The Official Darkwards Code
The definition of darkwards is: towards darkness; to be truly devoted to the night and darkness. Just like upwards or downwards, but here it's darkwards, and we pronounce it "dark woods". This section (just for fun) has 7 codes that govern the darkwards lifestyle. How darkwards are you? Read carefully.
#1: Go to nature at night
Nature reserves and forests are fantastic places to go to immerse yourself in the dead of night. Graveyards are a good choice too. You can enjoy the moonlight, or the sea of stars on a dark moonless clear night. If you're new to venturing out at night, start with familiar places and go when the full moon is out.
#2: Set apps to dark mode
If you are clever enough to know how to use an app, you should know that the darkwards way is to search for the dark setting before anything else. Get that dark mode turned on! If you are using a social or messaging service to communicate with others and you wish to share some love to your recipient/s, it is most sincere when it matches the colour of your true heart and soul.
Don't send a ❤️!
Send a 🖤!
#3: Wear black
The more you are covered in black, the more darkwards you are. Wearing black from head to toe is a way to immerse yourself in and embrace darkness. If you're wearing white, it should be on April 1st! Otherwise, the spirits of darkness will still consider you an April Fool regardless of the date, and they'll gossip and laugh about how undarkwards you are.
Here's a short darkwards poem: wearing white, or anything bright, in the woods at night, will not feel right.
#4: Listen to dark music
Good genres include dark ambient, darkwave, black metal among others. The choice is yours, but no darkwards aura points are earned for singing and dancing to Barbie Girl.
Here is a list of great bands:
Darkspace, Darkseed, Darkcell, Dark Tranquility, Dark Oath, Dark Funeral, Dark Fortress, Darkest Horizon, Dark the Suns, Spell of Dark, Dark Forest, Black Forest, Black Therapy, Nightcreepers, Nightland, Nightwish, Beast in Black, Twilight Force, Midnight Eternal, Midnight Odyssey, Midnight Realm, Moonlight Sorcery, Sunless Rise, Swallow the Sun, Obsidian Gate, Starforger, Ghostheart Nebula, Nebula Orionis, Astrophobos, Duskmourn, Nyktophobia, Insomnium, Woods of Desolation, Cryptic Wintermoon, Wintersun, Suotana, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, Evilfeast, Battle Dagorath, Dimmu Borgir
#5: Know the night sky
The night sky is likely the most amazing thing darkness has to offer. Learn the planets, stars, constellations, galaxies etc, look up to the night sky and observe. Howling at the moon is optional. If you go out campaigning against light pollution, you'll become a darkwards hero. Light pollution doesn't even just wash out the night sky, it is also an environmental disaster that's harmful to wildlife and human health.
You must always keep track of the lunar cycle. Actually, I will say it's a major sin to forget the shape of the moon, and hell-fire awaits those who commit the shocking act of "lunar negligence". All sins have earthly consequences too: the sky will laugh as the stars glare at you like >1000 disapproving grandmothers, and the moon itself will find you and shine down laser beams of tutting and disappointment. You could sense a faith of love and amazement through the cosmos, but no, through ignorance and fear you shall repent, ignore sense, obey and never question.
#6: Keep others in darkness
Darkness is not just in the woods, it's a way of life that surrounds and lives inside us. It's your choice how much of yourself you share, but to be dark and hidden is empowering and liberating in a society where knowledge is often misusable power.
#7: Follow darkwards666 on Instagram
If you haven't already done this... then get on with it.