The Other ‘Dark Enlightenment’ Isn’t Magic—It’s a Mess

You know us—we love a good “dark and mysterious” vibe. We’ve brewed candles for shadow work, danced with the Dark Moon, and invoked deities who don’t always come wearing halos. But let’s clear something up before anyone gets confused:

The “Dark Enlightenment” that’s floating around online? Yeah… that’s not one of our candles. It’s not even a spell. It’s a political philosophy—and not the empowering, change-the-world kind. It’s the “let’s throw democracy out with the bathwater” kind.

So here’s a friendly PSA for our community of magic-makers, mystics, and conscious creators: just because it sounds witchy doesn’t mean it’s aligned with your soul.

What Even Is the "Dark Enlightenment"?

It sounds like it could be the name of a shadow work ritual or a new moon meditation, right? But no. The Dark Enlightenment is actually a term coined by Nick Land, a British philosopher with a flair for doom, tech dystopias, and dismantling democracy. It’s part of a fringe political movement called neoreaction, or NRx, that basically says:

• Democracy has failed.
  
  
• Hierarchy is divine.
  
  
• Equality is a myth.
  
  
• Tech CEOs or monarchs should run the world.
  
  

It’s like someone mixed Ayn Rand with a tech bro and gave him a sword. Not exactly candle-worthy.

Why Should You Care?

Because language matters. And we know our community is full of seekers, shadow workers, and deep divers who aren’t afraid to explore the dark to find the light. But we also know that some of these shadowy philosophies are wolves in mystical clothing. They use spiritual-sounding language to mask agendas that are anything but soulful.

So let’s be clear:

Our version of Dark Enlightenment looks like:

• Journaling by candlelight about your inner saboteur
  
  
• Calling your power back from generational trauma
  
  
• Anointing your third eye with oil and clarity
  
  

Their version looks like:

• Rejecting human rights as inefficient
  
  
• Worshipping authoritarian leaders
  
  
• Dismissing empathy as weakness
  
  

What We Believe

We believe in:

• Shadow work that heals, not hierarchy that harms.
  
  
• Sovereignty that empowers, not control that restricts.
  
  
• Enlightenment that expands, not elitism that shrinks.
  
  

If you stumbled upon the term and thought, "Ooo, is that a new Coventry candle?" you're not alone. It should be a candle. And honestly, it might be someday—but our version would come with a mirror, a truth bomb, and a permission slip to burn it all down (metaphorically, of course).

Until then, just know this: We work with shadows, not dictators.

Stay magical, stay aware, and always check the label before you light something up.

A Personal Note from Jacki

I came across the Dark Enlightenment when I was researching what Elon Musk's endgame might be with the gutting of our government. At first, I thought it was a fringe conspiracy theory—like the lizard people taking over the Queen of England. But lo and behold, this ideology is very real, and it’s influencing major players and platforms. It may as well have been a free-inside prize from my favorite childhood breakfast cereal: terrifyingly real and brightly packaged.

Understanding what we're up against is a form of magical defense. Awareness is power, and power is sacred.

Want to Learn More?

Here are some places to explore further:

• Dark Enlightenment overview on RationalWiki
• Vox article explaining the neoreactionary movement
• The Dangerous History of the ‘Dark Enlightenment’ – TIME
• The far-right philosopher behind the new right – Financial Times
• Curtis Yarvin and Trump: The dark intellectual roots – The Guardian

Want to dive into real shadow work? Start with our Needed Change or Inner Balance candles. We promise—no fascism included.