Dabbling with Darkness
A warning to those who look for thrills in the lower planes of the Astral World
Guest article by Aiden Williams
Introduction by Occult Mysteries
Although we have published several articles about the negative conditions in the lower planes of the Astral World and the dangers these dark regions pose for the inexperienced and uninstructed seeker who enters there, this is the first time we have received a contribution from a reader who has personal experience of them.
For this reason, as well as others, we consider this to be one of the most important articles we have ever published. There has never been a time when the warning Aiden Williams sounds has been more vitally needed. So many young people, especially the lost, the lonely and the vulnerable are fatally fascinated by the darkness, thinking that in this they may find alleviation from the tedium and emptiness of their lives. Alas — as the author makes clear, nothing good can come of this unhealthy fascination. On the contrary it threatens the destruction of all that is good and noble in mankind.
Foreword by the author
This is not an easy subject to write about. One reason being that it can be difficult to dispel the fascination which many people have for the darker side of life. Especially for what is sometimes called 'dark magic' or the 'left-hand-path' (LHP). It is my intention to dispel that fascination by giving the reader certain plain facts about the lower realms; facts drawn from my own, personal experience of exploring these dark regions and my encounters with the dark beings who dwell in them. If you were hoping for a catalogue of such demonic denizens, or an A-Z map of the various regions they inhabit, then only disappointment will await you, because all such things also come under the heading of "idle fascination." On the other hand, if the darker side of life does fascinate you, or even if you're only curious about it, then please read on. By presenting you with the true facts about these things it's my sincere hope that you may become fascinated in an all together different and more positive direction and manner.
Because I want to communicate these facts as simply and clearly as possible I have deliberately avoided the use of complex terminology or long explanations of occult phenomena. As some of you may know, Occult Science is a vast and intricate subject with many branches, each easily as complex as any of the main material sciences, such as biology, chemistry or physics. Besides, I would like to make it clear from the start that I am not a Master or an Initiate. Neither do I claim to be a psychic, medium, or channeler. I am just a Seeker after Truth, ever learning, ever experiencing. Fortunately I have at my disposal an absolute reservoir of wisdom and learning to consult and peruse on this website, gathered together from the works of the greatest philosophers, occultists and spiritual teachers of all times and places. I intend to make full use of this material and urge you to do so too, especially those subjects I can only touch upon briefly, but which are explained in great detail in the articles published by Occult Mysteries. My main intention is to reach those people who are fatally fascinated by the darker spheres of astral life and wish to explore and experience them. Sometimes their reason is sheer curiosity, and we all know how that ended for the poor cat! More often it is the ridiculous notion that it may be fun and exciting. For others it is just something different to alleviate the boredom and tedium of life. Whatever the reason, those who know nothing of the real and terrifying dangers that lie in wait for the foolish who venture into these dark regions, dabble with Darkness at their peril. It doesn't matter if the intention was only to get some thrills from a Ouija board, trying out a scary magical ritual, or taking an online course in learning Astral Travelling in just one weekend. Even joining the 'harmless' weekly transmediumship circle run by jolly old Aunty Doris every Thursday night is not without danger, even if there is a free buffet at the end of it.
For those who are drawn towards Astral projection in order to reach out to the higher beings of light I hope this article may help you to adopt a more practical and realistic approach and learn the true virtues that are needed for such spiritual development. More importantly, I implore you to do so under the wise guidance of those that have gone before us, who show the right way to proceed safely and whose loving hands will protect you. But please don’t expect your inner senses to open up overnight and to be floating in bliss through beautiful, ethereal realms the night after. Instead, you should expect hard work, constant challenges and having to face all your hidden fears and terrors over and over again, until you have conquered every single one. Sounds thrilling doesn’t it? The focus shouldn't be on freeing your astral body to flit here, there and everywhere for a bit of 'fun'. The focus should be on acquiring the inner peace and wisdom needed to explore the Astral World safely and productively so that you become a beacon of light to those who have lost their way, whether in the other world, or on Earth.
At this point you are probably asking yourself "why should I listen to this guy?" The short answer is: "I have been there and done that." I have had many years of experience of working upon these dark planes. This by the way doesn't involve any 'magical' rituals or conjurations of any kind. Note that I said working on these planes, not travelling or visiting. Working to counter the evil machinations of the dwellers in the Darkness is my chosen path of service. That is all I will say regarding such work, for this article is intended to alert the inexperienced to the real and terrifying dangers that lie in wait for those who venture into these dark regions without a guide or protection. It is not an instruction manual for light-workers.
The fusion of interwoven vibrations
Most people have little or no idea of the differing states, planes or realms of existence, and how they are arranged. The words Above and Below are often used to describe Heaven above us and Hell below us. But this is a metaphorical description, not a spatial one. Neither are actually above our heads or below our feet. The words 'above' and 'below' simply refer to the higher and lower states of vibration which characterise Spirit and Matter. At the frequency at which our eyes operate, all material objects appear solid. Yet x-rays, operating at a higher frequency, see right through them. The same applies to the different planes or realms of the Astral World. Some are more dense than others. The lower the plane, the slower the vibrations of which it is composed. The reverse is true of the higher planes. For the sake of simplicity we may think of the higher and lower planes as being spun together like a giant spider's web. The finer threads, representing the forces and powers of love and benevolence, rich in heavenly wisdom; and the coarser threads representing the opposing forces of destruction, malice and hatred. Yet the whole is so intricately interwoven that we cannot separate them completely.
The word that best describes this web of vibrations for me is FUSION. Although it is correct to say that all life is connected throughout that intrinsic holy garment we call God or Deity, there are what we might call natural barriers between these various planes or realms. To make this clearer I would like to quote a short passage from The Quest of Ruru by J Michaud PhD. "There are six Spheres of Darkness and Sin below the Earth, as well as Six Spheres of Light and Goodness above it. The Earth, therefore, occupies a central position, partaking of the spheres above and below to a certain extent. The Earth is at the same time the highest of the seven lower spheres and the lowest of the seven higher. But you should understand that the term 'lowest spheres' does not mean that these are inside the Earth; nor are the Higher Spheres necessarily above it. The term 'Sphere' really means 'condition,' or 'rate of vibration.' It is possible for some of the spheres to mingle or mix with that of the Earth, or with each other, the Earth thus forming part of them as far as their different octaves of vibration are concerned, for these may overlap, as it were. This is one of the reasons that one may 'sense' good or evil beings, conditions, or vibrations if one is more 'sensitive' than the average person."
To enter the Astral World while leading a normal life on Earth with duties to fulfil and responsibilities to shoulder is not without its consequences. Whatever we may experience there has to be integrated into our earthly life. This must be obvious to anyone or there would be no such thing as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This will not be a problem for the aspirant who has raised their vibration heavenward and received an influx of inspiration, peace, and faith by connecting with beings of grace and benevolence under the guiding and loving hand of their Soul. It must also be obvious that only joy can result from integrating such encounters into one's earthly life. But those who descend into the murky shadows of the lower realms would not bring back joy, but its opposite: despair. Could you still lead a normal life with the chilling sound of malicious laughter ringing in your mind? Or the memory of the horrific scenes you experienced intruding into your every waking thought? Do you honestly just expect to get on with your day-to-day activities without any consequential feelings whatsoever, because I can tell you now, the fascination which sent you down to these dark realms in the first place will quickly turn to fear and depression. I remember some years back having one of my most intense encounters in the lower realms, then waking up and having to start my day. Letting go of the horrors I had seen and experienced so I could focus fully on the duties of life was completely natural to me. I felt as free as air, made breakfast for my daughter and got her ready for school. All that I retained from my work upon this particular lower plane was the conviction that I had done my duty. However, I must say I had just as great a sense of achievement from the two plaits I put in my daughter's hair that morning and getting her to school on time. I assure you I am a very human and ordinary Dad!
Gustave Doré — Dante's The Inferno — Canto 15 — copperplate engraving, 1880
Duelling with demons
This brings me to the title of this article: dabbling with Darkness, and the armchair thrill-seekers fascinated with the dark side of life. Please think seriously for a moment how you would integrate the terrors Dante saw in his visions into your normal, daily life on Earth. Or the horrors painted by Hieronymus Bosch in his depiction of Hell. Or even in the near-death experience (NDE) recounted by Howard Storm you can read on this website. How would you cope with that flooding your mind when you were reading your kids a bedtime story? If, after all I've told you so far, you still feel that meeting some really evil demons would be super-cool, then I'm guessing you have never been in the presence of a disembodied being who was a serial killer during their past life on Earth. Such dark souls often hide their evil nature and intentions while on Earth but not after death. Then they're at home among their own kind. And believe me there are far worse dwellers down in the deep darkness, not all of whom look remotely human...Let's look at this another way. Think of a time when you had a really serious argument with someone. Have you been able to completely shake off the negative emotions it left behind? If the answer is "no" which I'm sure it will be, then what is it that makes you think you could cope with a far worse experience under far harsher conditions, in what is a completely alien world, and remain totally unaffected? During our hypothetical argument on Earth you were at least breathing normal air in familiar surroundings, yet you were still thoroughly shaken up. So much so that the memory still bothers you many years later. Now imagine you are literally breathing in fear itself; that you are immersed in an atmosphere of fear and choking filth. This dense, foetid air is as natural to the dwellers in the darkness as fresh ozone is to us. It is literally life and health to them, if anything so disgusting could be considered healthy. Do you honestly think you could breathe that rotten atmosphere or might it start to choke you just a little? With this in mind I would now have you think of the word Absorption in connection with your aura — the magnetic atmosphere or field that surrounds every object including you. If you are not familiar with this word one of the functions of the aura is to shield us from negative influences and beings, both on Earth and in the Astral World. It also acts as a two-way mirror that reflects outwardly and receives inwardly.
Let's reverse the position to see what you might bring to the dark planes of the Astral World and those entities that dwell there. Unless you can confidently say that you are in full control of all your faculties — and let's face it — how many people are? — you may bring with you some of your own fears, anxieties and guilt. Such negative emotions are a lavish feast for those entities who thrive on such low vibrations. If you do bring them such nourishment, they will eat you up and spit you out, as Howard Storm learned during his NDE which I mentioned earlier. His prayers saved him. You may not be so lucky! In case you still think that duelling with demons is fun I will turn up the heat slightly. When you are vibrating at the same pitch as the astral region you are in, it becomes as solid as anything on Earth. Bearing this in mind, let us use an analogy to demonstrate what may — and probably will happen to you, if you should find yourself in the kind of hot water Howard Storm did. Somebody grabs you and makes it very clear, verbally and physically that they wish to seriously hurt you. If you were on Earth, physically fit, with years of training in self defence, then the chances are you might come out of this in one piece. If you lacked such training and fitness, you would probably call for help. If you yelled loud and long enough somebody might come to your aid. Now let's transfer this predicament to one of the lower astral planes where you have just been grabbed by an entity with features so ugly and distorted that even to look at it scares the hell out of you. If we compare this fear to the fear you would feel in the earthly scenario, then we need to ramp it up at least tenfold. Believe me, this is a very conservative increase, as the negative conditions in the lower realms are far worse than anything you may meet here on Earth, as you can read in the visit Drithelm made to hell. Please don't think he was exaggerating, or that the Venerable Bede who recorded his vision in his Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation made it all up to frighten pious Christians. I can tell you from personal experience that Drithelm had it easy!
Let's return to our dabbler in the dark who finds himself or herself facing an entity who wants to seriously hurt them. Would you know what to do, and are you confident you could cope? Before you answer, let us suppose your predicament has just got much worse. The demon's face draws even closer to yours, his eyes gleaming malevolently, his horrific grin widening ever further, unveiling two rows of horrible grisly teeth, clenching down and savouring your imminent demise as his claw-like hands reach out for your throat. The stench of his foetid breath pierces your nostrils and like Howard Storm you call out to God in desperation, though again like him, you are probably a confirmed atheist. But your calls go unanswered. "God, God, please, Please, PLEASE help me!" Then just as your fear overwhelms you completely, your antagonist snarls: "there is no God, you silly fool, there is no God, NO God!" Then you realise you are being pulled down even lower, as if this place isn’t nearly bad enough for what this demon wants to do to you. And now more of his mates enter the fray, each uglier and more demonic than the last, until you are completely surrounded by them. Are you still sure you can handle this situation?
Facts versus fantasy
Remember what I said earlier: this is emphatically not an instruction manual on navigating your way through the lower astral planes. If you answered no to the questions I posed, then I strongly advise you not to find yourself in such a pickle or anything like it. The best way to avoid such a fate is by putting all thoughts and notions of entering or contacting these lower planes completely out of your head once and for all. Even just your thoughts, when deliberately directed towards such dark regions, will draw their negative conditions towards you. If this occult fact were better known it would save a lot of pain and grief. Not only for those fatally fascinated with the darker side of life, but for all of us in our ordinary, daily lives. As I said earlier, the different planes or realms of the Astral World are so intricately interwoven that we cannot separate them completely. In The Golden Star by J Michaud PhD, he writes: "Man lives amongst a host and vast hordes of other beings; and although they are invisible to the average man, they are nonetheless powerful. Whenever a sign of power is made, or a word of power spoken, these beings gather around the actor or speaker, hoping that he will send out thoughts and vibrations that will be enjoyable to them. They need such vibrations; and the higher the thought, word, or sign, the better are the classes of elemental spirits it will attract." What Dr Michaud doesn't say, is that this works both ways. It applies to the very worst classes of elemental spirits too. You may think I’ve deliberately embellished things to increase the fear factor. No my friend, the example I used is an all too real encounter and unfortunately more common than you might think.
When I was a teenager I remember reading a book about an Indian mystic and how, during meditation, he vanquished terrifying demons. It sounded very exciting to my teenage self, so please don't think I can't see the attraction these things exert on impressionable minds. Not long after reading this book, I was watching a war film with some friends. This was just as exciting to the senses, so much so that my friends were ready to join the army there and then. But it is one thing to watch something from the safety and comfort of your armchair and quite another to actually experience it. You can't feel the pain in your cosy seat; you don't smell the blood, the sweat and the urine. Your hands are not shaking and your heart isn't jumping out of your chest. Nor is your mind struggling to concentrate on the task before you while desperately trying to shut out the constant fear you might die at any moment, or be maimed for life. And so it is with the excitement the armchair dabbler feels. He or she hasn't a clue what it really feels like to do battle with demons.
You may think I'm still exaggerating. You probably know people who have played with a Ouija board and suffered nothing worse than a bruised finger. Or you or your mates may have attended a séance and come to no harm. But psychic energies can and do enter the aura in all manner of very subtle forms and ways as I discuss in my Afterword. Who's to say that the headache that laid you low a few days later or the horrific or perverted thoughts which suddenly entered your head weren't the direct result of that exciting séance or a bit of harmless astral travelling? Many years ago when visiting a family member I accidentally stumbled upon one of her 'harmless' Ouija board nights. Even then I had the good sense to pray for her protection and mine. I will never forget her telling me about the time when she held a candle while leaning over the séance table and accidentally dripped hot wax down the neck of one of the sitters. As you can imagine, the sitter screamed and everyone scrambled for the door faster than you can say "is there anybody there?" As funny as this sounds, it just goes to show the reaction of people to a mere scream in a darkened room. Can you imagine how they might react if they encountered a real demonic entity, or, as in my earlier example, a whole gang of them, hell-bent on tearing them limb from limb? As it was, the only Spirit that was ever invoked in that séance room came out of a bottle called Black Death. I'm not making this up; there really is a vodka called Black Death.
Dabbling for dummies
On another occasion a medium told me how she "opens up" to beings "on the other side." I asked her what she was opening up to and why? She replied that she never specified her intentions and that she was open to anyone or anything coming through her. This attitude is commonplace among mediums and channelers. Carla L. Rueckert (1943-2015), an American medium who found fame channeling what she described as a "sixth-density social memory complex that formed on Venus about 2.6 billion years ago," believed that gullibility was vital for mediumship. She was completely unconscious during her channelings and didn't remember anything she had said when she was in a trance. Does this ring any alarm bells in your mind? Before you answer, remember that not everything 'on the other side' is necessarily good or wise, as Howard Storm discovered during his encounter with demonic beings. Despite this, too many people still assume everything in the Astral World is sweetness and light.
Let me give you an example from my own experience that shows how easily beings upon the lower astral planes can deceive and manipulate you. One night I found myself out of my body and having a conversation with somebody I have known all my life. This person is no stranger to astral experiences themselves, so it all seemed very natural. They looked exactly the same as they do on Earth and spoke in exactly their usual tone of voice. But during our conversation they used a word that sounded out of place. This one word was enough to convince me it wasn't them. But the armchair dabbler would not have spotted this red flag. Nor would they know the occult techniques which unmask the true nature and intentions of astral entities. On another occasion, not long after a loved one had passed over, I saw her while out of the body, shining and looking happy. My natural instinct was to hug her. No sooner had I done so than she changed into her real, demonic form, and started to drag me down to a lower realm. This was another good lesson learned.
To return to the family member I mentioned earlier and her harmless séances. In my early twenties I stayed in her home for a time. There was a definite residue of dark energy about the place, as I found out in no uncertain manner. That was the first time I heard the clear voice of an astral entity speak to me. This happened while I was wide awake, not during sleep or meditation. I was speaking aloud a prayer from The Golden Star which starts with the words, "Light, Life and Love." As soon as I said these words I distinctly heard two separate voices say something back to me. I will not repeat what it was except to say it wasn't pleasant; the tone was venomous, harsh and icy cold. As you may imagine this was not what I expected or wanted to hear. Nevertheless I did what I knew must be done to dispel the dark energy in the house and that was that. I have deliberately made this encounter with darkness sound easy, but it was anything but easy. I think it is worth quoting the above mentioned prayer in full as I would like to leave you with a positive feeling in your mind. And what better way or more fitting words than the ones below. Words which speak volumes, serving as a clear reminder to us all of the simplicity and effectiveness of correct attunement, as I discuss in my Afterword.
"Light Life and Love
May the Spirit of Goodness reach out into All Space
May the Positive Powers of these Principles
Overcome All negative conditions
And may Peace profound
Reign Everywhere
So Mote it be
Amen, Amen, Amen."
This prayer is absolutely Spiritual, regardless of whether you're religious or not, or what you do or don't believe. I know from personal experience that it can have marvellous results for the good of all mankind if sincerely spoken, whether aloud or just silently. As Dr Michaud says in The Golden Star: "This will help the World in general, for you will attune with the Great White Brotherhood of all the Divine and Spiritual Entities; and they will HEAR you and ACT."
Article and Afterword © Aiden Williams. Foreword © Copyright occult-mysteries.org.
All worldwide rights reserved. Published 12 October 2025.
