| I was watching a YouTube video the other day where the individual was commenting on how the statement, “If you can’t curse, you can’t heal” made no sense to them. The video was about 15 minutes long with this individual going over the reasons why it really made no sense. Instead of making a video response I wanted to share my thoughts with you, my blog readers, on this whole idea. The statement that the YouTuber was referring to was posted somewhere in a facebook group I believe, but is a paraphrase of the quote made by Z. Budapest, the founder of the Susan B. Anthony Coven which states: |  |
“If you cannot hex, you cannot heal. If you cannot curse, you cannot cure.”
The following is my opinion on the topic …
Magick is a neutral energy much like electricity, which holds no alignment of its own. It is neither constructive nor destructive, but can be utilized for both depending on the purpose or intent of the user. Electricity can be used within a hospital to power the numerous machines that humans have created in order to preserve life and it can be used to carry out the sentence of an inmate on Death Row. Magick can also be manipulated in the same manner for preserving life or for bringing forth death, for healing or harming, for nurturing or destroying, for benevolent intentions or for malicious ones.
The word hex dates back to the early 1800’s and simply meant; to cast a spell or bewitch someone or something. There were no distinctions made as to whether the hex was benevolent magick or whether it was a malediction. For people of German descent, especially the Pennsylvania Dutch, hexing was seen as beneficial and protective in nature, but for the rest of the population witchcraft was associated with malevolent magic so the word hex took on negative connotations. This association has continued into our modern times.
To curse someone is to use words, gestures, and or other magick to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something. Usually it is most often associated with feelings of anger, vengeance, and justice, but these are not always necessarily the only motivations. I have found that within many of the Witch communities, both offline and online, the words hex and curse are frequently used interchangeably and both associated with “bad” or “evil” or “harmful” intentions.
Without studying magick completely, without having a strong foundation of knowledge to pull from the Witch is left with a deficit and that Witch, who does not understand how to curse, will be left completely and utterly defenseless against those who would use magick to attack them. How can the Witch effectively fight what he or she doesn’t understand? A Witch who refuses to learn how to work malediction will have an incomplete base of magickal knowledge and if he or she is afraid to explore the destructive side of magick they are left unbalanced and less effective.
So then what does the quote mean? It simply means that a Witch who does not have the knowledge or skill to hex or curse does not have the knowledge or skill to heal or cure. It doesn’t imply that the Witch should or needs to hex or curse, but that he or she possesses the knowledge and ability to do so. For the Witch to come to the full realization and understanding of his or her power and ability to wield it, it is necessary to understand the full spectrum of how magick can be used; this includes not only creating, but also destroying, attracting and banishing, loosening and binding, and healing and cursing. The Witch needn’t throw curses at others to understand how a curse would work, though I would argue that the actual experience will gain the Witch greater understanding of his or her own magick.
The concept of understanding hexes and curses in order to heal and cure really falls within the realm of The Law of Polarity or The Law of Opposites, which states that everything in existence contains two mutually incompatible and exclusive parts or aspects that are equally essential and indispensable to the other. Any pattern of energetic data can be split into two patterns with opposing characteristics, which will contain the essence of the other within itself creating harmony. These opposing patterns provide the constant motivation for movement and change. Hexing and healing and cursing and curing are examples of these polarities or opposites within magick.
The Witch embraces power and owns it without fear, but with confidence.
The Witch possesses the knowledge and ability to travel to the depths of the Underworld and understands how to deal with the entities that reside there.
The Witch has a familiarity and skill with hexing and cursing when necessary without guilt or shame.
This is the power of The Witch.
Magick is a neutral energy much like electricity, which holds no alignment of its own. It is neither constructive nor destructive, but can be utilized for both depending on the purpose or intent of the user. Electricity can be used within a hospital to power the numerous machines that humans have created in order to preserve life and it can be used to carry out the sentence of an inmate on Death Row. Magick can also be manipulated in the same manner for preserving life or for bringing forth death, for healing or harming, for nurturing or destroying, for benevolent intentions or for malicious ones.
The word hex dates back to the early 1800’s and simply meant; to cast a spell or bewitch someone or something. There were no distinctions made as to whether the hex was benevolent magick or whether it was a malediction. For people of German descent, especially the Pennsylvania Dutch, hexing was seen as beneficial and protective in nature, but for the rest of the population witchcraft was associated with malevolent magic so the word hex took on negative connotations. This association has continued into our modern times.
To curse someone is to use words, gestures, and or other magick to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something. Usually it is most often associated with feelings of anger, vengeance, and justice, but these are not always necessarily the only motivations. I have found that within many of the Witch communities, both offline and online, the words hex and curse are frequently used interchangeably and both associated with “bad” or “evil” or “harmful” intentions.
Without studying magick completely, without having a strong foundation of knowledge to pull from the Witch is left with a deficit and that Witch, who does not understand how to curse, will be left completely and utterly defenseless against those who would use magick to attack them. How can the Witch effectively fight what he or she doesn’t understand? A Witch who refuses to learn how to work malediction will have an incomplete base of magickal knowledge and if he or she is afraid to explore the destructive side of magick they are left unbalanced and less effective.
So then what does the quote mean? It simply means that a Witch who does not have the knowledge or skill to hex or curse does not have the knowledge or skill to heal or cure. It doesn’t imply that the Witch should or needs to hex or curse, but that he or she possesses the knowledge and ability to do so. For the Witch to come to the full realization and understanding of his or her power and ability to wield it, it is necessary to understand the full spectrum of how magick can be used; this includes not only creating, but also destroying, attracting and banishing, loosening and binding, and healing and cursing. The Witch needn’t throw curses at others to understand how a curse would work, though I would argue that the actual experience will gain the Witch greater understanding of his or her own magick.
The concept of understanding hexes and curses in order to heal and cure really falls within the realm of The Law of Polarity or The Law of Opposites, which states that everything in existence contains two mutually incompatible and exclusive parts or aspects that are equally essential and indispensable to the other. Any pattern of energetic data can be split into two patterns with opposing characteristics, which will contain the essence of the other within itself creating harmony. These opposing patterns provide the constant motivation for movement and change. Hexing and healing and cursing and curing are examples of these polarities or opposites within magick.
The Witch embraces power and owns it without fear, but with confidence.
The Witch possesses the knowledge and ability to travel to the depths of the Underworld and understands how to deal with the entities that reside there.
The Witch has a familiarity and skill with hexing and cursing when necessary without guilt or shame.
This is the power of The Witch.
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