The Superb, And Overlooked, Spiritual Power Of Darkness

Colorism privileges light-skin while discriminating against dark-skin. Colorism was worked into spiritual ideologies that resulted in painting Jesus white and darkness as “bad.”

The reality is, darkness is superbly spiritual.

Usually, we find ourselves “in the dark” when spirit shows up for us. Darkness invites us to slow down, reflect, cry, and pray. Some of the most intimate things we do involve darkness.

In her book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, famed novelist Zora Neale Hurston wrote:

“It is so easy to be hopeful in the daytime when you can see the things you wish on. But it was night, it stayed night . . . They sat in company with the others in other shanties, their eyes straining against cruel walls and their souls asking if He meant to measure their puny might against His. They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God.”

Hurston understood that existing in darkness is when we truly know ourselves. That becomes less scary when we stop seeing darkness as a bad thing.

We have to sit with darkness to get closer to God.

Anytime we’re feeling disconnected from spirit, white supremacy tells us to “keep busy.”

In reality sometimes “sitting in the dark,” rest and intentional isolation, are important for our spiritual growth.