White Magic

   This is now taken to mean any ritual practice carried out for the benefit of others, as opposed to black magic, meaning any ritual carried out for personal gain or lust. An important point of difference is that white magic is devoid of any sexual motive. Earlier, however, it meant any practice that was officially approved of, as opposed to those which were disapproved of—for example, the persecution of witches by people who were using similar spells and rites for their own purposes. Originally it meant ritual intended to produce or maintain health or fertility.