Wild Earth Gathering: Re-defining Darkness

Our culture, our world, in fact, is primarily concerned with darkness as a negative. This is no more truly found than in religion. It has taken a lifetime for me to recognize and experience that this landing in the heart of darkness is to find God. Indeed, the author of The Cloud of Unknowing wrote:

This darkness and cloud is always between you and God, no matter what you do… So set yourself to rest in this darkness as long as you can. For if you are to experience the Holy or to see the Source at all, in so as it is possible here, it must always be in this cloud and in this darkness.”*

We spent a good part of last winter “Honoring the darkness.” We continue this fall exploring the richness of darkness by remembering the many more-than-human beings that thrive in the dark. You are welcome to bring poems, songs, stories or movements that express the preciousness of darkness.

In preparation for Sunday afternoon, you may want to consider:

• What are the costs to our inner and outer lives in our praise of light over darkness?
• What do we obscure or deny when we discount darkness?
• How does fear control our view of darkness?
• How do I perceive God in darkness?
• How do I perceive God in light?

*Please note the word “God” has been replaced in two places in this quote with “the Holy” and

“the Source.”