This topic has come up with some frequency of late in Spiral Gatherings, in various ways. In fact, we dug into it a bit in our 10 April Expansion Chat.

It can be uncomfortable for us to back away from teachings we’ve learned since childhood. Through all manner of media, including fairy tales and the bible, we’re taught that which is of “the light” is good and that which is of “the dark” is bad.

I’ve been laboring over this piece for over a week now, writing hundreds of words that I eventually deleted because I could feel how overcomplicated it was becoming. That’s when I heard, “Allow a channeling.” It felt like a breath of fresh air.

The channeling

Treasure the darkness as you do the light, for the darkness harbors truths of consequence, truths of emotion, truths of ego. The darkness is but a shed for those things that are in discomfort with you, disagreement with you, opposition with you.

There are entities and spirits of the darkness that challenge you and perhaps engage fear in you, and yet they are sporadic in their appearance. These things you will wish to face, wish to confront so they are without power over you; without possession of your dis-ease.

We see in the dark as we see in the light. The dark and the light form the very bonds of the universe, and cannot exist without each other. This we encourage you to understand and accept, that you might cease the positioning of that which is in darkness being an adversary.

Well, that’s miles more succinct than what I deleted, and equally more simple.

The metaphor of darkness as a shed is super resonant at the moment. We have a small shed on our property where we store outdoor tools and off-season items. It has a window in one wall as well as a transom window in the door. However, it doesn’t have a light for me to flick on and chase the shadows away.

Every time I open the shed door, I find myself taking a breath as though to brace myself for whatever might lurk in its corners. Fact is, there’s nothing lurking unless you count the rakes, snow shovels, lawn mower, garden wagon… You get the picture, just as the oe got the picture when they applied the metaphor.

Could there be an entity or spirit lurking in there that might challenge me? Sure. Is that likely to be the case, given that I clear the property twice daily? No. It’s a learned fear from somewhere along the way.

Two questions we might choose to ask ourselves:

1. How can I see that which I associate with darkness clearly and without fear?

2. Where did I learn to be in fear of darkness and was it a lesson built from true danger to me?

I’d love to know your feelings and/or insights about this topic.

Yesterday was Earth Day and the start of Earth Week. While I haven’t noticed many local observances, I’m noticing larger-scale observances; big corporations being put under scrutiny for their plastics misuses; small companies engineering reimagined straws that deteriorate within 30 days of disposal; governments being asked to do more to help green efforts.

It’s a beautiful thing. Another beautiful thing:

On Friday 12 April my mom and I attended a concert here in Exeter. Portsmouth Pro Musica held one of their Spring concerts at a local church and the program featured “hymn tunes, Shaker songs, spirituals and new American music.” It was a gorgeous concert and we’re both so glad we attended.

When we got home, the waxing crescent moon invited our admiration. We were happy to oblige as we climbed the steps onto the porch, at which point we were startled by a bird.

It was shortly after 9:00 pm, so birds, by rights, are bedded down for the night. Turns out the bird - a house wren - was equally startled because she had found her concept of the ideal space to create a nest… in the wreath hanging our front door.

The wreath, now hanging to the left of the front door, hides the nest very well. You can just make it out in the top right of the wreath. And while it was empty Friday night, it wan’t empty Saturday morning when we went out to do some yard work. That’s when I moved it to the left of the front door so it wouldn’t be disrupted by comings and goings - or so I thought.

After doing a little research, it turns out that the house wren spends almost all her time in the nest once she’s laid her eggs. Disruptions can easily lead to her abandoning the eggs, which my mom and I both agreed we couldn’t allow to happen.

Now, the porch is cordoned off so no one can even walk up the stairs, let alone enter the porch. And there’s a sign pointing visitors and deliveries to the side entrance. We figure that the fledglings will fly by about Mother’s Day here in the US (mid-May). At that point, the wren won’t stay in the nest any longer; not unless she has a second brood.

Since we rely on our porch for entering/exiting normally, and since we enjoy sitting on the porch when weather allows, the wreath will be moved inside as soon as it’s empty. A less-realistic wreath will take its place to discourage future nesting. (I can’t wait to tell the Etsy seller I bought the wreath from how it was repurposed from décor to living space!)

Meanwhile, we look forward to being honorary (and temporary) baby-wren aunties.

And that’s it for this week. Be well.

Yours in peace and gratitude,