Monthly Archives: November 2024

In Defense of The Dark

Photo by Anjana Mebane-Cruz 12/21/24

I am so sick of analogies of darkness being equated with evil/the bad/deprivation. I’m too tired to shriek, so here goes.

We and everything in the natural world were created in darkness. We cry when we’re spasmed out of that nurturing and soothing place into the bright light of turmoil. We adults forget that we need the darkness to shade our eyes, to rest and sleep, to be creative. We value the lotus, but scorn the mud. Yet it is that darkness that not only creates the flower, but continues to feed it and to hold it up to receive the sun. Without that mud, it shrivels and dies, and no amount of light will save it.

Although it exists, most seldom know the healthful balance between Dark and Light, not as opposing forces, but mutually sustaining. We draw sustenance and wealth from the dark, rich Earth, and She is nurtured by rays of Sun, and quenched by the loving Waters. In balance, all is fruitful and giving, and through them, we exist.

Fearing the dark has never made any sense to me. Anything that can happen under cover of darkness can happen in a well lighted space, and the light at the end of the tunnel is likely to be a train you won’t survive. I crave the quietness that comes with sunset- I love how everything in the natural world pauses at twilight before the night singers begin their chirps and croaks, how the ones who hunt at night have silent feathers to blend in with the hush of night. I love the time when loved ones share a meal and stories or simply sit or lie together. That our ancient selves know that work and stress should stop at night, despite our 24-7 societies now. That our bodies fail without the dark and the peaceful quiet that it brings. We ruin it with our lights, and noise, and activities, our bombs flashing, and led lights, but our bodies hold fast to their origins and fail to thrive amidst such things, our health and quality of life diminished and shortened with each additional assault.

I say these things in part because of colour prejudices I’ve heard my entire life, amped up every few years, and accompanied by vile and violent acts against other humans. I’m writing because every time someone equates darkness with evil/ignorance, they are subtly or not so subtly reifying tropes of superiority, inequality, and ideas about worth, and value in our cultures.

I say it for the more trivial reason that our “NY style wardrobes”have an abundance of dark clothing for which we are gently teased when in semi or tropical climes. I honestly find an abundance of bright colours jarring, albeit sometimes beautiful. There are colours I don’t want on my bed and bright patterns that would keep me up at night, without a doubt. In nature, bright colours delight me, but the manufactured versions seem out of place and never have the vibrancy of living things. How could they?

Where I come from, colours have energy and spiritual associations. White is the colour of Death- the loss of our rainbows and life, the ash and bones left in the end. It’s the North, where the Ancestors dwell- not to be feared, but certainly the end story for mortals. Black is Creation and the Source of all Life. It is Earth, the Womb, and Mother. Red is Life, the blood in our veins. Yellow is the Sun, our Father, and lover of Earth. Blue is the Water that sparks Life for all. Green is Sustenance and the Beauty of nature. All necessary elements and aspects of our full cycle, in balance. All are of The Good.

To malign any is to put your ignorance and imbalances on full display. It is a form of violence carried throughout societies for generations. It is a harsh denial of our real place and path in partnership with Earth and all within. It’s also grammatically unnecessary. If you want to say “bad” say bad. “Bad” and “ignorant” have dozens of synonyms you can use. Question your symbology, open or Google a thesaurus, and leave the Dark to her peace.

UNITED WE STAND

There’s no longer any chance that Senator Schumer’s “No Kings Act”- an obvious deterrent against Executive Branch overreach-will pass. Nor will any other legislation that benefits working Americans. Many of the usual forms of civil public pressure are unlikely to be effective after December, and it’s likely that even the most tame forms of resistance will be met with increasingly harsh repercussions. While resistance seems to boil up about every thirty years, there hasn’t been a viable third party coordinated with nationally organized protests since the 1930s.

Sadly, it’s unlikely that enough people can organize and come together for a general labor strike this year, and in other year or two, unions and even such basic actions could be illegal if we’re not vigilant, stalwart, and courageous.
So rest, regroup, and connect with the natural world we hope to save. Rest is also an act of resistance in our hyper capitalist society, and a right to be protected. Connect as well with the established organizers/organizations already working and who have a track record in community action and alliance/coalition building with diverse communities and groups.

We’re not starting from scratch, folks. The struggle has been essentially the same for 405-532 years for many of us, so welcome aboard. If you’re new to a group, remember what the old folks used to say, “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Be humble, listen, and learn before assuming…anything. While everyone is needed, it’s on you to learn where and when your expertise/experience might serve. It’s also on you to recognize your limits, of experience in diversity as well as personal energy. Humans don’t learn well on overwhelm, so while you want to expand your knowledge of self snd others, be aware of the emotional work involved and support yourself as needed- counseling therapy, yoga, massage, etc. Don’t expect to burden BIPOC with teaching you beyond required basics of the group(s) and don’t rely on allyship or other proximity to BIPOC to avoid the work of establishing new group or individual relationships. Allow time to grow real relationships: this is life work that didn’t start in 2016, and won’t end in four years.

We are always playing the long game, and thinking otherwise is counterproductive. Long term strategies combined with immediate tactics can lead to the systemic, changes necessary for long term, sustainable change and success. The ordinary people for whom integrity, ethical substance, kindness, and fair play matter will be the Marvel heroes and A Team, but only if united. The old ideas of aggressive competition and greed that have been centered since the 80s have led us to this sorry state: American vs American, ignorance of the largess and equality that is the New Testament’s central theme, and a very general unkindness and lack of compassion towards everyone. Antipathy towards science and critical thought mark our entrance to the new wave of the Dark Ages.

Much as many would like to deny it, this is who the corporate “we” have been, but it’s not written in stone and we can choose a different path. We can save what’s always been the best part of the American Dream and our greatest strength: unity in diversity.

A luta continua.