Over the past two days, I've spoken about the benefits and drawbacks of pacting with spirits and physical creatures. Today, I intend to speak on the subject of how one tells what is a pact and what isn't, as the lines are pretty blurry. While something may not technically be a pact, not holding up your end of the bargain can still screw you over majorly. In this way, its a damned important subject.
Here's a short list of things that are usually considered to be pacts in the spirit world:
- Official agreementsa
- Unofficial agreements
- Promises
- Payment-related agreemens
- Debts
- Implied agreements
- Favors
Here's an even shorter list of what isn't a pact:
- Gifts
- Services rendered without strings attached
As you can see, its pretty muddled and convoluted, but just about everything one gets involved with, in the spirit world, is a pact on some level. As a result, you've got to be damned careful with your language. If you're not, it can come back to haunt you. Its for this reason that working with spirits you know and have a good working relationship with is important and preferable.
Even gifts can be provided in such a way that makes them something that can be used against you, so I'd be hesitant of accepting gifts from folks you don't know well.
Regards,
SE