Do witches really cast spells? Do they use spells on people?
We do cast spells, but not usually ‘on’ others. What we call spellwork, or magick (frequently spelled with the final k to distinguish it from sleight-of-hand stage show magic), is similar to what other religions might call prayer or meditation — it is just a way of focusing our natural energies to bring about a desired result. Witches believe that the use of magick carries with it a certain responsibility, and magick is not used for trivial things. The vast majority of Witches will not use magick to attempt to influence another person’s free will or to cause any ill to befall someone, because it is believed that any energy they send out into the Universe will return to them three times as strong. In other words: Sure, I could cast a spell to give your car a flat tire. But my own car would end up with three! The kind of magick employed on others’ behalf is usually the direction of non-specific helpful energies, often called ‘white light,’ to a person in need. This way, the energy is av
