Hexes & Curses

About Curses

A curse is the expression of desire of harm to come to a particular person. The misfortune intended by curses can range from illness, and harm, to even death. Anyone can lay a curse on another person, but it is believed that the authority of the person who lays the curse on increases its potency and makes it more dangerous.

The left hand path is not concerned with the judgement of others about cursing, as the occultist knows they are ready to fight for their own beliefs and causes. An adept has also prepared him or herself for any backlash from other occultists who maybe working on behalf of the cursed target. Although adepts are not wise to through curses at each other, as not only is this a waste of precious energy and time, it is frowned upon if one is working with the demons or on the left hand path.

In the various traditions of neo-Pagan Witchcraft it is against the ethics and laws of the Craft to lay curses. Most Witches abide by this, thinking that the curse will return to the curser in the same form as given or x 3 (three-fold law). Although there are those that believe that cursing against one’s enemies is justified. Witches from ethnic cultures such as the Italian Striga, the Mexican Bruja, also believe that cursing is justified.

The word hex is sometimes used synonymously with curse. In neo-Pagan Witchcraft, some Witches use the term hex to designate a binding spell, which is different from a curse. The “binding spell,”  is intended to prevent another person from interfering or doing harm.

Types of Curses (other than spells)

Curses are made or “thrown” by a variety of methods, some of them by magic and some by spontaneous act. In the broadest sense, wishing anyone ill is a form of cursing, for it projects a THOUGHT-FORM made of WILL and IMAGINATION upon a victim.

Most ill-wishing is transitory and has little or no effect. The more concentrated the emotions and projection, the more powerful the curse.

Most powerful of all is a “deathbed curse”, for the dying are believed to project the most intensity. Deathbed curses are the most potent, since all the curser’s vital energy goes into the curse.

Cursing survivors, successive generations, or even places may last for centuries.

Curses are both spoken and written; an example of a formal written curse is an anathema proclaimed by the pope, which excommunicates a person from the church.

The evil eye is a curse both involuntary and deliberate, causing a victim to suffer misfortune and perhaps even death. pointing with a finger or a bone, especially while uttering a malediction, is a universal method in witchcraft and sorcery.

Magical objects such as dolls or poppet (a substitution for the victim) can be ritually cursed, burned, stabbed, or otherwise marked. A photograph of the victim works equally well, as do nail clippings, bits of hair, and personal belongings.

Ordinary objects can become cursed through tragedy and misfortune and can affect the persons who own them.

Correspondences for hexing and cursing work

The best days for working baneful magic are Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Saturn – Saturday & Saturn

Mars – Tuesday & Mars

To Curse or Not To Curse?

Common questions about hexes are  “what about karma?” or “will I be harmed” or “what about the witches rule of Do No Harm?”

If you are asking such questions then you are not ready to do this type of magick work.

If you’re still not sure if the hex is warranted, try this exercise:

1. Write down on paper, the exact reason why you want to cast a hex on this person
2. Write down, exactly what you want the result to be.
3. Close your eyes and think about 1 & 2 for at least 5 minutes. Are you still angry after five minutes? Do you still want revenge? Do you still want to stop this person? Have you changed your mind?
4. Take the piece of paper to bed with you at night. Think about it before you go to bed.
5. Do the same line of questioning as three when you wake up.
6. If you’re still not sure what to do repeat the above steps for three nights straight. If you’re still not certain, then forget about it.

Be mentally ready and yet unconcerned

I believe that to perform a hex, curse, or death spell you must yourself be willing for revenge, and that to perform a spell to harm another being, you must be willing to be harmed. That is not willing your self to be harmed – I am not saying that. What I am saying is, that I am unattached to the concern of revenge because I would expect and enemy (if they have the capability) to return the hex. This means that I am just prepared, and except that this is part of my job! Every job has dangers right?

Alternatives to curses & hexes

Many people believe that it is easier and less risky to work confinement, reversal, binding, or banishing spell on the opponent. While these spells are still considered “Black magic” by many wiccans, many wiccans and pagans will feel comfortable using some form of these spell.

Historical Curses by Witches

The Egyptians wrote curses on magical papyri, a practice adopted by Greeks and Romans. From about the fifth century b.c.e. to the fifth century c.e., curse tablets (tabellae defixonium) were especially popular in the Hellenistic world. Tabellae defixonium refers to tablets that fix or pin down, especially in the sense of delivering someone over to the powers of the underworld. The curse tablets were thin pieces of lead (and sometimes other materials) on which were inscribed the victim’s name, the curse, magical symbol s and names of various deities, or the more generic DAIMONES invoked to carry out the curse. The tablets were buried near a fresh tomb, a battlefield, or a place of execution, all of which were believed to be populated by spirits of the dead en route to the underworld. The curses gave the spirits the power to assault the victim. Curse tablets also were fixed with nails and were thrown into wells, springs, or rivers that were also said to be inhabited by spirits.

Curses among Magicians

In the Western magical tradition, cursing is done frequently among occultists and is not considered to be immoral. Arguments and disputes can result in cursing warfare.

Famous cursing battles took place among members of the HERMETIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN, involving the sending of vampiric entities. SAMUEL LIDDELL MacGREGOR MATHERS, and ALEISTER CROWLEY engaged in such mutual attacks.

The magician WILLIAM G. GRAY was known to send powerful curses against most of his students.

Cursing is still done in magical lodges and circles in modern times, though practitioners often are secretive about it due to beliefs by younger generations that cursing is immoral and will backfire on the sender.

In Wicca, Paganism, and many modern magical traditions, there is a belief that magic of any sort will return to the sender, sometimes threefold; hence a curse will be revisited on the sender with three times the effect. More acceptable to many practitioners is the “binding spell,” which is intended to prevent another person from interfering or doing harm.

This moralistic view against cursing is not found in most magical and sorcery practices outside the modern West.