Witchcraft Opinions?

Question

Why do people who aren't interested in the occult, ALWAYS assume that witchcraft has shades of only black and white?

Seeing as this is the case in nothing including witchcraft, it always annoys me. Seeing that to be purely white, it would have to be completely selfless, and to do whats known as black magick is something as simple as it being selfish. To me it shows there is no white magick, only varying shades of Gray to black.

Any other views on this?

Just as an extra, there are a lot of people stating about how magick has no good or evil etc. I don't think i worded the question very well in that sense lol.

I was stating it to make it easier on the question, i also believe it is the user who makes it what it is. The black/white thing was solely to put it down to why it is labelled in such a way.

Answer 1

I agree with you, and I hate the whole color connection that horror movies have perpetuated.

Witchcraft is a neutral practice, neither good or bad in and of itself; it is all in how people use it that determines whether it is positive and beneficial, or negative and problematic.

I like the screwdriver example given. Here's another:

A person can make poisons out of herbs picked in the forest. Does that make the herbs "black" or "dark"? Evil? Bad? No. Another person can go into the same forest and come back with herbas and make healing medicines. Does that make the herbs "white" or "light"? Does it make them good all of a sudden?

No, plants are just plants. We can use them to dress up our patio, or cook delicious dishes with, or to poison our husbands.

Witchcraft is the same thing. It's just there, part of nature, IMO. A person can never bother with it, a person can take it to use to make their lives better, or they can take it and try and cause harm with it.

Just like most people using herbs would not recommend poisoning someone, and probably frown upon those who would do so, so do most Witches not recommend using Witchcraft to harm anyone, and would probably frown upon those doing so.

Answer 2

I have always felt that people who have to divide magick into black and white are fearful themselves. They don't want people to feel they are evil so they say I'm a witch witch. Personally, I know that magick is energy. Energy is neither good nor bad, it just is what it is. We are the ones who decide how to use it. I still don't see it as a color, it is what it is.

Answer 3

"Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"

Magic is a tool. It's all in how you use it. A screwdriver isn't evil, but it sure makes a great zombie-killing device! (It's not holy either...)

As to why other people may make assumptions about the absolutism of witchcraft, I can only assume that they are also the people who are absolutist in other areas of their life. They can't see beyond their spectrum to the greens and reds and yellows, etc. The use of witchcraft is inherently expressive in colorful ways, it's a pity that many people don't see more of the world in that way.

Answer 4

The Harry Potter sequence would not help witchcraft, it describes a society wherein those with magical powers are forced to stay break away their non-magical friends. mutually as there are evil human beings interior the story, they do no longer seem to be evil via fact they are witches or warlocks, yet in spite of the undeniable fact that they are. between the main villainous human beings interior the story, are Harry's very own aunt and uncle. Too many Christians have a knee jerk reaction every time they see or pay attention the observe, "witch". i'm reminded of the information article I as quickly as observed a pair of lady who wanted to limit "Black splendor" from the college library till she found out the story advance right into a pair of horse. each couple of years, somebody tries to limit "Huckleberry Finn" via fact it has the "N" observe and whilst it advance into first revealed it advance into in simple terms approximately banned for being abolitionist. an exceptionally final observe, there is no longer something Christian approximately banning books. or perhaps there is Christians tried to limit all varieties of issues for the previous few hundred years, which incorporate Arabic numerals.

Answer 5

I totally agree magick is energy and intent has alot to do with whether or not something is truly good or bad.

Lets all be real here there are some who use magick solely to do harm to someone else and then u have others who use theirs to better themselves and truly help others.

Answer 6

You forgot the whole color spectrum ;-)

Dichotomous thinking is very common in cultures dominated by Christianity, because their view of ultimate reality is based on that.

I don't even see black as what you describe, because black to me merely represents the yin energy which is necessary to balance the yang. I see nothing wrong with casting spells to improve myself - it may be selfish, but who cares? I'm trying to be a better person.

Sometimes selfishness can be beneficial to others. I want to be stronger so I can do and give more; I want to be more patient, particularly with my children. When I am happy I want to make others happy. Is that black? I don't know, because I don't bother to define things that way.

Answer 7

Instead of thinking in terms of "black" and "white" magic, think in terms of intent. When you're casting a spell, what is your intent? Is it to do harm? Is it to do good? Have you thought about what you're casting the spell for? Have you thought of the long term ramifications of your spell? If you absolutely MUST think in seperate terms, think of "good" and "bad" magic. And remember, whatever you do, it comes back to you 3 times over. Good luck!

Answer 8

What does it matter? Man cant fully fathom, master or utilize the world he lives in every day and can see... how arrogant to think a man can control the world he can not see ;)

Answer 9

Hey, you got the self-ish/self-less dichotomy....good for you! You read the right books and websites.

Magic doesn't come in shades/colors....people's actions do.

Answer 10

According to the Wizard of Oz, you've got Good Witches and you've got Wicked Witches. There's no middle ground.