DAZZLING DARKNESS
for the full moon on September 17, 2024
There is in God, some say,
A deep but dazzling darkness, as men here
Say it is late and dusky, because they
See not all clear.
~ excerpt from “The Night”
by Henry Vaughan, 17th century poet
Full Moon Tea for September 17th:
Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
In both a physical and a metaphorical sense, I have learned to appreciate the absence of light. I find comfort in shadowy darkness and in midnight skies; I find richness and depth in what is unknown and mysterious. When I close my eyes at night I sense the hidden light that lives in pitch darkness. It is expansive, and brims with infinite possibility and unknown edges.
In darkness there is restoration, a type of inner respite that purifies the sight.
Our lives are profoundly influenced by what we see and the multiplicity of images that we consume. Whether it’s by the light of day — or by the light of our imaginations — our psyches are filled with imagery. Images can be powerful and fascinating, and when they come from our imagination or our dreams they can offer glimpses of our deepest soul self. The images we are exposed to — and that we create — can be doorways of possibility and inspiration, but they can also be portals of escape and delusion. We must be discerning with the imagery we steep ourselves in.
It is wise to rest both our inner and outer eyes at times.
In my own life I want to cultivate my night vision — the ability to look into the dark so deeply that I am no longer looking. Instead, I am immersed in the presence of darkness, the absence of imagery, the possibility of nothing and everything at once. While I will always seek out illuminated imagery that speaks to my deepest self, I will also continue to rest in and be nourished by the dark. From time to time I will remove myself from all images so that I can clarify my inner and outer vision. Darkness has such power.
Our lives are momentary flickers glowing for a short and precious time across the infinite plains of “deep but dazzling darkness.” We are made to seek out and to love the light, but we are also made to navigate through and return to the all-encompassing, embracing darkness.
With full moon blessings,
Steph
DAZZLING DARKNESS
Everything experienced, and everything seen are fleeting sparks that bloom from eternal, dark vastness. All pulsing stars and swirling galaxies, and all bright lives are sacred, shining moments that eventually return back to their dark, fertile origin.