Monthly Columns

As Above So Below (How the Stars Became Our Hearts)

Confessions of a Dark Witch

 

The Bourne

 

 

I decided to write this in response to many different people suggesting to me that I have a hard life because I call myself a “dark” witch, and many of those same individuals also added that, if they did not fully understand, I should clarify to people what I mean exactly. Also, as is obvious, I’ve returned to narrative format, as when talking about deep personal things like your own inner experiences in relationship to you own spiritual beliefs and practices, it should always be made clear that these are opinions and beliefs, not scientific truths. The realm of spirituality is so deeply embedded in the individual, it would be unfair to say my experience is the truth, or the way in any shape or form. (This is an easy mistake when we’re speaking our own truth.)

That being said, many of beliefs are grounded on scientific facts, and I will present those as truth, and while my belief may not be universal, many dark witches have this understanding of reality.

 

Love and Light

 

 

The known universe as perceived by the human conscious collective is viewed in a dualistic nature. More specifically, when it comes to computer coding, everything is a 1 or a 0, where 0 still represents a quality. For example, with physical darkness and light, darkness (0) is simply the way brain perceives a lack of light. (1) A clear sky, or a clear anything for that matter, represent a lack (0). But 0 itself arises as a feature in the consciousness. Nothingness presents to the mind a certain state. And that state is something (1) So if you view the universe as a computer hard drive, and your perception as a monitor, then there’s a simple analogy of black. Which is a lack of color. (0) Black is a quality, like darkness. On a computer monitor, though there is a code for lack (0), there is the perception of black. Which is a quality. Therefore truly, even though the state of nothingness may exist, a state of nothingness does not exist in the mind.*

The point is, even though the darkness may not be the kind of experience you seek out, when we find ourselves in it, it usually has very valuable lessons to teach.

The duality of these energies can be explained easily using parables of objects that embody darkness and light. I’ll start with a parable of a sword. Or for modern times, a gun would seem more fitting. You can imagine a gun in the hands of a terrorist holding your family hostage. The gun used to rob a bank, or to take the life of a loved one. A gun easily represents a dark destroying energy. However, in the hands of a protector, the dark energy seems to come in handy. If a terrorist did come to harm your family, the presence of this dark energy already in your home could help to cancel out the negativity of an intruder. In this same way, all dark features of the universe can be flipped to have this power.

Another powerful parable is the parable of drugs. All drugs and medicines have a purpose and help aid some type of ailment, but can cause chaos when misused. Opioids for example are used to treat some of the gravest injuries. If you could imagine a trip to the ER for a broken arm, and enduring the setting of a fracture without the aid of these powerful drugs. It’s most certainly something positive in that light. The months to follow, those medications can be helpful for a time. However, when the medication is no longer needed, it’s prolonged use becomes a problem. Of course you could argue that a drug is inherently bad, but this same property can be applied to anything that brings pleasure. Food, sex, or even money itself can manifest life destroying addictions if left unchecked. 

Also in the material realm, we have objects that clearly have no particular alignment. Computers for instance. The processing of information itself can’t be considered negative or positive, but computers can be used for mass benefit, or for malicious intent. The truth of reality is that anything can be used to create a negative or positive effect. Killing someone is only bad if the person was undeserving, and that’s still just from a human perspective. If we imagine the universe, or the godhead as being the culmination of everything that exists, alive, dead, or inanimate, then even human death is no different from changing your socks or getting a haircut to that being. 

So it is when understanding spirit, the force that leads you is the same be it positive or negative. If an entity be it god, angel, or just coincidencia, it can only be viewed as positive or negative from YOUR perspective. Another good parable is the parable of the predator. Imagine you’re a snow fox who’s just braves a particularly devastating winter. Food has been scarce, and as the winter wanes, you’re able to attempt hunting once more. You find your blessing. Your prey. Now, as we assume, nature is in balance, you as the fox are not evil. The universe’ love has blessed you with dinner, but the dinner is a cute innocent bunny. Of course, by nature, you too are innocent, driven by the instinct of hunger. This bunny is the difference between survival, and death by starvation. To you, the fox, your blessing and savior is damnation in the eyes of the rabbit. 

Is the universe itself then evil? 

Or is does the universe simply keep itself in balance?

 

So What is a Dark Witch?

 

 

 

Of course this is in the eye of the beholder. Like most people, I’ll tell you my way is the correct way of looking at things. My argument however aligns with all physical observation, so equates as much to a science as gravity before it was accepted as law. This final parable will clarify what dark witch means to ME. However, the stereotypes can be true. There are witches who worship the devil. Do dark magick primarily and with the intent to harm. This is not to say these malevolent witches don’t exist, it’s to say, not all witches who honor the importance of darkness embody “evil”.

The last parable is physical exercise. We all know how much fun it is to bang out push-ups. Or to run until your legs are on fire and you can’t breathe. It hurts quite a bit to push your limits. It’s in fact because we’re destroying muscle tissue. This is what causes your muscles to repair themselves even stronger and burn excess body fat. This very painful process makes the body healthier and stronger. The physical world teaches us how the spiritual world behaves (As Above So Below) so in that same respect, things that cause us mental and emotional pain also cause those parts of us to grow back stronger. In this way, those who have endured the much pain (darkness) end up being the most powerful. True wisdom comes from experience. “This ain’t my first rodeo!” means I’ve been fucked up by a bull or two in my day. And likewise, know how to avoid such in the future. The rodeo wasn’t fun, but maybe it can be more fun the more I’ve experienced them in fact?

The dark witch honors the place pain and hardship just as much as the fun and carefree. The dark witch can see through the duality of nature, and understand those fun and carefree times would lose meaning without the dark days. When you give a kid candy, it’s positive, but the fit they throw when there’s no more and cavities are very negative. Most people have a desire they had in the past that didn’t come to be, which seemed negative, but ultimately you realize you wouldn’t have something you cherish today, if you had gotten what you wanted then.

A dark witch understands darker forces, and their purpose in the grand scheme of the cosmos. They understand that the darkness helps the light shine brighter by contrast, and the creators of the universe understood this. Light is just as important. The true virtue is balance, not light or dark. The dark witch is usually called to the darker path because they are a born nyctophile, naturally drawn to darker things. They may also be trauma survivors, or suffer from depression. Many things bring a person’s soul closer to darkness, and this doesn’t always end in negativity. Especially when following a path devoutly, you will certainly be able to see the growth patterns that occur in your life immediately following your most traumatic experiences. 

A good example of this is Trolls, and the Garden of Eden. The nature of our species is to spice things up. When things are too good, it’s boring. We like games that are challenging. A Mother Nature plays a challenging game. Before humans were so sheltered, the forces of light and dark were clear and obvious to all. Death was a part of everyday life for a good portion of our species history. This death, the knowledge and awareness of the inevitable end gives life its meaning and sense of purpose. In this day and age, some of us are ravaged by life too badly to connect to love and light. Not that love and light isn’t something we value, but that the darkness has been more so ever present in our lives, and our spiritual path is intimately connected to it. In the same way artists channel their pain into beautiful creations, a dark witch uses the darkness to edify themselves and connect to the universe. A dark witch is usually not out to get you, but are usually well versed in negativity, and has the best protection remedies, and understands more so how to deal with dark energies. Next time you meet a dark witch, ask them what led them down their path!

*I’m aware the spiritual masters can clear their mind, but again, even the state of clarity is a quality being experienced.

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About the Author:

Alexiel Raynes is a shaman, philosopher, and musician from Louisville, Ky. He has studied religion and science for over 20 years. His spiritual path focuses on self realization, the liberation of the constraints of the mind on consciousness. He also studies plant medicines and their use in indigenous cultures world wide. He is fascinated with exploring the world beyond the veil of mainstream western science, and postulates at what lies beyond general consensus reality. He, together with his business partner Hallie Walker are the owners of Saol Bandia, a holistic herbal apothecary based in their hometown. They are also very active in raising pagan awareness in their community, and helping give witches the courage to stand up to a world that has forgotten our ways.

 

You can visit their store at Saolbandia.com

For contact visit Facebook.com/AlexielRaynes2020

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