{"id":379,"date":"2017-02-09T12:44:26","date_gmt":"2017-02-09T20:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/?p=379"},"modified":"2017-02-09T12:49:29","modified_gmt":"2017-02-09T20:49:29","slug":"the-elegant-curse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/2017\/02\/the-elegant-curse.html","title":{"rendered":"The Elegant Curse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"web-binding\"
Spellcraft: Binding \u2013 painting by the author<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

When asked \u201cwhat is cursing?\u201d most people will reply with one of the two following answers:
\n1) The use of vulgar or impolite language.<\/em>
\n2) The throwing off of \u201cnegative\u201d energy and\/or the use of sympathetic magick to manipulate, particularly in the form of a poppet, witch bottle, or similar system.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Under\u00a0the right circumstances, I\u00a0can say I\u2019m a fan of both. \u00a0But in actual practice, I tend to be somewhere in between \u2013 what I call \u201cthe elegant curse.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Origins of Cursing<\/strong><\/em>
\nHexing, cursing, and other forms of baneful magick have been hot topics in the last few years, especially in regards to political and social situations. \u00a0Mat Auryn recently posted a fantastic and lengthy compilation<\/a> that asks the opinions of many well-known practitioners (yours truly included) on using magick and spellcraft as a form of activism.<\/p>\n

But despite the new wave of popular\u00a0discussion, the idea of cursing has been around probably since the time our species developed language (in the case of #1) and a sense of cause and effect (#2). \u00a0And really in the case of the latter, it goes both ways \u2013 blessing and cursing<\/a> has long been recognized as two sides of the same coin. \u00a0Divine powers could bestow both on the same individual \u2013 with or without apparent reason.<\/p>\n

The same has been said of witches for centuries. \u00a0Take for instance the legendary Baba Yaga<\/a>, one of the most iconic witches of folklore. \u00a0Whether she chooses to help you or hurt you is always a gamble. \u00a0Why? Because she embodies Nature itself \u2013 and found within that truth is the essence of magick and energy. \u00a0In and of itself, energy\u00a0is neutral, unaligned \u2013 and whether something is a blessing or a curse is often a matter of personal perspective. \u00a0Regardless even of initial intent! One of the most common ideas of cursing found around the world is the idea of \u201cthe evil eye.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 Many cultures believe that in case of both the giver and the receiver of the evil eye \u2013 neither is intentionally conscious nor aware that some exchange has taken place.<\/p>\n

\"witchcurse\"Then there\u2019s the argument that when you get down deep into sympathetic magick, working with binding, banishing, hexing, etc \u2013 that you get yourself connected\/intertwined with the person or situation. \u00a0Which frankly, if they\u2019re already in or otherwise affecting your life, I\u2019d say that\u2019s already happened. \u00a0But is<\/em> a lot of effort, and falls into the category of what I call \u201cpulling out the big guns.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Elegant Curse<\/strong><\/em>
\nWhich brings us to the realm of elegant cursing, and the power of words<\/a>. Why is #1 \u2013 vulgarity \u2013 called cursing? Well think about it \u2013 if you\u2019re telling someone to F off in some variation, you\u2019re not exactly wishing them good will. \u00a0Nor do the words have to be impolite \u2013 consider the phrase \u201cBless your heart.\u201d \u00a0It sounds nice, but it certainly isn\u2019t meant to be a blessing. \u00a0Rather, the intent in both the F off and \u201cbless your heart\u201d is a reflex of protection. \u00a0They essentially mean \u201cget thee away from me and may your words\/actions come back to you.\u201d \u00a0It\u2019s a ward, a kind of shield or mirror.<\/p>\n

There are also many benefits to the elegant curse. \u00a0A well-worded curse can be used again and again, by anyone who finds meaning in it. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t require a specific target, but rather generates an overall net against those that fit the bill. \u00a0There also tends to be a bit of humor in it, which gives a sense buoyancy. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t invoke an \u201cI\u201d statement, but rather appeals to the surrounding forces. \u00a0Rather, the elegant curse follows the structure of the fabled curse: \u201cMay you live in interesting times.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 So it also doesn\u2019t usually outline everything in detail, but rather relies on the universal energy to sort out the balance as it sees fit. \u00a0Yet it\u2019s clean and precise at the same time.\u00a0\"curseoftheweek-whiteknight\"<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been rather inspired to come up with one on about a weekly basis. \u00a0Per seeking to legislate women\u2019s bodies, the curse \u201cMay your penis get caught in your zipper\u201d<\/strong> <\/em>arose. \u00a0The visual is enough to make most folks cringe, but isn\u2019t meant as something bad to happen to an innocent person. \u00a0But rather it is directed to those who would deem to make decisions in arenas where they don\u2019t belong \u2013 and that they may feel the sting of it if they do. \u00a0Another one is \u201cMay false white knights in shining armor get cooked\u00a0in the fires of their own devising.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Creating It:<\/strong><\/em>
\nIt\u2019s fairly easy, especially if you\u2019re handy with words. \u00a0Take a step back from the situation and consider what\u2019s going on. \u00a0When is a general way to define the players and their actions \u2013 what is their intent or goal? Then consider what is the best way to impede that goal or intent in such a way that re-routes their efforts \u2013 through their own actions, so others don\u2019t get hurt. \u00a0Create a visual with words. Lastly, keep it simple.<\/p>\n

Combine that elegant curse with the power of \u201cmeme magick\u201d and\/or the power of sharing a thought in general and you activate a current of energy that adds another level of consciousness to the sentiment. \u00a0Again, the intent isn\u2019t malicious or to cause any innocent person harm. \u00a0But rather to protect those who are or would be hurt \u2013 to give them space \u2013 while curbing the activities of those who seek to cause harm. \u00a0With no strings attached or pins necessary.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When asked \u201cwhat is cursing?\u201d most people will reply with one of the two following answers: 1) The use of vulgar or impolite language. 2) The throwing off of \u201cnegative\u201d energy and\/or the use of sympathetic magick to manipulate, particularly in the form of a poppet, witch bottle, or similar system.\u00a0 Under\u00a0the right circumstances, I\u00a0can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2676,"featured_media":380,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13],"tags":[181,182,180,179,183,161,7,158,4],"class_list":["post-379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-modernpractice","category-myth-and-folklore","tag-baneful","tag-binding","tag-curses","tag-cursing","tag-hex","tag-wearearadia","tag-witch","tag-witch-power","tag-witchcraft"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Elegant Curse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are also many benefits to the elegant curse. 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