> 
>     I just think this is incredibly *pious*. I've
> noticed a big trend in people into modern
> "magick" and "Paganism" to be, or to
> want to be, "really good".>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dear Caroline,

who mentioned anything about morals and good?

 but there is a 'community' and you cannot escape that. I am sure you do not build your own roads, I am sure you are happy that there is a hospital to go to with people to look after you when you have an accident, that there is a postman to bring your post to you. So do you opt out of that? do you not live and contribute to a society?

If you trained to be a doctor would you not treat people? if you painted a painting with a depth of expression would you not wish to share it with others? Or do you exclude yourself from all that around you?

Sure you dont have to. Sure magic can be self centred, that is the joy of human nature; you have choice. YOu live in a society that gives you that choice. The magicical structure that you practice was formulated by someone else who passed it on so that you could learn it. The energy moved from A to B.

If you wish to use magic to muscle your way thorugh life, sure.. thats up to you. 

But choosing to work another way is not pious, or good, just as your way is not bad. Its just itself. Magic at any real depth moves away from that level of polarity pretty quickly and just becomes itself.

I found your comment about not wanting to move energy from one place to the next curious. If you are doing magic, regardless of the intention, selfish or not,  it becomes an action of energy dispacement, or power manipulation. Otherwise it is just dressing up and playacting.

JOsephine