White Magic vs. Dark Magic

[gman24]

I've really never knew the difference between the two and most people don't either. If you mention black magic around anyone, some might associate it with evil... but I'm confused by it. Can anyone tell me what the differences between the two are?

[wulf]

My personal interpretation..between lgiht and dark..is how it is used..not hte magic itself.. dark magics..are used to harm..etc.etc...also for personal gain.

light..in MY definition..is one here you do a service for oseone with no benefit to yourself

[Tian_mon]

gman24 wrote:

I've really never knew the difference between the two and most people don't either. If you mention black magic around anyone, some might associate it with evil... but I'm confused by it. Can anyone tell me what the differences between the two are?

Black magic is done through ritual to do harm. Curses for example. No White witch would place a curse on any being. Barring Vodon and Voodoo and some Santaria, blood sacrifice and blood ritual are done for evil purposes. Black magic is an evil practice.

White magic is done for the good of one or all. It does not take one life to help another. Chickens Goats and Sheep are safe around a white witch.

[Kcuph]

Look at it this way. The One law that we (Tianice) live by is"By action, thought or inaction, do no harm. Wiccans follow a similar law "Do as ye will, harm none"

Evil magic is not done by those that follow these laws. If it can hurt anything by direct or indirect means, it's dark magic.

[Hecate23]

Black magic involves harming someone for one's own gain. It's interwoven with the whole psychology of "evil" and what defines an "evil" person. Most evil acts are done by people who believe that they've been slighted or "done wrong" in some way. A total lack of conscience is prevalent in these people as well as a sense of gradiosity. In other words, a person whose whole life is centered completely on themselves. Everyone else is insignificant, or someone to be manipulated for their gain. The thing is, most of these people don't think they're "evil" at all. There is always "justification' in their reasoning for what they do. In this instance, what is "good" and what is "evil" becomes entirely subjective. Here's an example, let's say I see someone I don't know doing a black magic ritual against someone. I'm thinking, "that's friggin' wrong!" I talk to this person for a bit, and find out that they're putting a whammy a someone who murdered their brother. The "evil" factor, takes on a whole different meaning. They feel justified. Most witches and Pagans on the other hand, are aware of the rule that whatever you put out, comes back three-fold. Hope this helps. Peace.

[Hecate23]

In anticipation of someone thinking "the person who did the whammy is still doing black magic". Think on this: What if the person who murdered the brother, is still on the loose? And if the whammy in question is to corner this murderer and have him thrown in jail(or bring physical harm or death) so that they DON'T harm or murder anyone else, is this black magic or white magic?

[gman24]

It would depend on point of view I suppose. Thanks Hecate, and thanks everyone else.

[venna]

The way I've interpreted it after a bit of reading, is that white magic is done with every bit of attempt to harm none. In fact, as you focus on the goal you intend to come into fruition, you are mindful to make sure that your request comes to be without someone having to suffer for your request. Unlike the concept of Wal-Mart. Unlike today's typical consumerism. I honestly feel like sometimes our own average naive living habits (ie: not considering the horrible working conditions of countries like China as one purchases that discount shirt), are practically black magic.

[Renee]

Tian_mon wrote:

<quoted text>
Black magic is done through ritual to do harm. Curses for example. No White witch would place a curse on any being. Barring Vodon and Voodoo and some Santaria, blood sacrifice and blood ritual are done for evil purposes. Black magic is an evil practice.
White magic is done for the good of one or all. It does not take one life to help another. Chickens Goats and Sheep are safe around a white witch.

Blood sacrifice was perfromed by the ancient Greeks, and there are some hardcore Hellenic reconstructionists today that will perform blood sacrifice

[Renee]

Tian_mon wrote:

<quoted text>
Black magic is done through ritual to do harm. Curses for example. No White witch would place a curse on any being. Barring Vodon and Voodoo and some Santaria, blood sacrifice and blood ritual are done for evil purposes. Black magic is an evil practice.
White magic is done for the good of one or all. It does not take one life to help another. Chickens Goats and Sheep are safe around a white witch.

Also, the use of blood, be it one's own or of animals does happen in other religions, and frequently not for "evil" purposes.

As far as I'm concerned, no one that is willing to eat meat should be against humane animal sacrifice. Hell...sacrificed animals are usually treated far better during life and killed in a much quicker, less painful manner than the animals that die to become our dinner.

[Renee]

gman24 wrote:

I've really never knew the difference between the two and most people don't either. If you mention black magic around anyone, some might associate it with evil... but I'm confused by it. Can anyone tell me what the differences between the two are?

Magic is neither black nor white. It's completely neutral. It's a tool and what matters is how you use it and what your intent is.

Compare to say...a knife. A knife is neither good, nor bad, it's just a knife. I can pick it up and use it to stab someone and put it to bad use, or I can take it and use it to prepare food, or to cut fabric to dress a bleeding wound and put it to good use, but you would never say that the knife itself was evil or good.

[Kcuph]

Hecate23 wrote:

In anticipation of someone thinking "the person who did the whammy is still doing black magic". Think on this: What if the person who murdered the brother, is still on the loose? And if the whammy in question is to corner this murderer and have him thrown in jail(or bring physical harm or death) so that they DON'T harm or murder anyone else, is this black magic or white magic?

Defense of family or self should be defined, I agree with you in that. Zapping an evil person is still white magic. Setting traps or pressing into the emotions of guilt or self hate (in the bad guy)forcing change or mistakes leading to punishment is a good thing.

[Kcuph]

Renee wrote:

<quoted text>
Also, the use of blood, be it one's own or of animals does happen in other religions, and frequently not for "evil" purposes.
As far as I'm concerned, no one that is willing to eat meat should be against humane animal sacrifice. Hell...sacrificed animals are usually treated far better during life and killed in a much quicker, less painful manner than the animals that die to become our dinner.

Your right. Even Jews and Muslims use sacrificial rites. The practices of Halal and kosher blessing are sacrificial rites. The Sain gave leeway for that in his statement... sorta. To the Tianice it's wrong to use blood in any ritual, in any form. Those that do are seen as evil in an action.

[Tian_mon]

Renee wrote:

<quoted text>
Blood sacrifice was perfromed by the ancient Greeks, and there are some hardcore Hellenic reconstructionists today that will perform blood sacrifice

Are the Hellenic re-constructionists actually witches or simply another pagan sect? Do they use magic or follow the god/desses of ancient Greece?
Indeed some Wiccans follow the deities such as Hecate, Isis, Diana, Demeter and Persephone but they are hardly Hellenistic.

Most of what can be found on the Hellenes Is suspect, the writings of Homer? Or perhaps Hesiod? What is being used to reconstruct?

Catholicism did it's evil best to wipe out the Hellene faith completely and what they could not destroy, time has helped to fade. Greeks were slain to kill the belief en mass.
A belief that was rooted in purest piety and honor had sacrificial offerings to it's god/desses for favor. Hardly used for magic. I'm almost certain that any Hellenic re-constructionist would become angry at the use of magic in the faith.

[Tian_mon]

Renee wrote:

<quoted text>
Also, the use of blood, be it one's own or of animals does happen in other religions, and frequently not for "evil" purposes.
As far as I'm concerned, no one that is willing to eat meat should be against humane animal sacrifice. Hell...sacrificed animals are usually treated far better during life and killed in a much quicker, less painful manner than the animals that die to become our dinner.

Again, you are defending sacrifice and not answering the posed question. How you are concerned has little to do with the practice of dark or white magic.

[Tian_mon]

Renee wrote:

<quoted text>
Magic is neither black nor white. It's completely neutral. It's a tool and what matters is how you use it and what your intent is.
Compare to say...a knife. A knife is neither good, nor bad, it's just a knife. I can pick it up and use it to stab someone and put it to bad use, or I can take it and use it to prepare food, or to cut fabric to dress a bleeding wound and put it to good use, but you would never say that the knife itself was evil or good.

Your correct, it is the practitioner and how the magic is used that gives it color. Depending on the type of magics that are used.
Orb practitioners would argue that it is the color of the orbs that create magic, Necromancers would argue black white and shades of gray. Seers would argue intensity of brilliance and mystics would argue the colors of rainbows and auras.
Magic is as defined as the individual that uses it. Yours has no color, kcuphs comes in shades of White and black, mine comes in strands of many colors.

With Novice practitioners it is best to cover the entire subject. There is color to magic, as many colors as there is in any one person's aura. There is also colorless magic. Magic is neither dumb or unaware. What one person divines and channels from the myst is as intelligent and as colorful as the one divining it. Discipline defines the types of magic that you will use.

[venna]

Renee wrote:

<quoted text>
Also, the use of blood, be it one's own or of animals does happen in other religions, and frequently not for "evil" purposes.
As far as I'm concerned, no one that is willing to eat meat should be against humane animal sacrifice. Hell...sacrificed animals are usually treated far better during life and killed in a much quicker, less painful manner than the animals that die to become our dinner.

Nice one, Renee. I'd have to agree with you there. An animal sacrificed in a ritual is far better treated than any animal in the meat industry.

[Renee]

Tian_mon wrote:

<quoted text>
Are the Hellenic re-constructionists actually witches or simply another pagan sect? Do they use magic or follow the god/desses of ancient Greece?
Indeed some Wiccans follow the deities such as Hecate, Isis, Diana, Demeter and Persephone but they are hardly Hellenistic.
Most of what can be found on the Hellenes Is suspect, the writings of Homer? Or perhaps Hesiod? What is being used to reconstruct?
Catholicism did it's evil best to wipe out the Hellene faith completely and what they could not destroy, time has helped to fade. Greeks were slain to kill the belief en mass.
A belief that was rooted in purest piety and honor had sacrificial offerings to it's god/desses for favor. Hardly used for magic. I'm almost certain that any Hellenic re-constructionist would become angry at the use of magic in the faith.

There is an extremely mixed view of magic amongst Hellenic recons, and there was an extremely mixed view of magic in ancient Greece as well.

Overall though, practice of magic, if it's done, tended to back then (and frequently today also) be separate from religious practice, but not always. There is one particular group that I know of that is rather extreme in their belief of the views you express, but they're a fairly small group.

There is a LOT more to ancient Greek writings than Homer and Hesiod, whose writings are concerned with poetry and mythology. There were historians also. No, a lot of Greek history is pretty well-known. As far as what is used to reconstruct Greek religion there are enough sources to keep one busy for years. There are even surviving ritual scripts.

[Renee]

Tian_mon wrote:

<quoted text>
Again, you are defending sacrifice and not answering the posed question. How you are concerned has little to do with the practice of dark or white magic.

I never claimed to be answering the question. What I said here was in response to your post:

"Black magic is done through ritual to do harm. Curses for example. No White witch would place a curse on any being. Barring Vodon and Voodoo and some Santaria, blood sacrifice and blood ritual are done for evil purposes. Black magic is an evil practice.

White magic is done for the good of one or all. It does not take one life to help another. Chickens Goats and Sheep are safe around a white witch."

[Renee]

Tian_mon wrote:

<quoted text>
Your correct, it is the practitioner and how the magic is used that gives it color. Depending on the type of magics that are used.
Orb practitioners would argue that it is the color of the orbs that create magic, Necromancers would argue black white and shades of gray. Seers would argue intensity of brilliance and mystics would argue the colors of rainbows and auras.

This assumes that all seers, necromancers, orb practitioners, mystics etc see magic in the same way. It also assumes that each only practices one form of magic, or if they practice more than one, then their view is colored only by one form.

In any event, nothing is so dualistic as to be able to realistically say "that practice is always bad" or "this group of people would never do this."