This is lovely, and had me sending screenshots to loved ones this morning! It also got me thinking about the complicated nature of the light/darkness dualism. The way it's been associated with both gendered and racial hierarchies, which continually troubles me. And that got me thinking about Taoist teachings (among others!) that value the balance of light and dark, of yin and yang, of inner and outer, of male and female, and teach that these things are in a constant state of transformation, that balance is a dynamic state. And THEN I started re-reading this poem, as less of longing to counteract or nullify one state of being (sadness = bad, joy = good), and more about a prayer to bring BALANCE. Thank you so much for these meditations! They are so inspiring, and really helpful to give a focus for reflection! This is wonderful.
Thanks so much, Suzanne, for sharing your experience and insights here. YES - a prayer for balance! And, remembering that always-implied "sow" lingering in the background. I too have been picturing the ying-yang symbol as I write. I really appreciate the connections and conversations around these posts -- it's a delight to witness the wisdom and heart of readers. 🕊🤍
Just before my last overseas assignment, a friend from USAID called to wish me Godspeed, for which I was grateful. Then she asked if I would mind hearing something from her Friend tradition. Of course I wanted to hear.
She said she prayed that I would stay in the Light as I took on my new responsibilities. Little did I know how deeply she touched me with her words as I found myself in the depths of darkness. But I lived with the determination to either be in the Light and to progress toward it.
She’ll never know how her gift of words kept me from drowning in the darkness.
Beautiful essay, Julie. This series is a masterclass, thank you for all of the care and thought and love you pour into each. Light and dark, day and night even the portrayal of yin and yang, we dwell in both, and both dwell in us. As Suzanne commented, balance is key. Your words spoke to me in so many ways. I am seeing and agreeing we can't know one without the other. We can unexpectedly be light in someone else's darkness or sadly darken someone's light. thank you for expanding this powerful image, I'm going to go have a cup of tea.
The simple act of lighting a candle can be so powerful if we evoke intention or prayer. It's something I rarely do in the morning so I appreciate this reminder. This may be my favorite of all your paintings Julie, it's amazing!
Thanks, Donna! It’s one of my faves, too. And I love beeswax votives — the smell and color are such a treat. To picture the grains of pollen on the bees’ leg hairs and the miracle of them making sunlight into wax. . . .
Love this meditation on the balancing energies of light and darkness. So in tune with my recent story “defending the dark.” I’m nearly finished with Samantha Clark’s deeply moving memoir The Clearing, and read her own contemplations of darkness and light in a chapter last night. She writes, “darkness isn’t something to be eliminated, ignored, fixed, or got rid of. It isn’t just an absence of light. It’s an active agent, interacting with light to produce the effects we see as color.”
She goes on to explore how yellow is light with a tinge of darkness. While blues are darkness with a tinge of light. Both, essential for life to express itself in an ever-dynamic dance of opposites.
Oh, wow, that sounds marvelous. Will have to check it out. Nearly finished with “Orbital,” itself a meditation on light and dark. (And many other things.)
Thank you, again, Julie. I'm reminded of the Buddhist teaching that light and darkness do not exist without each other. I can't wrap my head around that, but I don't think I'm necessarily supposed to. I think I'm just going to carry it with me instead.
Lovely as always, Julie, and so thought-provoking. I was recently thinking about the experience of being in the mountains at night vs being in them during the day. The ways of being in them in light and darkness are very different. One is not right and the other wrong. They're just different, and valuable.
Well said. The darkness does seem all the darker in the mountains and forest. The absence of light pollution seems to make sounds more distinct, for one thing.
This is lovely, and had me sending screenshots to loved ones this morning! It also got me thinking about the complicated nature of the light/darkness dualism. The way it's been associated with both gendered and racial hierarchies, which continually troubles me. And that got me thinking about Taoist teachings (among others!) that value the balance of light and dark, of yin and yang, of inner and outer, of male and female, and teach that these things are in a constant state of transformation, that balance is a dynamic state. And THEN I started re-reading this poem, as less of longing to counteract or nullify one state of being (sadness = bad, joy = good), and more about a prayer to bring BALANCE. Thank you so much for these meditations! They are so inspiring, and really helpful to give a focus for reflection! This is wonderful.
Love this, Suzanne. The gendered and racial hierarchies bother me too. Balance is such a good word!
Thanks so much, Suzanne, for sharing your experience and insights here. YES - a prayer for balance! And, remembering that always-implied "sow" lingering in the background. I too have been picturing the ying-yang symbol as I write. I really appreciate the connections and conversations around these posts -- it's a delight to witness the wisdom and heart of readers. 🕊🤍
Just before my last overseas assignment, a friend from USAID called to wish me Godspeed, for which I was grateful. Then she asked if I would mind hearing something from her Friend tradition. Of course I wanted to hear.
She said she prayed that I would stay in the Light as I took on my new responsibilities. Little did I know how deeply she touched me with her words as I found myself in the depths of darkness. But I lived with the determination to either be in the Light and to progress toward it.
She’ll never know how her gift of words kept me from drowning in the darkness.
Oh, my, what a good friend. I imagine by holding that intention, you were the light in many situations.
Sometimes words are more powerful than any medicine or weapon.
Beautiful essay, Julie. This series is a masterclass, thank you for all of the care and thought and love you pour into each. Light and dark, day and night even the portrayal of yin and yang, we dwell in both, and both dwell in us. As Suzanne commented, balance is key. Your words spoke to me in so many ways. I am seeing and agreeing we can't know one without the other. We can unexpectedly be light in someone else's darkness or sadly darken someone's light. thank you for expanding this powerful image, I'm going to go have a cup of tea.
Beautiful, Leslie! Thanks for coming along on this journey. And for sharing your thoughts. 🕊️🤍
Now I understand your tea bag surprise. It really IS perfect! 🥰
You can’t make this stuff up.
I love this! I think of darkness as the unknown, but it can be known. There is a mystery in darkness, and it often takes courage to investigate it.
Well said. Carl Jung’s guidance on befriending the darkness within us is profound. Any spiritual growth or evolution demands it.
The simple act of lighting a candle can be so powerful if we evoke intention or prayer. It's something I rarely do in the morning so I appreciate this reminder. This may be my favorite of all your paintings Julie, it's amazing!
Thanks, Donna! It’s one of my faves, too. And I love beeswax votives — the smell and color are such a treat. To picture the grains of pollen on the bees’ leg hairs and the miracle of them making sunlight into wax. . . .
I agree, they are the best candles.
Love this meditation on the balancing energies of light and darkness. So in tune with my recent story “defending the dark.” I’m nearly finished with Samantha Clark’s deeply moving memoir The Clearing, and read her own contemplations of darkness and light in a chapter last night. She writes, “darkness isn’t something to be eliminated, ignored, fixed, or got rid of. It isn’t just an absence of light. It’s an active agent, interacting with light to produce the effects we see as color.”
She goes on to explore how yellow is light with a tinge of darkness. While blues are darkness with a tinge of light. Both, essential for life to express itself in an ever-dynamic dance of opposites.
Oh, wow, that sounds marvelous. Will have to check it out. Nearly finished with “Orbital,” itself a meditation on light and dark. (And many other things.)
I have that queued up on my Kindie!
Oh, it's a treat!!!
Thank you, again, Julie. I'm reminded of the Buddhist teaching that light and darkness do not exist without each other. I can't wrap my head around that, but I don't think I'm necessarily supposed to. I think I'm just going to carry it with me instead.
Well said. It’s one of those both-are-true enigmas that’s easier to hold in the body than to understand with the mind.
Yes, and thank you for reminding me about my body:)
I always need reminding. 🤣
Lovely as always, Julie, and so thought-provoking. I was recently thinking about the experience of being in the mountains at night vs being in them during the day. The ways of being in them in light and darkness are very different. One is not right and the other wrong. They're just different, and valuable.
Well said. The darkness does seem all the darker in the mountains and forest. The absence of light pollution seems to make sounds more distinct, for one thing.
Another excellent Rumi quote!
He’s pretty darn quotable! ☺️