Embracing the Night

 Good afternoon.  We're having a rainy, cool Sunday here, but that's okay.  It's nice to hear the rain beating against the windows and know that you don't have to go out in it.  I had a beautiful day yesterday...and a beautiful night.  I waited until after dark...when my neighbors had all gone in and closed their doors...then went out and sat under the stars, savoring my quiet down-time. I love the sunny days of spring, but the night has always been my time.

Many are more comfortable during the day, but  I've always loved the night, the darkness. I guess you can say I am a 'night person'.  I remember when I was a little girl, my parents would allow me to set up a tent and sleep in the backyard, but sleep was something I got very little of for as soon as I was sure they were asleep, I would climb out of the tent and sit out under the stars...the only sounds around me were the crickets.  And many a night, you would find me sitting up in bed in the wee hours of the morning, just staring out the window at the darkness.  As a young woman, I spent many a night just sitting on our front porch and watching the dawn as it rose. There was nothing like it.  And, when I moved to the city, I worked in a bar from 8 pm to 4 am, and when I got off work , instead of going into my room for sleep, I would go across the street to Washington Square Park and wait until morning.  (At that time, the parks were open at night) And the night there, had its own culture, its own people who only came out at night.

I find comfort in the dark; it's something that I relish. I've always found the quiet of the evening peaceful, and oh, so inviting.  A walk at midnight on a star- filled night is so refreshing.  Everything slows down, and there are not as many distractions...even here in the city. The night is a great time for experiencing inner peace.  There is many a night that I've sat outdoors gazing at the  sky and feeling as if I am a part of... myself...I am a part of this universe, and this universe is me.  Another part of enjoying the darkness is utilizing exploring your imagination.  It's a whole other world out there; it is a world of shadows and the creatures of the night. How different the trees and the plants appears in this shadowy world where nothing appears the same as it does in the daylight.

Many have too closely connected the word 'dark' with the concept of evil, but it doesn't belong there. Dark does not mean evil.  Dark is quiet and reflection; it is sleep and healing..and to embrace the beauty and the power of the dark is not to abandon oneself to evil, but it is recognizing the beauty and power of the whole; dark and light cannot exist without the other...darkness is nothing more than a lack of light.  The full moon will soon be upon us once again.  Get out there.  Enjoy.  Meditate.  Take notice of the world around you, the silence...There is truly magic in the night.