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Love Spells

Greetings!

In this rambling, I will talk about the ever present topic of Love Spells and also offer some guidance on the use of any spell, ritual or potion for manipulative purposes. By manipulative purposes, I am referring to a working where the object of said working is not aware it is being done, nor have they consented to such a working. In Love Magick II, I will discuss the times and situations where Love Magick *is* appropriate and does not violate the Rede.

Of course this is only my opinion and it *is not* intended to embarrass anyone. These are simply my thoughts on a subject which gets batted around quite frequently, so take it for what is worth. From the mail I receive from those who have made or seen these mistakes happen, I'm confident they are shared by the majority who are experienced in this path.

The primary question one must consider before undertaking any ritual working, especially where Love Magick is concerned is, *Is This Working Consistent With The Basic Tenant of HARM NONE as expressed in The Rede.*

Upon asking yourself the following two questions, you can effectively analyze the reasons to either justify or dismiss the working.

If your answer to question number 1 is found within question number 2, then as a Wiccan and follower of the Light Path, you must abandon this spell or ritual because it will not be consistent with the Rede.

Likewise, if question 1 is answered by question 2 and you continue, you can no longer rightfully call yourself Wiccan. A True Wiccan will not use manipulative magick to negatively influence another for their own personal interests. The whole purpose of following this path is to live in harmony and balance with the natural rhythms of life, not to manipulate them to suit a selfish goal. At this point, you need to refer to yourself as a follower of the Dark Path since manipulative magick for personal gain without consideration of the outcome falls within that realm...

Harsh words? You betcha... Does it make you uncomfortable? Good...

By undertaking such an action without the consent or approval of another, you are clearly disregarding the Rede and using your gifts for purely selfish reasons. Therefore, you are setting forces in motion which will ultimately have negative impact in one way or another and you are practicing Dark Magick.

You must remember that once you create and release this energy as a thought form, it will acquire life, form and substance. It will run it's course, and the final outcome through the laws of cause and effect may not be what you wanted. The potential for great harm to both yourself and others are clearly evident in such a working. This is especially clear when you consider that you will eventually need to absorb this energy back into yourself after it has ruined your life and the lives of who knows how many others...

Let's look at a potential outcome of such a working for a moment...

You create a Love Spell, focus your energy and release it toward your victim. I use the word victim because that is what you have just made this person if they are unaware of your work and have not given their consent.

Through the laws of magick, your victim begins to fall hopelessly in love with you or the person you performed this spell for. So much so that they become increasingly dependent as time passes. They can no longer function without your presence and guidance. You cannot get a moments peace because they constantly have to be with you. You can no longer function at work because they are calling every ten minutes. They become increasingly jealous, possessive and suspicious because they cannot have all of your time. The list of undesirable effects could go on and on and can become more than a little frightening.

Ultimately, you must ask yourself the following questions. Would *you* want someone doing this to you, and if you truly cared for someone, how could you risk doing something like this to them? In my humble opinion, it does not show a very high regard or respect for others or yourself and the decision on whether or not to proceed is clear.

I caution you that non consentual Love Magic is a double edged sword and borders on the manipulation of another human being against their *Free Will.* It is also dangerously close to Psychic Rape and is considered highly unethical by most who practice the Craft.

I hope this has given those who have considered using such practices food for thought. While my opinion may not be shared by all, it illustrates the need to consider all potential outcomes before focusing and releasing a spell.

Gentle Breezes!

Herne