Many of the web pages and books you see out there make Wicca and Witchcraft sound like a flowery Peace People religion. While it is, in general, a peaceful and loving practice, it is important to note that there is a dark side to all of nature. Witches recognize that nature is a balance of polarity, and the religion does as well. I want to say this loud and clear: There is no good or bad magic; there are no white or black witches! Just like everything else in life, there is positive and negative in Witchcraft. The powers are neither good or bad, it is only the intention of the practitioner that differentiates.
A witch saying “Witches DO NOT harm others” is just like a Christian saying “Christians DO NOT harm others”. It is probably true that most people, regardless of their paths, are loving people who do not seek to harm others, but you always have your upstarts. However, Witchcraft does not preach harm to others in any case; and while acting in one’s defense is acceptable, offensive or revenge work is generally considered unethical.
As far as magic goes, that is a matter of shaping energy according to one’s will to create change. Yes, it is possible to do harm this way, even seemingly innocuous harm, like attempting to force someone to fall in love with you. (Unless properly done, this can bind another person’s free will and just isn’t very nice!) In magical acts, no matter good or bad, the laws of the metaphysical universe still apply. Whatever you send out will come back to you…so if you want good things in life, it is best to send out only positive spells!
I cannot recommend doing any spell that calls for ingredients or actions that would cause immediate harm any living animal or human. The exotic ingredients you hear of in fairy tales are just that. Most spells call for candles, herbs and spices, and oils, not bat’s brains and eye of newt.
You’ll not find many spells on this site for a couple of reasons. For one, the most powerful spells are always those that the dedicated practitioner crafts himself. Another reason is that a really good spell is like a sharp carver’s knife — a wonderful tool in the hands of a master, even in those of a skilled apprentice, but a dangerous weapon in the hands of a child or a madman.
*Note: Many people choose to spell “magic” with a final “k”, like so: “magick” to differentiate from stage magic or slight-of-hand. While this is an important consideration with mixed audiences, it is my contention that on a page dedicated to information regarding Witchcraft, a magical lifestyle, it can safely be assumed that the audience is aware that we are not talking about David Copperfield here, thus I revert to the unaltered spelling: magic.