Most beginning books on Wicca either do not deal with the subject of ethics or lightly gloss over it.  This is a mistake, in my opinion.  But then again, ethics is not something routinely taught.
 

Welcome back.  As I discussed in ethics, Wicca recognizes that we have three aspects to each us - physical, mental and spiritual.  You wouldn’t think of not dealing with your physical needs for a day, would you?  Not eat, or sleep, or breath, or partake in physical activity of some type?  No bathroom breaks?  And would you neglect interacting with the world, whether through direct communication or indirect (reading, writing, etc.) means?  Would you be able to not think for an entire day?

Of course not.  And yet many people fail to deal with their spiritual side on a daily basis.  But this isn’t difficult.  As you shower or bathe in the morning, ask to become more aware of the world around you as you wash away the troubles from the previous day.  While you’re making or eating a meal, take a moment to give thought to the life forces found in that which you are eating, to those who grew the food you are consuming, to the earth and sky that nurished your meal in its living form.  And when something pleasant happens during the day, take a moment give thanks for the joy of it.

Yes, having a daily ritual is a good thing.  But I’m not a morning person so I don’t do it in the morning.  But I try at night to spend time thinking back over my day, to see where I could have changed my reactions, to recognize the positive things that happened.  And as I fall asleep, my mind usually runs through a home blessing several times as I give thanks for the day.

Such patterns take time to develop.  But you didn’t just come into your other habits easily.  They were things that over time became second nature to you.  And being spiritual on a daily basis is also a pattern you can teach yourself.

Your homework, then, is to plan a course of action to be spiritual on a daily basis, and then do it.  Yes, you’ll fail, especially at first.  But each time you do, see it as an opportunity to begin again and do it.  Then you start over with no lapses.  Never berate yourself for a lapse.  We are only human.

But this lesson is more than daily spirituality.  It is also about ethics.  Ethics apply in all situations, and help determine our course of action.  Ethics apply to all three aspects of a person - the physical, the mental, and the spiritual.

Below are 13 situational problems.  As you read each one, take time to decide, honestly, what you could do, what you should do, and what you actually would do.  Take into account your reactions on a physical, mental and spiritual level.

For example, someone makes you very angry.  It can be reasonably assumed that you won’t go home and cast a spell upon them (or at least, I hope you wouldn’t).  But would it be okay to hit the person?  Would it be okay to think dark thoughts about them and mentally curse them?

I forewarn you, this is not as easy as it seems.  But unlike other situational problems I've come across, I’ve tried to make these as real and probable as possible.  Above all, remember that there is no one correct course of action.  Each of us is responsible for our actions, and our personal ethics can guide us.  And with these problems, I hope you’ll see just how inter-related our three aspects are.
 
 

Problem 1:  You’re out at a public gathering, and are proudly displaying a pentacle.  Out of nowhere, someone comes up to you and begins preaching to you in a loud voice.  What do you do, and why?  After that, the person continues, but in a louder voice.  What do you do now, and why?  Unexpectedly, the person strikes you.
 

Problem 2:  You are out at a store, and see a young woman with several children.  One of the kids is screaming at the top of his lungs because she refuses to buy him something.  She reaches out and spanks him once on his butt.  You can see the frustration on her face as the boy’s behavior continues.  Other people are beginning to stop and stare.
 

Problem 3:  Similar to problem 2, but involving an adult couple you know.  You suspect that she’s a victim of physical abuse, but that she covers it up by claiming to be accident prone.  While out at a party with a group of people, the guy strikes her and begins to drag her out.  What do you do and why?  Would it be any different if there were children involved in the relationship?
 

Problem 4:  As you’re driving (or riding as a passenger), you become involved in an accident.  You are okay, but others aren’t as lucky.  The driver of the other vehicle, the one who caused the accident, comes over apologizing.  You smell alcohol on his breath, and he admits that he’d been drinking a "few" before he got behind the wheel.  What do you do and why?  Would it be different if you notice that he’s been seriously injured himself?  What if one of your friends is dead because of this man?
 

Problem 5:  A good friend, not in the craft, comes and asks you to help create a spell for her, either to make him fall in love with her again or bind him to her.  She’s married, and has just found out that her husband is leaving her.  She wants to keep him because she loves him and they have children together.
 

Problem 6:  A young woman you know has just found out she’s pregnant.  She confides in you that, after much thought, she’s going to have an abortion.
 

Problem 7:  You’ve been brutally assaulted.  You don’t know the attacker, but the police arrest someone.  What do you do?  At the trial, you’re allowed to speak during the sentencing phase.  What will you say?  Same scenario, but you know the attacker - a trusted friend.
 

Problem 8:  Someone you love very much disapproves of your religion.  They’ve made it very clear to you that you cannot do spellwork for them; you can’t even pray for them.  But they’ve just been diagnosed with an incurable disease.
 

Problem 9:  You’re out with a group of acquaintances, and one of them begins to tell derogatory jokes - about gays, other religions, and other races.
 

Problem 10:  At work, you hear what sounds like a coworker gasping for breath.  As you go check to make certain the person is okay, you realize the s/he is having a heart attack.  You know the person is Christian.
 

Problem 11:  A major storm is predicted for your area.  High winds, torrential rains, and lightening.  Also, the possibility of tornadoes.  The weather forecasters are not talking about "if" the storm hits, but "when."
 

Problem 12:  You need to write a paper, and you’ve been putting it off.  It’s due tomorrow and several options present themselves.  You know someone that can do the paper for you.  You can quote or reword the work of others, maybe giving them credit.  You can quickly cobble together a paper based upon your notes, but it won’t be very good.  You can do the best you can in the time you have, and ask for an extension; if so, what will you use as a basis for the extension?
 

Problem 13:  (Last one, I promise.)  Life has just dealt you a major "crapper."  It’s happening because you did something or failed to do something.  Your actions, or lack thereof, are based upon what other people did or didn’t do to you or for you.  You can get out of it by blaming another, or at least lessen the "crap" that will hit the fan.
 

© 2001 Mother