The Duality of Darkness
seeking the hidden wealth of secret places
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I said to my soul, be still, and let the dark come upon you
Which shall be the darkness of God. As, in a theatre,
The lights are extinguished, for the scene to be changed
With a hollow rumble of wings, with a movement of darkness on darkness,
And we know that the hills and the trees, the distant panorama
And the bold imposing facade are all being rolled away-- T.S. Elliot
Darkness is a duality. On the one hand, it terrifies us, yet we instinctively know it holds power and knowledge. Let's explore.
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In Western thought, darkness, like the left hand, sinister (that is sinister), is suggestive of darkness or evil, and comes from a Latin word meaning "on the left side."
We see this played out on the Tarot card of the High Priestess; the pillar on the left is black, and the one on the right is white. We see it on the Tree of Life in Kabbalah; the left-hand column is severity, and the right is mercy. Tarot and Kabbalah are products of Western thought, and they sit under the umbrella of the occult, meaning that which is hidden and, therefore, embedded in darkness.
Western thought also suggests that God is light and has no darkness. But then we have this tantalizing statement about God: Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to You. (that's in the Bible, by the way)
The even more explicit pronouncement from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah goes like this...
I will give you the treasures of darkness, And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
This negates the strict duality of darkness=bad and light=good.
There are real reasons that the dark terrifies us. Dangers lurk in the dark, and since sight is our primary sense, darkness makes us vulnerable. For our ancestors, predators that hunted humans at night were a reality. Even something being hidden, another aspect of darkness, was a threat because predators and enemies could be hidden from sight even in daylight. As a species, we've grown to like things that are plainly seen and understood and to fear things found in the darkness or hidden from our immediate perception.
You can see how this survival mechanism transferred to other less tangible things like ideas and beliefs. Things we easily understand and are out in the open as part of daily life or public religious observance are not considered threats. More problematic, complex, and paradoxical truths are eyed with suspicion.
Here’s another interesting way that the duality of light and dark and the duality of darkness itself as terrifying yet filled with hidden wisdom is hinted at. The word apocalypse comes from Latin and means “revelation or disclosure.” We can trace the origins of this word from Latin to the earlier Greek and finally all the way back to the Proto-Indo-European kel- which means "to cover, conceal, or save." When secret or hidden knowledge of the truth that has been concealed over the centuries is revealed, it triggers the apocalypse, the end of the world. It is the light of revelation that brings about destruction, not the darkness that hid and kept that knowledge safe.
There's a long history spanning millenniums of sacred knowledge deemed too powerful and, therefore, too dangerous for the general populace. It's knowledge that's kept hidden in the darkness. This is the seed of exoteric and esoteric wisdom. The outer and inner, the revealed and the hidden, the light and the dark.
To only embrace the light puts you at risk of living life in a sentimental dream as insubstantial as cotton candy. A saccharine world of fluff and frailty unable to support you when the inevitable trials of life descend.
The "hidden wealth of secret places" is worth seeking out as we enter the season of darkness.
This time of year brings the energy of growing darkness and the movement of the cosmos, shifting us from equilibrium in Libra-Justice to the deep waters of Scorpio and Death.
For the next several weeks, I encourage you to explore the darkness and what is hidden. Within whatever tradition you place yourself, I guarantee there are places of darkness where difficult truths, but truths nonetheless reside. The darkness is dangerous, so prepare, seek a guide, and set your intention to discover the truth and pure, helpful knowledge that, while challenging, will do no harm. Don't be afraid to align yourself with the natural turning of the season and the receding of the light. Every year, we are offered this opportunity as a gateway into what is hidden yet available to us if we seek it.
The Moon is an excellent guide for traversing the darkness. Remember to read more about 13 Moons of Samhain and the invitation it holds to reveal the hidden wealth of secret places waiting for you in the season of growing darkness.
Let us respect the mysteries of the darkness but keep our lamps burning. ~ A.E. Waite
What have you discovered about the darkness? How does darkness fit into your spiritual belief system? How do you reconcile the duality of dark and light in the divine?
The comments section is a safe and welcoming space to share your insights and experiences.
Comments and conversation are always appreciated and enjoyed, so feel free to let your voice be heard. I read them all and try to respond to each one.
Thank you for reading Hedge Mystic and participating in this vibrant and growing community of creative, spiritual humans. You are always welcome here, appreciated, and loved.
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Discussion is encouraged. Leave your reactions and insights in the comments.
2 years post fracture of my left foot, also 2 years now into my 7th decade on this beautiful planet, I find myself stepping timidly into dark places within which I used to feel secure and familiar. I resolve to continue stepping out with the belief that in time the darkness will be a place revealing my innermost fears and calming my outward timidity. Thank you Jan for your insights.
Love the reminder that within darkness lies illumination. As has been said so often, we can't know light without dark, and vice versa. My practice of journaling has waxed and waned, like the moon. It's always the right time to restore that habit, but now seems especially appropriate. Thank you, Jan.