Discussion of cursing/hexing

[Aardvark]

I'm not sure where to put this, so I reckoned Off-topic would be a safe place. If it's wrong, let me know, or move it or something.

I want to discuss cursing and hexing, from the point of the view of the recipient, not the sender. Things in life sometimes get bad, or difficult, and there are times when everything feels like it's falling apart. This is a normal course of life. Now let's say for some reason you just feel like you've been cursed and that's why things are abnormally bad. However, you have no indication that it's actually true. No one has told you that they were cursing you, and you can only think of one or two people with motive, and knowledge of cursing or hexing, but again, no real reason to believe they have cursed you. In the opinion of the forum, at what point do you cross the line from just having a bad time, to knowledge of being cursed? Are there ways to determine the difference? This isn't about what to do if you're cursed, or to ask if I am, I want a discussion solely on the aspect of knowing. How could you tell?

In my opinion, for me, I would run through every possible option that isn't a curse, check on my perception, make sure I'm not making things harder, or stressing too hard, think about and acknowledge whether or not the problems are internal with me, external with nature, or other people, or environment. If I can find no obvious clues elsewhere, is it safe to consider a curse at that point? When nothing has changed in life, perception, environment, work, or people dealt with, yet suddenly and overnight everything starts to fall apart of inexplicable reasons. What are you opinions? This is hypothetical, so don't worry about trying to deal with fixing a curse, or the like, I just want to focus on the knowledge of having been cursed.

Edit for spelling and additional nuance.

[Lord Ferocia]

Hello Aardvark,

This is difficult to answer because many times we may not be able to know. Usually, however, those who may magically attack us want us to know they have done so. Part of the satisfaction for the would be attacker is to make it known they are responsible for your pain. They may tell you directly, have made obvious threats, or even left obvious signs of the hex/curse etc. If someone is this upset with you, they usually are not secretive about it, and want the credit. Likewise, a big part of a magical attack is the psychological aspect of the threat. So there are multiple reasons why you would probably have a clue. (BTW some are able to attack you without even consciously knowing it however. Usually you will know these, as this attack doesn't just "happen" without some knowledge of the party being very upset and angry.)

In absence of any obvious threats, a magical attack is usually highly unusual in some way. This event may even have very logical roots, and simply appear as horribly bad luck. The telltale sign is one of almost impossible bad luck, with so may factors needing to arise it rests on the rim of impossibility, or a whole host of areas degrading quickly at once (i.e. health,relationships,career,energy drain,nightmares etc.) Although, many times these things can and do happen naturally, rarely are they all at the same time. Another distinguishing factor is paranormal phenomena (and I use this broadly), i.e. hearing voices, ghost like activity (thumps, objects falling etc.). Some attacks simply affect the mind, such as strange temptations (sometimes dangerous thoughts), obsession, repeating nightmares, fits of uncontrollable anger, sudden extreme headaches that repeatedly reoccur. There are many many ways an attack may manifest itself.

I am sure you know the best methods of prevention and self defense, so I won't go into all that. I think this may give you a bit to get the picture. In a nutshell you usually get a good intuitive feeling something isn't "right". If all fails, and one simply isn't sure, do not fall into the trap of assuming it is and becoming fearful or paranoid. Do one's banishing's and ignore it. Do not feed into it, and last but not least, laughter dispels much more than people realize. In the end, one should always seek to understand these "attacks" are illusions, meaning they really do gain power and hold through one's own self (there is much power in belief and expectation). One should be extremely careful not to fall into "magical thinking" and see everything as a curse. However, curses can "happen".

[Aardvark]

That's my thinking. The topic has come up in my relationship recently. Something odd happened and neither of us thought about it really until just recently. Not long ago an old lady came into my work. Neither me or my wife knew the lady, but she walked up to me matter of factly and handed me a necklace and told me it was for my wife. I don't know how she would even know my wife. But the lady was very nice, upbeat, and happy, so nothing about it ever felt malicious at all. It was just a very odd thing. I gave the necklace to my wife and told her what had happened, and she had no idea who the lady was either, but took the necklace and hung it up in her jewelry box. Almost immediately our relationship, that has been absolute amazing for many years suddenly started getting very bad. Neither of us had changed what we did, our environment was the same, the people and things in our lives were the same, but suddenly we both started seeing each others normal actions as malicious and hurtful. Things got really crazy and we got into a big fight and almost immediately at the same time both of us just were like, "wait, but nothing has actually changed, what are we mad about?" And then we started talking about our feelings and how normal everyday things we've loved about each other became almost overnight to be viewed as painful, hurtful, and malicious, simple things like our jokes, and things took on an air of anger. I don't want to ask, "am I cursed" because you can't possibly really know as well as I would, so I wanted to focus more on , "how would I know that it's not just us?"

[Lord Ferocia]

Here is where we get into the realm of "charged" items. I am not going to get into the theory behind this, but just speak from the normal "magical" perspective to keep it simple. Some items may carry with them influences, energies, or whatever you want to call it. The main point is, that high emotional states, or prolonged connections of items to particular conditions can figuratively speaking "rub off". It could be, that this was not a curse per se, as in some intentional malicious attack, but rather an accidental one. If this necklace had some significance to her, (i.e. was a gift to her from her late husband) and she decided to give it away (maybe because of bad memories?) and this may have then transferred over to you. Perhaps what had often plagued her in her relationship, was attached to this item? It was then somewhat "charged" like that of a talisman, attracting the same sort of emotional states it was accustomed to. Just a theory, but I have had similiar experiences with gifted items (some good, and some bad).

[Aardvark]

If this necklace had some significance to her, (i.e. was a gift to her from her late husband) and she decided to give it away (maybe because of bad memories?) and this may have then transferred over to you. Perhaps what had often plagued her in her relationship, was attached to this item? It was then somewhat "charged" like that of a talisman, attracting the same sort of emotional states it was accustomed to. Just a theory, but I have had similiar experiences with gifted items (some good, and some bad).

This hadn't really crossed my mind. Thank you for that insight. We'll take care of this necklace, and see where we're at after that.

[Lord Ferocia]

If this necklace had some significance to her, (i.e. was a gift to her from her late husband) and she decided to give it away (maybe because of bad memories?) and this may have then transferred over to you. Perhaps what had often plagued her in her relationship, was attached to this item? It was then somewhat "charged" like that of a talisman, attracting the same sort of emotional states it was accustomed to. Just a theory, but I have had similiar experiences with gifted items (some good, and some bad).

This hadn't really crossed my mind. Thank you for that insight. We'll take care of this necklace, and see where we're at after that.

Your welcome! I was actually going to amend my post, but you beat me to it! I was going to add that you should remove the necklace for a while and see what if anything changes. Or maybe you could also cleanse it. Either way, I would start with that, good idea yes.

[RoseRed]

Usually, however, those who may magically attack us want us to know they have done so.

Not so much amongst Trad Witches.

Other than that, I agree with what LF has said here. Whether the necklace was purposefully charged to cause a problem or if it carried that energy - I would place it in salt until you decide what to do with it.

One should be extremely careful not to fall into "magical thinking" and see everything as a curse.

I think this is excellent advice.

[Lord Ferocia]

Not so much amongst Trad Witches.

Agreed.

Other than that, I agree with what LF has said here. Whether the necklace was purposefully charged to cause a problem or if it carried that energy - I would place it in salt until you decide what to do with it.

Yes, salt (rock salt of course is the best). There are of course many ways, but with this item I think salt would be perfect. Thank you for pointing that out. Glad you agree as well.

[Ramscha]

I agree with the point about checking everything first. "As at the inside, so the outside" often applies here and also often things get seemingly worse when the attitude shifts due to those things. A cycle if you want.

A agree also with Ferocia, he made some pretty sweet points about the manifestation of "attacks". I use the "" sign, as those things includes also psychological manipulation from my perspective (like attention vampirism). But as it was already said, one gets mostly quite an awkward feeling when such things occur, the human intuition isn't mostly that bad regarding this stuff.

However, I have to disagree at the point that everybody wants to let you know he or she did this. This mostly the case when he/she is moving mainly on an emotional wave and doesn't think much about the part of secrecy, however there are also more then enough people who just play the trick and will look at you with satisfaction, but without revealing themselves. And then there are the ones who don't knwo that they attack you.

About knowing, you mostly can relate to the feeling you get that something is odd, but always take a close look before panicking unecessarily!
However, you can of course always do safety measurements, which was already emntioned by using salt and so on, whatever you think will help but I guess you knew that.

[RoseRed]

And then there are the ones that like to sit back and 'watch the show' as someone's life falls apart. No judgement - just saying.

How can you tell if you've been cursed or hexed? A lot of that depends on what gifts and abilities that a person has. Sometimes, it's as simple as being able to read the energies. Some people make a habit of maintaining their shields and can sense when there's a disturbance. In the case of objects - it can sometimes be picked up with psychometry. Some people notice that things are going to shit (in general or in specific areas), know something is off and ask for help. Others can feel it like their skin is crawling or other uncomfortable sensations that manifest physically.

Not long ago an old lady came into my work. Neither me or my wife knew the lady, but she walked up to me matter of factly and handed me a necklace and told me it was for my wife. I don't know how she would even know my wife. But the lady was very nice, upbeat, and happy, so nothing about it ever felt malicious at all. It was just a very odd thing. I gave the necklace to my wife and told her what had happened, and she had no idea who the lady was either, but took the necklace and hung it up in her jewelry box.

- I would bet $10 that the problem lies within the object itself. Whether that lady placed it in the object or just had the desire to get rid of it - I don't know. There's a lot of people walking around out there that have a 'touch' of ability and don't even realize it but act on it, none the less.

Stories like this are one of the reasons that I rarely, if ever, accept gifts from strangers.

This is always why I energetically scan things before I bring them into my home.



- This sounds way more like a hex than a curse. Really, the only difference is in the degree but still...



- This reminds me of a story one of my best friends told me. Her and her hubby were milling around a thrift store and were drawn to a specific necklace on the rack. I've never seen it but I do take her word for the story. She said that it had such an energy about it that it was either spelled or hexed (same difference). They bought it for safe keeping to keep it out of the hands of those it could harm without even knowing it. Hubby put it away without storing it properly and for about a year all they did was argue and fight. One day they remembered the necklace and went to check on it. They disposed of it then - buried it somewhere - and the 'at each other' throats' went away.



- I'd also like to touch upon salt. Another friend of mine swears by rock salt and uses it almost exclusively. I personally prefer either sea salt or Kosher salt. Kosher salt is already blessed by a Rabbi so for those that do follow a more Jewish, Christian or Jehovah based path - whoohoo. I've been known to use table salt in a pinch. My current thoughts on salt is that all of it works. It all does the same thing. I think that some of us are more aligned with certain types of salt. I have a 'thing' for oceans so it makes sense that I would prefer sea salt. I can definitely see the attraction to rock salt - it's a more raw form of salt than something you would put on your food.