Dark Spirituality is a broad term used to describe Left Hand Path religions, though among small groups of people it has developed into its own form of informal religion. The main difference to the left hand/right hand dichotomy is that it compares dark spiritualities to light spiritualities. It is believed that there are two ways of approaching spirituality. The light approach involves seeking after and commiting to a higher being that cares for its members in exchange for some benefit to the Goddess/Goddesses/God/Gods. The dark approach involves becoming responsible for ones own spiritual growth without the assistance of any Goddess/Goddesses/God/Gods.

Defining Dark Spirituality

Defining dark spirituality in the western world is difficult, because of its reliance on the individual to define their own spirituality. Dark spiritualists believe that each individual should be responsible for defining their own morality and spirituality. A person who goes to a God or authority figure to define their spirituality is often considered to be involved in light spirituality. Many left hand religions are considered to become light spirituality by dark spiritualist because of their worship of some form of God or Goddess. For this reason even Theistic Satanist are considered a light religion by some. Reliance on the philosophies of a single man will often cause a dark spiritulist to name a left hand path a light spirituality as well. This has caused some dark spiritualists to critisize those that follow the teachings of men like Anton Lavey.

Dark spiritualist are also divided on their belief of how one becomes dark. Some believe that dark versus light spirituality is not a choice, but is an inherent part of a person's nature from birth. Others argue that it is a chosen way to live that anyone can choose. The first school of thought believes that people discover they are dark after years of frustration in light religions. Some even claim they can sense a dark nature within others. The second school of thought sees dark spirituality more as a philosophy that one chooses to follow.

There is also a debate about whether there is a true dichotomy at all. Many will consider themselves in grey spirituality or shadow spirituality claiming that they have found a balance between both dark and light spirituality. This tends to be more popular among those who have adopted eastern philosophies along with dark spirituality. Most believe that there can be no middle ground, however. Many that do not agree there can be a middle ground ironically claim to have chosen a patron. A patron is believed to be a higher entity that assists the dark spiritualists in exchange for some service the dark spiritualist will provide for the patron. Many that claim to have patrons often consider the distinction between God and Patron to be significant.

The meaning of dark as a symbol in other religions also causes people to define dark spirituality with various different meanings. Christianity often views the dark as a symbol for evil. The Wiccan religion have a tendancy to view dark magik as a selfish or harmful practice. Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism also add the concept of dark being a characteristic that must come in balance with the light. Taoism has dark as a central theme that in no way relates to the dichotomy created in the west. Not only do these other religions change the way society as a whole views dark spirituality, but they have caused some groups of people to purposely describe themselves as dark to imply that they embody the characteristics these other religions hold for the term dark.

Perhaps the one thing all sides agree on is that dark spirituality represents non-conventional spirituality. The precise meaning of the path will change for every individual.