Musing on Black, White, and Grey Magic (2)

For me, applying these various definitions is problematic.  For example, the following is an actual ethical dilemma that happened in my life. Where I live, the son of one of my condo neighbors committed a murder.  Since their son was already a menace to the neighborhood, everyone wanted the family gone.  A spell could be done to remove the family.  This spell would be considered either white or black or grey magick depending on the point of view of the user.

            Because we want to be safe, the spell could be construed as white magick.  The community’s well-being is at stake, therefore the family must go.  Their leaving will make the place safer since they were so negligent in raising their son.

            The spell could also be considered to be black magick.  The focus of the spell is to have these people leave.  It does not matter whether they have the means or want to go.  Also, they could be innocent of any wrong doing.  What matters most would be what I personally want.  In addition, I would not particularly care about what they want.

            At best, the spell would be a grey magick one.  The intention of the spell would be to keep the neighborhood safe.  The charm in the spell would have to take into consideration whether the family wanted to move or not.  Means would be offered to have them leave.  A compromise would be to separate them from the rest of us. (In real life, the family did move to be closer to their son in prison.)

            Black, white, and grey magick depends on who does the defining.  I see most magick as shades of grey.  For example, asking the moon to grant a wish may involve violating someone’s free will.  This is an example of grey magick to me.