When you're not able to help, in spite of all the magic.

It helps for me to remember that my best ability is playing "devil's advocate". As an Aries and with my Empathetic abilities its pretty easy for me to spot the "cons" in almost every situation I deal with . Sometimes it hurts, but we have to realize that without the "bad" feelings..there can be no "good" feelings. As with any balancing act..both need to exist for there to be a good balance. The world would be boring if we were all happy all the time. Where's the challenge in that (Says the Ares in me). My zodiac meditations always bring me the same message in this. "Choose your battles or your battles will be chosen for you." This is how I work with the problem of getting into "intervention". If intervening needs to be done in the case of a like-minded person for instance..they may actually ask for help. Sometimes I will give advice an d maybe even do a reading of Tarot which often opens doors for them that they hadn't thought of before. Either way, I pick a non-invasive way of dealing with it. When all else fails I meditate and listen to my "masters" in meditation when they tell me to "Choose my battles". Sometimes people have to learn on their own..and sometimes the balance says there has to be unhappiness sometimes in order for us to learn that a positive outcome is not always possible but that no outcome at all is not balance but Limbo. (Which where I come from is not a good thing). Limbo is a place where we go when we don't want to make decisions. Personally I won't do Magick for someone else without their say so..and only in a healing sense..not effect the outcome..to lessen pain..to promote healing..and in some cases..to help them defend themselves. But their fate is not in my hands and I ask that they recognize that fact. If I am performing magick that is to affect someone else's life..I especially make sure they understand that I will not affect the outcome of the problem...only the present and future pain..antagonism or what have you that might come up because the problem. (Sort of like an aspirin. It takes the pain away but it doesn't take the stress that caused the headache....) In this way people tend to get more objective in how they handle their situations and make a more informed decision on the outcome.

I know how you feel. I recently found out my father's Sick again. and there is nothing I can do because of it. He could if he wanted to Since my magic comes from his blood, but like most of the men in my family my father avoids it. He even hid it from me until I figured it out on my own. As he does the other children, though the second oldest knows because her inner power has just started to come to light. But its also like the fact that, some one purposely burnt down my families house...which we refer to as the camp, in the country were we would all go. We lost alot of things that cannot be replaced. I know I COULD do something to get even as does my aunt know we COULD do something together and get even, though we will not as much as we want to we know the law of three. And Karma never fails. So Curses and Hexes are out...so we sit back and let it be, and maybe Karma will get them

We all do the best we can. I'm not a magi myself, but I know that we all do the best we can, and that's life... Meanwhile, I could use some blessings, some inspiration, some direction, some spiritual connection... So if anyone can offer some light.... I'd be grateful. God/Goddess be with you, Namaste, and So mote it be...

I know how you feel. I try to stay out of other's lives as much as possible because I know a lot of the times, intervening just won't help. I know that sometimes, things will just end up worse if I do, so I leave everything alone. However, sometimes I will try, especially if I can obviously see the person is suffering and really needs help. I hate however, when it doesn't work, because I feel like I've failed and let them down. I just have to trust in the spirit though, and realize that they have greater plans for these people that I'm not aware of.

I've been there too. Sometimes it's because I'm outside of the situation and feel as if I don't have enough information to work from, otherwise as you said because tiliting the balance can be bad. When there's nothing I can do for someone, physically, magically, emotionally... whatever... I turn to working towards my own acceptance of the situation instead. I've heard that whole "let go and let God" thing a lot from Christians, but honestly I think that can apply to people of other religions at times. If I really don't know what I can do in a situation, and am sure that any real magical working would just cause more harm, well then I pick a deity that would be appropriate (or just one I'm very close to) and just TALK about the situation. It usually makes me feel better, and I feel like I've at least got a fresh perspective afterwards. Another (seemingly obvious) thing is making sure you are providing all the real-world support that you can. Even if you can't fix the situation, what can you do to make the person feel loved? Even if it's a small gesture, it's better than nothing. I've found that sending someone flowers or bringing them dinner can sure do a lot more than I would ever have imagined.

Nowadays I feel more emotional when seeing another's pain. I believe this is empathy, but it's much stronger. Either I'm becoming a mush-head, or I'm attuning myself to the feeling of those around me. Like right now, Scammerwear, I feel impossibly great sadness. I cannot tell what its source is, but I feel it. Having already lived through the loss of many of my loved ones, I am extremely familiar with mourning, the steps of denial, and seeking, and anger, and acceptance -- I've felt them all over and over again. The strange thing is that though I feel all these emotions, I see past the situation. I can feel that my friends will live past the event, and that they will become different. Some friends are bound to become weaker. Other friends are bound to become stronger. We cannot decide their fates any more than we can decide our own. What we can do is console. I have given away large rose quartz crystals, blood stones, even four leaf clovers, just to give my friends and loved ones something to look at and hold when they feel low. If there is a chance that those trinkets will bring even momentary calm, joy, or peace to the person who needs help , then I feel like I've done my job. Talismans and good luck charms as well as pocket stones often help those who are depressed. Since they cost so little and can bring such joy, why not offer them more often? I carry a little green stone polished in the River Shannon of Ireland, from Claire County. It may have once graced a wall or a fortress, and I know my ancestors lived there long, long ago. The smoothness and the coolness of the stone in my hand helps me when I feel blue. Ah, and one last reason to give a trinket - you can feel as though you did something - perhaps not as powerful as if you had performed a spell, but at least it's something, you know? It will lift your heart too.

it always makes me feel bad when i cant do anything to help in spite of my gift and the craft. I have been tempted many times but it only works against the person we wish to help ultimately blessed be

I meditate,and ask the Goddess to give favorable weather to help dispell the poor feelings. as you say,we are unable to change a persons destiny,but we can ask to help lesson the pain a bit. Blessed Be.