Magical Almanac: Practical Magic for Everyday Living - Lauryn Heineman 2018

Enlighten Up: A New Approach to Cursing by Raven Digitalis
Fire Magic

It’s a longtime debate in magical circles: Should we use our abilities to cause suffering, even when it appears clearly justified? Even for the greater good?

Well, let’s first take a look at that very term—“justified.” The term implies justice and, unless we are referring to universal karma, is an objective term that requires assessment or judgment from a human being. So, who are we to judge? Is our knowledge, willingness, and ability to magically influence others reason enough to be karmic judges in any given situation? These ethical issues can be complicated and convoluted and tend to differ greatly from one situation to the next.

It’s easy to be reactive in life. In 99 percent of instances, the act of cursing is entirely reactive and is ultimately unnecessary. Many people will curse—or will seek someone to curse on their behalf—if they feel even slightly wronged by another person. These divisive actions are ultimately cruel, mundane, petty, and usually unsuccessful.

Throughout this article I will examine a number of elements, aspects, and theories surrounding cursing, hexing, crossing, and other forms of magickal retaliation. This article will conclude with an instructional guide to “enlightening up” a violator as a more ethical—and more effective—alternative to traditional cursing.

Additionally, I propose that our magickal focus be primarily spent not on cursing the violator, but on assisting the violated, which I encourage the reader to contemplate throughout.

Injustice Be Damned

There are times when we will hear news about horrific abuses toward innocent people and animals. The sad reality is that these horrors exist in the world and deserve to be exposed on platforms of public media. It’s not enough to shut off and shut out the news. We have to be a part of the change, even if it’s merely energetic. For empathic and highly sensitive spiritual souls, merely thinking about involving oneself in these energies can be cause for anxiety and stress—but we must power through. We have taken this spiritual path for a reason. Perhaps the most significant aspect of our spiritual paths is to serve others and uplift the world however we are able.

When learning about issues of abuse and exploitation in the news, one’s first magickal instinct may be to unleash a curse, a hex, or a spell of revenge. But injustices happen every day, and it would be exhausting and unwise to spend our daily energy trying to inflict the harm of retribution. We must be wise with how we expend our energy.

Sometimes cursing, hexing, crossing, and binding seem far more justified, such as in the case of witnessing or experiencing abuse and exploitation. In these instances, one should seek legal help and physical protection alongside magickal work. In cases such as these, laying curses and “black magick” are understandable responses. Nevertheless, I feel that magick aimed at helping a violator become more enlightened “by any means necessary” is far more effective and karmically clean.

The Issue of Binding

There is a fantastic scene in the groundbreaking 1996 film The Craft in which protagonist Sarah binds coven-sister-gone-cuckoo Nancy “from doing harm; harm against other people and harm against yourself.” You can bet dollars to donuts that thousands of teenagers performed binding spells as a result of this scene back in the nineties—myself included!

Most Witches, Pagans, and magicians agree that binding rituals can be very positive magickal acts that influence restriction on the violator and protection for the violated. Typical binding magick is different from cursing or hexing because it affirms safety for the violator and the violated, although it still directly influences a person’s freewill. Like anything, binding can take numerous forms and involves a spectrum of ethics just as nuanced as cursing itself.

Cursing, hexing, and binding are all complicated subjects too vast to thoroughly explore in these pages. For readers curious about diving deeply into the ethics of these topics, I recommend reading “The Hex Appeal of Activism” on Patheos, wherein journalist Mat Auryn interviews twenty-eight public Witches and magicians, exploring the intricacies of hexing, cursing, and binding in modern practice. I wholeheartedly recommend this article for every reader, as its wisdom is indispensable for magickal practitioners of all varieties.

Contemplating Karma

Wicca is one of the most influential Western magickal paths in modern times. Since its creation in the late 1940s, the law of threefold return has been interpreted under various meanings, the most common of which assumes that a person will “get back” what they “send out,” times three. However, many modern practitioners see this belief as more of a superstition than a natural law. This is because nature is balanced; everything is an equal give-and-take. Anything beyond a “law of equal return” simply does not make sense because reality itself is a balancing act of equilibrium, not amplification.

Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and other Eastern mystical paths have long understood the reality of the karmic cycle. Often misunderstood in the West, the idea of karma is not an “eye for an eye,” but one of universal balance and equilibrium that spans lifetimes of experience. This is not to say that every horrific occurrence in the world is “karma in action.” Why? Because new karmic imprints are formed regularly.

In numerous Eastern mystical traditions, samskaras are understood as “karmic formations,” or vibrational imprints that are created through certain actions or inactions in a person’s life. Taking out the trash, for example, does not affect karma and does not create a samskara. However, intentionally throwing recyclables in the trash because it feels amusing would be something that creates a samskara or reinforces a preexisting karmic pattern. On the flipside, organizing an earth-based sustainability rally to spread education about reducing waste may also create a samskara. In other words, it’s not always a bad thing. If we choose to make positive, progressive, and compassionate lifestyle choices toward ourselves and others (including our thoughts!), those energies become peacefully affixed to our spheres, encouraging more positivity day by day.

Karma is not good or bad. Like gravity or oxygen, it’s a natural force that upholds existence, although its effects may not be immediately observed and can’t be accurately tested in a laboratory. I should also mention here that recognizing, understanding, and resolving deep-seated karmic patterns takes lifetimes. When we humbly dedicate ourselves to a path of spiritual growth, whether Witchcraft, yoga, or something else, we become more aligned with spiritual currents that encourage the learning and settling of old karmic patterns. Seemingly “negative” karmas can be resolved through self-awareness, humility, and seva, selfless service to others.

Our influence on the realities of other beings crafts our own experiences. This is why karmic work and magickal work truly are inseparable and why many a wise magickal practitioner believe that cursing should not be practiced or promoted.

The Place of Mindfulness

I’m a big fan of Buddhist perspectives on mindfulness. Now a common phrase, “mindfulness” implies a certain conscientiousness and self-awareness when it comes to responding to life’s ups and downs. Moreover, mindfulness can be likened more to an experience of observing life rather than reacting instinctively.

Self-awareness is greatly borne of mindfulness, and both terms imply an ability to emotionally step back before instinctively reacting to the human drama around us. Wisdom takes numerous forms and is valued in virtually all cultures and traditions. At the end of the day, I believe that wisdom and self-awareness hold little difference.

If we can more objectively look at our minds and the way we think and respond to our experiences, we can more wisely choose where and how to expend our energies and efforts. This most certainly applies to our intentional magickal practices. One of the first magickal lessons I was taught is to wait twenty-four hours after getting a magickal idea (a full Sun cycle) before actually casting the spell or performing the working. This is especially relevant to magick that has the potential to strongly affect another person’s reality or one’s own.

Enlighten Up!

Everyone deserves self-awareness. Many of the world’s problems come from traumatic imprints latent in the spirits and psyches of individuals who, having been violated themselves, become violators. Psychological and sociological sciences of interpersonal violence, control, and cruelty are incredibly nuanced subjects. When it comes to magick of the “enlighten up” variety, the reasons, whys, and wherefores of the violator take a backseat to the desperate need for increased self-awareness.

The best part of “enlighten up” magick is the fact that it will not harm a person if they are in fact innocent in a situation. If performed with kindness rather than malice or spite, this sort of magick will assist the other on their path of knowledge. If the person or people are guilty of causing intentional harm, however, a blast of enlightened energy may appear to them as a curse because of the intensity of the sentiment to “enlighten up—by any means necessary.” It is not always easy to learn deep-seated life lessons and to get on the right track.

This form of magick is concerned with helping a person become more enlightened and self-aware so that they can stop causing harm. After all, who doesn’t want more awareness? Who doesn’t need more loving kindness in their life? We all need it, and we all deserve it.

I encourage attempting the following ethical alternative to cursing—one that is often far more powerful—or a variation thereof. This should only be performed alongside magickal and real-world action toward safety, protection, and criminal justice, if the case is severe. (If laws have been broken or if you or someone else is in danger, contact 911 and legal authorities immediately.)

Throughout this magickal working, make a concentrated effort not to cast any malice toward this person or people; send only peace and compassion to the best of your ability. This is often much more easily said than done. If this simply feels impossible, do not direct magick toward this person.

Keep in mind that you will, to some extent, be forcing the energy of self-awareness onto another person or people. In many ways, this can be likened to a “binding of light.” If this does not sit right with you or if it feels unethical, please do not perform this sort of magick. Everything in life is situational, and every circumstance is different, so the practitioner must be entirely confident that this magick is the proper and most ethical course of action.

Binded by the Light: Performing the Steps

Get comfortable in sacred space. Perform cleansing activities such as smudging with sage and asperging with saltwater. Light candles and incense. Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram or cast a circle if it is your practice. Call upon gods, guides, and guardians with whom you are familiar and who you feel represent the concept of enlightenment. This type of ritual is best performed at dawn or sometime before the Sun reaches its daily pinnacle, and it is most potent on a Sunday. (These are merely suggestions rather than requirements, and the practitioner should personally tailor all magickal workings to some extent.)

Facing the east (sitting or standing) with your eyes closed, envision the violator in your mind’s eye. See their face and recall the incidents that have led you to magically influencing their reality in this manner. If anger, sadness, or difficult emotions arise, allow them to exist without becoming attached to the sensations. Try your best to become the observer of these emotions rather than the experiencer.

Now it’s time to get to work. If you are weaving a spell alongside this visualization (such as using a photo, candle, letter, or anything else), set out your Crafting components and perform your additional work. (Note: certain herbs, incenses, and stones can also be utilized for this sort of metaphysical work, including jasmine, sandalwood, frankincense, benzoin, selenite, and lapis lazuli.)

When you feel as though you have accurately tapped into the emotional energy of the situation—and the energetic signature of the violator in question—visualize yourself looking straight into their eyes.

Doing your best to cultivate acceptance in your heart (which is not the same as forgiveness), speak directly to the image of the violator. Rather than cursing them with your words, tell them the reason why you are taking a higher road in the situation. Explain to their spirit why they deserve self-awareness, healing, and enlightenment just as much as anyone else.

Invoke light. Lift up your hands and spend some time visualizing your body growing in size, extending out into cosmic space. See yourself invoking the light of consciousness, life, and the projective force of evolution. Contain these energies in a blinding white astral ball between your hands. Visualize yourself coming back down to earth with this sphere in hand.

Forcefully project this sphere toward the violator in your mind’s eye or the spell in front of you. See the person physically respond to the blast of light while you declare,

Enlighten up—by any means necessary—RIGHT NOW!

Visualize this light entering every facet of their body. Come to terms with the fact that you are helping to quicken their soul’s evolution.

Visualize the powerful light simultaneously opening their heart chakra (anahata) and their third-eye chakra (ajna) as well as both of their hands. See these two chakra points and the hands all connected by this astral light, symbolizing a connection between awareness, compassion, and action. To seal these energies, envision the person’s face growing in astonishment. Visualize them being able to accurately perceive and realize the violations they have committed.

Finally, see the individual in your mind’s eye accept this light into themselves. Place your hands in the anjali mudra (namaste or prayer position) and bow to them. Communicate any final wishes aimed at their enlightenment, and genuinely wish them well on their journey. If Wicca is your practice, you may now wish to repeat a mantra such as the line “An it harm none” from the Wiccan Rede.

Thank the gods and spirits at hand, and be sure to ground down your energy however you see fit. Rest assured that you have performed work that is beneficial for everyone in the situation, and be sure to follow up any castings with real-world action concerned with safety and social justice.

Resources

Auryn, Mat. “The Hex Appeal of Activism,” For Puck’s Sake (blog), July 9, 2017. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/matauryn/2017/07/09/the-hex-appeal-of-activism.

Bennett-Goleman, Tara. Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Heart. New York, NY: Harmony Books, 2001.

Cole, W. Owen, and Hemant Kanitkar. Teach Yourself Hinduism. Chicago: McGraw-Hill, 1995.

D’Este, Sorita, and David Rankine. Wicca Magickal Beginnings: A Study of the Possible Origins of the Rituals and Practices Found in this Modern Tradition of Pagan Witchcraft and Magick. London: Avalonia Press, 2008.

Digitalis, Raven. Esoteric Empathy: A Magickal & Metaphysical Guide to Emotional Sensitivity. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2016.

Farrar, Stewart, and Janet Farrar. A Witches’ Bible: The Complete Witches’ Handbook. Custer, WA: Phoenix Publishing, 1981.

Hagen, Steve. Buddhism Plain & Simple. New York, NY: Broadway Books, 1998.

Judith, Anodea. Wheels of Life: A User’s Guide to the Chakra System. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2006.

McNevin, Estha. Tradition materials and lesson notes of Opus Aima Obscuræ. Missoula, MT: 2017.

Paramananda. A Practical Guide to Buddhist Meditation. Birmingham, UK: Barnes & Noble, 2000.