Many forces, big and small, rose from the darkness which some call the land of shadows. But for all their power they have no light that warms them, no light by which they can see, no light that like a star in the sky will guide them. They have no light that shines in their eyes, not even a twinkle.
They are the evil enemies of your innocent soul who wanders as a stranger through the land of shadows and carries deep within her the light of her spirit. Under the cover of darkness, these evil enemies, big and small, will come for your light. They will try to seduce you, bewilder you, overpower you; they will try to possess you.
The sage Silvanus said:
My son, prepare yourself to escape from the world rulers of Darkness and from this air that is impregnated with their forces
The Teachings of Silvanus, Nag Hammadi Library
Is Darkness just less light?
ANSWER:
NO, Darkness is the absence of light.
The Seven Forces of Darkness
Born out of Blindness they are all androgynous. These are the names of the male ones:
They mated with one another and each one begot seven demons, so that together they amount to forty-nine androgynous demons. i
Some of their names and effects can be found below.
Cacoethes
Cacoethes is a busy fellow, frequently visiting men and women all around the world. Not every man and woman is able to resist and show him the door every time he calls.
Cacoethes is the urge to do something inadvisable. The term comes from Greek kakoethes which means ill-disposed, from kakos 'bad' + ethos 'disposition'.
The Foul Faery
He gets you into a foul mood. No matter how hard you try to resist him. You try to escape but every little hiccup transports you quickly back into his arms.
Resistance is futile. But a good night's sleep and getting up on the other side of the bed might help.
The Fear Fairy
Ubi Timor adest, Sapienta adesse nequit. Where Fear is present, Wisdom cannot be. Old Latin Phrase
For many a year fear whispered in my ear hear, hear ... hear, hear ... and caused many a tear.
Even when I was near the ones I hold most dear
fear would keep us apart.
Life is hard when fear plays the principal part
instead of the old, own Heart.
Brigitte Franssen, 2006
When the fear fairy isn't kept at bay with a little courage she will take hold of the poor soul and bring her to a dark, grim and hostile land ruled by the absolute Queen of Darkness:
Queen Cowardice
Softly, in a warm and understanding voice the queen whispers into your ear: "Why disturb the peace? Why risk your home, your possessions, your way of life for some uncertain outcome? You actually could be worse of than before.
Isn't it far better to stay where you are and stick to what you know and are used to? Wouldn't it be foolish to make life-changing decisions that could actually endanger your life?"
So, the coward stays in his hiding place and remains indecisive. A lack of discoveries, adventure and heroic actions make him as colourless as his life.
In the words of Havamál, the High One:
"A coward thinks he may live forever if he avoids the fight; Though he be spared by spears old age will not spare him."
Prince Parsimony
Born a long, long time ago out of Fear - the Fear of not having enough or what's needed at a later point in time - he is the extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources.
The Petty Jester of Spade
The petty jester of spade leaps seemingly from nowhere onto his victim, clutching his victim's back with stiff fingers.
The cold and tight embrace of the petty jester of spade constricts attitudes, producing a rigid narrow-mindedness that excludes all other possibilities.
A narrow-minded person derides everything; The poor soul does not see as he should his own mistakes.
The words of the High One, Hávamál from the Old Norse Edda ii