Spiritual Darkness

Darkness is "the absence or want of light, the want of sight, blindness, the want of spiritual or intellectual light, gloom of sorrow, trouble, or distress, a condition or environment that conceals from sight, observation, or knowledge, obscurity, concealment, secrecy."


Spiritual darkness accompanies and is a result of the presence of evil. Evil spreads under cover of spiritual darkness.








Edna Lister on Spiritual Darkness

Spirit lives by opposing all darkness; it may appear as division and strife, but only to bring peace.—Edna Lister, Learning to Live at Peace, November 11, 1934.


No darkness, no adversity can touch the one who stands under the Light.—Edna Lister, Cooperation in Service, November 18, 1934.


Deal justly, even with your enemies, for suffering evil is better than to retaliate with vengeance.—Edna Lister, The Battle with Draco the Dragon, October 28, 1937.


Let no darkness destroy what has taken you so long to build.—Edna Lister, August 25, 1938.


Light does overcome all darkness.—Edna Lister, September 6, 1938.


No soul pushes another to the bottom, for each arrives there with his own soul’s consent, and has the privilege of climbing back. Never consent to any form of darkness.—Edna Lister, October 12, 1938.


All law is the law of full Light, in which is no darkness.—Edna Lister, December 14, 1938.


Casting off all ideas of darkness is very wise, lest you sit in darkness of your own creating. God deals only in Light, and sends forth only Light. When you make darkness of the Light, the high kingdom is closed to you, lest it destroys your body. You may go home to God as Light only.—Edna Lister, January 13, 1939.


Another cannot make any darkness for you.—Edna Lister, January 19, 1939.


Choose, then serve all dark or all Light. Be not variable in your worship. If Light is just and perfect, worship Light. If darkness is perfect, then tarry awhile until your soul tires, chooses only Light, and becomes strong to overcome all darkness.—Edna Lister, January 19, 1939.


Stand as a strong, straight pillar in the temple, to lift and overcome all darkness.—Edna Lister, January 19, 1939.


Messing in darkness is not limited to causing it, but includes acknowledging it and recognizing it in others less strong than you.—Edna Lister, January 23, 1939.


You may not consort with morally degenerate souls.—Edna Lister, June 9, 1939.


Rumors lead to darkness that you must overcome.—Edna Lister, August 30, 1939.


Continue to speak the full word of release from all darkness, so that it shall forever be lifted from earth. All must come to the surface, even what is hidden in the hearts of men and of nations. It must come forth, be lifted and worked out until all hearts rejoice only in joy and praise.—Edna Lister, August 31, 1939.


You cannot cure anyone by seeing darkness or nagging.—Edna Lister, September 3, 1939.


When you "think only upon the things of good repute" (Philippians 4:8), you cannot be thinking about darkness or evil.—Edna Lister, February 28, 1940.


Each soul is precious to the Father, even the evil, the wicked, the users of Light as darkness.—Edna Lister, October 22, 1941.


"I see no evil, I hear no evil, I think no evil." Recognize the darkness of evil only to lift its influence and efects.—Edna Lister, November 7, 1941.


Darkness must ever try to slay Light.—Edna Lister, December 15, 1941.


The full Light of pure love renders evil and darkness impotent.—Edna Lister, October 20, 1944.


Darkness ever betrays pure innocence.—Edna Lister, December 21, 1944.


Of all evil, possession of a person, "body and soul," is the deepest and darkest.—Edna Lister, January 4, 1945.


Only one way lies open to those who have delighted in working evil: Straight down the pathway into oblivion. Once they have dug themselves into darkness, they cannot climb the sheer walls, but are pushed farther in by those who follow them. So, darkness digs its own tomb, and buries itself deep.—Edna Lister, August 24, 1947.


You may not descend into the valley of the shadows to look upon, consider, contemplate or entertain evil; "see" it only to lift.—Edna Lister, August 24, 1947.


The walls of Light you form around dark ones prevent them from doing evil; there is no chance of error if you keep them filled and solid.—Edna Lister, July 15, 1948.


Self-righteously finger-pointing: We all know someone who is doing wrong, but how will God ever see a perfect world if we always pick their pin feathers off and leave them raw and bleeding? They are wicked, evil, wrong! So what? Decide whose side you want to be on and then stick to it. You cannot speak of others as devils and be perfect yourself. You become what you think, vision, feel about others. This is law. Stop feeling righteous and get to work on becoming all your vows.—Edna Lister, December 5, 1948.


You cannot be both Light and dark; you must leave the Light to become critical or suspicious. Everyone else is into lifting his own evil or he is not. You can do nothing but to declare Light when another does not want to lift his; only Light can aid him.—Edna Lister, December 5, 1948.


Declaring darkness healed leaves it helpless before the Light.—Edna Lister, August 10, 1950.


The minions of the Prince of Darkness will paint God black and the devil white.—Edna Lister, June 24, 1951.


God uses everyone who curses to raise evil from earth. Like attracts like, so even those who curse our government are in turn used to lift darkness from earth.—Edna Lister, September 25, 1952.


Discretion, discrimination and discernment move into action as darkness approaches. If you have consecrated yourself to service and desire to do something about a situation, you may find yourself saying something suddenly. This is how God puts in a wedge of Light, as you ascend and declare it good instantly.—Edna Lister, October 6, 1952.


Let no thought of being misled disturb the glory of your ascension. You have great wisdom to distinguish between the Light and the dark of evil. Evil, darkness and possession speak thus, "Try this just once for pleasure of sensation and self-satisfaction." Ascending ways say, "Arise. Give up self. Seek nothing for self but give all in surrender to be used by Light."—Edna Lister, January 19, 1953.


Bombs, dictators and evil can frighten only those who do not understand spiritual power.—Edna Lister, October 5, 1953.


Do not sink on any vibration, but remain ready to use Light to strip the darkness, false intentions and downright evil practice of everything and everyone that the world brings to you.—Edna Lister, November 24, 1953.


When Power waxes strong, be quiet, calm and lifting, allowing no part of the mind or heart to see or recognize any evil or darkness. It is not there to recognize as anything of itself; it is nothing and you treat it as such.—Edna Lister, February 9, 1956.


Knowing Light from darkness is necessary. Darkness eventually must be separated from Light.—Edna Lister, July 16, 1956.


If you say anything negative about anyone, you recreate darkness. If you recognize or are hurt by world suffering, you push them down. Put them on clouds of Light.—Edna Lister, November 5, 1956.


"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."—Matthew 7:6 Casting your pearls before swine is giving precious substance to those who cannot hold it. The overflow falls on the ground, and darkness uses it as power.—Edna Lister, February 20, 1957.


Light forever consumes darkness, but evil burns, consumes and absorbs its perpetrator. If a man hates enough, his hatred will consume him.—Edna Lister, March 12, 1957.


Surrounding others with Light to lift should be like putting on socks and shoes. Your reaction must be instantaneous.—Edna Lister, August 22, 1957.


Aim your treatments at lifting all darkness.—Edna Lister, August 22, 1957.


With one curse, you put up a line to the outer world’s darkness and it enters as limitation and delay. This law cannot be set aside.—Edna Lister, September 5, 1957.


The negative people keep you on your toes.—Edna Lister, September 30, 1957.


The "wrath of God" refers to the release of spiritual debt held in black clouds created by the evil on earth. A small amount of this force and substance is released every two hours as earth transits the twelve signs in the Zodiacal Wheel. Those who have debts to pay, or who have chosen to lift self in this lifetime, lift this misused Power-Substance. This is why you can awaken happy then feel unhappy later with no apparent cause. The answer is always the same: Move up in consciousness and lift.—Edna Lister, December 17, 1957.


Put spheres of Light at the doors of schools, hospitals, nursing homes, government, municipal and office buildings, the U.N., stores, theaters and churches.—Edna Lister, June 30, 1958.


God will use the blackest tool to bring the Light.—Edna Lister, August 7, 1958.


Glance at darkness and lift it unless you want it to grow, turn and rend you.—Edna Lister, September 25, 1958.


Everything that separates the Primal Unity is of the "devil."—Edna Lister, October 27, 1958.


You are the creator of your life, unless you turn to "devil worship," which is the belief that some devil has made the place you occupy.—Edna Lister, November 10, 1958.


Live one perfect moment first, then another until at the close of a day only perfect moments have gone into your past. Thus, no newly created darkness may follow you into tomorrow.—Edna Lister, February 28, 1959.


You can tell how great is the darkness gathered in one place by how much destruction is happening. The lukewarm Power released by "good" people, which evil turns into force, causes delays. To do nothing about evil is a curse. Prayers are the greatest aid, for they release Power that can destroy darkness and those whom the evil ones can touch. The evil ones stay far away from those who pray fervently, but the indifferent "good" ones find everything delayed. Every struggle the Elect make, to overcome delays and frustrations, releases tenfold power of Love to absorb evil.—Edna Lister, March 23, 1959.


We are magnets who must attract all scattered life sparks of our past lives. When you finish with "me first," lift others, to remain clean.—Edna Lister, March 3, 1960.


The Light in you is a challenge to the evil and darkness in every mind and heart where you step. When you are lifted up in consciousness, you lift those around you, despite themselves, forcing them beyond their ability and desire. They almost hate you for agitating them, but Light cannot save them unless we disturb their peace, the somnambulant ones who just want to rest.


Speak softly, don’t nag, but put a wedge of Light in when you feel it will penetrate. If they blow up, it relieves them of that much weight and pressure. Just do your best. Always use the declaration, "I AM loves you into glorious divine activity."—Edna Lister, May 8, 1960.


Cover others’ transgressions but don’t dwell on evil or darkness.—Edna Lister, June 19, 1960.


Decree that government workers will become wizards of wisdom, handling each thing in a masterly way, always making right decisions, and lifting darkness from wherever they are through the power of their words. When you pray, declare that the Light of God shall uproot all evil, darkness and chicanery so that all people will see it.—Edna Lister, June 24, 1960.


Whenever events make it look as though evil were rampant, each darkened soul is spewing evil to be lifted.—Edna Lister, September 12, 1960.


If you "cannot stand" whatever darkness comes, you are soft. It is not your dirt, but comes from the world for you to lift it.—Edna Lister, September 22, 1960.


Light and Power from above moves through you into the earth and pushes up darkness, which you then lift so it returns to you as fulfillment for every project.—Edna Lister, October 2, 1960.


Evil uses all lukewarmness and curses for its destructive purposes, but it cannot touch the Light which burns it. The only way darkness can penetrate Light is through the individual’s negativity. Declare, "Evil must come to Light."—Edna Lister, October 10, 1960.


Some are still without a lick of sense, and don’t know when they enter darkness or evil. The first spiritual seeing is fault-finding in others. They see evil everywhere. The trick is to be glad they use you as a mirror. You recognize it, but do not take it on; let others stew in their own juice.—Edna Lister, January 12, 1961.


To cut off a person’s vibration of darkness, exalt him. When you have broken a law or have fears, exorcize the dark clouds around you. Declare a sphere of fire at your own front door, and walls of fire around the person with the dark vibration.—Edna Lister, June 19, 1961.


Darkness cannot exist where Light is. Darkness cannot fight Light. Our work is to transform violent hate into beautiful lines of Light. Light is the great principle that works as the lesser principles of color, tone, number, and name (the spoken Word names form).—Edna Lister, August 3, 1961.


Evil and darkness consume themselves, even the body cells.—Edna Lister, October 17, 1961.


When you lift one person or dark situation, you lift the whole world for the same thing. God floods the person, place or situation when you say, "Let there be Light."—Edna Lister, December 10, 1962.


God adds and multiplies. Darkness subtracts and divides. God does not work on division and subtraction. He works on addition and multiplication only.—Edna Lister, Power to Ascend, December 18, 1962.


The greatest harm to walk earth is not the agents of darkness and evil, but the weak ones who let darkness pile up in their lives through neglect or a "what’s the use" attitude, which is a true curse.—Edna Lister, April 24, 1963.


Most miracles come from the silently shouted words, "Peace, be still," or words of divine action, such as, "Thou shalt be healed," or whatever is needed to overcome another’s negativity.—Edna Lister, July 5, 1963.


Reach out with arms of Light to gather any life sparks involved in darkness, call them by name and give them to the angel with the censer. Thus, you lift earth. "I won’t" is a challenge to all the evil forces in the universe. "I will" precipitates all past debts. Never use these phrases. "I will" is a challenge to every dark force to make you act and do it.—Edna Lister, October 12, 1964.


Where one has retrogressed completely to self, he draws to himself darkness and evil powers.—Edna Lister, January 12, 1966.


Every time you forgive, you lift evil into Light. Evil must have darkness in which to work. When you cover evil with Light, it has no power.—Edna Lister, Except for the Prayers of the Elect, July 3, 1966.


The slightest ascension means revelation for the world and Light in the darkest places.—Edna Lister, March 10, 1967.


No darkness exists except what man creates. When you recognize or "see" no darkness, then Light absorbs all darkness wherever you go.—Edna Lister, May 9, 1967.


Darkness is fading. When those of lesser intelligence congregate in hate, they join others like themselves. Make this declaration, "Just let me be perfect as Thou, Father, art perfect" and the kingdom of heaven will move in and absorb evil on earth.—Edna Lister, May 22, 1967.


Darkness always overplays its hand.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

Top ↑

Treatments for Healing Evil and Darkness

Treatment for darkness of any kind: Lift the persons involved to a cloud of Light and treat. If it is justice, it comes through the golden silence, and it will be done. This is the final erasing of opinions and prejudices, scraping the platter. It is the same as the past intolerance, impatience and resentment that try to pull others back.—Edna Lister, December 6, 1941.


Stand with arms folded, take a deep breath to draw magnetic currents from your feet and fold up around you like a lotus bud. Don’t do this to dominate another; it acts like a boomerang. Use it as a matter of principle and only to save another. Power rides down the etheric currents to meet the magnetic currents at the solar plexus and Light explodes in your aura.—Edna Lister, July 27, 1951.


You can recognize evil as "darkness." You need not see it, just feel it coming. Immediately say, "Take this, Father," for protection. Lift the evil when you feel it, before you see it.—Edna Lister, October 23, 1952.


Put a magnetic wall around cities, states and the nation to save them from evil propaganda and infiltration. Declare that nothing with evil intent can cross this magnetic line of Light. Speak the Word and the Father does the work. If you leave an opening, the magnetic wall of Light will not hold. These magnetic walls are at least 100 feet thick and 40,000 feet high.—Edna Lister, November 28, 1952.


When you reach out and hold people in your arms of Light, they cannot feel the pull of darkness, no matter how great.—Edna Lister, June 22, 1953.


Declare all things good and say, "The Power of the Living God consumes all darkness" or "This is good!" You lift to put darkness into the consuming fire to free another of God’s children. Say, "Let the Power move through me as an ambassador of Light to overcome all darkness."—Edna Lister, Soul Integration, December 8, 1957.


There is only one way to release earth: Enough of the Elect must love evil back into Light. We cannot look upon evil and not admit it. We are not dumb. We have knowledge of good and evil, light and darkness. After recognizing evil, say, "You shall turn to good, to the Light."—Edna Lister, December 19, 1957.


When you bruise or cut yourself, ask that all darkness be lifted from the neighborhood.—Edna Lister, May 28, 1959.


Just lift the clouds of darkness about you and ask for Light to come through them. Become the instrument and say, "Let these clouds be lifted." God wants us to be agents of the Light. Get up and stand as a pillar of Light. Name the people, places and situations where Light must permeate, not merely call God’s attention to it. "Let the Light go forth through me to this evil place. Please use me, Father." Go to the Source and do this; then see the shaft of fire going through the heart of the U.N., for example: "Let every organization be revealed in the Light."—Edna Lister, February 4, 1960.

Top ↑


New Testament on Spiritual Darkness

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.—John 12:35.

Top ↑


Six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.—Proverbs 6:16-19.


The wicked will not go unpunished.—Proverbs 11:21.


A perverse man sows strife; and a whisperer separates the best of friends.—Proverbs 16:28.


An evildoer gives heed to false lips; a liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.—Proverbs 17:4.


He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.—Proverbs 17:15.


The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.—Proverbs 28:1.


Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.—Proverbs 28:4.

Top ↑


Spiritual Darkness in Other Sacred Writings

Give to the godly man, and help not a sinner.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 12:4.


A wicked man hangs down his head sadly; but inwardly is full of deceit, casting down his countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he will do thee a mischief before you be aware. If for want of power he is hindered from sinning, yet when he finds opportunity he will do evil.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 19:26-28.

Top ↑




Edna Miriam Lister
1884—1971
The original Christian Pioneering Mystic,
Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


Etymology of evil: Old English yfel, "bad, vicious, ill, wicked, extreme moral wickedness." Evil was the word the Anglo‑Saxons used for "bad, cruel, unskillful, defective, or harm, crime, misfortune, disease."

Etymology of b>dark: Middle English derk, from Old English deorc, "dark, obscure, gloomy; sad, cheerless; sinister, wicked"; "absence of light" is the original meaning.


Choosing darkness or evil is a sin.


But Men Loved Darkness
Rather than Light

The world’s light shines, shine as it will,
The world will love its darkness still.
I doubt though when the world’s in hell,
It will not love its darkness half so well.
—Richard Crashaw


References

Crashaw, Richard. The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw. William B. Turnbull, editor. London: John Russell Smith, 1858.

Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, 2024.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

The Nag Hammadi Library. James M. Robinson, editor. San Francisco, Harper and Row, 1981.

The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Edition 2 volumes. Oxford University Press, 1971.