If ever there was a subject open to intense dispute, it would be the subject of witches and wizards. So many people have such strong convictions on this topic that you would think it was a life and death situation. However, it is a fun topic of discussion when approached from many different points of view.

Are witches and wizards bad? The answer must be yes and no. You must look through history to determine what the final answer may be. In medieval times, kings and queens sought relief for illness from the local practitioner, who was often considered a witch. These people, usually women, had a solid knowledge of natural medicine and could heal people with their concoctions. It was not until a later time, when the church set out to condemn these women, that the term witch became synonymous with evil.

Merlin, perhaps the most famous of all wizards, was a good and a bad man. Said to speak to the dead, Merlin helped guide King Arthur to become one of the most beloved kings in all of British history. However, it is also said that Merlin was not afraid to use his magical powers to conquer his enemies and those of the king.

If you come to today, check out the Wizard of Oz. There was a good witch and a bad witch, a wizard, and a cast of characters innocently interacting with all of them. Harry Potter and his friends were attending school for witchcraft and wizardry, and regardless of the fundamental outrage, the Potter series is one of the best-selling children’s books of all time.

These creatures, often humans with additional knowledge, must be placed in the same category as normal mortals. Some are bad and some are good and some struggle in between. Like their mortal counterparts, these creatures have the free will to use their knowledge for better or for worse, leaving the decision of their goodness to themselves, not others.

Fairy tales are full of witches doing good and bad deeds. We teach our children right from wrong using these stories, so they can’t possibly be that bad.

Magic is something that everyone needs in their life in some way. Whether it is a wonderful tale to share with your children or a natural cure for their ailments, magic must become a part of everyone’s life for life to be worth the effort.