While Wicca teaches the use of magick to enact a positive change, there are still dangers to beware. If you google “dangers of witchcraft”, you will be bombarded with materials written by non-practicing individuals with a religiously conservative message. Some of them even cite Harry Potter as some sort of example or proof of their claims. While spouting off devil danger might be very real to them, for those who practice the Craft, we have different concerns.
Continuous practice may lead to the realization of some of these items. Others are common sense. Some you may never have to deal with. In a discussion in the
1. In some countries or cultures, there are social ramifications for practicing witchcraft. While in many countries, residents can go about their religion and personal practice as they see fit, others are not so fortunate. More than a few students have commented that they are practicing in secret, that they are taking online classes, because if exposed in their town, it could provoke an unwanted response. To others, their family and friends may have adverse reactions to the truth.
2. Many aspects of witchcraft are too complicated for children and possibly younger teens to deal with. The Craft takes will power, emotional, physical, and mental stability, as well as maturity. While we would give a young person a gun that shoots bubbles, we would not give them a gun that shoots bullets.
3. Fad experimentation could lead to one accidentally stumbling into risky situations. When some people choose to rebel against social norms, witchcraft can be appealing. When I was in high school, I hung with a group of social rebels. When I decided to study Wicca, the whole group did, too. Some of us took up serious study, and others experimented with topics beyond their ability. I have also encountered several people who study a bit here and there with great personal gains in mind. Those who practice the Craft based on their desperation to complete a task, such as to cast spells to force an ex-lover to come back. Some look for power, and may even seek to mimic tales of witches, wizards, and warlocks, and supernatural adventures. Getting oneself into complicated situations is always way easier than getting out of them.
4. Working in the realm of the Spirit, with spirits and other entities, as well as with energy can increase the spirit activity around a person, or one’s awareness of spirit activity. Once a door is opened, it is difficult to close it, and some people may be spooked or uncomfortable with these types of experiences.
5. If one does not know how to properly ground, or has difficulty grounding, this could result in an “energy hangover”, in which an excess of energy causes headaches, body aches, and other similar symptoms. Some practitioners can become addicted to the “energy buzz” of working with magick.
6. Difficulty around electronic equipment. For example, common is the static shock from clothes and skin becoming eclectically charged.
7. Some new or increased allergies or sensitivities may occur. These are not to be confused with normal sensitivities that occur as a person’s body changes with age. For example, with age, I have become mildly sensitive to some detergents, cilantro, and lactose. However, once I began to practice witchcraft, I developed sensitivity to most metal that I attribute to my involvement in the Craft. If it is not sterling silver or platinum, I have trouble keeping earring in my ears or rings on my fingers without swelling.
8. An wave of unexpected depression that can come every now and then.
9. Elemental issues. I have a tendency to get burned when I am angry. Also, when I am not grounded, I trip on everything. Everything. I lose the ability to automatically sense the distance between objects.
10. There are several physical hazards to be wary of during ritual. One could become disoriented during trance work/aspecting, knocking over lit candles, tripping on things, or cutting oneself.
11. Traveling on such a path can cause physical/mental illnesses to crop up or come back. The spiritual experience requires a great stability in all facets of life. It is best to make sure that one is stable in their mental, physical, and emotional selves before continuing on one’s path, even in practicing witchcraft.
12. Drug abuse can result if a person cannot cope with such a drastic fluctuation in energy, and then this translates to an instability that is pacified with a psychotropic substance.
13. The high energy and personal closeness of a coven can become a sexual concern. For example, a person may develop an attraction to another in the circle because of the sensual, attractive power of magick, even if the individual is in a committed relationship outside.
14. One can stumble in to financial stress as a result of a tool addiction. Folks who become obsessed with obtaining tools, books, memberships, and classes may put themselves into financial trouble trying to acquire these things. The Craft requires no tools to practice, and there are always alternatives for each person to fit practice into their own lifestyle. I have seen people get carried away.
15. The after shock of initiation (or even dedication in some cases) can be overwhelming.
16. One concern for some people is an addiction to divination, or an over-reliance on divination to make life choices. While divination is a form of communication with the divine, it can only guide our choices. It cannot make the choices for us. I have had a couple of people write to me with concerns about divination experiences. One lady kept visiting self-proclaimed psychics, who would do readings for her, and tell her that she could have what she wanted if she paid several hundred dollars for spells and potions. She never paid them, but she always took their word on her fate, and made major life decisions based on it. I have stopped astrologically over-analyzing the men that I date. It’s sort of weird when a girl asks a guy in what city and what time he was born on the first date. After a couple of times, I realized I was a little over-reliant.
17. Over-reliance on spell work for even the most mundane tasks.
18. Paranoia, or the fear that one is being hexed or cursed, when there are no signs.
19. An over-reliance on coven mates. Since, covens are essentially family, some people can take took many liberties. One of our coven mates leaned on the group for help doing many tasks. One of my last encounters with this person was when our whole coven and our actual family members came over to help him move out in 2 days. We were told everything would be packed and a dolly built, but nothing was done, and our friend was sleeping when we arrived, and it took us awhile to wake him. Needless to say, we not only moved him, but packed him, and cleaned the place, too.
20. People change. One of the fundamental goals on this path is a deeper personal exploration and understanding.
21. Increase in an underlying empathic ability. For some people, the ability to sense the moods and feelings of other living things can open up to the point of suffocation before they get it under control.
