Many people often wonder why this site has so many spells that are obviously fake, and with good reason since this site is meant to be about real magic. The answer to this question is usually along the lines of the spels bringing people or money to the site. While this is indeed a decent answer, I'd like to propose a different point of view. It's one that I've voiced in a couple of other threads, and I'm sure I'm probably not the first to think of it.
Whether or not a spell is real, it can still allow someone to practice the basics to some extent, and usually in a fun way. Here are some examples.
. Spells that claim to allow the caster to create fireballs can teach energy manipulation. The thing to remember here is that this energy won't actually burn anything, at least not physically. The same gos for fake spells that claim to allow someone to summon ice and things like that.
Spells that claim to allow the caster to teleport often instruct one to visualize the desired location. While the caster obviously won't physically go anywhere, this can still help them learn how to sharpen their visualization skills, especially when visualizing a place from memory. This could be useful for astral travel for example, or even real protection spells that need the caster to visualize an area to protect. I'd even go so far as to say spells of this nature might open a path for someone to get somewhere by normal means if such a possibility exists.
A post about fake spells wouldn't be complete without talking about the many transformation spels out there. These claim to allow the caster to transform their physical bodies, which is obviously quite impossible. However, such spells can probably be useful for practicing astral or mental transformation, and even glammers if such things actually work at all.
These are but a few examples of the many fake spells floating around. If nothing else they can encourage imagination, but it's still important to remember that magic has limits and can't do everything.
I'd also encourage people to be careful with certain fake spells even if they may not do exactly what they say they will, particularly when dealing with hexes and curses. While it's highly unlikely that one of these will result in severe injury or death, throwing energy around with ill intent can still be a bad idea. Once a spell like that is released, fake or not, you don't really know what it's going to do or how it'll interact with the energy around it.
Fake spells were posted to this site by users who did not know what Real Magik is and remain because they are a popular draw for this site and it generates money. That is not a theory, it is something echoed by many higher ups of this site. There are so many fake spells that it is easier to ignore them. The ad revenue of a random person is one thing, but look at the conversations. Most are in spells like "turn into a vampire for real, totally not lying, this one is legit" More engagement, more revenue. The joy of social media.
As for your point about fake spells being useful, I agree, but only for the fireball example. Imagining a ball of fire can help some make psi balls. However, I do not agree with lying to people. These spells give new users false hope. They discover Magik is real and their mind is flooded with all the fantastical things from movies and stories. They come to this site and discover "transform into a werewolf" and "grow faerie wings" and think they are possible because this site is for real witchcraft and not Charmed fanfic. Then someone comes alone, usually me, and says "you cannot turn people into toads, fly on broomsticks and shoot lightning from your wand" and it shatters their reality. They have two options; accept a new reality, or double down on their old reality. Since many of our users are in the 14-18 range, they typically double down. As a result, they call the user a liar and a hater, then focus all their effort on gaining ice powers until they get discouraged and leave witchcraft.
These fake spells can also be dangerous in the energy department. Creating a fireball is rathe harmless since it is essentially a psi ball but with different imagined results. Lets say they cast a levitation spell. And lets say they know how to conjure energy. When you conjure Magik and do not have a realistic goal for it, the energy does not vanish, it builds in the casters life. Too much energy can be just as bad as too little. The caster is frustrated the spell failed, coupled with the extra energy lingering in their space, they could unwittingly hex themselves or bring misfortune, since their negative emotions would be amplified with the extra energy without a purpose.
Regarding physical transformation spells, why not focus on mental and astral shifting? Visualizing yourself transforming is a find first step. Even a chant before you project or meditate can be fine. But practicing physical transformation, when we agree it is impossible, seems like a waste of time and energy. Not to mention the frustration and discouragement that would come from attempting a fake spell over and over.
Re: The Case for Fake Spells By: Nekoshema / Novice
Post # 4 Oct 07, 2022
Setting aside the site's reasons to keep these spells, fake spells can do more harm than good. First, we have the lying aspect. We're taught from a young age that Faerie Godmothers can turn pumpkins into carriages, or Wicked Witches fly on brooms. But none of that is true. When a new member sees this site, they think that form of magick is real. They go through the spells and see "turn into a were-rabbit-faerie-vampire that's half demon half dragon that can turn invisible and fly" Yes, it sounds absurd, but someone is in awe of what magic can do. Suddenly, they're told "this is fake" on a site that claims magick is real. This results in one of three things
1. they feel cheated and walk away from magick
2. they get angry because their reality has been challenged and they double down
3. they accept it and learn "real magick"
Most often, the rational third option isn't picked.
Second, we have the educational purpose. I will admit sone fake spells are low stakes and could theoretically stay. However, that is willingly handing a child a slingshot and hoping they don't hit themselves in the blowback. If you build energy properly, only to release it with nowhere to go, it'll linger in the space. It could cling to the person. At best, the practitioner will feel energetic, at worse they might curse themselves.
Thirdly, you have flawed spells. Spells that could work if you look at it another way. [These can be tricky to teach] As you said, you can't create a fireball, but through imagining a fireball, you learn how to create a psi ball. You can't become a vampire, but you can become a psi vampire or use a "transformation" as a dedication to vampire or blood magick. You can do a number of fake spells if you change your expectations, but people don't want to do that. They want exactly what the spell promised and anything less is a failure.
Personally, I would like to delete a number of fake spells [a lot of duplicates and spam mostly] so we still have traffic, but more working spells than not.
Nekoshema and Tadashi, you both have such a wonderful way with words, and I cannot thank you enough for the times you have helped me not do fake spells.
I would like to add, however, the fact that fake spells are often categorized with real spells which can make them hard to discern. Also one of the spells on the front page with a 5 Star rating is blatantly fake.
Re: The Case for Fake Spells By: Nekoshema / Novice
Post # 10 Oct 17, 2022
^_^ Thanks for the kind words [actually trying to get published, so it's very sweet of you]
Yes. You can transform on other planes of existence. Look into lucid dreaming as well as mental shifting. As for the astral, I've never done it [not what interests me] but from what I'm aware, you travel there, think "I'm a werewolf" or whatever, and you should transform. From my experience with the astral, you just think of something and it happens.
