A Question Of Magick's Impact On Personal Responsibility, looking magick from both sides and ironing out the double think Options

I recently had a discussion with a friend about a post I made on Facebook about being responsible for your own actions. The quote I posted was "Anything you do is your choice. You cannot blame your mother, father, job or age. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make." My friend stated that he could not be both a ceremonial magician and agree with this. This surprised me because I figured it applied to magicians even more than non-magicians because we impart our will on the universe. Doesn't freewill automatically imply personal responsibility? I am not a ceremonial magician, but I have read Crowley and Rigardie and surely they would agree. Then I realized that I was only looking at it from the practioner's side and as one who does not cast on other people without their express permission. My magick has been for self, mostly, but I am aware of the hold that magic(k) can be worked on/against others. How does that impact personal responsibility? I am emphatic on holding to personal responsibility, but am not aware enough of all the rituals of all paths; my brain, based on my path, instantly saw choices and equated that with free will. I am curious to get more opinions, how do you balance and explain this? Does our will impact the choices of others? If our will controls others, what stops others from controlling us? Does everything come down to a battle of wills?

I recently had a discussion with a friend about a post I made on Facebook about being responsible for your own actions. The quote I posted was "Anything you do is your choice. You cannot blame your mother, father, job or age. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make." My friend stated that he could not be both a ceremonial magician and agree with this. This surprised me because I figured it applied to magicians even more than non-magicians because we impart our will on the universe. Doesn't freewill automatically imply personal responsibility? I am not a ceremonial magician, but I have read Crowley and Rigardie and surely they would agree. Then I realized that I was only looking at it from the practioner's side and as one who does not cast on other people without their express permission. My magick has been for self, mostly, but I am aware of the hold that magic(k) can be worked on/against others. How does that impact personal responsibility? I am emphatic on holding to personal responsibility, but am not aware enough of all the rituals of all paths; my brain, based on my path, instantly saw choices and equated that with free will. I am curious to get more opinions, how do you balance and explain this? Does our will impact the choices of others? If our will controls others, what stops others from controlling us? Does everything come down to a battle of wills?

I think I see what you're talking about but I need you to really focus here and tell me me exactly what you're talking about. This isn't life coaching 101 this is forum on &)(*&ing magick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/witch.gif)

This post has been edited by Bb3: Jan 27 2014, 09:25 AM

It is really a just a philosophical question that I found interesting in a small group and thought to propose to a potentially larger group. If I were to simplify it, I would ask:

As a magician, what(if any) is your reaction to the quote:

"Anything you do is your choice. You cannot blame your mother, father, job or age. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make."

And how does that impact your magick?

Doesn't freewill automatically imply personal responsibility?

No. ~I can will myself to be responsible or not, but then it comes to whether you believe in personal responsibility or not.

If I have freewill and take personal responsibility, does that not apply to my parents who also have freewill and take personal responsibility. If so this would negate your own freewill would it not?

I see this as circular thinking, does that make sense?