Moonchild's Musings

This was a question posed on a group I belong to, because of some deities being called "dark" and others being called "light". I'm posting my response here, as well as to that group...

Question: What features/gifts/abilities do you feel are dark and what are light?


I think that dark and light are two sides of a coin, but sometimes they meet in the middle and become grey, depending on the situation. In otherwords, they are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Someone or something may be made up of dark and light aspects, and not be wholly listed to one side.

For me, darkness can be that which is hidden, as in mystery. Darkness can be that which is considered negative or undesirable. Darkness can be a cloak of protection. It depends upon the context of the subject you are referring to.

Consequently, lightness can be that which is open, above-board, unhidden, in plain-sight. It may also be something desirable, positive, uninhibited. Lightness can also obscure, wash-out, cause something to glare so harshly as to block or prevent clear vision.

We usually refer to dark and light as "good and bad" but that is subjective and often carries connotations aluded to by other definitions.

As for dark magick versus light magick, you will find interpretations and definitions abound and sometimes misconstrued to suit the purpose of the author of those statements.

I have worked dark magick in the sense that I have worked on hidden, inner mysteries. Dark magick may mean working with decreasing, negative, banishing, binding actions. It may simply refer to workings done during the dark-of-the-moon.

In our society we often confuse darkness with evil, though this may not be the case at all. It is the "popular" opinion spread through people's beliefs in other dogma. The need to associate darkness with evil to gain validity for their own views and beliefs.

In regards to light magick, we think of this as magick done to achieve desirable goals, usually good and acceptable. We equate light with goodness because it is the opposite of darkness and evil. Why? Because we are trained from early on that what is done in the light is done openly without fear, whereas what is done in the darkness is shameful and undesirable.

So, we assign such characteristics to things, beings, subjects. We talk about dark and light deities because of their associations, their energies, their attributes. Dark in that they wield or support skills and events that our society equates with the undesirable--death, destruction, war. Light deities because they are associated with peace, love, guidance.

This does not mean, however, that we cannot be taught nor guided by the dark deities. In fact, many dark Goddesses are great teachers--we learn to face our fears, challenges, wander down the dark path of the unknown, and thereby gain strength, knowledge, understanding.

The light deities teach love and healing, but this does not mean it is an easy lesson. In fact, many times we travel a hard road to realize we are loved, that we are healed, that pain is the way toward pleasure.

These are just some thoughts off the top of my head, but I think you get what I mean. Perhaps it is something I should delve into further.

I know my thoughts are not complete and only touch on some of the ideas and things I have suggested, but it is a start--and I'm sure it is longer than you expected. I do love a long story! Think I'll add this to my blog and perhaps return to it again at a later date.