I don't exactly know what comes under the catagory of dark. I wouldn't say that what most people would term dark magick is necessarily negative (or bad or black or whatever) magick, that is to say, that it is negative by definition, but obviously it can be. I think it depends on the circumstances. Just as what many would consider 'light' magick (ie - healing) can be bad if misused.
I think I'd class something as dark if it deliberately causes harm to someone, or violates someones freedom of choice, either as a 'wrong' action or as the lesser of two evils.
Just to complicate things there's also the subject of energy working. Whilst many people work with fire, air, eath and water energy (as well as energies of different crystals, emotions etc.) you can also use light and dark energy. Some people (including me!) would consider them te fifth and sixth elements. They are often ignored because the other elements are neutral so they are not necessarily needed to create a balanced circle, also because many people don't like to touch the dark stuff at all. Which is of course fair enough. Anyhoo, if you use dark energy in energy working I suppose it would be technically 'dark' magick. But not in the same sense. And since dark energy is present (in however small an amount) in everything except the other five (six if you count spirit) elements, then most things would be technically dark!
I've just realised how much I ramble. Nevermind.
portal 
