No, Victor. When Never asks for something, such as, "May I please get a box of cereal?" then the family assumes it will be used for the purposes of casting some ritual, using the cereal.
I think its time you set them down and let them know what you are really about. Maybe get a book for them to pass around. For them to not allow you to have some cereal, Im thinking there is more going on.
Stacy, I only used cereal as a random example, as I don't know the specifics. I would assume more likely, the requests are things like candles and incense.
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No, Victor. When Never asks for something, such as, "May I please get a box of cereal?" then the family assumes it will be used for the purposes of casting some ritual, using the cereal.
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Tell them cereal is not a component in black magic spells?
Too sweet from all the sugar! ;P
Seriously, the answer would still be the same.
"If I were using 'black magic' then I would not be *asking*."
Getting past the prejudices and preconceived notions held
by family members is going to be a difficult, time-consuming task.
Sometimes, you have to prepare yourself, test the winds, and fly your proverbial broomstick across wide gaps in the world. Sometimes you have to leave friends and family behind when you do so, trusting that you will one day see them again. This is the path you have chosen to walk (er... fly!) and you must hold to the courage of your convictions.
Just sit down with them and calmly explain to them what it is that you do and what magic is and isn't. You should also get a book for them to read to help them understand.
The problem is that I think Never is dealing with a nicely typical zealously monotheistic family. Getting a book in front of them about what Never believes could be a real pain in the backside. (hopefully figuratively speaking) As was said, the best you can do is walk your path, regardless. Maybe they come around, maybe they don't, but as long as you live honestly to your heart, it is their guilt and their karma in the end, not yours.
Never, this sounds like a very serious problem. You should talk to them an help them understand where you are coming from. Put things in their perspective, if they are religious. Also, if you are a newbie, stay away from black magic, karma or not. If your family thinks you are doing anything with black magic, they will likely think you are bringing demons into their home or something. If they are Christian, let me know and I can give you some Bible verses that show holy men and women in the Bible using white magic.
It seems to be the common misconception of "Salem Witch Trials" that is making them think that you are using black magic. Typically the reason why people will think negatively about something is that they do not understand/misunderstand the subject.
Explain to them what it is about. A helpful argument/statement, would be that "Black magic is looked down upon in the practices I pursue, even if I were to cast any, I will receive it 3 times worse (or 7-fold, depending on how you believe intense the backfire will be)"
Just throwing in some ideas that may help. Books about practices, at least Wiccan practices that I have read, have made clarifications of what the art really is about. And like how Blue, BrutTorhildr, and lyceum are somewhat talking about. Explain the religion, since people typically look oddly at someone else's religion simply because they do not understand.