18
Truth in the Darkness
types of abuses can cause deep-seated, lasting scars and fear of the dark; especially if what happened occurred in the dark or is somehow associated with night. Though this work, along with conventional therapy, can provide a great springboard, I ask that if you suffer from these types of fears, to please treat yourself with respect and care, and make sure that you are exploring them safely with guided help.
Religious Fears Religious conditioning is one of my favorite fears to conquer. Organized religion is a great catalyst for fear of the dark. Religion is the source of more stories, fables, and lectures on why you should fear the dark than any other source that I have discussed. I was taught that evil things—Satan, fallen angels, and demons—lurk in the darkness. I remember that at very a young age I feared for my life. I believed that if I stepped from my bed, the “devil himself ” would grab hold of my feet and drag me into temptation. Silly as you may think this is, the impact that it had on my spiritual perceptions lasted a long time. Further inspection of these religion-instilled fears can result in a much more realistic conclusion. In various religions, some things— drugs, sex, or drinking, for example—are considered “off limits” or “sins.” Depending on the religion in question, these sins occur under the cover of nightfall. You do not “see” drugs, sex, or drinking happening to excess during the daylight hours nearly so much as during the night when most of us are turning our backs to it, or sleeping. Although religious conditioning is designed to keep people safe, morally sound, and out of harm’s way, the conditioning can bleed over to other areas of life. It can cause people to become nervous about walking outside in the dark, or entering a place that might be forbidden at night. It also exaggerates people’s perception of what is normal and what is sinful, often blowing out of proportion what was originally intended. Pagans and occultists alike may hold on to fears long after leaving mainstream religion.