Wiccan Ethics: More than just Harm None
No discussion of Wiccan ethics would be complete without examining two other key points: personal responsibility and free will. You'd be hard pressed to find a Wiccan that doesn't believe you must take responsibility for your actions. Even those who believe the three-fold thing literally believe that you'll be forced to deal with consequences. If you take it upon yourself to do something, then you must face the consequences. I find this to be especially important with regards to magic. If you're willing to go the extra distance to take magical action in a situation, then you must deal with the consequences as well. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Speaking of magical action, this leads us into the principle of "free will". Many believe it is unethical to use magic against something's "free will". Simple idea, but this concept brings its own round of tap dancing. Some claim that love spells don't violate another's free will because it's good for them. Some claim that bindings don't violate another's free will because it's good for you... or perhaps good for them as well. That's all rubbish, really.
If we're going to take magical action, we're judging what we think the best outcome should be. While I think it's incredibly stupid to work a spell to attempt to force someone to fall in love with you, I do think it's ok to work a spell to draw love to you, or to help you love yourself. I worked a spell to find a lover with certain qualities I like, and I got one. Does it violate anyone's free will? I honestly don't know. I know that we're both happy, and that's enough for me.
What about bindings? While it might seem stupid to work a binding spell to keep a co-worker from gossiping, what about doing one to keep an illness from spreading in a person? By binding or banishing a cancer, are you interfering with the free will of the illness? How do you know that, deep down inside, the person doesn't want to be sick and by healing them you're interfering with their true free will?
I don't think it's right to manipulate people or situations to fit your best interests, but ultimately I have to act in the best manner I see fit. I cannot know all possible outcomes of what I do, magically or otherwise, nor can I foresee every
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