One of my pet peeves is this thing about black and white witches. People who ask 'so are you a black witch or a white witch' are only showing their ignorance.
People like to categorize things. Things are not always black or white. Most of life is in shades of grey, but for our convenience, we humans like to think is terms of...'good'...'evil'...'good'...'bad'. In magic, this entirely too simplistic.
I believe in responsibility in magic. Just as I believe that one should be responsible in what they say and do, so are you responsible for your magic. Magic is just a different way of causing things to happen, so one is still responsible for their actions.
Take this senario: you are walking along the street, and someone is being mugged; you are in the position to hit the mugger hard on the head...do you do so?...
Yes, you are hitting someone on the head, and could possibly kill them if you swing hard enough. But consider that the mugger probably well deserves what you do to him, and many times over. Also, by doing so, you may be saving the victim's life. So, are you doing good or evil?
I will curse or magically bind someone if I feel that it is needed. I also word such spells *very* carefully, and make sure that my intent is clear.
Magic is powerful, and much like a loaded gun, we should be careful where and how we aim, and accept that there are consequences to our action or inaction.
Yes, inaction. If we are responsible for our actions, then also are we responsible for our inaction.
What I am really trying to say is that most magic cannot be labeled as 'black' or 'white'. Magic is magic. The WAY we use it and go about it gives it its flavor. Obviously, there are a few of those who choose to pervert everything they do. This perversion is not a part of the darkness, for while darkness is a very intergral part of nature, perversion is UNnatural.
And what do I consider perversion? The ritual murder of humans, the forcing of another's will, any manner of rape... these are perversions. Those who practice perversions have no place in any circle of mine.
"Darkness is not the same as evil, nor is light equivalent to good."
The concept of dark magic and darkness is a difficult one. In typical Wicca, many believe in the Law of Threes, which basically states that in magic, what you do can come back to you threefold. People are therefore cautious about what spells they cast, for fear that bad effects can return compounded.