Some people believe there are no differences between white and black magic. They believe that all forms of magic are evil if they are to attain some power or control over another. Many religious sects believe that the use of magic is unholy because it draws power from something other than the divine spirit and it is an attempt by the user to become divines themselves with the use of the power of magic. Often pagans use magic and prayer interchangeably. The ritual magic that requests aid from some other source besides God creates the aversion from those with fundamentalist beliefs.



Others believe there is a difference and the difference is in the intent of the user. Black magic is for evil and white magic is for good. Here is the dilemma. What is good and what is evil? Of course, everyone would say something that causes harm to another is evil, but what about a spell that would stop a murderer but hurt him in the process. That does harm, and yet in reality, it also saves innocent victims. So, is it white magic or black magic? Again, it's the same spell AND the intent is to do harm, but it's used against someone that's harming others. The irony here is that it's only a judgment call. A person that believes their family is in danger and uses magic to save them might be considered a black magician by the family of the victim.

Folk magic divides white magic and black magic into categories by not only the intent, but also the tools of the magician or sorcerer. The tools of the black magician are often pointed, caustic and hot. They involve personal items from their victims like hair or blood and the spells are cast at night and often demons from the underworld are asked to help carry it out.

The white magic definition that most of the masses visualize comes from television shows like "Bewitched" or "Charmed" where the heroines only use their magic to protect themselves, create a better life or right a wrong. Many of the white magicians offer innocuous spells like love spells. Who could be hurt by that? Do they work? Sometimes they do but often that's because the person requesting the love spell acts differently because they believe the spell works. It's the new personality that attracts the life partner, not the spell. Many white magicians find it unethical to cast love spells because it affects the other person without their permission.

Some practitioners of the black arts seek the aid of demonic powers to help them in their pursuit. Their goal is evil or death. White magic often is used to heal. Many of the practitioners of white magic believe that whatever you send out to the universe in the form of magic, comes back to you three fold, so you need to be very careful and loving with all of your spells.

The biggest factor in separating black magic from white magic is the moral code of those that practice it. You often hear those versed in the art of white magic to profess to the use of only white magic. This is because they know the difference and use their moral code to guide them. While there are many places to find spells, it's not wise for the dabbler to attempt them before they decide exactly what they want, why they want it and how it will affect them. By the time they analyze the situation, they normally find that there are non-occult methods of attaining their goals.