via negativa

I lack the fortune of living in a dark place. My community spends considerable energy in their battle with darkness. Lighted streets, sidewalks, lighted signs, storefronts, lighted houses, trees, shrubs, mailboxes, and even grass, all collectively chase away the dark, the stars, and the sea turtles.  I did see the Milky Way once while traveling through New Mexico. It was as if a fourth dimension had opened. Without the shadow side of things, we would live in a flat world full of blatant facts and void of beautiful mystery. There’s good reason to be afraid of the dark. I know. But darkness makes us vulnerable, and vulnerability makes us human.