Are you a
good witch or a bad witch?" Glenda, the "good"
witch of the North, asks Dorothy. Over the years
I have had non-Wiccan friends ask me that same
question, although not quite as direct as
Glenda. But with the power to awaken sleepers
from a field of poison poppies, I suppose she
doesn't need to beat around the bush. I have
encountered people who have asked roundabout
questions, mostly to reassure themselves, like,
"I know you're not a black witch, you only do
good right?" So often I am tempted to play into
their fears with a response like, "Oh yes, I am
a good witch unless you make me angry, then
lookout!" I do however restrain myself, because
if my response increases their fear, I could be
violating our "Harm None" rule. My response to
that type of question is that I use both the
powers of light and darkness in my life to
achieve positive outcomes. This answer always
leads to more questions, or at least a puzzled
look. The puzzled look is my favorite response,
which is just the devil in me (pardon the
fictional reference), although I do try to
thoroughly explain my answer. Non-Wiccans and
novice Wiccans often have difficulty with the
concepts that state: dark forces are not evil
forces, and, that to live in a truly balanced
way, one must incorporate the forces of both
light and dark into their life. This usually
requires a shift in the perception away from
concrete black and white thinking to one that
requires a blending of the two. But this shift
is critical if one wishes to live in accordance
with the philosophy that we are all truly on
paths to oneness with Divinity". The view of
opposing paths and warring forces of good and
evil must be shed. Such a perception is based in
fear, and fear will never lead us to oneness.
Our society loves dichotomy. "Black or white,
good or evil, beautiful or ugly," are just some
examples of the thinking of a dichotomous world.
Even though Wiccans also view much of life as a
dichotomy, the difference lies within the
perception of what one is viewing. We can look
at Divinity and break it down into a God and
Goddess; however, we know that these two aspects
of the divine form a whole, complete, and
perfect union. Just as the light and dark
aspects in the human psyche form the complete
person. Unfortunately, there are many in the
world who can only see dichotomy as two opposing
forces in a constant state of war with one
another. For them there is no stepping back to
view the larger picture; mere are only opposites
struggling for supreme dominance.
The question of whether dark forces are evil
is answered within the definitions of the two. I
define evil as an aberrant thought or action
that willfully and maliciously inflicts harm and
causes suffering. "Evil" thoughts and actions
are: human in origin, involve conscious
thought(s), always have the intent to inflict
harm, have no regard for the sacredness of life,
and are always born from fear. Dark powers, on
the other hand have hand, have absolutely
nothing to do with harmful acts performed by
humans. They exist naturally in conjunction with
the forces of light to form a unified whole. The
power available to us, whether it is light or
dark, is completely neutral. How one uses that
power determines if it is intentionally harmful,
and therefore evil.
For one to embrace both the light and the
darkness, and thereby live a balanced life, one
must know both. The energies associated with the
light are those of creation, growth, and
healing. They are active powers that add force
to will. The powers of light are revealed in the
Goddess of fertility and birth and the young God
of the woodlands and animals. Creation is the
loving extension of oneself to form something
beyond our definition of self. Utilizing the
divine light of the Source, energy is combined
and fashioned to produce something new and
unique. This same divine energy can be used to
heal, revitalize, and empower that which is in
need.
The knowledge that comes from the light is
readily available for those who truly wish to
seek it. The desire to learn, combined with keen
observation skills, contemplation, and an open
heart, are the keys to accessing this
information. Take a walk in the woods; look,
listen, feel, and learn from our greatest
teacher — nature.
The powers of darkness include the need for
rest and rejuvenation, facing and banishing
one's fears, and searching for knowledge that is
hidden by the black veil. It can mean treading
on unknown ground in order to find and face your
fears, or in the acquisition of occult
knowledge. It is allying oneself with the dark
powers of the Crone and the Sage; the power to
go within for answers and to obtain knowledge of
death and the afterlife. There is nothing "evil"
to be found here. There is no evil in the night,
or within the restful solace of winter, or in
the darkness of the new moon. Dark power is half
of a whole, to be utilized in proper proportion
with the light to form a complete unit.
All life requires rest, be it a good night's
sleep, a long winter's hibernation, or the rest
that physical death brings to the spirit.
Without the balance of this stage in life, we
would surely burn our precious energy in the
blink of an eye. Rest is the dark power that
balances activity. It is a natural law, and
therefore a reflection of divine law. There is
nothing to fear during this rejuvenation stage.
I personally embrace this concept and celebrate
it every chance I get on the weekends by taking
a long Saturday afternoon nap.
Facing and banishing one's fears is most
likely a lifetime pursuit. Most of our real
fears lurk in the depths of our subconscious
mind. The ones that we can name off the top of
our heads are mere surface fears. Bravery and
conviction are required simply to look for these
elusive subconscious creatures. Not only are
they hidden from conscious thought, they are
excellent at masquerading themselves as noble
attributes and sensible rationalizations.
Banishment of one's fears is an excellent
example of the use of dark power for a positive
outcome. Don't be too hard on yourself if it
takes time; if you banish your fears quickly,
you most likely have just fooled yourself.
The search for knowledge in the darkness is a
meditative practice. When we still the chatter
of our own ego, we have the ability to hear
messages from our higher spirit, our guides, the
deities, the God and Goddess, and the infinite
Divine Source Itself. A ritual meditation on the
night of the new moon, where we call upon the
power and assistance of the Crone and Sage, can
give us a wealth of information.
Standing in the twilight is a state where we
see both the light and darkness; embracing both,
but consumed with neither. It is being in a
place where you can see the value of the light,
the darkness, and the unification of the two
forces. There is beauty in the light blue sky of
a summer's day. There is beauty in the
star-filled heavens of the night. But the most
spectacular beauty of all comes at dawn and
dusk, when the forces of light and dark blend
together to create a masterpiece of divine
proportions.
As Wiccans, we have one foot in each of many
worlds: the light and the dark, the physical and
the spiritual, the conscious and subconscious,
the mundane and the magical. It is a lifetime
balancing act, but one well worth the effort. To
live a life between light and darkness is to
live in balance with yourself and the world
around you. There is no need to merely survive
from crisis to crisis, the ultra¬high to
desperate low. There is no need to cast
judgments born of fear, which proclaims one
thing good and the other bad. We embrace the
beauty and value of the whole and the individual
components from which it is made.
Dark powers, as well as light, should always
be used for positive outcomes and with harm to
no one, including yourself. When using these
natural powers in your life, always make sure
your intentions are a projection of love, and
not an act of fear. When you stand in the
twilight with a clear view and a loving heart,
the world around you shall blossom with endless
visions. The black and white boundaries you
thought existed will fade to shades of gray, and
judgments you once held as irrevocable truth
will dissolve into obscurity. It is a place of
wisdom and peace, where you see that all that
surrounds you is actually part of you.
Bright Blessings To All, Earth Eagle
