When I walk into a dark room, the first thing I do is reach for the light switch. Safety is my subconscious motivator, especially with a tiny black dog who is often underfoot. But in reality, I’m simply in the habit of switching lights on when I enter a room. So recently I have tried walking into a room, getting myself settled, and sitting in the darkness for a few minutes.  (Yup, there’s not a lot to do when it’s dark at 3:50 pm and freezing outside, so I’m getting creative 😉 )

I headed out to my “nest” the other night (which is a fancy “shed” with reclaimed furniture and a space heater), and decided not to turn on the floodlights. It’s a short walk across the flat grass so the risk was minimal. Still, I walked slowly since only a sliver of moon had returned. Normally I would have rushed out, focused on the work I was going to do. But walking in the darkness introduced just enough of a pause that I heard a Great Horned Owl calling through the night. What a gift!

Since I’ve learned how to manage the seasonal affective depression that creeps around this time of year, I’ve been able to embrace the darkness.  In one of her recent videos, spiritual teacher Heather Ensworth mentioned that she has been learning about how indigenous people of the southern hemisphere look at the night skies. The First Nations people of Australia don’t just focus on the stars and constellations that they form. They also look at the dark spaces between the stars for wisdom and guidance.

The Great Celestial Emu can be seen when looking at the Milky Way, and the position of the Great Emu signals when earthly emus are nesting. As the Great Emu moves across the skies, the Wiradjuri People would know the right time to collect emu eggs. Darkness has its own wisdom to share, and is the source of new life and rest.

On this winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, we have plenty of opportunities to experience darkness. What if we do not rush to turn on lights? What insights might emerge from a few minutes of sitting in the darkness?  If you have a moment to gaze at the night sky, can you see shapes in the dark spaces? If you are experiencing a dark time in your life, are there signs that the darkness is a womb that will give rise to new life and healing?

May these beautiful, dark days fill you with rest and peace.

Libby