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"A hex is a magical spell, usually with malevolent purposes such as a curse. The term is derived from the German word Hexe for a witch."
In the context of the post, hex refers to a curse. Traditionally, hexes could result in a range of afflictions including: illness, disease, deformity, loss of fertility (the victim's or the victim's land), or even death. The effects of the hex are limited only by the imagination of the one performing the hex. The reasons for hexing someone vary as well, usually to avenge a personal wrong.
The methods of placing a hex also vary dramatically. The bards of Celtic culture were able to hex using only the power of their words. The evil eye, a type of hex, can be cast merely through envy. In the case of ritual hexing, something personal of the victim's is used, preferably something coming from his or her own body. It is for this reason that people in cultures where various forms of magic are still widely practiced, take pains to prevent any of these things from being taken by their enemies. In some indigenous tribes, they go into the forest alone to cut their hair and trim their nails and bury the trimmings afterward.
I am not going to give any specific spells or rituals. You won't see them on any of my other posts either. I believe spell work is strongest when it is your own. The energy you put into designing your own spells and rituals empowers them. If you want to find a hex to copy, just search for a love spell. There are plenty of them online and in books, and they are basically hexes designed to subvert the free will of another.
Now we move into the murky world of ethics. Is cursing bad? Should it be avoided? Some say that all negativity should be avoided, especially in spell work. Hexes, being inherently negative are therefore universally banned. A fine example of this is the Wiccan Rede, which states: "An ye harm none, do what ye will." Others are more grey, believing that there is a time and place for everything, even hexes. Still others embrace the darkness and freely hex anyone who gets in their way, and even take money to hex the enemies of others.
Personally I see too much grey in the world to say that hexes should never be cast. I think there may be times when it is even appropriate. As the Buddhists say, life is pain. Anyone who tells you different is trying to sell you something. Death and other "negative" things are a necessary part of the delicate balance that allows life in the first place. I have developed a rule of thumb that I use to determine if hexing is called for. If I am not willing to physically harm the person, I should not hex them either. I've never been one to get into fights, so that is a hard line for me to cross. So far I've never hexed anyone.
When I was first learning magick, I got a letter from an acquaintance of my mother's, threatening me physical harm if I did not stop defying my parents. He said he was going to come to my work place and "kick my ass". The letter was handwritten. Idiot. I really struggled over whether or not to hex him. Having his hand writing was precisely what I needed to make a ritual hex work. In the end, I simply threatened to call the cops if I ever saw him again. I also informed my employer about the threat, just in case he did show up. I still have his letter. A reminder of why I left, and something to show my daughter when she asks why she doesn't have a grandmother like other kids.
As a strange coincidence, (which I don't believe in, by the way) a friend of mine received a phone call today. It was from the Department of Social Services. They called because his daughter, who lives with her mother, showed up to school today with bruises indicating that she was physically abused by her mother. Now, for the second time in my life I am seriously considering hexing. Right now, I'm not sure what I will do. A lot of it depends on what my friend plans to do about it. Since I am not personally involved, I won't do anything without his permission.
Ultimately, to hex or not to hex is a personal decision. One whose consequences you will have to live with.
