Darkness often carries connotations of fear, the unknown, and uncertainty. Yet, as nature teaches us, darkness is not only necessary but profoundly fertile. It is the rich soil where seeds take root, the sanctuary of the womb where life begins, and the quiet, restorative space we enter when we close our eyes in sleep.
Darkness is not the absence of light but a partner in the dance of growth and transformation.
Think of seeds nestled in the soil. Hidden from view, they are cradled by the earth, drawing on its nutrients and moisture to begin their metamorphosis. They emerge only when they are ready, pushing through the surface to meet the sun. Without the dark, there would be no growth, no blossoming.
The same is true for us.
Sleep, for instance, is a time when we surrender to the dark, allowing our bodies and minds to replenish. It is not an interruption of life but an essential component of our wellbeing. The womb itself, the place where all of us began, reminds us that darkness can hold potential, creation, and safety.
At this time of year, as winter approaches in the northern hemisphere, the days shorten, and the nights grow longer, and we are invited to embrace more darkness in our lives. This season mirrors the natural cycle of rest and renewal. Like animals that hibernate, we, too, can use this time to slow down, reflect, and restore ourselves.
The long nights offer an opportunity to turn inward, to connect with our inner wisdom, and to dream into being what we wish to nurture in the year ahead.
Just as the earth rests in winter to prepare for spring, we can use this time to plant the seeds of new intentions and allow them to gestate in the fertile soil of our quiet reflection.
This could be something for you to journal on at this time, to lean in to asking yourself and your intuition, what would I love to nurture during this time? What seeds do I want to plant to bring to harvest in the year ahead?
If darkness is such a natural part of our experience and growth, why do we so often fear it? Perhaps it’s because we’ve been conditioned to associate it with loss or isolation.
But when you view darkness through a lens of opportunity, it shifts from a source of fear to a place of possibility.
When you encounter a season of darkness in your life – be it uncertainty, grief, a sense of being stuck, or simply wintertime – it is an invitation. This is a moment to turn inward, to reconnect with the light that resides within you. Your inner light, your essence, does not vanish in the dark; it becomes more distinct, more apparent. Just as a single candle illuminates a dark room, your light shines brightest in moments of darkness.
To make friends with the dark is to embrace its role in your life. It is to honour the pauses, the quiet moments, and the unseen growth happening beneath the surface. It is to trust that, like the seed in the soil or the sleeper in the night, you are becoming.
The next time you find yourself in darkness, ask:
What is this fertile space offering me?
How can I nurture my light here?