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We’ve seen them in movies, heard about them in stories, and understand them in different cultural and religious frameworks. Dark spirits, at least the idea of them have pervaded the collective psyche, and the image that pops to mind is certainly not one that makes you feel good.
Dark spirits are, and always have been nothing more than folklore. The monster hiding under your bed, haunted houses, demonic possessions… This stuff isn’t real.
But what if, on some level of reality, they are as real as you and I?
I will spare you all the spiritual jargon and jump straight into it. Dark spirits are real, and I’ve had a few encounters and witnessed a couple of exorcisms too. So what exactly are they, and what do we need to know about them?
Let’s get into it.
What are dark spirits?
In a nutshell, dark spirits are beings or energies that exist in a state of disconnection from god, or source. This can be a little complicated to explain, so let’s break it down.
Dark spirits can go by many names: shadows, lost souls, demons, and lower entities are some common examples. These terms each have some nuance, but they all point to the same essential truth – these are spirits that are not here to help.
Imagine light and darkness as a spectrum.
On one extreme of this spectrum, we have pure light. This is what we may understand as enlightenment, bliss, or being as deeply connected to source (or god) as possible. This is where the overused proverb comes into play that spiritual people love to use, “We’re all love” because there is some truth to it – at the core level of it all.
But not all beings are connected to this love. The further a being drifts astray, the more disconnected from love it becomes, and the more it enters a paradigm of darkness in lack of light.
To get a better idea of what darkness means, have a look at the diagram below:
Make sense? Let’s break it down anyway:
High vibration: Associated with high vibrational energy, benevolence, the higher self, virtue, love, gratitude, and compassion. This is what we may understand as an embodiment of ‘goodness’. The more connected you are to source, the more your vibration increases.
Low vibration: Associated with low vibrational energy, malevolence, the lower self, destruction, hatred, fear, and suffering. This is what we may understand as an embodiment of ‘evil’. The more you disconnect from source, the more your vibration decreases.
I won’t go into too much depth about vibration here, as I have already dedicated an article to it.
If you imagine the spiritual realms as an interdimensional onion, the core is the deepest level of truth there is. This is what we commonly understand as ultimate reality, source, collective consciousness, or the Godself.
Here, there is no duality, there is no light or darkness, there only is without separation. This layer of reality is akin to enlightenment and is perceived as the highest, or truest level of existence.
The closer a being gets to this level, the more it becomes an embodiment of light. The further away it goes, the more it becomes an embodiment of darkness in lack of illumination.
Think of a spirit as a soul. Each soul is an individual, with a unique journey. Generally, they exist within the astral planes, spirit realm, or deeper levels of reality, however, they can also manifest in this material realm.
Generally, there is a sort of veil between this realm and others, which is why we don’t see spirits walking around everywhere. For people to perceive spirits, they need to start tapping into other realms of information and refining their spiritual abilities.
For example, a clairvoyant, sage, or shaman may perceive spirits everywhere while the common person won’t perceive them at all. Although spirits interact with this universe all the time in all sorts of forms, we often don’t begin to perceive them until we refine our spiritual abilities.
So you might be wondering how, or why a spirit becomes dark. Let me explain from my perspective.
What makes them dark?
Think of dark spirits as souls lost in the fog, unable to find their way back to the warmth of the sun. They’re essentially souls that have become entangled in their wounds, repeating cycles of suffering rather than transcending their pain, evolving, and moving toward the light.
Each entity is an individual soul, and each soul has an individual journey. Even though every soul will go through challenges and trials, some enter a path of healing and growth, others enter a path of torment and destruction.
Like people, some souls simply get lost – trapped in these states of suffering, and they become a manifestation of that suffering. They become twisted and vile because they have lost their connection to god.
Like a kid who has a terrible upbringing, bad influences, and a lot of trauma, he is likely to embody that unless he somehow is set on a path of healing. His behavior will change and he will hurt others because hurt is all he knows. So he spreads it.
The more he hurts others, the more deeply he becomes entrenched in darkness, and the more lost he becomes.
This is essentially how dark spirits work. They’re not dark by design, they’re dark because they are trapped in their cycles of suffering, and reflecting their suffering to other beings.
Therefore, dark spirits, at least in my opinion, are not inherently evil. The darkness, you could say is a manifestation of their suffering.
Demonic spirits are like the deepest, coldest depths of the oceanโfar removed from the surface light. They exist at one extreme of the vibration spectrum and are as far from source as a spirit can get. Demonic spirits are intentionally malevolent, often seeking to sow chaos and destruction.
To put it simply, demonic spirits have a calculated, active darkness, while dark spirits are passive and reactive. Both feed off low-vibrational energy, but their intentions differ.
But even demonic spirits can be seen as lost souls – so heavily entrenched in their suffering, that it’s all that exists in their world. A shaman I worked for some time repeatedly told me that evil doesn’t exist, only ignorance, and the darker the spirit, the more help it needs to reconnect with the light. She was a wise healer and only showed compassion for even the darkest of entities.
This changed my perspective. Whether evil exists or not is a whole other debate for another time, but when we look at darkness as ignorance – or being lost, then we gain a more accurate perspective of light and darkness.
How do people encounter dark spirits?
Now that we’ve gone through some of the theory, let’s look at how dark spirits are encountered, and what we should do if it happens.
Anyone delving deep into spiritual pursuits will encounter dark spirits eventually. Duality too exists within the spiritual realms, meaning there exists beings of light, beings of darkness, and everything in between. If you’re traveling into these realms via modalities such as mediumship, astral projection, or shamanic healing as an example, you will encounter dark spirits here and there.
Naturally, as you pop your head into realms that are teeming with spirits, they’re a natural part of the spiritual ecosystem. Therefore, attempting to avoid dark spirits and spend your life only encountering the light is not a good approach. It’s like avoiding acknowledging the suffering in the world and only focusing on the good.
I’ve had a few real encounters with dark spirits in my time. I have encountered them during astral projection, and while working in the shamanic healing space in South America.
Likewise, I’ve witnessed a few exorcisms too.
The first time was in Brazil when I was 23 years old. In the streets of Sรฃo Paulo, I came across a group of priests, with a larger group of onlookers, who were holding a woman to the ground and chanting while she convulsed violently.
Okay… it’s Brazil. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, besides that it may be a trick to steal the phones of curious onlookers who aren’t aware of their pockets. So I held my phone and wallet close and moved on, but what I did find to be outside the scope of acting was the pale purple color on the barely conscious woman’s face.
Whether it was a medical incident or a real exorcism, I can’t say. But many years later while volunteering in a shamanic medicine community in Peru, a woman underwent a full-blown possession post-ceremony. She started screaming and pacing around the kitchen. When an Ayahuasca shaman heard all the commotion, he gently guided her to the fire they had going outside and spent 3 hours exercising the spirit.
Eventually, they sent it to the light and the woman was better after resting for a couple of days, however, she said she had no memory of the incident, except that she fell into an interdimensional pit that felt very dark and extremely violating.
I’ve seen other similar cases while working in the spiritual field, and unfortunately, spiritual attachments (or dark spirits that are latched on to people) are not a rare occurrence.
I’ve had my own experiences, from being terrorized by a “man standing in the corner of my room” as a small child, screaming and running to my parent’s room more often than I would like to admit, to tangles with demonic figures, black goopy parasites, and more during shamanic ceremonies.
To me, it’s clear that dark spirits are real, and the more I acknowledge these other worlds of information, the more encounters I seem to have.
How do dark spirits harm us?
Dark spirits donโt usually harm us in the way you see in horror movies. Instead, they feed off low-vibrational energy, meaning the worse we feel, the better the feast.
Think of them as moths drawn to a flame, but instead of light, theyโre drawn to darkness.
As much as I hate to say it, people who are suffering are low-hanging fruit to dark spirits – and can act as beacons. Think about it, in many movies you see or stories you hear, the demon always tends to go for the wounded, trauma-ridden person who can’t defend themself. In this case, maybe the movies are more accurate than we think.
Especially when weโre stuck in low-vibrational states like fear, resentment, or grief, we make ourselves targets for spirits with nefarious agendas. This is why dark spirits try to provoke us, scare us, and twist us, to make us experience more low-vibrational energy so they have more to feed off.
Of course, this can be a relentless cycle, and it’s the basis of why people get entity attachments. They come for the food, and they stay because wounded people are a buffet that keeps on giving.
When we dwell in negativity, we essentially set the table for these entities to feast on our energy. Over time, this can lead to feelings of heaviness, unexplained fatigue, and even a sense of being spiritually โdrained.โ
Although dark spirits generally don’t physically harm the individual as they don’t have physical bodies, they can twist people – making them feel depressed, sick, and defeated. Often they will play on your wounds. For example, if you have a wound of self-love, they will press on it, causing you to suffer more and feel worse. If you feel angry, they may be that whisper in your ear contorting it into hatred.
They can influence behavior and attitudes, often leading to things like perversion, aggression, addiction, and violence.
Likewise, people who are practicing dark spiritual arts or doing immoral activities that harm others also become beacons for dark spirits. Especially if they’re deliberately inviting them in via practices like using an Ouija board, performing seances, practicing black magic, satanic rituals, and getting into dark rituals that no good comes from.
But why would people deliberately provoke dark spirits?
Well, because people can benefit. People can make deals with certain spirits, especially demonic spirits, and gain wealth, power, fame, abundance, and many things in exchange for their soul.
I know… this already sounds like a massive cliche, but this is how it works. They can also manifest into physical reality as apparitions, signs similar to hauntings, and dense feelings.
To clear it up, dark spirits:
- Are attracted to wounded individuals who are vulnerable
- Are much more pronounced when tapping into other realms of consciousness
- Provoke you to experience more low-vibrational energy in the form of fear, resentment, anger, etc.
- Attach to people who have very low vibrational energy
- Twist your mind, thoughts, and emotions to cause harm
- May manifest as material presence
- May lead to spiritual possession under the right circumstances
How to protect yourself
But how do you know if you’re contacting a dark spirit?
You will feel it.
People often get very intense feelings of dread, anguish, and fear when a dark spirit is present. These can manifest as the unexplainable feeling that you’re being watched, that you shouldn’t be here, or aren’t safe.
These feelings can be exacerbated when you’re entering the spiritual dimensions since you are more exposed in a way. This goes without saying, but don’t mess with certain spiritual modalities or crafts unless you know what you’re doing, or are under the guidance of a teacher.
Playing around with certain voodoo practices, attempting to perform seances, or engaging in satanic rituals is asking for it… Avoid dark arts at all costs, believe me, it’s not worth it.
But hands down the best way to protect yourself from dark spirits is to maintain a high vibration.
Here are some practical tips:
- Stay Grounded and Centered: Practices like meditation, breathwork, or spending time in nature can help you stay aligned with higher energies.
- Clear Your Energy Field: Use tools like sage, palo santo, or sound healing to cleanse your space and aura.
- Set Intentions: Visualize yourself surrounded by a purple light. Imagine it as an impenetrable bubble that keeps lower vibrations out.
- Raise Your Vibration: Engage in activities that bring you joy, such as dancing, creating art, or connecting with loved ones.
- Don’t feed the spirit: Work diligently to overcome wounds, traumas, and issues that may make you a target
- Seek Guidance: Sometimes, calling on higher energies or deities for protection can create a powerful shield.
Hereโs where it gets interesting: not all interactions with dark spirits need to be about banishment. In some cases, these entities are seeking help, even if they donโt know it.
Think of it this way. Light is a threat to the darkness because it illuminates them. Therefore, darkness tries to avoid the light, especially beings who are projecting it. The light is your best offense and defense. If you can genuinely hold your ground and send dark spirits love and compassion, you may guide them toward healing and reintegration.
Not every spirit will be open to it. Many will flee when they feel your good vibrations, which is exactly why they try to scare you or make you feel dread as they’re essentially taking down your defenses. Highly advanced light workers are masters at holding the light in the face of darkness, and that is their protection.
However, this work isnโt for everyone. I’m not going to lie, I know the theory, but when I came face to face with a demonic presence while astral projecting one day, I panicked.
It requires strong boundaries, a clear intention, and a solid connection to higher energies. If youโre not in a place to offer assistance, itโs perfectly okay to focus on protecting your energy instead.
Belief is key
A common thing people do is call on the name of Jesus – and it works! But in my opinion, at least, it’s not because the energy of Jesus is protecting the person, it’s because they believe the energy of Jesus is protecting them, which protects them.
Your belief is also energy, and believing that you are protected protects you. Crazy right?!
Sometimes I go to Ecuador to work with an amazing shaman I know. The last time I was there, we had a conversation for about an hour after telling him that I’ve been going into dark places recently, and feel vulnerable.
He told me that belief plays a very big role. He told me to visualize purple light, and that at first, it probably won’t work. But the more I do it, the more I start believing in it, that’s when I will start to gain noticeable protection, and it will be a spiral.
The more I experience it, the stronger I believe it. The stronger I believe it, the more I experience it.
But it does take time. He said that the shamans who wear the belts don’t need to wear them. It’s the belief that they’re protected that is the real game changer.
Therefore, whether you find solace in the name of Jesus, god, or archangel Michael, or the crystals you wear, keep believing in them!
To sum it all up
Understanding dark spirits isnโt about fear. itโs about awareness.
By recognizing their nature and the role they play in the cosmic scale, we can approach them with compassion while protecting our energy. Remember, the brighter your light, the harder it is for darkness to linger. So keep shining for yourself and for the world around you.
At the bottom line, all things, light and dark, are aspects of god’s immense consciousness. At the deepest level of reality which we can understand as Ultimate reality, there is no duality, nor separation, nor light or darkness. All things simply are without labels or differences.
Therefore, on some level of reality, darkness does not exist, nor does light. All the manifestations we see in this realm of others, are figments of the collective consciousness, splitting outwards to experience individuality.