Pagans, did you know a "little" knowledge is a dangerous thing?

Question

Like wishing and wishing for money without a specific source for the money, can cause one of your Loved Ones to die and leave you some money?
That blowing out a candle flame offends the Fire elementals?
I did an Earth banishing not long ago just to see if I remembered how to do it. A minute later, I heard a bang like a .22 going off behind me. My co-workers heard it too. I did it toward the West, which is ruled by Water, and had no real need to do it. I guess I pissed off the Water elementals?

Answer 1

Anyone who has ever tried to fix their own computer or read "The Monkey's Paw" knows that "a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing." ***smile***

Answer 2

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing Meaning A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are. Origin First used by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744) in An Essay on Criticism, 1709: "A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again."

Answer 3

It is important when you are studying Magick, not to allow yourself to get too dogmatic about it. Contrary to popular belief, Magick and Superstition are not the same thing. A true occultist seeks to combat Superstition, not further it.

Firstly, it is true that some spells may have unintended side-effects (which we call the "Monkey Paw" effect) and so it is important to word the spell carefully and clearly to avoid this. This is actually fairly easy to avoid, if you have a clear goal in mind, are able to focus on your goal, and don't let yourself get distracted. But wishing and casting a deliberate spell are not the same thing. Wish in one hand and pooh in the other, and see which one fills up first, as the old saying goes. A spell is like a wish with intent -- a deliberate, willful act. A wish is simply an idle daydream, and completely harmless.

Secondly, there are a number of superstitions about ritual which many Pagans (especially new Wiccans) get overly dogmatic about. One of these is about snuffing candles rather than blowing them out. If observing this formality helps you to do better ritual -- if treating your ritual candles differently helps you to cement firmly in your mind that something special is going on, then great. But this ritual form is a tool, remember that. Go ahead, then, and snuff your ritual candles. That's how I do it -- I snuff out my ritual candles rather than blowing them out. Not because I'm afraid of offending the fire elementals, but because I am doing ritual. Mundane candles I treat differently. I have no problem blowing them out. I will still blow out the candles on my birthday cake.

Thirdly, it seems like you're misunderstanding the nature and purpose of banishing here. Banishing is always needed. It's something you can't do enough. I consider it an important part of my psychic hygiene, and a great way to keep in practice doing ritual. I do a banishing ritual daily as part of my daily meditations and adorations. I do one before every major ritual, and several after. Banishing is basically the magickal equivalent of sweeping the floor. It clears away everything -- all the energies which may distract you from your work, so that you can invoke or evoke in the specific energies you need to work with for that particular spell/working. And it lets you control what spirits you want and don't want roaming freely around your space.

The directions attributed with the elements are arbitrary, and are very recent inventions. The system you're probably used to -- the Wiccan system -- is based on the Pentagram Ritual of the Golden Dawn. But the GD used different element/direction attributes for different rituals. Try a different system for a while, to see how it works and to break your mind out of it's restrictive patterns. Here's one, based on the Hexagram Ritual of the Golden Dawn. Imagine that it's sunrise on the Spring Equinox. OK, so you have Aries to the East, so that's Fire, Capricorn to the South, so that's Earth, Libra to the West, so that's Air, and Cancer to the North, so that's Water. Try that one out, you'll find it works just as well, but sets up your sacred space on a slightly higher plane.

As for the loud bang when you did the banishing -- probably a coincidence.

Answer 4

I did know this actually... which is why I've never dreamed of doing a money spell, and I always snuff candles. I mean blowing out a candle is like just walking out of a circle without banishing it, expecting it to just go away. Common courtesy.

Answer 5

Before you practise anything you must have the knowledge, and respect the three fold law. in reference to your above question if you do something that would be reguarded as personal gain then it will come to you by way of something selfish happening. Banishing spells are done to banish negativity from a person or site not the earth itself, please do more study before your ignorance gets you into something you don;t know how to get out of.

Answer 6

Coincidence, its not proof of cause and effect, that is like saying people in church shouldn't pray because billy needs a kidney. If you didnt wish it, Billy still would need a kidney, and some other kid would die, because he got in a car wreck. If you want to look for straws, you will find them.

Answer 7

Yes I know that. And I don't believe in Elementals. And not all Pagans are magically inclined.

Answer 8

Sorry, I don't believe in Monkey Paw wishes. Wishing without focus or direction simply wastes your time. It does not cause your loved ones to keel over dead.

Answer 9

We have to be careful what we wish for, and perform such acts with great caution, with much self-examination of our intentions. You will be safe if your intentions are completely pure. The problem is we can easily fool ourselves that our intentions are indeed pure through rationalization.

Answer 10

Did you know that like so many ill-educated people you have the quotation wrong? Alexander Pope, in "An Essay on Criticism" wrote
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
and drinking largely sobers us again.