Darkness comes as a result when problems in our lives become too overwhelming for us to bear. Death of a loved one, losing your job, being afflicted with a life-threatening disease, not having enough money, or being caught in an unfortunate accident are examples of things that can bring great distress to us.

Some symbols of pain and darkness include the color black, thorns, barbed wire, and broken chains. These symbols are often used to represent emotional or physical suffering, as well as the presence of negativity or adversity.