In the virtual world of Second Life and across the internet, you can find plenty of sources for the rainbows and unicorns style of metaphysics, and you can find almost as much that falls in the grey area, that being heavily sponsored by corporate interests. But there are very few frank and well reasoned discussions of the dark side of metaphysics. Has this been your experience, friends?

The dark side can be sensationalized. Often is. Yes, or made into something that shouldn’t be discussed as if the devil himself will appear at the mention.

Goth and vampire. Oh, yes. Seriously faddish. Especially all the vampire related stuff, at least these days. So I thought a class focused on the darker side of metaphysics might serve a valuable role.

Now my first class on any topic is usually just sort of an orienting session so I can get my bearings and help people understand what they want to. Otherwise, I tend to go in circles and that serves no one. So, what do you want to know about the dark side? I will answer some questions, but not in full depth today.

Maybe why people assume darkness means its bad or fearsome? Largely because it falls into the realm of the unknown or uncomfortable. It deals with things people are afraid to think about. People aren’t afraid to think about fairies dancing in flowered meadows, but other things …

I’m simply wondering what you classify as dark? What I classify as dark actually falls into what might be called the “shadowed” real of the already occult.

How dangerous is it? I see all these warnings. The dark side is as dangerous as real life, and in fact, is linked to real life dangers. It’s also as safe as going for a walk down the street, though perhaps more along the lines of taking that walk while you are worried or in a bad mood.

My religious friend doesn’t believe it is safe for me to even be listening to your classes. Yes. I have dealt with that my whole adolescent and adult life. Much of my formative experience actually underscored my own roots in the darker side of metaphysics.

I had someone tell my not to listen to Hall and Oats because they were into the occult. Everything hippy falls into that category as well.

I guess a general idea of what to look out for when working magic and journeying. Ok. Danger signs can be a good topic. The danger sides of the dark side are much like reading a strangers body language. Something that might be neutral could go bad if misinterpreted. In fact, old fairy lore has a lot of warnings associated with it. Some of the creatures of the other world were notoriously easy to offend. Native Hawaiian tradition had lore related to the dark side of the spirit. This was the reason for taboos. The dark side of the metaphysical world could also be called the spirit world turned angry.

And certain of our offensive actions were what kept them away. Indeed. The metaphysical world has as much range of experience as the flesh and blood world, if not more. But when that world turns angry, very many people start calling it all evil, the creatures of it monsters. The world and its other phases operate like mirrors of each other. This is why so many warnings in the Books of the Dead relate to being cautious not only of offending the inhabits of the other world, but of falling into a panic yourself. The biggest issue in the dark is not any monster getting you, but what will happen when you face yourself.

Can you really offend a spirit? I would think their beef was already inside them. Offend is a difficult word. There are ways in that world, and human beings often act in very short sighted ways. The easiest way being to understand the way of power in the world. The “dark arts” are all about understanding power. Tantric Buddhism to Japanese Maho to African Petro, and everything in the world you would seek to affect, has its roots in the power of another being.

Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.

Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~