Hello and Merry Meet,

I'd just like to say with all due respect -- many High Priests and
Priestesses like myself, strongly DISCOURAGE the frequent, almost
thoughtless focus on spellcasting and multiplying spells (for just
about every possible occasion or eventuality) that seems to occupy many
beginners, wannabees, and others, who just don't seem to "get" what
Wicca really is.

I hasten to add that i am NOT directing these comments at any particular
person or group; Rather, i'd like to address the PRACTICE of what i
call, "Spell-a-Day Wicca" -- and by that i mean the tendency to turn
(authentic, real) Wicca into little more than a collection of spells --

In fact, beginners should AVOID spellcraft, for a variety of reasons:

1. THE BASIC SKILLS:

Beginners and others should focus upon learning and mastering the
BASICS -- Centering, Grounding, Psychic Cleansing, Shielding,
Meditation, Visualization and other imaginal skills, creating sacred
space (both internal -- creating sacred "Mind-Spaces" , and external,
like casting Circle), and more.

These BASIC SKILLS are absolutely necessary to master, BEFORE one even
attempts spellcraft, because they are the skills upon which good,
effective (and successful!) spellcraft is done. One cannot do advanced
calculus without first mastering arithmetic. If you've found your
spellcraft less than completely successful, chances are you haven't
mastered the Basics well enough yet.

2. Secondly, one can get into trouble attempting spellcraft,
ignorantly. The Goddess certainly does have a loving, compassionate
side - - but BEWARE: She does NOT suffer fools lightly.

3. Thirdly, Wicca is NOT primarily about Spellcraft; it is a SPIRITUAL
path to the Divine, and the Realms of the Divine; it is a way of SERVING
the Gods and Goddesses.

A First Degree Wiccan is a "Priest(ess) and Witch" -- that means, CLERGY
-- for her or himself. How much confidence would you have in a clergy
who focused their spirituality on asking for things for him or her SELF,
every day?

4. Fourthly, many experienced magick-users have long said that the more
famiiliar one becomes with magick, the LESS one is inclined to use it:

a) Magick should NOT be the first way you try to accomplish most
things; One should remember that there are many things that can be
accomplished and problems that can be solved, through simple good,
intelligent, wise and provident living -- making good choices and living
wisely. That is one of the purposes of living Wicca -- to live wisely,
to keep one's life in good order.

b) Rather than trying to "fix" problems with magick, one should learn to
try to *avoid* problems alltogether, or learn how to solve them using
mundane solutions. This is a matter of wise living, rather than
resorting to magick to accomplish various goals or clean up problems.

c) Magick should not be used like a crutch, or a drug. Remember
Buffy's friend, Willow -- she became "addicted" to magick for a while,
and got into a lot of trouble.

d) Neither should Magick be used lightly, casually, or thoughtlessly.
Consider carefully before attempting a magickal solution to any
(perceived) problem or issue.

Whenever magick is used or involved, there are going to be CONSEQUENCES
-- some of which may be unknown and unknowable, and one is -- whether
one realizes, accepts or acknowledges it or *not* -- RESPONSIBLE for
whatever consequences they may create through the (mis)use of magick.

For just one single, small example: Has it ever occured that every time
one does a weather spell, one affects the weather of not just the area
specified in the spell, but ALL OVER THE WORLD. Remember the principle
of the "Butterfly Effect" -- a very interesting movie based upon a very
real and significant principle: That a butterfly beating its wings in
New York City, will have an effect upon the weather in HongKong.
(See en.wikipedia. org/wiki/ Butterfly_ effect )

Just imagine what effect someone working weather magick will have all
over the world -- they may (however unknowingly) become the cause of
draughts, floods, and other weather disasters, around the world.

It is therefore irresponsibly foolish to just whip out a spell for
every and all situations. For this reason, many experienced Wiccans
do a divination (generally with Tarot, Runes or Pendulum) prior to any
spellcasting, in order to determine whether a spell is warranted,
appropriate, and wise, in the situation. This is a good practice to
adopt.

e) Finally, the attitude of this sort of "Spell-a-Day Wicca" TRIVIALIZES
and PERVERTS Wicca into something little more than a child's game of
"Gimmee, Gimmee, Gimmee what i want!"

Real, authentic Wicca is a deeply profound *spiritual* practice that
transforms us, and teaches us to understand, appreciate, and honor
Nature, and the connections between ourselves, each other, Nature, the
Universe, and the Divine. Every time you use magick or spellcasting,
you "tweak" those connections -- be very careful to do so carefully,
thoughtfully, wisely.

There is a place for spellcraft in Wicca -- but Wicca is not
Spellcraft; and that place cannot be found if one is blinded by the
trivialized, banal, soulless perversion of Wicca that "spell-a-day
Wicca" promotes.

by Gaia

(Not written by me, but Love what this HPS has to say)