Spelllllllzzz.

[Recidiva]

Wooo! Immune to Magic! Take that, Hogwarts!

You have it on good Magickal authority, take it and run, Muggle!

 

[FallingToFly]

Wooo! Immune to Magic! Take that, Hogwarts!

Cocky aren't you?

Who says she's not just an incapable witch?

^.^

 

[Recidiva]

Cocky aren't you?

Who says she's not just an incapable witch?

^.^

Well, I think a curse has got to have a hook, and you've got to bite somehow. You've got to be prone, somehow.

If you can't find a chink in armor somewhere, doesn't matter what you send out, it's gonna bounce back without hitting a target.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Cocky aren't you?

Who says she's not just an incapable witch?

^.^

Well, she does have the coven. Apparently, the rite or whatever was a group effort. They got nekkid, too (*shudder*).

I might give it more time, but I think I'm pretty much naturally Scotch Guarded against magic.

But I wonder? If non-belief is immunizing--would outright ridicule be neutralizing? Would I sap her magic if I paraded my immunity and disbelief before her?

The metaphysical possibilities here are astounding.

 

[Recidiva]

Well, she does have the coven. Apparently, the rite or whatever was a group effort. They got nekkid, too (*shudder*).

I might give it more time, but I think I'm pretty much naturally Scotch Guarded against magic.

But I wonder? If non-belief is immunizing--would outright ridicule be neutralizing? Would I sap her magic if I paraded my immunity and disbelief before her?

The metaphysical possibilities here are astounding.

No, ridicule means you have an issue with it.

Unaffected means unaffected. Immune. It passes and you don't notice, like having antibodies to a cold. You're not going to see anything.

Ridicule will make you more involved and rack up the negative karma.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

No, ridicule means you have an issue with it.

Unaffected means unaffected. Immune. It passes and you don't notice, like having antibodies to a cold. You're not going to see anything.

Ridicule will make you more involved and rack up the negative karma.

*le sigh*

Well, alright.

 

[English Lady]

No, ridicule means you have an issue with it.

Unaffected means unaffected. Immune. It passes and you don't notice, like having antibodies to a cold. You're not going to see anything.

Ridicule will make you more involved and rack up the negative karma.

*laughing* Recidiva -you've so put a dampner on Joe's planned weekend activities with that post, love.


I don't understand why you'd go to such lengths anyway, I don't think I could really dislike someone so much that I'd really, truly want to do them damage. I know I sometimes wish for certail council officials genitals to fall off in some painful kinda way, but it's a fleeting thought, I'd never go so far as to do something that I thought would make it actually happen to the poor fella/fellarette.

 

[oggbashan]

When much younger, I was told by a witch at a local fair in what is now Croatia that I have the evil eye but didn't use it. I visited her to have my fortune told after a dare from my friends. She advertised herself as a gypsy fortune teller but our Intourist guide insisted that she was a witch and dangerous (and anti-communist - a worse offence).

The witch was so scared of me that she was physically shaking. She refused to touch me and insisted that I sit with my back to her so that I wasn't looking at her. She couldn't work out what my future would be. She kept dropping her Tarot cards because of the shakes.

I paid her for the attempt. She couldn't touch my money. She called her son to pick it up for her. She was scared but not so scared that she wouldn't take money.

After I left she closed her business for the rest of the day. Perhaps she was frightened by my evil presence. I think it more likely that I overpaid her and she had taken enough money for the day. I paid her the then equivalent of two dollars but the unofficial rate of exchange made that about 4 days pay for a skilled workman.

Several other people in rural Croatia seemed to think I had the evil eye. I had protective gestures made in my direction and had to bargain for purchases through my friends. I had no problems in the larger towns.

I think that the problem wasn't my 'evil eye' but my relative size. In the rural areas I was seen as a giant and therefore unusual. Anything unusual is often considered dangerous.

If I can frighten a witch, I don't think I should be frightened by what a witch could do. However I do not intend to offend witches. I try not to offend anyone. If a witch or coven were to curse me I would retaliate with curses of my own including the dreaded curse of setting City Hall bureaucracy loose.

'Have you got a license for dancing and orgies? No? That will be a fine. Mind altering substances? Another fine. Naked bodies displayed? Would that be entertainment? Where's your license? Your risk assesment documentation? Is your coven open to all irrespective of race, gender, gender-orientation and religion? It isn't? Where's your exemption under the various Acts of Parliament?...'

A few weeks of that would worry any coven.

Og

 

[FallingToFly]

Joe - Covens, in my extremely humble opinions- have a tendency to be a way for weaker or less skilled practitioners to amp up. That's not to say there arent those out there that have the ability, it just means I haven't personally run across any. (The 'coven' -sorry, laughing and trying to work my head around some stereotypical visuals running through my head- I have studied and, when necessary, worked with, for the past 12 years is more like a study group, I swear. We call around for reference materials, or advice, or assistance when we need it, the rest of the time, we only interact for catch-ups and coffee talk. I do miss living close enough for the house parties though. Those were so insane, and so much fun.)

Diva- *swatting arse on the way past with a grin*

'Have you got a license for dancing and orgies? No? That will be a fine. Mind altering substances? Another fine. Naked bodies displayed? Would that be entertainment? Where's your license? Your risk assesment documentation? Is your coven open to all irrespective of race, gender, gender-orientation and religion? It isn't? Where's your exemption under the various Acts of Parliament?...'

A few weeks of that would worry any coven.

Ogg- Now that was just mean!!! And religious persecution too!

 

[Recidiva]

Unfortunately a great deal of the path to power has to cover exactly when not to use it. This annoys people, since the guidelines are usually "most of the time."

 

[Aurora Black]

Powerful Og.

I was given the Evil Eye a few years ago when I first came to Greece. I was out sightseeing and shopping in Athens with my boyfriend, his mom and one of his aunts when this African woman passed by us while crossing the street. Her eyes were full of such hate for me that I was taken aback. Guess she didn't like my choice of mate, specifically his color. Fucking bitch.

Anyway, within hours of the curse I was dizzy and headachy. This lasted for several days on top of the 100+ degree heat. Then the symptoms went away for about two weeks before they all returned and hit. Me. Hard. I was in bed with fever and sweats for two weeks straight before I finally got better.

Fucking witch bitch. Magick isn't supposed to be used for hurting people.

 

[oggbashan]

...Anyway, within hours of the curse I was dizzy and headachy. This lasted for several days on top of the 100+ degree heat. Then the symptoms went away for about two weeks before they all returned and hit. Me. Hard. I was in bed with fever and sweats for two weeks straight before I finally got better.

Fucking witch bitch. Magick isn't supposed to be used for hurting people.

I suspect you actually had an attack of 'Delhi Belly', 'Mexican Hat Dance' or any other local name for a painful adjustment to the local food and water that often happens when you go somewhere you have never been before.

'The witch bitch' may just have been jealous of your good fortune and not responsible for your condition.

Og

 

[Aurora Black]

I suspect you actually had an attack of 'Delhi Belly', 'Mexican Hat Dance' or any other local name for a painful adjustment to the local food and water that often happens when you go somewhere you have never been before.

'The witch bitch' may just have been jealous of your good fortune and not responsible for your condition.

Og

If she wasn't, then it was a very strange coincidence that I fell ill almost immediately afterwards. *sigh*

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Joe - Covens, in my extremely humble opinions- have a tendency to be a way for weaker or less skilled practitioners to amp up. That's not to say there arent those out there that have the ability, it just means I haven't personally run across any. (The 'coven' -sorry, laughing and trying to work my head around some stereotypical visuals running through my head- I have studied and, when necessary, worked with, for the past 12 years is more like a study group, I swear. We call around for reference materials, or advice, or assistance when we need it, the rest of the time, we only interact for catch-ups and coffee talk. I do miss living close enough for the house parties though. Those were so insane, and so much fun.)

See, and this is likely at the root of my immunity if the chain can be followed in that manner...

I think its all horseshit.

I just do. It would be less "a lack of belief" than an "active disbelief in favor of reason". It doesn't help the overcoming of this when every one I've ever met who can "do magic" or "magick" or "madgyk" or "mahdghicke" has one foot in the adolescent pool (not necessarily agewise) and is a bit of a loser. Horrible term, that, but I just can't find a better one.

It's like that old adage "If you're so smart, how come you're not rich?"

If one can do magic, how come one can do hardly anything else?

And then? Then, I get alerted to being subject to a magical spell that seems to have about as much punch as a light breeze through a brick wall... and the excuses start flying.

Truly, if belief is a prerequisite for occurance... it's sort of just a self-satisfying trial, non?

Bah.

This would be my formal declaration of "someone please cast a spell that actually works under objective observation or let's just give it a rest and buy some Clearasil and maybe non-emo clothes".

I still maintain, and have for years, that all I need is one supernatural, personally-enacted, non-coincidental occurance and I'm totally on board. That's got to be the very definition of open-minded... ready and willing to jump on board if it can do what it says, hesitation if it can't.

 

[Recidiva]

See, and this is likely at the root of my immunity if the chain can be followed in that manner...

I think its all horseshit.

I just do. It would be less "a lack of belief" than an "active disbelief in favor of reason". It doesn't help the overcoming of this when every one I've ever met who can "do magic" or "magick" or "madgyk" or "mahdghicke" has one foot in the adolescent pool (not necessarily agewise) and is a bit of a loser. Horrible term, that, but I just can't find a better one.

It's like that old adage "If you're so smart, how come you're not rich?"

If one can do magic, how come one can do hardly anything else?

And then? Then, I get alerted to being subject to a magical spell that seems to have about as much punch as a light breeze through a brick wall... and the excuses start flying.

Truly, if belief is a prerequisite for occurance... it's sort of just a self-satisfying trial, non?

Bah.

This would be my formal declaration of "someone please cast a spell that actually works under objective observation or let's just give it a rest and buy some Clearasil and maybe non-emo clothes".

I still maintain, and have for years, that all I need is one supernatural, personally-enacted, non-coincidental occurance and I'm totally on board. That's got to be the very definition of open-minded... ready and willing to jump on board if it can do what it says, hesitation if it can't.

Well, that's kind of like saying that if you can't see ultraviolet light, it doesn't exist.

To use the "dog whistle" example again, that's pretty much what it's like for me.

There's a flow to things, and there are people that nurture that flow and people that interrupt that flow for personal gain.

But if you sense that flow...you are affected by it. Call it energy, call it spirituality, call it whatever you want.

But saying it isn't there is like saying the stuff you can't sense isn't there. Not true, not accurate.

Maybe it's extremely subtle or difficult or impossible for some without the senses to perceive. But to those who can...it's obvious.

 

[impressive]

I still maintain, and have for years, that all I need is one supernatural, personally-enacted, non-coincidental occurance and I'm totally on board. That's got to be the very definition of open-minded... ready and willing to jump on board if it can do what it says, hesitation if it can't.

And yet, IIRC, you have religious faith?

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Well, that's kind of like saying that if you can't see ultraviolet light, it doesn't exist.

To use the "dog whistle" example again, that's pretty much what it's like for me.

There's a flow to things, and there are people that nurture that flow and people that interrupt that flow for personal gain.

But if you sense that flow...you are affected by it. Call it energy, call it spirituality, call it whatever you want.

But saying it isn't there is like saying the stuff you can't sense isn't there. Not true, not accurate.

Maybe it's extremely subtle or difficult or impossible for some without the senses to perceive. But to those who can...it's obvious.

I see it more of like saying "I don't believe in light waves that we cannot show, empirically, to exist... ultraviolet, having data, would not fit in that category." or, more dramatically "I don't believe in wavelengths of light that are subjective in experience and measure, follow shifting and unconfirmable rules, whose only basis is anecdotal".

And yet, IIRC, you have religious faith?

Which, hey, I think it the very definition of an open mind to say "I can abandon my faith for proof of something more metaphysically accurate". I mean, what are the alternatives? My beliefs cannot be rocked at all by the introduction of a more metaphysically accurate set of occurances? That would just be silly.

 

[Recidiva]

I see it more of like saying "I don't believe in light waves that we cannot show, empirically, to exist... ultraviolet, having data, would not fit in that category." or, more dramatically "I don't believe in wavelengths of light that are subjective in experience and measure, follow shifting and unconfirmable rules, whose only basis is anecdotal".

It's a metaphor. Rather like trying to describe a color to a blind person. If you don't have the sense, of course you can't see it.

Of course, telling everyone else they're delusional because you can't do it is also arrogant.

 

[impressive]

Which, hey, I think it the very definition of an open mind to say "I can abandon my faith for proof of something more metaphysically accurate".

Perhaps you've defined "open mind," but I would not call that "faith." I'd call it "convenient."

 

[English Lady]

Perhaps you've defined "open mind," but I would not call that "faith." I'd call it "convenient."

I could agree with that.

I wonder how many people could keep their faith when something they totally don't believe happens right in front of their eyes? It would be pretty difficult I think. I guess it could either make you change what you believe, but keeping intact a core of the original belief or I guess it could make you change your mind completely.

Also, from what you said, imp, do you mean having Faith makes you closed minded? Can you not be open minded and have faith at the same time? (Just asking, not trying to get personal or being funny -general questioning here)

 

[impressive]

Also, from what you said, imp, do you mean having Faith makes you closed minded? Can you not be open minded and have faith at the same time? (Just asking, not trying to get personal or being funny -general questioning here)

Not sure, EL. I think "closed minded" is a rather harsh label, though. I would think that the truly "faithful" would continue to believe (in whatever -- be it God, Allah, or any other deity) in spite of evidence to the contrary ... perhaps revising the application of that faith to encompass said evidence. Does that make sense?

I'm hardly the one to ask, though. The best I can do in terms of faith is to concede that such is possible (barring "proof" one way or the other) -- which neither endorses nor negates the tenets of a particular faith. *shrug*

 

[Recidiva]

I could agree with that.

I wonder how many people could keep their faith when something they totally don't believe happens right in front of their eyes? It would be pretty difficult I think. I guess it could either make you change what you believe, but keeping intact a core of the original belief or I guess it could make you change your mind completely.

Also, from what you said, imp, do you mean having Faith makes you closed minded? Can you not be open minded and have faith at the same time? (Just asking, not trying to get personal or being funny -general questioning here)

I've seen the power of denial in action. Many, many people exclude proof of things beyond there sphere of expectation. A group of people can experience something and often one person will choose to state it didn't happen, couldn't have happened, or not to talk about it with anybody. And go right back to what they thought before. Much more comforting and safe.

 

[English Lady]

Not sure, EL. I think "closed minded" is a rather harsh label, though. I would think that the truly "faithful" would continue to believe (in whatever -- be it God, Allah, or any other deity) in spite of evidence to the contrary ... perhaps revising the application of that faith to encompass said evidence. Does that make sense?

I'm hardly the one to ask, though. The best I can do in terms of faith is to concede that such is possible (barring "proof" one way or the other) -- which neither endorses nor negates the tenets of a particular faith. *shrug*

Yeah, I can understand what you mean. Deep Faith might adapt, but it wouldn't completely change, simply because it couldn't. Faith is faith because someone believes and what people believe doesn't have to depend on physical evidence.

Or something like that

 

[English Lady]

I've seen the power of denial in action. Many, many people exclude proof of things beyond there sphere of expectation. A group of people can experience something and often one person will choose to state it didn't happen, couldn't have happened, or not to talk about it with anybody. And go right back to what they thought before. Much more comforting and safe.

Well yes, the mind is a bloody powerful thing, right? I guess it's a coping mechanism -something comes along and shoots into your safe world, mixes it up, destroys it even, and well, if you ignore it, it can't really harm you. If you deny it's exsistance you can carry on as before, as if nothing happened.

Dunno if I could do that, though I've not been in a position to experience it.


Oooh and whilst I'm in this questioning frame of mind (EL really shouldn't stay up after midnight) Joe -why would beliving in magic actually mean you couldn't keep your Christian faith or even why can't you believe magic exsists and be a Christian anyways?

 

[Recidiva]

Well yes, the mind is a bloody powerful thing, right? I guess it's a coping mechanism -something comes along and shoots into your safe world, mixes it up, destroys it even, and well, if you ignore it, it can't really harm you. If you deny it's exsistance you can carry on as before, as if nothing happened.

Dunno if I could do that, though I've not been in a position to experience it.

Oooh and whilst I'm in this questioning frame of mind (EL really shouldn't stay up after midnight) Joe -why would beliving in magic actually mean you couldn't keep your Christian faith or even why can't you believe magic exsists and be a Christian anyways?

I was lucky enough to be born with some stuff I learned and saw before people taught me I shouldn't see it or learn it. I knew somehow to keep my mouth shut. However, when I met people who didn't have the same learning basis that I did later on...some of this stuff comes through trauma if you don't come upon in naturally, so it can be associated with the trauma. I've also met people who knew and saw things in their youth that they convinced themselves not to see any more, and they're saddened by it.

I'd have to say that in my experience...having it be a natural part of me rather than having it thrust upon me....is a much better existence.

I think Jesus was a mystic who expressed so many amazing things in simple allegory. I don't see any reason why the teachings of Christ aren't required learning. And his words really don't require faith. Just go...try what he said to try. It works. It's enlightening.

But when the church and other traditions are set up as a "competitive business" as it has been historically, not everyone appreciates that distinction.