McWicca

As a priestess I am continually amazed that when individuals discover I'm a witch they seem to think that spell work is something that they can order up at the window, then have delivered like fast food. They'll ask me something like "Hey, can you do a love spell and get me my forever mate?" Sometimes I'm tempted to ask "And would you like a side of thighs with that?"

Really! These folks are quite serious about their "orders". The sad thing that they don't understand is that magic means "work". "The Gods help those who help themselves" is actually an explanation of one of the "Craft Laws". You can burn candles and do spell work to get a job until the cows come home, but if you never move your behind off of the couch and fill out some applications and go to some interviews, you're not going to see a paycheck.

"Love spells" are another sticky wicket all together. Every time I get asked to do a "love spell" I have to trot out my tired old "black magic" 101 lecture. Black magic??? You might ask. Isn't "black magic" about harming others. Nope, not in my book. "Black magic" is all about nonconsensual magic. Doing magic unto others that they have not consented to. Does this mean that healing work can, at times, be considered "black magic". Yes, siree, Bob. If my fundamentalist Bible thumping brother does not ask me to do healing work for him and his, then I'd better not be lighting a candle in his name when he is ill.

The other down side of "love spells" is that folks will doubt any "love" that may happen after said spell has been done. There is always a taint of manipulation that surrounds ANY relationship that ensues following a manipulative spell. Even if the person in question is your one and true soul mate, you'll always wonder if the person loves you for you, or is simply a victim of the spell.

So what's my point? Magic is work! You can't order up lasting change at the "window". Change is like the seasons, it takes time. It also takes effort and work. You might have to plant some seeds, water some sprouts, nurture the growth, harvest your fruit, then know how to store if for future consumption. Short cuts might supply you some kind of instant gratification, but it is seldom lasting or nutritious.