The Only Good Reason Not to Curse
Hexes and curses are types of spells that are cast to inflict misfortune on others. Today I want to explore this type of magick.
What is the reason to perform this type of magick? What is your state of mind? Is it better to always be loving and positive or is it okay to sometimes slip into a darker, swampy place? Is cursing worth it or would it be more healing to release yourself of anger so you can move on after you’ve been harmed? Is cursing working against the universe or is it sometimes part of cosmic justice?
Before I get into this…
I don’t have any issues with cursing. I want to talk about this type of magick because I think it is misused and misunderstood. People jump into cursing people without fully appreciating what they’re doing.
The first thing I want to talk about when it comes to cursing is that this kind of magick has a lot of power. This is because of the focused intent and emotion that’s usually behind it. Remember that all magick is simply the directing of energy, and thought is energy.
Of course even with all the power of your strong emotions the effect depends on the recipient. If the person you are trying to curse is in a good place, physically, emotionally and mentally, the curse might have only a small, temporary effect.
If, on the other hand, that person is mentally vulnerable, has a deep belief they can be negatively affected, and/or knows or suspects that a curse has been cast in their direction, the curse may have a bigger, badder effect.
It’s important to consider the other person’s perspective and wellbeing, even if they have hurt you.
Additionally, there are many who cry “never curse!” without fully understanding what they are doing. It’s never okay to force your beliefs on another person and the topic of cursing is no different.
If you believe cursing is bad, that’s fine, don’t curse.
I want to talk about some of the reasons people give to tell others not to curse.
The Rule of Threes
You may have heard of "the rule of threes," or the belief that performing magick with ill intent will come back to you three times, turning the ill intent on you. The Three Fold Law was originally published in a fictional work titled High Magic’s Aid by Gerald Gardner.
The words of one person are not law and witches should not be held to a special set of law and rules simply because they practice witchcraft.
Many witches, myself included, follow the Principle of Cause and Effect, which simply states that “every cause has it’s effect; every effect has it’s cause”. Every action you take, whether taken consciously or subconsciously, has consequences and will deliver specific reactions in your life. But these consequences aren’t multiplied.
Basically, be careful with your decisions and accept responsibility for your actions.
The Wiccan Rede
The Wiccan Rede was also created by a single person. Those who don’t practice Wicca, don’t have to follow any rules or laws put forth by specific traditions.
Those who practice NeoWicca, don’t have to follow any rules or laws put forth by specific traditions. Just to clarify what I mean by NeoWicca, Wicca is a practice based on Gardnerian and Alexandrian teachings which requires initiation and therefore a closed tradition.
We’ll be talking about Cultural Appropriation later, so I won’t go into that but basically, Wicca is not a title one should claim unless initiated.
That being said plenty of Wiccans do not follow the Three Fold Law or The Rede. Those aspects of Wicca apply to very specific traditions in specific practices. If you are at all interested in Wicca I urge you to research “rules” and “laws” before simply accepting them as such.
Bad Karma
That isn’t how karma works. Again we’ll be talking about cultural appropriation later, so I don’t want to talk too much about what Karma is and what Karma isn’t right now but the word "karma" means "action," not "fate."
In Buddhism, karma is an energy created by willful action, through thoughts, words and deeds. We are all creating karma every minute, and the karma we create affects us every minute.
It's common to think of "my karma" as something you did in your last life that seals your fate in this life, but this is not Buddhist understanding.
Karma is an action, not a result.
Cursing is only ok when…
You don’t get to judge what is “ok” for other people. You weren’t elected, selected or asked. Your own moral values are not the same as other, stop forcing them onto other people.
Stop telling people cursing is “bad” or “isn’t ok”.
What goes around comes around.
This isn’t a good reason. That is a belief you are personally invested in. That doesn’t mean anyone else has to follow it.
I don’t believe in it. I’ve seen people lie, cheat, steal and physically abuse others and nothing ill has ever come of it. I’ve seen people help those in need, go above and beyond, and honestly want to just help others lose everything.
Children die of horrible, painful diseases. Animals are tortured. People suffer in wars they want no part of. I don’t believe in “what goes around comes around”.
I have never once seen a good reason to not curse except...
… you don’t feel comfortable doing it. If, for whatever reason, you don’t want to curse, don’t.
At the core, at it’s origin, witchcraft was born of cursing, of hexes, of spoiling milk and killing livestock. These are the roots of witchcraft. To say anything otherwise is pretty talk and a complete ignorance to the true history of the craft itself.
How to Curse
The exact methods of a curse or a hex will depend on the desired outcome, but in general you can follow these steps.
Step 1: Commit to cursing.
It may sound obvious but cursing is a big deal. It’s generally a risky spell to conduct in any paradigm you look at, and all morals aside, its laborious and energy intensive.
Go through the question outlined in the Magical Purpose lesson of Witchcraft 101.
Look at the situation and gather as much information as you can from reliable sources.
Think about alternatives and run different scenarios through your mind.
Consider your guidelines, values and principles.
Test your limits and don't discount your inner voice.
Make your choice. You will have to live with it—right or wrong.
If you feel iffy about cursing, the time to bail is now. Maybe try binding instead.
Step 2: Find a curse that fits the crime.
Please don’t do a death curse on someone who cut you off while driving (though I feel you). If you do believe in returning energy or similar ethics about the universe, this is a good way to minimize risk.
Good places to look for curses and cursing ideas can be found throughout the witch community.
These are good sources: Lavender Spells and Queer Kitchen Witch
Sometimes curses are specific and state which crime they are punishment for, which is a simple way for beginners to follow this guideline.
Step 3: Find a taglock for your target.
Curses need a direction and a taglock in order to hit the right person.
This could be an item of theres, their signature, a picture of them, or even just their full name written out on a piece of paper.
These are only suggestions, sometimes an integral part of cursing is getting creative with your taglock. Just give the universe a good way to find your intended person.
Step 4: Finalize your plan for conducting the curse.
With all spells it’s important to mentally walk through what you are doing. But curses can be especially stressful. Make sure that what you’re doing is safe.
Be smart, use your brain.
Step 5: Put in a failsafe.
Curses are not meant to last forever and trying to craft something to last that long will drain you of energy for a very long time.
Put at the end of your spell that the curse will last a definite amount of time (i.e. six months) or will last until a certain action has occurred (i.e. an apology).
Step 6: Gather materials and conduct the curse.
Get everything together, set up the space. Clear the mind and cleanse to set yourself up for success through grounding
Then, go on and do the spell.
Step 7: Aftercare.
Cursing is a lot for most witches, from newbies to experienced spell-casters. Do something restful and brings you back to center. You don’t want a curse effecting the rest of your magic.
Related: Essential Self Care Practices to Prevent Burnout
Cleanse your space, cleanse your tools
Cleanse yourself
Protect your home
Protect yourself
Take it Easy
Now go out and be the wicked witch you always wanted to be!
Continue your journey and share your experiences on the Mumbles and Things Facebook page.
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Now it’s your turn!
What is a curse or a hex in your opinion? Is it okay to sometimes slip into the darker side of magick? Is cursing worth it or would it be more healing to release yourself of anger? Is cursing working against the universe or is it sometimes part of cosmic justice?
