Curse Diagnostics 101

One of the most common questions that us seasoned practitioners get-and many of us can become so tired of hearing-is "have I been cursed?" For anyone, even if you don't practice, there are some key things to know about cursing that will do one of two things. Either they will set your mind at ease, or they will reassure you that you can successfully break a minor or mild curse on your very own.

What is a curse?

The first thing to understand is the difference between a curse, a hex, and a jinx:

A jinx is the most minor. Jinxes are minor inconveniences that are targeted and wear off rather rapidly. It usually will only cause a small impact, like losing something or stubbing your toe.

A hex, on the other hand, is a little more severe. When most people think they're cursed, what really happened was a hex. It's more like a jinx that doesn't wear off for a few days or without minor intervention. It's not going to kill you-just make your life a bit less convenient.

Lastly, we have a curse. A curse is severe. It takes a lot of energy to cast, and is therefore only going to be expended as a major option. Witches don't just sling curses around like there's no tomorrow. Curses can cause illness or even death if cast correctly.

What can you take from this? If you're dead certain something magickal explains your woes, unless you've done something serious, it's probably not a curse; more likely, you've been jinxed or hexed. However, as more minor versions of curses exist, it's important to know how to counteract them once they've been identified.

Disclaimer: For severe curses, like a death curse or a serious binding, you're not going to be able to break it on your own without the help of an experienced practitioner. Only minor curses can be broken by those with minor experience; this isn't to bash, it's to inform you that if you've identified a serious curse, you should seek serious help. The resources below only qualify for minor curses, hexes, and jinxes.

Curse Symptoms, From Minor to Severe