The words below speak for themselves. I believe all people, magical or not, should adhere to these guidelines.

The Council of Spiritual Ethics

is a collaboration among
spiritual guides, experts in the behavioral and biomedical sciences,
and scholars of religion, dedicated to making direct experience of
the sacred more available to more people. There is evidence that such
encounters can have profound benefits for those who experience them,
for their neighbors, and for the world."

Areas covered in the web site:
Spiritual Development
Spiritual Practices
Spiritual Experience
Spiritual Communities
Entheogen Project
Entheogen Chrestomathy
Society and Law
Code of Ethics for Spiritual Guides (which follows)

Code of Ethics for Spiritual Guides

People have long sought to enrich their lives and to
awaken to their full natures through spiritual practices including
prayer, meditation, mind-body disciplines, service, ritual,
community liturgy, holy-day and seasonal observances, and rites of
passage. "Primary religious practices" are those intended, or
especially likely, to bring about exceptional states of
consciousness such as the direct experience of the divine, of cosmic
unity, or of boundless awareness.

In any community, there are some who feel called to assist others
along spiritual paths, and who are known as ministers, rabbis,
pastors, curanderas, shamans, priests, or other titles. We call such
people 'guides': those experienced in some practice, familiar with
the terrain, and who act to facilitate the spiritual practices of
others. A guide need not claim exclusive or definitive knowledge of
the terrain.

Spiritual practices, and especially primary religious practices,
carry risks. Therefore, when an individual chooses to practice with
the assistance of a guide, both take on special responsibilities.
The Council on Spiritual Practices proposes the following Code of
Ethics for those who serve as spiritual guides.

[Intention] Spiritual guides are to practice and serve in ways that
cultivate awareness, empathy, and wisdom.

[Serving Society] Spiritual practices are to be designed and
conducted in ways that respect the common good, with due regard for
public safety, health, and order. Because the increased awareness
gained from spiritual practices can catalyze desire for personal and
social change, guides shall use special care to help direct the
energies of those they serve, as well as their own, in responsible
ways that reflect a loving regard for all life.

[Serving Individuals] Spiritual guides shall respect and seek to
preserve the autonomy and dignity of each person. Participation in
any primary religious practice must be voluntary and based on prior
disclosure and consent given individually by each participant while
in an ordinary state of consciousness. Disclosure shall include, at
a minimum, discussion of any elements of the practice that could
reasonably be seen as presenting physical or psychological risks. In
particular, participants must be warned that primary religious
experience can be difficult and dramatically transformative.

Guides shall make reasonable preparations to protect each
participant's health and safety during spiritual practices and in
the periods of vulnerability that may follow. Limits on the
behaviors of participants and facilitators are to be made clear and
agreed upon in advance of any session. Appropriate customs of
confidentiality are to be established and honored.

[Competence] Spiritual guides shall assist with only those practices
for which they are qualified by personal experience and by training
or education.

[Integrity] Spiritual guides shall strive to be aware of how their
own belief systems, values, needs, and limitations affect their
work. During primary religious practices, participants may be
especially open to suggestion, manipulation, and exploitation;
therefore, guides pledge to protect participants and not to allow
anyone to use that vulnerability in ways that harm participants or
others.

[Quiet Presence] To help safeguard against the harmful consequences
of personal and organizational ambition, spiritual communities are
usually better allowed to grow through attraction rather than active
promotion.

[Not for Profit] Spiritual practices are to be conducted in the
spirit of service. Spiritual guides shall strive to accommodate
participants without regard to their ability to pay or make
donations.

[Tolerance] Spiritual guides shall practice openness and respect
towards people whose beliefs are in apparent contradiction to their
own.

[Peer Review] Each guide shall seek the counsel of other guides to
help ensure the wholesomeness of his or her practices and shall
offer counsel when there is need.

This draft for public comment was released 10 August 2001. The
current version is available on the Internet at www.csp.org.

Copyright © 1995 - 2001 Council on Spiritual Practices

Permission is given to reprint this Code, provided that the text is
reproduced complete and verbatim, including the and this notice of
limited permission to reprint.

Council on Spiritual Practices
http://www.csp.org

MAGICAL ETHICS
by Jim Weaver

Living a magical life is a powerful and positive way to live.
However, it does come with a great deal of responsibility.
If you are already following a magical path, you know what I mean.
But, if you are just beginning to think about bringing magic into
your life, you must understand that there is a moral code of
spiritual ethics to follow if you wish your magical journey to be
positive.

Whatever area of magic you are interested in,
you will find that your magical work will not only affect you,
but also those around you. Some of you may be interested in the
Wiccan tradition or perhaps in various forms of divination. No
matter where your magical interests and abilities may lead you,
learning the ancient Wiccan Code will serve you well as you travel
the path of positive magic.

It consists of only eight words:
"If it harms none, do what you will."

This creed should be at the core of any magical work
you do, even if you don't become a Wiccan.
Over the years I've developed a more extended set of
magical ethical principles. I hope they aid you in your practice;

*******

Never speak a charm or spell in a language
you don't understand.

Never perform any form or revenge magic;
karma will even things out.

Never let anyone coerce you into joining a
magical group you don't feel comfortable about.

Never let anyone force you to do any type of
divination when you're tired or just don't feel like it.

Never perform a spell to help someone when they
haven't asked you. This is a form of manipulation.

Don't brag about your magic - besides being rude,
blabbing about your magic weakens it.

Never use magic to harm a person,
animal, or plant.

During a love spell never mention a specific
person; again, this is manipulation.

Do give thanks when a spell has brought
your desire into your life.

When people ask you to perform any type
of divination, don't let them become too
dependent on you.

In general, negative magic has no place in the life
of a true magical practitioner. To further understand
this, may I suggest you read Raymond Buckland's "Complete Book of
Witchcraft" (Llewellyn Publications, 1986). Also, any book by the
late Scott Cunningham will give you solid advice on
practicing positive magic.

What you do in magic will come back to you.
Positive magic will bring you unexpected blessings,
while negative magic will eventually harm the practitioner.
Of course, there are times when negative magic can be
used in a positive manner, such as trying to destroy a
bad habit. Not all negative magic is evil; what's important is
most cases is intent. People sometimes ask if they can use
revenge magic when someone is trying to hurt them.

The answer is still "no." It is better in this case to use
a spell for protection, or even a blessing.
Concentrate on positive magic to heal any hurts,
and get on with your life.

The one area of magic which gets people into lots
of trouble is love magic. If you're trying to attract love,
you may perform a ritual to bring the type of person you
desire to you. However, never name a specific person,
as this violates a person's free will and will have only
negative results.

As you journey along the magical road, you will come
into contact with people who don't agree with your
spiritual path. That is their right. Let them go in peace
and never try to force your ideas on them.
It is also your right to follow your own way.
Following a code of positive magical ethics will keep
you spiritually healthy and will serve you well in all
areas of your life.

Your positive magic will come back to you threefold.

Llewellyn's 2002 Magical Almanac