What is the difference between black, white, and grey magick?
In one well-respected tradition, the goal of magick can be considered the union of the magician with the divine, the raising of the human consciousness unto the higher consciousness. Any operation that is not ultimately directed towards this goal is black magick. The terms arise because “white” magick signifies the divine light, and “black” magick signifies moving away from the divine light, into darkness. In a more popular sense, black magick is used to describe operations that are intrinsically selfish (usually involving harm to others). The analogy is obvious; the above aim is to unite the individual with the whole, to essentially “destroy” the Self, the feeling of individuality that separates us from the divine. Thus, “selfish” operations are by definition in conflict with this goal. In this sense, “grey” magick can be applied to operations that, although not directed towards this ultimate goal, are not selfish, and arise mainly out of ignorance, rather than malice (e.g. operations
