Light Amidst Darkness

Darkness has been on my mind. Winter being the dark season of the year, it makes sense. The current events around both the people and the land of Minnesota carry darkness too.

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Darkness.

Darkness is inevitable.

It is a part of life and it is a part of nature itself.

And whether we always like it or not, it is a crucial part of life…

For too much of anything, even light, can be detrimental. 

Darkness is powerful.

Powerful in both life-giving ways and powerful in life-taking ways.

Darkness is not innately “bad” or “good”, it simply is.

But sometimes, the darkness weighs heavy.

It is heavy when the light is dimmed and not so able to balance the darkness.

Although this is often really challenging, there is an important point to notice here:

Even when darkness is vast, light can persist.

Even when the darkness may only seem to grow and grow and grow,

The smallest amount of light can burst forth and shift the darkness.

Light prevents the darkness from fully taking over.

It offers a change in direction, it offers rebalancing…

Together they offer life, the endless cycles of light and dark.

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With life comes darkness.

This darkness may be experienced within our minds/bodies, within our families, within our communities, within ____ .

Knowing that darkness is a part of life does not take away the full weight or even the effects that it may have, but the awareness and knowing that light will not allow the darkness to take over offers hope.

So, how do we tend to the light in a season of darkness?

This can look as many ways as there are souls.

Here are some foundational ways that support the great majority:

• Connection

  
  

The need for connection is engrained into our very beings from the time of conception. Connection may be with one’s self, with one’s family (chosen or biological), with one’s community, with Nature, and/or with Spirit/God/etc. The types of connection that feel most supportive may vary depending on the season or situation.

• Expression

Expression offers an outlet for thoughts, feelings, beliefs, ideas -  it offers a way of processing as well as an opportunity to see something with a new perspective. You might find you prefer expressing yourself through writing, speaking, singing, making music, moving your body, creating art (paint, charcoal, ink, collage, etc.), or any of the other numerous options.

• Boundaries

Although boundaries may not seem like an obvious addition to this list, it feels vital to include. Boundaries create space because they support definition. Boundaries help us to put our energy where we desire and/or where we truly need to. We may find boundaries to be supportive around our inner worlds/thoughts/expressions, around our time/resources, around our environment, around what we consume (food and information), around any other aspect that we feel we need to create some space and definition around.

It is easy to underestimate the simple acts - the extra long hug that allows your nervous system to calm; the pause before committing to something so you can decide based on what is truly best for you in this moment or season of life; the phone conversation with a long-distance loved one/friend; the hour (or 10 minutes) spent “expressing” before bed; the warm mug of tea held with both hands as you smell and sip slowly.

One final point that feels really important to mention is that none of us have to journey the darkness alone. Sometimes, even when we are very capable beings, the darkness can feel like too much and a helping hand is needed.

Sometimes, that helping hand is through a loved one, a friend, a therapist, a stranger.

But also, that helping hand could be through an herbal remedy or a flower essence.

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Herbal remedies and flower essences are incredible support when traversing darkness.

To be clear, herbs cannot replace any of the aspects mentioned above - connection, expression, boundaries, and so on, but they can support us in being able to invite those things in and to take part in them a little easier.

For me, when there is a bit more darkness - a bit more stress, anxiety, depression, and/or sadness/grief, there are three different herbal tinctures often at the ready: Blue Vervain, a nervous system blend, and a heart blend.

> Blue Vervain because I tend to be someone who can set high standards - for myself and also sometimes with my loved ones. Blue Vervain supports me in easing the “control” and dropping a bit more into my body.

> The nervous system blend, which I blended myself and features Milky Oats, because in those times of stress and anxiety, this blend has a way of inviting calm. It is like getting one of those extra long calming hugs - it is just enough to help me to take a deep breath and drop back into the present.

> The heart blend, which I also blended myself and features Hawthorne, because sometimes darkness feels heavy on the heart - like a sort of depression with a tinge of grief/sadness. This blend is more like a supportive friend, one that I may rely on regularly for a bit of time to really start to feel its effects.

These are the herbal allies I personally have found to be supportive over time. The herbs and/or flower essences that support you may very likely be different.

If you find yourself desiring herbal support among the other forms of support you may already be leaning into, I would be honored to be “matchmaker” between you and the plants in a private consultation to help determine which herbs may be of support for you.

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Nature is showing us how the light returns.

We have passed the darkest days of Winter and we are making our way into the brightest days of the year. The sun already offers extra warmth along with the lengthening daylight.

May you allow yourself to feel the sun’s heat and allow the light to spark life within you.

Be well,

~ Kara