioDragon: The StudWitch on July 4, 2009 at 11:37am: Even harmful spells are not completely "black" persay. In nature, when a bobcat kills a rabbit for food, the rabbit is harmed and it's life ended. Yet the bobcat has food and sustenance from this action. So even though it was bad and harmfull to the rabbit, it was good for the bobcat. Magick is simply a cosmic ripple effect that we can't always foresee in it's entirety. I usually use the gray connotations because it is easier for most to wrap their head around. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eistir - Satan's Sex Slave on July 4, 2009 at 7:46pm: In nature, when a bobcat kills a rabbit for food, the rabbit is harmed and it's life ended. Yet the bobcat has food and sustenance from this action. So even though it was bad and harmfull to the rabbit, it was good for the bobcat.

Exactly.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by July Evening Starr on July 4, 2009 at 12:12pm: It really boils down to a need to put labels on everything we encounter, see, do. For many labels aid in the understanding or accepting of something. Also for some it is a carry over from the christian indoctrination.

For me personally, Even though I may use colors in my magic, any magic I do is about Balance. I have been asked many times if I was a White Witch or a Black Witch. My normal response is I am neither and I am both. That I do not do the label thing as I find it to be limiting and restricting.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ronan Silvebane on July 4, 2009 at 1:53pm: Agree, there is no such thing as Color in Magic for it depends on the Intentions of the Individuals and the beings that are working with in the end. Though it is something many individuals have to learn through time not something that can be given to them as they have been trained in sociality today to think in simple terms and not look for the deeper meanings all the time. Anyway that there choice and they have that right I just think the idea of Color over intention des not make whole lot of sense in the end like you state it but who am I to say such things.

"May All Pantheistic Gods, Goddesses, Mystical Beings and Guardians of the Watch Towers as both Individuals First and Unionifed Force of Creation working togeth Bless you and yours Immediately and Infinitely Now and Forever in Honor, Honesty, Respect, Loyalty, Faithfulness, Sincerity, Love, Light (day) and Shadow (Night) in Fellowship and Friendship. So Mote this be! and blessed it be!"; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by AlanHeartsong on July 4, 2009 at 2:37pm: I think that defining magic as "black" and "white" is buying into that old good vs. evil duality that I turned my back on when I rejected Christianity.

Labeling it that way just lets people justify what they're doing. "Oh, I only do white magic, I'd NEVER do anything black" is a cop-out for unthinking people who don't really take responsibility for themselves. "I'm a black witch, beware my power" is a silly drama queen statement for people who are too insecure to really feel powerful without artificially inflating their ego.

If I said "Oh, I don't practice black or white magic, mine is all fuchsia" they'd just get confused, or assume it had something to do with me being gay.

The reality is, I practice magic. If it has color at all, it's purely because the color I visualize works with my personal symbology to make it stronger, and doesn't impact anyone else's perceptions of my magical actions.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eistir - Satan's Sex Slave on July 4, 2009 at 7:49pm: If I said "Oh, I don't practice black or white magic, mine is all fuchsia" they'd just get confused, or assume it had something to do with me being gay.

lol!! The fuchsia witch!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by AlanHeartsong on July 6, 2009 at 11:26pm: I still think that labeling magic as "black" or "white" encourages a not-so-subtle form of racism. And that's just for doodyheads.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by saffron on July 4, 2009 at 6:36pm: Magic is just magic. Labeling things "black" or "white" is a marketing tool used by writers and publishers.

Morality is independent of magic, religion, and books. If you have a well-developed sense of morality, you shouldn't need a book to tell you what is right and wrong. In fact, you may actively disagree with what it being labeled as "black", "white", or "grey" depending on your own personal moral beliefs.

Your analogy with chemistry is perfect. There are no books on good or bad chemistry. You are simply taught chemistry. It is up to your sense of morality to determine what ways you will use that knowledge. And as a side note, that's also a good way of explaining why I believe you should learn EVERYTHING you can about magic and not just the "white" stuff. You don't teach a future chemist just the safe stuff in chemistry. If we did, there would never be any advances and they would never know how to pull themselves out of a jam if they did something bad on accident. Incomplete knowledge leads to worse disasters than complete knowledge of dangerous things.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by TwilightEmerges - the Non Pagan on July 4, 2009 at 7:50pm: Cause I'm naughty!

Thought you'd like to read my response to your thread. xD I hope it's no hard feelings. I'll delete it if there is. :); ▶ Reply to This