Modern Heathen

Right now, I'm participating in a discussion on spellwork. It's on occasions like these that I can't help but view Wicca and Wicca-based Paganism as hopelessly superstitious.

Quite a few Wiccans view spellwork as dangerous for the poorly prepared, they fret over people who do spells without thinking things through or don't have the correct magical training or knowledge. I don't see spellwork as any different from thousands of ways in which human beings attempt to manipulate their environment every single day.

I'm not saying each and every one of these thousand ways are entirely desirable or that people are always wise, but I'm inclined to give people the benefit of the doubt. I don't view spellwork as "other". What could be more natural than attempting to direct your will and love for a desired result? A protective spell around one's loved one is no different from attempting to cheer them up when they're unhappy.

Casting an ill-advised spell seems to me no different from painting your house purple. I wouldn't recommend it, but I'm not going to ask that Home Depot take their purple paint off the shelves or only sell the purple paint to fully-qualified designers.

I don't believe in encouraging people to be fearful and I don't believe in preventing people from making mistakes. End of story.