On magical retribution, the rule of three and Hindu Karma

I spent years listening to Christian sentiments about "what goes around comes around." When I pointed out bad people get by with bad stuff all their lives and some seem to never get in trouble for it, I was told "God will get them. They will all go to hell. You wait and see. They will be punished FOREVER!!!!!!!"

Then there is the concept of Karma. A Hindu concept embraced by Buddhists, as well as other people, that says your choices cause consequences, and will influence what you come back as in the next life when you reincarnate.

Then Wiccans have their own concept set forth by  the Wiccan Rede. "An it harm none, do what ye will."

Wiccans swear by this and state all you do will come back to you threefold.

Most of us accept Wicca is a neo, or new religion, but many do not accept how new the Rede is.

This all started in 1949 with Gardner's writing this in his book High Magic's Aid
.
"Thou hast obeyed the Law. But mark well, when thou receivest good, so equally art bound to return good threefold." (For this is the joke in witchcraft, the witch knows, though the initiate does not, that she will get three times what she gave, so she does not strike hard.)"

Then Valiente is creditied with the original - "an it harm none do what ye will" , although a poem appeared in Earth Religion News in 1974, and soonafter The Green Egg had a version by a Lady Gwen Thompson, stating the other poem was a changed version of what her grandmother, Adriana Porter wrote.

It all sounds like the Biblical Golden Rule, even though the speculation that the line "Do what ye will"comes from Crowley.

Crowley was not talking about worrying about consequences. He was saying there is your mundane will, and your Higher Will- that which you were put on earth to do. All your actions in life ought to go toward that ans that alone. "Do what thou wilt." and it did not say a word about whether your Higher Will caused harm or not.

History and background of a statement embraced today aside- who is to say what causes harm? There is no universal code that transcends time and cultures. What one person views as harmful, another sees as beneficial.  
I can see not going out of your way to be an asshole to people, but there comes a time when you have to do something despite what other people will think or feel and whether you think the universe will bitchslap you to punish you - and THREEFOLD at that for what you do. Also, doing nice things for people does not automatically guarantee blessings will come back threefold.  

I don't believe that what goes around always comes around, I don't believe in Karmaic retribution, and I don't buy the Rule of Three and the Wiccan Rede. 

I have a new suggestion., Just fucking do what you think is right, despite the consequences, unless you think said consequences would be unbearable, and don't worry about punishments and rewards. Many cast off the thou shalt nots of our Abrahamic culture, only to drag that dynamic into Wicca, and I am not interested in ascribing to it. 

One topic that is hot debate due to strong belief in doing no harm- is the practice of raining down retribution.

Many Pagans are hedonists. Hedonists avoid pain and seek pleasure. The thought of somebody being in an
 unpleasurable situation because somebody more powerful than them cursed them repulses a lot of Pagans.

A lot of Pagans also champion a Utopian idea of being non-judgmental in all circumstances. Anything goes- because they say they got told what to do before by unfair, unrealistic people,  and don't want to be anymore. So those folks don't like the idea of a human being taking matters into their own hands and making a consequence. 

Many Pagans are also concerned with fairness. They work damn hard to go to protests and they complain a lot about how they feel things should change. But wait a minute...(scratches head) wouldn't that entail telling people what to do? So, nobody can tell THEM what to do because they have to be the ones in charge telling everybody else what to do? Doesn't that entail them being judgmental and aren't they then causing pain because nobody wants to be judged?

I'm being sarcastic, but the point I'm trying to make is, there is no way to ensure nobody judges anything and that everybody is happy all the time. There will come a time you have to go against somebody else's wishes, and upset them, and they will most likely, if they are Pagan, stand there with clenched fists, insisting the universe will visit the suffering you caused to them back on you threefold.  I know, people tell me all the time, since I'm so outspoken, that their gods or demons will have their way with me and destroy me. And yet, I'm still here calling it like I see it, and pissing some overly whiny folks off. 

I do believe in cause and effect, but I don't believe it's about punishments and rewards. 
I see people go out of their way to do kind things for unappreciative people and get kicked in the teeth for it time and again, and I see people do nasty shit and get by with it time and again. "It will catch up to them'", some folks say to me. And they pat me and try to make me feel better about it. Sometimes, I have to let it go, but sometimes it is time to pull out my witch bag and exact some justice on somebody.

Immediately, feel-good, love and light "white" witches jump in and beg people not to do this. Notice they never urge the perpetrators to NOT do things that cause a reaction? No, they always want to silence the reaction and beg for understanding and reconciliation from the offended party. It is always up to the victim not to wish the universe punish them threefold for  looking for justice.

I always wonder about people who preach to the victim. Why they prefer you lie back down so people can walk on you again rather than stand up and knock back the people who knock you?

"Bend over, and people will kick you", a man once told me. Why do so many insist we all bend over so we can be kicked? 

Because they are afraid the gods will punish them if they do not, apparently.

I have to wonder what kind of gods these people follow- gods who want to see them be the world's bitch and to be laid back to the point of being comatose, to never disagree or speak up or take up for themselves- yet, they moan and complain long and loud if somebody else does, and then preach brotherly love. These are likewise , seemingly the people who believe we all can get along, despite the fact all of history proves different, and people who urge positive living and thinking happy thoughts all the time. None of which improves your life, brings you love and money, and none of which cures disease or creates world peace. I've tried it. Being a skeptical, cynical bitch saves me the most headaches, worry, and stress, because I get taken advantage of less. 

Brotherly love is not Pagan. Love of you and YOURS is. Your clan, your kin, your peeps. People forget these gods we say we worship were tribal gods of war. They did not love their enemies, they killed them. 

I don't kill people or curse them into the ground if they look at me sideways- but I do defend myself, and the ones who matter to me.

My gods will never punish me for that.