Whatever you do, whatever you are, in life, you have responsibilities and obligations. Any decision made is a responsibility. With a decision to act, or refrain from acting, you influence other people's life.
When you can change people's life, or the course of a happening, you have a responsibility to those who are involved. Any action have consequences, either for you, or for others involved. Any action from you might change the outcome of an event.
No matter the path you choose, Magick is Power. And Power means a way of changing things; a way of influencing, of manipulating. An action, therefore, needs consideration and thought, to prevent unwanted consequences. To realize this is the first step into true responsibility.
But there is more. There must be a state of mind where a Magick-user considers first his environment, and then himself. If you choose to do something, or not, out of fear for the consequenses it will have for you, you're not free to truly choose, and though your choices might be right, you make them on the wrong terms.
If you do not kill because it's illegal, and you might get into trouble, you're following the rules for the sake of the rules themselves, and the punishment that might follow if you stray from them. If you help a friend because you're afraid of what he might think of you if you don't, you act for the wrong reason.
That is not to say that you should kill, or that you should not help your friend. But you need to understand why you act as you do. Not logically, for anyone can find logical reasons for an act, without truly understanding. You must understand with your heart, and with your soul.
If you act out of fear for law, fear of people's opinions of you, or for fear of loosing something; either material or spiritual, you're bound, and there will be a weakness there. Then you might find yourself in situations where you cannot find your true will, where your will and that of others are too difficult to keep apart.
Imagine that the world will end tomorrow. That is, there will be no punishment, no consequenses, no reactions. What would you do? Ask yourself that question, and be honest to yourself. When you can answer it, see if that would be very different from the way you're already living.
Then, you will find what your true values are. Ask yourself why you will act that way. The answer you should find, is that you would still seek to inflict no harm, and to help if you could. And the reason should be because you are no more important than any other being, and that if you can help, it is your duty to do so.
So, in the end, responsibility is the willingness to take the
consequences of your own actions. Responsibility is the willingness
to cause changes, or stasis. Responsibility is to be willing to let
your own decisions decide the consequences.
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starcat@starcat.rlyeh.net