Kris Dahlgren's Journal

I've been working a bit of magic and talking about responsibilities with Emma, one of my young cousins. She's visiting for a month or so from Pontiac, just north and east-ish of here. Emma's a lovely girl, very sharp, and I think that she'll do well. My methods, I think, might chafe her a bit--I'm boringly responsible about magic. But I can only go on what I've been taught and what I've practiced over the years.

Everything in the world is connected to everything else, so whatever you do has consequences, sometimes far-reaching ones, that you could never anticipate. I'm not Wiccan, but I believe in their An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will credo, as well as the rule of three. It is wrong in the extreme to perform magic against someone's will or to use it to bend the will of another to yours--her friends had been influencing her to do that to others just for kicks, and her parents simply haven't impressed upon her that this is wrong. While those things might be amusing or fun or profitable at the time, karma will eventually come back around and kick the shit out of the person doing them. That whole rule of three? It's pretty much serious.

Magic isn't just flashy tricks--it's a way of living your life and integrating yourself into the whole. I was taught to use it to help others, and so I've always tried to do so, but I understand that not everyone believes the same thing, and so Emma must choose her own path. Hopefully, it will be a wise one. Emma's been indulged and spoiled for most of her fifteen years, in this as well as everything else. I'm not going to change that in a month's time, but maybe I can get her to think a little before acting. Just because we're now out doesn't mean we can do anything we want. If anything, we should be a little more thoughtful, because now, mundanes know we're around, and they're leery. And watching.

Why is there no chocolate in the house? I'll bet Emma's eaten it, the little wench.

The Wiccan Rede

Bide ye wiccan laws you must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.

Live ye must and let to live,
fairly take and fairly give.

Form the circle thrice about
to keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind ye spell all the time,
let thy spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch,
speak ye little, listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing moon,
Chanting out thy baleful tune.

When ye Lady's moon is new,
kiss ye hand to her times two.

When the moon rides at her peak,
then ye heart's desires seek.

Heed thy north wind's mighty gale,
lock thy door and drop thy sail.

When the wind comes from the south,
love will kiss thee on the mouth.

When the wind blows from the east,
expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the cauldron go,
burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be ye Lady's tree,
burn it not or cursed ye'll be.

When the wheel begins to turn,
soon ye beltane fires will burn.

When the wheel has turned to Yule,
light the log thy horned one rules.

Heed ye flower, bush and tree,
by the Lady blessed be.

Where the rippling waters go,
cast a stone, the truth ye'll know.

When ye have and hold a need,
harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend,
or be counted as his friend.

Merry meet and merry part,
bright thy cheeks and warm thee heart.

Mind ye threefold law ye must,
three times bad come three times worse.

When misfortune is enow,
wear thy star upon thy brow.

True in love ye must be,
lest thy love be false to thee.

These eight words the wiccan rede
An it harm none, do what ye will.

Here I Am