Plenty of people disapprove of President Trump, his programs, policies, and demeanor. That’s fine and well in a free society. Others, wish he were simply more perfect (or just perfect). That, too, is fine and well though he’s not nor ever will be. Life goes on.

But sometimes life takes a weird twist. Tonight, at midnight, the witches of the world will “cast a spell” on Trump. Jaya Saxena of Elle reports:

Starting at midnight on Friday, witches around the country are calling for a mass spell to be cast on Donald Trump every night of a waning crescent moon until he’s driven from office.

The spell was publicized by Michael M. Hughes, who told ELLE.com that it was tweaked from multiple spells he saw going around private witchcraft groups. He published it on Extra News Feed because he felt “it would be very welcome to a lot of people.” It quickly spread, with events being formed around the country and support on social media.

Hughes explained that he chose a binding spell because “we’re not wishing harm on anyone, we’re just trying to stop the harm they’re doing. It’s not the equivalent of punching a Nazi in the face, it’s the equivalent of tying him up and taking his bullhorn away.”

The ritual itself is pretty standard magic working, binding Trump from doing harm to others and to himself, rather than asking any forces to do harm to him. There are objects to represent the elements and to represent Trump himself. The tarot card of the Tower represents ambitions built on lies, which are struck down by a lightning flash of truth. For those who believe in witchcraft, it looks to be an effective spell.

…

Hughes also says that all are welcome, even those highly skeptical of magic. “The real intention is just to get the energy focused at the same time, as many people as possible,” he says. People can participate in their own religious rituals, or even perform this as a joke or an art project. “No matter how you approach it, it’s still great to be part of it.” Plus, we’re sure you have some candles lying around.

This is no joke. This is active Satanism. This is using (trying to use) the powers of Hell for selfish profit on Earth. This has nothing to do with candles. This is direct or indirect appeal to the Devil to intervene in human affairs. Agree or disagree with the motives behind ceremony, there is no getting around the inherent evil of this plan. And, sadly, no one needs to seek out evil; it has a way of finding us on its own.

The Church is clear on this subject:

All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others—even if this were for the sake of restoring their health—are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.

– Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nos. 2116-2117.

The Bible is even clearer: “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Exodus 22:18 (KJV). By this quote I do not, herein, advocate the burning or other killing of witches – unless they actually threaten one with harm. And, given the ways in which they might seek to do harm, and given the tenuous effectiveness of such attempts, this is a wobbly standard.

In most cases a death sentence is unnecessary. These types lead lives worse than death. So long as they do no overt harm, they should be left alone. And they may be safely discounted. In fact, they should be included in prayers of deliverance and redemption. In most cases.

Michael Hughes’s statements kind of give away the “most cases” scenario. “We’re only doing good magic. We don’t want to harm anyone. Etc.” I’m sure many or most really do mean no harm. Yet the harm is there, merely in the doing of these acts and the belief if the powers behind them. Those powers are real – not a joke.

The Devil is real. Demons are real. Evil is real. Petition to the occult too often (even once) and the occult may answer. Sometimes there is a price to be paid for the interventions. Once these forces are invited in,there is no controlling them. And that is why the Church has been adamant about distancing oneself from them.

For those outside the practice, those potential victims or subjects like Trump, the spells and magic usually carry no weight whatsoever. Usually.

Now, I speculate. I have spoken with Priests and other authorities but I am no expert here. In most cases, those who chant magic words, joke or not, are merely a joke. A dangerous joke, but an empty threat nonetheless. Nothing comes of it. It has no power over anyone. However, sometimes the Devil and his minions are roused to action. Thus it is that spells are, may be, real.

A chief danger to the casting witch, warlock, or sorcerer is that the demonic forces, invited to act, act independently – often against the witch. They do not care what a witch wants; they’re just looking for any opportunity to corrupt.

In those cases where the spell gains some power, some actual authority beyond weird incantation, that power is still generally limited. Our Trinitarian God has absolute control over and against Satan, as demonstrated by Christ. This immunity and authority may be transferred to men, the power to reject or to cast out demonic forces. (See the pertinent acts of the Apostles and the work of concurrent and historical exorcists).

Many hold that the Grace of Belief and Acceptance provides Christians general protection against the demonic forces of Hell. The theory is that the gifts and nature imbued by The Holy Spirit are sufficient to defend against the Devil. This is my belief. Still I think there is a danger as to use of the gifts and the susceptibility of the subject Christian. In other words, a lapse or foible in the faith might render one vulnerable.

I understand that Trump is (or claims to be) a Christian. I also understand he is given to certain weaknesses. Thus, I do not think, though I am not sure, that he is safe from all the spells in the world. If you have doubt, please pray for his Divine Defense. It might cover all of us anyway.

Remember that what these demented people seek would affect every American and many others, not merely Trump himself. And there is no telling how Satan would choose to effect any of this “binding” – if he adhered to the requests at all.

Suppose, in parable exploration, that Trump is a shepard of sorts. He is all that stands between his flock and a ravening wolf. Some of the flock might not like Trump at all. Others might wish he would deal more decisively with the wolf. Others cheer him on. Still other don’t notice or care. If he is “bound”, restrained from any action, where does that leave the flock in  relation to the wolf? Vulnerable, whether the shepard is harmed by the binding or not.

So it is that this is serious business. Dangerous.

MacBeth and the Witches, Theodore Chasseriau (1855). Oceansbridge.com.

There is also an odd literary, poetical angle to it all. I recall a little Shakespeare, as if some verses had been written with Trump specifically in mind and in this predicament:

I’ll drain him dry as hay.
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid.
He shall live a man forbid.
Weary sev’nnights, nine times nine,
Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine.
Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tossed.
Look what I have.

-1st Witch, Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3.

Is Trump Macbeth or the Sailor? Trump lives (lived) in a penthouse. He certainly barks a lot. The witches wish to dry him out, render him impotent in terms of political effectiveness. The only thing missing is a link to Melania and some chestnuts.

Few things are more threatening and dangerous than government. This instance represents one of them.