As we in the northern hemisphere find our daylight diminishing and the night increasing, our bodies move into the rhythms of rest and renewal, even of hibernation. Well, at least our bodies try. Our society fights against the earth’s rhythms with all of its might through lots and lots of lumens of artificial light. Think about life before the advent of artificial life: it was tough to do much or go anywhere after dark without artificial light, because you plain couldn’t see very well. The roads were dark, and lanterns could only do so much to light a way. Just driving up my hill home in the dark when my headlights suddenly went out was illuminating (ha!) in just how much we depend on artificial light especially in the winter. We turn on the lights, the TV, we go places in our lighted cars, we keep busy, busy, busy, even playing sports on fields with massive power lighting the way.
We push against the natural flow of yin energy in our very yang society. We force awake what needs to rest, and force to grow what needs to lie fallow.
Perhaps this is because of the Westerner’s idea that darkness is bad: The Light versus the Darkness in a nearly never-ending battle of good versus evil. In Eastern philosophy we find a different idea. We find that not all darkness is bad. In fact, most of it isn’t. Darkness is good and necessary. The darkness of rich, black fertile soil requires compost and fallow times in order for the growth of spring. The darkness of space and the night sky, allows rest of bodies and minds from constant motion. The darkness of the womb allows for gestation and creation.
In typical Western fashion we have misunderstood the yin—symbol of the feminine principle and darkness and the yang—symbol of the masculine principle and light. In the West, many interpret that the white or yang part of the yin-yang symbol means good and the black or yin part means bad or evil. We have imposed good vs. evil onto another paradigm that doesn’t call for it. In Taoism, both yin and yang are good, both are necessary, and they require balance between the two for health and harmony. In fact in the Tao Te Ching, there is one verse I’d translate as “Nod to the yang, but bow to the yin.” In other words, if you have to choose which one should be slightly ahead in the dynamic balance between yin and yang, choose yin.
We push against the natural flow of yin energy in our very yang society. We force awake what needs to rest, and force to grow what needs to lie fallow.
Perhaps this is because of the Westerner’s idea that darkness is bad: The Light versus the Darkness in a nearly never-ending battle of good versus evil. In Eastern philosophy we find a different idea. We find that not all darkness is bad. In fact, most of it isn’t. Darkness is good and necessary. The darkness of rich, black fertile soil requires compost and fallow times in order for the growth of spring. The darkness of space and the night sky, allows rest of bodies and minds from constant motion. The darkness of the womb allows for gestation and creation.
In typical Western fashion we have misunderstood the yin—symbol of the feminine principle and darkness and the yang—symbol of the masculine principle and light. In the West, many interpret that the white or yang part of the yin-yang symbol means good and the black or yin part means bad or evil. We have imposed good vs. evil onto another paradigm that doesn’t call for it. In Taoism, both yin and yang are good, both are necessary, and they require balance between the two for health and harmony. In fact in the Tao Te Ching, there is one verse I’d translate as “Nod to the yang, but bow to the yin.” In other words, if you have to choose which one should be slightly ahead in the dynamic balance between yin and yang, choose yin.
There may be several things that contribute to our society’s misunderstandings of light and dark and it’s imbalanced push of yang over yin. Perhaps our childhood fears of being afraid in the dark are a factor. Perhaps it is because when it is light out in the spring and summer, we still live mainly indoors and miss the feeding of light our bodies need from the extra sun, so we feel intensely the lack of light in the winter, crave it, and keep the lights on, which keeps us up and busy. Perhaps our rejection of the sacred feminine in religions compounds it. Perhaps the Caucasian ego has posited light (skin) over dark (skin) as a way to gain and hold power in multi-layered systems of racism. Perhaps we are simply addicted to stimulation.
This autumn leading up to the winter solstice, choose to honor the goodness of darkness, the blessing of darkness. Have times for deep rest, for space and sacred nourishment apart from the busyness of the holidays. Honor the sacred feminine. Honor the earth. Honor the black Madonna. Honor whatever feels like nourishment to your body and soul. You may find yourself swimming against our society’s ever-continuous tide toward the out-of-balance yang. I’d recommend not trying to swim against that tide because that’s just more yang energy and it’s exhausting! Instead, just float with the flow of life! When you feel the push to do more, notice the increased feeling of pressure inside, and say, “Hi I see you. I’m going to rest instead.” Get in touch with your body’s natural rhythms through a gentle practice of movement or breathwork or energy work. Feel the Oneness with the earth and with all Life, you’ll know the Flow that is balance and harmony and peace.
This autumn leading up to the winter solstice, choose to honor the goodness of darkness, the blessing of darkness. Have times for deep rest, for space and sacred nourishment apart from the busyness of the holidays. Honor the sacred feminine. Honor the earth. Honor the black Madonna. Honor whatever feels like nourishment to your body and soul. You may find yourself swimming against our society’s ever-continuous tide toward the out-of-balance yang. I’d recommend not trying to swim against that tide because that’s just more yang energy and it’s exhausting! Instead, just float with the flow of life! When you feel the push to do more, notice the increased feeling of pressure inside, and say, “Hi I see you. I’m going to rest instead.” Get in touch with your body’s natural rhythms through a gentle practice of movement or breathwork or energy work. Feel the Oneness with the earth and with all Life, you’ll know the Flow that is balance and harmony and peace.
“All Darkness is full of Light, it’s just Light that’s outside
our field of human vision.” ~FB friend
our field of human vision.” ~FB friend
