I don't know much about magic but, I do know this; Magic isn't determined through "magic" circles or candles or even chanting. It is determined by spirit. If you have a good spirit then you can only do good magic. Same with evil spirits.
that isn't necessarily true. What matters with magic is intent. If you want to curse someone(rather you or not you've hurt someone before), you can do it. If you are a murderer, but all of the sudden want to help heal someone, you can. Whether or not you're a good person doesn't limit what you can do.
Those things you mentioned are tools and serve as a focal point to help practitioners focus on their goal or intent. It is true that they are not needed, but many find them helpful in ritual work and spellcraft.
That said, magic is essentially energy driven by our will to bring about a desired end, it has no real characteristics of its own, be it good, evil, etc.It's neither inherently good nor inherently evil. It just is. It's all about the intent of the caster. Their intent or desired goal determines if the outcome of magical energy will be positive or negative. Think of it like an artist working with a block of clay. The clay has no shape or purpose until given one by the artist that works with it. Depending on who that artist is, their background, etc that block of clay could take on many forms. Magic is much the same, in that regard.
Even then, it is important to keep in mind that good, evil, positive, negative, these are all subjective terms. What you might find "evil" or "negative" might be commonplace for someone else. It has a lot to do with how we view things, path, practice, etc.
You should not assume that just because someone does this or someone does that, that they are "evil" or have an "evil spirit." I know many good people that still cast hexes. It doesn't mean that they are bad or evil in any way.
magick is a neutral energy, we have good and evil within us. every situation can also be argued from a good or evil standpoint. while it is true it's not the tools that make your magick work, it isn't spirits that make it work either. they can help [as with deities and any number of spiritual beings] but it comes down to your ability to tap into this neutral energy, focus it, and release it onto your desired path.
