Misk'i Takiy musica y mas

Black Magic: A brief case study in energetic malpractice. 

We live in a world that is composed of energy. They say that where the attention goes, energy flows, and so it is. In many traditional healing practices (what have been collectively called shamanic) there is a belief in magic (with or without the K). Many contemporary cultures shy away from this belief, it being relegated to a thing of folklore and 'uneducated' or 'primitive' belief systems and structures. However, for those working within these structures, this can be a very real aspect of life, and part of a healer's job, to help those afflicted by magic, whether it be black, white, or any other colour of the spectrum. Certainly, in the healing practices of the Amazon region, this comes in many shades of grey. 

From my experience, this topic is real, can have profound and lasting effects, and can be quite challenging to comprehend. I say challenging, as often is the mind that does not quite allow for the understanding to sink in. For a mind that has grown up skeptical of such practices, to fully embrace this topic can be alien, to say the least; and yet, it is there, whether we can see it or not. One of the ways to navigate this subject without getting caught up in definitions and superstitious scaremongering is to break it down into its components, and to eliminate such generalisations as black and white, good and bad, or outright evil. This allows an image to form in which an objective distance is there, which allows for seeing and feeling to form with greater clarity. 

In the Amazonian healing practices magic comes in many ways, shapes and forms. A relatively simple example of this is the creation of a love spell or love potion; with the desired effect of causing someone to 'fall in love' with someone else. (Certainly this is not LOVE) Now, clearly in this example there is a certain degree of motivation, intention, and no small part of unconscious awareness being used to create something that will influence another to maybe do or engage with someone or something that they may not naturally be inclined to. The creation of this form of magic does not take into account the right to free will of another and inherently lacks respect for the other individual on every level. It is manipulation of another person's will, and an interference in their life, however, many who come into contact with this form of magic may not realise what is happening to them, certainly until it is too late. Love, and free will, are not things that 'should' be manipulated by one for their own benefit, they are inherent states of existence that are the sovereign right of every individual (in some belief structures). To gain another person's love or attention by witchcraft is one of the oldest tricks in the book, and common practice.  

I wrote earlier that there is an unconscious part in this equation; this unconsciousness coming from the fact that the person who wishes to influence the other may or may not realise that what they are doing is malpractice. They may not see that what they want may not be in the best interests of the person they wish to influence. They have their reasons, their story, and that is enough for them to set in motion a course of action that will have consequences for everyone involved. There can be many motivating factors for this to come into play; from desire - a story that has been created around an individual - to outright obsession. In any case, an energy (thought form) has been created which has an intensity that leads to action. In most cases, the individual who is obsessed, shall we say, will not have the necessary power to create the spell or the potion, so they will visit a shaman or 'healer' who can help with the process. 

Here we enter the world of shades of grey. With the use of certain practices, plants, etc. the shaman (we can call him or her a brujo /a) can assist with the bending of desired person's will. Now, while the person who employs the brujo may not realise what they are doing is wrong (for want of a better word), you would like to believe that the brujo does know this, but sadly in many cases, they also are operating in a world of ignorance. The deeper we delve into this subject the more obscure it becomes. So, we can break it down to energy again. An energetic form is created that seeks to confuse and confound, to manipulate and control. This energy is strong, neither good nor bad, simply neutral power used for obscure objectives. It is concentrated and directed, not unlike many of the energetic forms that are created in this world. Simply, in this case, there are other components involved than in standard thought forms. 

As I said, often we live in a world that does not understand magic. Which means that we cannot understand why or how it happens. In the case of the love spell, or the creation of a situation in which another is desired, there is a real sense of confusion in all ways. All parties involved are confused, either in their motivation, or what happens to them. A person who wishes to capture another's attention may do so from the belief that it is for the best for both parties involved, but the truth is that they are not even taking into account the other person, only the gratification of their own interests. Let's not be afraid to call it what it is, it is insidious and dangerous behavior which exhibits a degree of unconsciousness that is borderline psychopathic and narcissistic (or fully fledged). Whichever way we look at it, it is pure unconsciousness, and for that can be understood and forgiven (but not excused). The energy that is created in the mind is that of a mind that is uncontrolled, unaware, and unable to see clearly and objectively beyond its own story, stories, and desire. No matter how it is dressed up, it is a recipe for disaster. Love cannot be bought, love cannot be manipulated to exist, but an energy can be created that draws another individual into the trap. Now, you might ask what kind of individual would do such a thing? I leave that exploration for you to decide, and to draw your own conclusions. There is a tendency within the human mind to enter into fantasy and delusion, how far we choose to follow that story is up to us, whether we wish to engage with it, and for how long. 

Sadly, in the Amazon, and many other places I am sure, there are many stories of shaman and brujos acting as brokers in this equation or creating this kind of magic for their own benefit. People with power - using plants of power and practices of power, for their own benefit with scant regard for another person. This is obscurity, whether they realise they are acting from a dark place or not. It can be challenging to accept that there are such people that exist within the world of healing and medicine, far easier to accept the myopic belief that we live in a world of love and light, or worse still, that whatever happens, happens for a reason, so it must be good or at least ok, or meant to happen. Too often in this story, there is an ignorance that accepts without question things that should be questioned. If one is drawing another into their web of obscurity, ego-driven fantasy, and with no sense of responsibility or awareness of what they are truly doing, then this is not meant to happen, this is unwanted interference with the course or another person's life. Without a doubt, there are many that misuse power for their own benefit with NO awareness that what they are doing is in ANY way out of line. Whether it be for business interests, love interest, financial, prestige, these are the traps that lie on the path, and they require attention. They are indicators of an undeveloped awareness and an overdeveloped sense of ego / importance / desire for power. As I wrote previously, they are the exhibitions of a mind that cannot see what it is creating, or that what it is creating is not genuine or wholesome. And yet we live in a world, in all senses of the word, that supports this structure and thought form. We live in a world in which manipulation and enforced attraction have been built into the operating system, just look at the advertising industry. We live in a world in which what "I want" is often more important than what "you want", or what "we want", in which I do not care as long as my needs are met, at whatever cost, and I can uphold my self-image; a world in which unchecked desire is desirable. At whatever rung on the ladder we stand, there are choices that are unconscious or conscious. The degree of delusion that one suffers is the sole responsibility of each individual. In the case of love spells, for example, one is attempting to draw another into their drama, their own delusion, for their own benefit. It is the "I want" mentality, which is reinforced with the "And I will get, at whatever cost" byline. The fact it exists is no surprise, as it is one of the foundational aspects of an unconscious operating system, as real in the world of magic as it is in the world of the mundane. The difference being, in this case, that certain tools are used to which the world of the mundane does not have usual access, and that there are agents and agencies that can help with the process, for a fee. In the world of the mundane, then there are other roads that are walked, and the most extreme of these are illegal and in ideal circumstance lead to the guilty party being locked up for public safety and rehabilitated and re-educated before being released back into society.  

How far one can go in their own mind is up to each individual, how deep they want to go into fantasy and delusion, obsession, revenge, retribution, etc. This is the sole property of each and every individual. Amazonian witchcraft is not limited by any means to simple and effective love spells, and I hope I have made this clear, this is by no means limited to the Amazon. The same reasons for witchcraft to be used are the same reasons another may wish to harm or influence another in any place and in any walk of life. They are self-motivated, and obscured by dark emotions, jealousy, arrogance, a sense of entitlement (and un-accountability), anger, greed, etc. and all of these examples are unconscious acts, or acts of unconsciousness, that are acted out in a conscious (or semi-conscious) way. They are an indicator of the state of mind that does not seek to understand itself or its motivations and influences. Modern psychology has many names and labels for people who behave in such ways, and yet they are also part of the psyche to some degree, up to a certain point, and how far one goes with this is up to the individual. Sadly, we live in a world in which there are many people who hold themselves un-accountable, or not responsible for their mind, emotions, and the thought-forms and energy that they create.  

You could ask, why would someone wish to manipulate another? And yet, we see it all around us, every day. Small manipulations, medium manipulations, and huge manipulations; the fact is, that we choose, in many cases, to not see it for what it is. The use of witchcraft in 'primitive' systems or cultures is no different from what happens in 'developed' systems or cultures, it is real and tangible energy created and infused with intention. The obscurity in many cases comes from the lack of awareness of the true nature or motivation behind the creation and manifestation of the energy. Many who believe themselves to be acting from a place of light are in ignorance of the darkness. This can be confusing, as often those people can appear successful and charming and you might wonder how this could be the case, but energy is energy, and magic is magic, and dark magic and dark motivations can pay well, or reward those that use it. It is not easy to understand the logic of this, but it is the case. 

This scratch on the surface of this topic hopefully helps to understand the mechanism of the mind and the extent that it can be used or misused to create circumstance and situation that exert influence on another. If nothing else, it is a call to awareness. Certainly, love spells are basic, and potentially less harmful than other acts of witchcraft, but the motivation is no less obscure than actually wanting to cause physical harm, damage to life, or death, let's say. There is the inherent lack of respect that wishes to enforce something onto another, to alter the course of life by interference and manipulation, to act from egoic motivations with scant regard for the consequence of such actions. I would like to believe that the vast majority of people have enough self-awareness to not enter into these territories, but my beliefs may or may not be valid or true. When there is a genuine lack of transparency, or self-reflection or self-awareness, this will usually result in mismanagement of energy and power. The size of the infringement is not the determining factor, it is the mismanagement in the first place that requires attention, and the cultivation of a mind that is free from these delusions in the first place. I often reflect that there are 7 billion people living on this planet, each with their own operating system, their own set of 'beliefs' and reasons for it being this case, or the way it is. It is understandable that there can be confusion when there is so much confusion built into the design of this. But it is a topic that has touched my life in many ways, and one that I continue to learn from. The first time I encountered black magic I was a little shocked, to say the least, as it did not appear to be the case at first. From the perspective that looks beyond the label of magic or non-magic (muggle?), I can see that it is rife in the world. Lack of respect for other people, their right to free will, to choose for themselves, to honour another person's boundaries, concepts of correct behavior, correct mental process, correct emotional response, they all play into the equation. What one believes, how they see themselves, what they allow themselves to see about themselves also play into the equation. From 'leaders' to 'followers', who gives who the right to say they know what is best for another person, people, or nation? Power is a delicate topic, and one that requires serious enquiry as to not be misused, yet many who have acquired power have not made this enquiry and have little or no respect for what it entails. From the world of the shaman to the world of the businessman, this is applicable (and especially so in the case of the shaman-businessman / woman, in which image and business assets /clients are key components in the equation). Misuse of power is a perennial topic in these areas. In a society in which even our elected so-called 'leaders' lie to us, manipulate us, extort our energy and resources from us, is it any surprise that in many cases we do the same to each other, without awareness of what we are doing, and why? 

How can one free another from this system of unconsciousness and mental / emotional manipulation when they are themselves caught in the same traps? It is not possible, and yet, walking this path I have met a few who are in the business of trying to do exactly that. And people wonder why it doesn’t work? One of the greatest lessons I had to learn (and remind myself of frequently) is to not be caught in the drama of another person's mind, to refuse to engage with the story or trap of another person's ego, delusions, or confusions, no matter how real or insistent / appealing they may seem. Often there is a hook - in simple terms - I can say I feel it when I go to the local market, or shopping mall. There is an energy in that place that is targeted, intended to encourage people to spend money they do not necessarily want - or need - to spend, a promise of something that will be gratifying. But, make no mistake, it is a hook, primed and baited, it is a lure, a trap, and when I feel it energetically, well, it is tangible. How I respond is up to me. Can I respond with awareness, how much do I care about the energy I receive or the energy that I give? Where is my attention placed? Am I aware of the energies around me, or am I simply being pulled in a direction I have not made a choice to go in? These are all questions that have relevance for me, especially as today is market day in the small mountain town in which I reside.  

You might wonder, "How can these things be in the world of the medicines?", and you may be right to wonder. How? Surely the 'medicines' are there to heal, to help us to heal, and to teach correct usage and correct practice. However, this mildly naïve point of view has some gaping holes. When I began my enquiry into this world, I was blissfully naïve about this. I bought many of the illusions that were sold by the person and group that I met and only later realized that the illusions I had swallowed were poisonous to me and to all who fell into the trap. There was misrepresentation to a great degree, both on a personal level and in a professional level by members of the group, misuse and abuse of sex, power and money on subtle and obvious levels. There was a cavalier attitude that took no responsibility for what took place during ceremonies or after ceremonies. There was confusion and illusion, and non-transparency. This was not obvious to me, or many others, at first. The structure of the business was built on a lie, lie upon lie, sold with a glint in the eye. That the leader of the group told his lies was one thing, that the others involved upheld these lies for their own mutual benefit was another. That they all could see the abuse of sex, power, and money but chose not to do anything about it, as it served their own interests too, was also another. To be involved meant to be complicit. Many years ago, when I could swallow it no longer, I left, searching for another way to be. But like many others, this was my first initiation into this world, and it was not wholesome. Like most things, there was a light side and a dark side. 

Plants of power are plants of power. They can confer power to people. What people choose to do with it is up to them. How their mind works, who they are, what they stand for, truly, beyond the delusions of spiritual fantasy, and what they can make other people believe about themselves. The fact is, many people like this live in a bubble. They cannot see beyond themselves and do not keep people around who do not uphold their self-image. They go out of their way to create this environment and keep this in place. If someone challenges this, the their true colours come out for all to see. But there is secrecy, and non-transparency. 

With the use of plants of power comes heightened and amplified response processes, be they mental, emotional, or physical. In a ceremony, for example, how we pray, where our mind goes has a great effect not only on ourselves, but others who are not present too. Are we using these plants of power to think? To create more confusion? Is the 'medicine' telling us to do something, or are we daydreaming our fantasy world into being? Where is the line? In some circumstances there can be a lot of confusion around this topic, as how the medicine or plant is used is not clear, not clear to those who drink it, and not clear to those who serve it. Many these days are called to drink these plants, and many also called to serve it. Who decides? Well, in most cases they decide. Plants of power are being used way out of traditional context, by people with no education, no master, no instruction in proper practice, and this is, in my humble opinion, a scenario that can have its pitfalls. I mentioned this word non-accountability a few paragraphs earlier, and it is also true in this case. The person setting themselves up as a "medicine man /woman", may have some experience, but may also have no system in place or have ever had any system in place that helps to regulate them, educate them, or orient them in any direction. They may have 'good intentions', but we know where these can lead more often than not. In the case of the 'medicines', you know what I mean by this, it can be a case of "Where the attention goes, the energy flows" - one of the Amazonian medicines being called by early Western enthusiasts "Telepathine" because of its ability to create apparently telepathic bonds between people over vast distances. Now, consider this ability when employed by an obscure mind, a mind that wander, wonders, and grasps? A mind that is not healthy, a mind that is angry, seeks revenge, wants someone to love them. This opens up the pathway for us to see how these plants of power, and the power that they confer, temporarily, or otherwise, can be misused for personal reasons, personal benefit, and to spread confusion. The illusion that the plant will automatically ensure good and correct use is simply an illusion. The individual has the responsibility to ensure that; the plant may, or may not guide that process, for this reason the path to becoming a true healer, or true medicine man or woman was never easy, and required serious study, serious enquiry, and a very good teacher. Many people I have met along this path shun the need for a teacher in the real world, often throwing in new-age slogans as to why it is the case, that they, in particular need no teacher. "All wisdom is inside me", "We all have an inner shaman", "The medicine told me I don’t need one", "I have healed myself". In many cases, it’s a story, a potentially dangerous one, and one that comes from a place of insecurity and ignorance. So, we have people drawn to play shaman games with other people, other people's vulnerability, and place themselves into the position of 'spiritual teacher' or 'guide' with nothing to fall back on other that their own 'wisdom'. And who are these people? Who are they really? This, again, is a serious enquiry, and one that requires time and energy. Medicine can be used in many ways, and more often than not, good comes out of it, but what do we swallow in the process? Are we unconsciously absorbing the mental detritus of another human? Whose thought forms are we being influenced by, what level of obscurity are we being subjected to, and what belief systems are be being told while under the influence of powerful plants? 

While many of these concepts are tangible, they are also subject to interpretation and can seem somewhat abstract for a mind that is naturally skeptical of the deeper workings of 'magical' reality. For this I shall give an example. 

The Virote: Magical Dart of the Amazonian Shaman. 

In Amazonian shamanism, the magical dart, or viroteis a device that is used (more often than not) by dark shaman (brujos) to inflict hurt, sickness, or death upon their intended victim. In layman's' terms, it is similar to how one may feel when one experiences the sensation that someone has 'stabbed them in the back'. This idiom is a physical manifestation of something that has not happened physically. Interestingly, idioms can often have this age-old wisdom incorporated into them. Take other examples, for example, to describe someone or something as being a "thorn in the side", or a "pain in the neck".  

The viroteis sent towards the intended victim with intention, with a certain degree of malevolence, depending on the seriousness of the intended harm and the power of the person using it. This, again, is real and tangible, yet can be challenging to accept, and I realise that in these terms so far, all I am doing is describing something that is a concept. So, in order to help explain, I shall enter into the world of my personal experience. 

The first time I was hit by a virote was towards the beginning of a ceremony in 2013. All seemed well, smooth, and all of a sudden, I felt myself hit in my left side, just under my ribcage by something sharp and forceful. The impact of the blow nearly knocked me off my chair. This was not a perception, but an actual event. I felt myself rocked back, literally, by the impact. Others in the ceremony saw the reaction of my body. It was akin to how one may react when hit by a high-impact object such as an arrow. The immediate effects, once I had gained stability, were confusion and a sense of malevolent presence. Somehow, I knew what had happened and over the course of the next hours I was able to discern who had done it. My stability was off for the rest of the ceremony, my energy diffused and although I was able to complete the work for the evening, I was not myself, or my best self. Over the course of the next days, my physical condition weakened gradually, my concentration evaporating, and a sense of dis-ease and discomfort began to pervade my system. I did not know what to do about it. To cut a long story short, this persisted for several months. Nothing seemed to be going right, everything seemed to be off, myself included. I came to realise who had done this, and why. After some months of confusion and not being able to fix the situation myself, I returned to the Peruvian Amazon to visit my teacher. I explained what had taken place to him, and he listened, nodded, described what had happened, and helped me to remove the dart, and remove the effects of the poison from my system. This began a chapter of my learning that had exclusively to do with the dark arts, the side of shamanism that people often choose to ignore, or to deny the existence of. The next months were much to do with the topic of black magic. I cannot pretend it did not inspire fear in me at first, but Don Javier, in his usual light-hearted (yet deadly-serious) manner encouraged me to view it as a part of the 'reality' that could not be ignored, a bread-and-butter occurrence in the part of the world where he lives. These months we spent much time exploring the subject, and the reasons that a brujo may be employed to damage the lives of another person. It is one thing to clear the effects of brujeria, to remove it from the life of a person, another to isolate who is doing it, and why. These kind of go hand in hand, but in many cases, the brujo themselves will know they are being investigated and given the dark nature of their nature, this can cause them to retaliate further or go deeper into hiding. I will be clear, the intention of our investigations was never to hunt them down, to cause harm in return. This is the golden rule that separates the healer-shaman from the brujo. Even when the temptation arises to do something about it, to act as policeman or judge, to return what was sent, this impulse must be overridden if one is to truly rise above the situation of revenge, retaliation, and recrimination. When dealing with a being who lives in obscurity, the answer is never to sink to their level, no matter how challenging that may be. It may be easy to say, to think, but in many cases, it is not easy to do - especially when things have become personal. (Say in my case, when this was not an attack made by someone else via a brujo, who himself acted from a neutral (if obscure) viewpoint, but a person who acted with violence from his own personal motivation). Neither can we brush it off and 'turn the other cheek', not to those who would wish us harm. But, the golden rule of a healer is to do no harm, and I thank this person for teaching me the importance of this lesson. In each and every case that I have encountered along the way, there has been the reminder of this lesson. Even when it feels like I may be losing a 'battle' because of my refusal to meet fire with fire, or retaliate, I remind myself that not all 'battles' are worth fighting, and that by sinking to the level of the brujo, then I myself become that very thing that I know I am not. Refusal to fight is not the same as refusing to protect oneself. They are two very different things, and this needs clarification, as in many cases this is what the brujo wishes. It is a form of domination, manipulation, and weakening. But to stand in one's power, taking responsibility to defend oneself, life, and those they love is another position, one that requires stability and courage. The brujo cannot break this will once it is set, and if one learns how to protect themselves, then this matter is closed. There are many ways to achieve this, and these are dependent on circumstance. However, the obstacle is to rise above the primitive and perfectly natural desire to send back the black magic to where it came, with a little extra force for good measure. In some of the cases I have encountered and lived, the brujo is a weak creature who does not wish to be exposed, and he feeds off shadows. This is not true in all cases, and in all cases the brujo or bruja will have gained some power from somewhere to enable them to be able to do what they do. A certain degree of understanding can be allowed to these persons, and compassion for who and what they are. To be a person who lives shrouded in obscurity, themselves often not being aware of this fact, is not a position I would wish anyone to live in. This compassion does not mean that they cannot be held accountable, or exposed, or moved away from, simply that it helps to foster an understanding of who and why they are what they are.  

Nowadays, with the lack of adequate training in these healing arts, there are more people with some degree of power who have not learned to manage it properly, who have not met these challenges and had to make a conscious choice as to how they will operate. Into the equation there are many free-agents who do as they will, without consciousness of what they are doing or awareness of their deeper motivations. Those corrupted by money, sex, and power will often fall into the trap of becoming a brujo without ever realizing it. Those who feel aggrieved will often retaliate without realizing they are doing it, and those who feel they have a right to be what they want to be will often meet any perceived challenge to their reality with an obscure reaction, especially if it threatens their business or delicate ego-structure. The purpose of a teacher is not only to teach technique, or guide one along the path, it is also there to ensure a certain degree of awareness and to ensure that one does not fall into the traps that are hidden along the path, for there are many. They say that there are two paths one can walk; the easy one: with short-cuts leads one to becoming a brujo, the challenging one, the difficult one, leads one to becoming a healer. I have seen these paths, and seen those decisions inside of my life, and reflected in the lives of some I have met and walked alongside for a while. I have seen some 'friends' take the easy route and have seen what it has made them. I have seen other friends stumble and pick themselves up, reorient themselves, and enter a new stage. Nothing is absolute, unless one wishes it to be. It all depends on where you want to get to. To be a brujo, does not automatically mean one will kill or harm, or take money to do so. It can be a successful path, maybe far more so, superficially, than that of a healer. It may bring more money, fame, success, whatever is desired, as with the power, the desires can be manifested. These things may come quicker for the brujo than for the healer, but in the reality, these things may not be of much interest to the genuine healer, as his or her learning curve will have taken them beyond the desires to be somebody, to be fascinated with money, sex, and power. I have met many who are 'successful' outwardly who are not 'successful' internally. I have met many who are able to generate the finances they wish through their 'healing' practice who have no idea of what to do with it, or how to put it into service. And, each to their own, it is not my place to judge, but I do allow myself an opinion. 

As I mentioned, these days, it is enough for someone to use medicine a few times to decide to set themselves up as a commercial healer or shaman (a), and avail themselves of all the egoic gratification that can convey, especially in a 'western' society that has no idea of what the path is, or that there even is one, or what to be a healer or shaman truly means. For many in the 'west' a shaman or healer is, again, more of a theoretical concept than an experienced reality. It is a construct of the imagination created from movies, books, and no small measure of Google searches. So, the pill is somehow easier for us to swallow when it is shrouded in smoke and mirrors.  

This 'scene' repeats itself all over the world. When one's true motivations are hidden even from oneself, then it is a case of the blind leading the blind. Let's not beat around the bush any longer, how can one who is trapped in obscurity lead another person to the light? It doesn’t matter how many white clothes they own, how good they are at telling people their 'stories', of how much they have 'healed', how much "work they have done on themselves', how 'joyful and loving' they are, how 'spiritually evolved' they are if they are walking around in a labyrinth of the their own self-deception. This leads other people into that labyrinth, and the sad fact is, that without adequate guidance or awareness, this is commonplace. The façade is convincing, the product being sold is appealing, the illusion, alluring. And yet, it is a lie, and one that comes at a great cost for those who are sucked into the story. They are the flies caught in the web of the spider and it takes great energy or good fortune to be able to escape that trap once you are caught. Trust me, I have met a few spiders in my time. But whatever they catch is only food for them, to be sucked completely and totally dry, in time.  

My empathy goes out to those who operate in this way without awareness of what they are doing, and my greater empathy to those who are trapped in the delusions of these creatures, with my prayer that they find a way to end this story once and for all, to learn the lesson well, and to find those who are true, who offer something real that can bring benefit to their life. Once this lesson is learned, it is not one that many will want to learn again. 

I could continue on this topic for some time, as I have had several incidents with brujos in my life, however, I shall leave it here for now. Suffice to say, that it is no surprise that there are more brujos than healers, more who walk the middle ground than those who walk the true path. It is easier, there are fewer guides, it takes less time and less work in general before reaping the rewards. Not all are 'evil', or 'bad', or intentionally so. Many can also do some good work along the way, but I would prefer to not engage with them. The majority walk a line that is both 'good' and 'bad', 'light' and 'dark'. This is not saying that they are in awareness of both - or that it is a positive step - simply that they live in the grey area, with access to both sides. This does not make them stronger, or more capable, but makes them more dangerous, as they have not made the decision on where they stand, or what for. Their motivations are obscure, and as such, so are their actions and reactions. The sad fact of the reality is that many will have once aspired to be a healer, but did not have the ability or guidance, and so resort to telling people that they are such and such, and so and so, and relying heavily on people buying into the story. To be a 'shaman' does not imply any sense of light or dark, good or bad, it does not guarantee integrity in any way, shape or form. It is an ambiguous title and more often than not, position. In this field, there can be no denial of all parts of the spectrum. The decision on what one wants to do with this is solely down to, or up to, the consciousness of each individual. It is a murky world, both in the everyday reality and the magical reality. What we see are reflections of each other.  

And, so, I can only share some of what I can from my own experience with the hope that it sheds a tiny particle of light on the subject, that hopefully it sparks an awareness of what is out there, and what can be avoided. Sadly, often, we take what we can, what is available to us, and at face value; and our knowledge and education on such matters is woefully inadequate. I pray we all step deeper into respect for ourselves and the others who surround us, and, importantly, for our life and what we subject ourselves to. 

*I shall add, as an afterthought, that some of the worst, or most heinous examples of black magic, or misuse of power / medicines, happen as an act of complete unconsciousness or lack of awareness of what is being done. In these cases, the proponent is so blissfully unaware of what they are doing, with their thought-forms or actions, that they are acting from total obscurity. If obscurity is a synonym for darkness, this is the most total act of dark magic, by definition. It is not malevolent per se, but it is deeply misaligned with any principle of self-awareness or self-responsibility. It is pure unconsciousness. I cannot stress enough how profound, and profoundly prevalent this topic is, and how so many are operating from this position. My heart goes out to these poor individuals who are mired in their own delusions. It is all I can do, I cannot fix them, or make anyone see what they do not want to see.