Manipulation
Now, I can only speak here from my own personal perspective. I don't claim anything I am saying here or anywhere in this forum to be right or wrong.. just life the way that I see it. To me a spell is a way of manifesting those things into one's life that one needs. It does not involve others, except perhaps inadvertantly. I would never cast a spell to make someone see things the way that I do. That is why I avoid love spells or other spells which seek to make the other person involved change their feelings. To me this is trespassing on someone else's free will. Even if it has no affect on the other person, to me it is morally wrong. Prayer, in some cases, but not all cases tends to be focused on beseeching a higher power to make something happen.. At it's best it may be an entreaty for healing... At it's worse it is a manipulation to make a person change their faith, (a prayer said by a Christian to make a Pagan "see the light.") For one thing, it must be realized that said Pagan does not believe in the Christian God, so praying in someone elses name to that deity is actually an insult... especially after the person who is having the prayer said "for them" asks the person to stop praying for them. Does this make any sense? :? Love and Light.. Silverleaf

Spells and Prayers and whatnot.....
I suppose that I should be considered a bad pagan for what I am about to say. Or maybe a good one. Who knows....**grin** But, I too preface my thoughts with the realization that these are MY thoughts, and not necessarily the feelings of those around me. Spells and prayers are an odd thing to me. To set out a differentiation between the two really makes little sense to me, as one and the other are so entwined. The typical spell might require components, or some such. A candle of a particular color, infused with herbs of choice, and maybe a sigil or two. This is obviously just an open thought of a spell. The components are nothing but components, just as a few spices cast across a piece of beef, then a bit of heating might make a meal. The prayer might be a simple thought to the "higher that is", or an elaborate bit of prose written while inspired. The prayer is a firecracker waiting to be lit. Either one is sufficient to its own cause. However, a prayer without action is a firecracker without a fuse, and a spell without intention is like tossing indiscriminate foods and spices together, to make a meal. Each is a component of the other. When a spell is performed, the intention of the spell must be put forth (which really, is a prayer), in order to fuel the fire, as when a prayer is made, words must also be put into action (and the physical manifestation of the action, in all essence is a spell). If I pray for a million dollars, and look to the skies, I will sit with empty pockets. If I burn a green candle infused with a bit of rue, I only have a pretty light to read by. It's the combination of the two, bringing together action and words that move the energies in the directions I desire. Spirituality has often been described to me as the "Great Weave". This I believe, whereas each side of the weave can, and must be properly aligned, in order to make the pattern we desire. Before either prayer or spell, or other form of intention is formed though, we must first meditate deeply on the desire, the means, and of course, the various outcomes which may arise from the culmination of our spiritual works. Oh the web we weave, when we work to change our chance. In fact, I find there is more homework to be done before spiritual work is to be done than the work itself ever requires! I imagine I could go on, and rave on, but I’ll leave it here for a moment, and see how others perceive it! Lastly, I’ll say a word about the whole Christian God, and Pagan God/dess, and Muslim God, and Vodun God/dess, and Hindu God/dess and all those deities. This is likely the part that gets me in trouble. They are all the same. One big battery of energy, some are + poles, and others are – poles. We could call them male and female. We could call them good and bad. Black and White. Evil and Good. I look at all these as one and the same. I respect the deities of every religion as that of mine own, because in essence, it is. There is one weave, but many ways to see it. I personally see the weave as something to revere, respect, and appreciate the awe of. I feel my deities within Buddhist retreats, Catholic Churches, and Jewish Synagogues. I have spent time in the Middle East. I have found the weave is no different there, when called by Muslim Criers. The eminent power is there. Both sides of that battery are ever omnipresent in every religion. I welcome any member of spiritual affiliation to pray for me. I can use every bit of good feeling I can get! Though some people might not like it, so be it, but some of the people I have had the closest, deepest talks with, were not pagan! I have prayed in churches, with all intent and feeling! I felt deeply moved, and spiritually uplifted by religious services that were not even in a language I speak! If the intention is positive, what is the harm? Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Apologies to all offended, thanks to all who appreciated.

LOL.. No offense taken Flash.. I don't mind prayers.. if the person who is praying for me asks me first.. Actually I pray often.. especially when my car is making funny clunk clunk sounds and I want to get home in one piece. What I object to.. is when a person insists they are are going to pray for me to be "saved". To my way of thinking I am not lost in the first place.. so I don't need to be saved. I don't mind people praying for my healing when I am ill, for help when I am in trouble.. or for my family when we are in need. Honest prayers said from the heart in the spirit of love and kindness are always welcomed. I agree that the whole mishmash of Deities from the beginning of time are one and the same source.. as we humans perceive it to be based on our culture, our upbringing, or our concepts of divinity. Our human minds most likely cannot embrace the magnitude of a power that created all things.. or maybe the answer is just so simple we overlook the obvious... "shrugs".... who really knows? Love and Light... Linda