these little spirals, through wet darkness and dry light, twirl into the dust
As Earth continues to dress Her Northern Self in darkness, I find myself longing for the light again, for shorter nights, warmer days, for the greens, blues, purples, and golds that form the Northern New Mexico landscape in the summertime (in wet years).
As an eco-theologian (if I can call myself that), I know darkness is good. It is from the womb-like, dark, watery, chaotic abyss, tehom which all life has emerged (Genesis 1:1-2) from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Ma Kali, of the Shakta Hindu tradition, is imaged as black because the color black represents the womb of the unmanifest from which all creation blooms and into which all of creation will ultimately be destroyed, dissolve, and return. In nature, darkness is as life-giving as lightness. Darkness is good.
These little spiral seeds of the Mountain Mahogany need both light and dark, wet and dry to spring forth into new life. By strong winds, rain, or wildlife, they drop from their parent and rest, waiting for the cycle necessary to their existence. When it rains, they straighten themselves, and when it becomes dry, they spiral, using both wetness and dryness to twist themselves into the dark earth. They must take root in this dark earth before they emerge into the light.
As I approach this season of waiting for the coming of the light, Advent, I will live into the lesson emerging from the wisdom of these seeds. I will honor this time of darkness, knowing that as the darkness grows, something in my being is taking root, twirling into the dust of this high desert.
Holy Becoming, remind me of Your process
Holy Becoming
Whose ruach lures genesis
not from nothingness
but from the dark chaotic deep, tehom
how i long for You when the dark comes
help me remember that You are with me
that even in the darkness
Your ruach lures new genesis in me
and from that dark chaotic deep, tehom
i am becoming
