What Exactly Is a Hex
The term Hex actually comes from the word “Hexerei.” It originated in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and didn’t originate as a negative term. It simply meant witchcraft and/or using witchcraft. You could hex protection over your farm animals or use a hex sign to keep your home safe from harm. Think of it as more folk magic than the proverbial black magic.
In modern times, the term Hex evolved to mean malefic magic — intending to bring harm, misfortune, or just plain old irritation to an enemy. But the root word? It just described witchcraft in general — good, bad, and everything in between.
Hexes, Curses, Jinxes — What’s the Diff
Although this is debatable, my take on each one is simple: a curse is a longstanding form of magic. Meant to last lifetimes and even generations. Negative intent mixed with high emotion targeting a single person or family line. Creating misfortune, missed opportunities, and even madness.
A jinx is more of a sidestep into a bit of bad luck. Think of it like a mystical “stepping in a pile of dog poop.” It stinks up your shoes and ruins your day, but doesn’t necessarily follow you around. Also, it’s important to note that jinx is a modern slang term. The 1911 play The Jinx helped popularize the concept and the term meaning a brief encounter with bad luck.
A hex sits in the middle, so to speak. Not necessarily a long-term energetic pull or generational thing, but sort of a dark cloud following you around your life for a bit. Things may not work out, a few spells of bad luck, or a season of misses that sets you back a bit is what I think hex energy is.
The Threefold Law of BS
Now this is where it gets interesting. If you practice traditional witchcraft like I do, there is no threefold law. The universe? It doesn’t really care what you do. Sure, the law of frequency exists, so what you think becomes your reality, but will it come back to you times three? Absofuckinglutely not.
So who made up this guise anyway? I believe it was Gerald Gardner, the modern occult practitioner who is the father of Wicca. He kind of made it into their bylaws. But if you’re not a practicing Wiccan, then this doesn’t really apply to you.
Where You Take Your Magic Is Up to You
Just like your life, your energy, your hobbies, and where you want to spend your time, the intent of your magical energy is up to you. Witches are not morally obligated or morally superior to do anything. So if you feel inclined to hex your neighbor because they keep the noise level up all hours of the night, that’s completely up to you.
Just like getting irritated, angry, or being upset about something has no barometer on life, you sending out your negative thoughts to someone who has wronged you has no effect on how good or bad your life will be. Does that make you a good person? A bad person? Well, that’s really for you to decide where you want to sit with that energy. And there isn’t really a real right or wrong answer.
Final Thoughts
For me, I look at it like this (and this is just my hot take, so take it or leave it): I don’t think what you send out returns to you. I think it’s what you think you are, you are. I’ve never had a bad experience hexing anyone — the worst thing that happens is it simply doesn’t work and nothing happens.
How I look at it, though, is simple. If it’s someone presenting a block energetically that is upsetting the natural balance of my family or my money in some way, then usually I’ll “remove the block,” so to speak. When I was younger, I was probably more “catty” with my magic, but as I’ve gotten older, I want to keep my energy for myself as much as I can. So unless it’s creating a major obstacle, I’ll usually just do spellwork to elevate myself up out of that situation into a better opportunity. Because why am I focusing on this other person and getting bent out of shape if their life sucks or not when I could be using that same energy on myself?
So hex or not hex — in the end, it’s totally up to you.