"In Hekate's name, misfortune DNI. So mote it be."
It's just so difficult to cast a spell that's two steps forward, one step back, is what I'm saying. The expansion and contraction of energy in the same spell is a difficult trick.
"Go forth and get me this thing - unless, unless -- and of course unless; and most importantly not under these circumstances, and certainly never if it's not in the interest of my highest good,"
And naturally the highest good is not defined ANYWHERE in the small print.
Why bother to raise up all that energy that goes in one direction and then put a floodgate that stops it.
Protection spells to protect, binding spells to bind. Conjuring spells to conjure. It is the job of the money conjure spell to protect elderly members of your family? I think perhaps some spells are too easily overburdened.
It said on the job listing, spell needed: help me get an apartment near my work. But then the spell starts showing up and all of the sudden, it's protect unfortunate people who might have otherwise gotten housing and empower the apartment manager to not be manipulated but to honestly see that I'm a good applicant and perhaps even a good old and only if wanting to move closer to my work is a good idea.
That's five jobs right there, all piled onto one employee's back. And maybe if you promote him and give him resources and staff, sure. But then that's just a servitor, or an altar. You're establishing an entire department at that point, not hiring a guy for a little gig labor.
So what does the candle spell include then, clove and black stones to protect other applicants? Conjuring an angelic helper to ennoble the apartment manager? Mantic correspondences to assist your spell in scrying your threads of fate to determine if this course of action is right for you, or not? And if not then just self-aborting?
I know bad things, even very bad things, can happen as a result of badly constructed spells, misapplied spells, or spells that went off perfectly but we didn't know what we were asking for. I just don't think that elaborate spell intents where you try to cover all your bases is very helpful for mitigating bad outcomes.
I think if anything, a lot of stuff should be taken care of ahead of time: I think you should know before you cast the spell if that goal is in your best interest or not. Loved ones should already be protected. Your gods and spirits should already know what kinds of outcomes are acceptable to you. Divination should have already revealed if the spell can only, or is most likely to, manifest via great harm.
Like you should never go into a spell not knowing if it could possibly cause great harm. You should have a very clear understanding of the highest possible level of harm before you go into it.
Before you cast the spell, do your helpers already know where you stand morally, and have you empowered them to step in and guide the spell as you work it? Do you ask your spirits to follow after spells and help them manifest without harm?
Many things can be done to guide magic and avoid unintended harm. Many more efficacious and wise things than, "unless, unless, unless... and of course, do not manifest if---"
