Now that autumn has cast its shadows on us, here are a few points that may lead you to love the darkness a little bit more, for we should all take a moment and, "Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness." - Anne Frank
1. Darkness Is Healthy.
Our bodies produce the hormone, Melatonin, to help us sleep. According to a May 17th report from Bill Blakemore of ABC News, scientists discovered that only when there is complete darkness can the body produce enough of this hormone.
Even if there is a little light around your bed, say from a street lamp shining through your window or from an exceptionally bright alarm clock, this tells the body to stop melatonin production.
Melatonin also aids us in fighting some huge diseases such as breast and prostate cancer. Our power to fight the common cold can become an issue if we don't spend enough time in the dark. "Even watching TV turns on other immune system hormones that should be active only in daytime. They get depleted, and you're more likely to get a cold," Blackmore states.
So why play Russian roulette with the body's need for sleep and total darkness? We need to completely shut down to survive. The dim and cabin-fevered days of Fall and Winter offer us plenty of opportunity to give our bodies the sustenance that it needs from darkness.
2. The Dark Ages Were Actually Awesome
The period of human history, from 476 AD to 1000 AD, was known as The Dark Ages. Petrarch, an Italian Scholar, coined this term in the 1330s to refer to the weakening of Latin Literature. The term was later used by the people of the Enlightenment (18th century) to refer to earlier periods that weren't so "enlightened".
Overall, the time period isn't completely deserving of a name with a negative connotation, so now it is referred to as the Early Middle Ages. Here are a few things that made the Dark Ages not so dark, according to Jamie Frater of listverse.com.
The Carolingian Renaissance - welcomed advancements in literature, writing, architecture, and music (particularly Classical music). Checking out the art work is highly recommended.
Algebra was born! Ok, maybe this isn't the greatest thing to come out of a presumed "dark" time, but like it or not, it's still a notable achievement.
Universities flourished - The University of Bologna was the first to grant degrees starting in the year 1088. Even though universities did not admit women at that time, convents educated young women using The Classical Education system developed in the universities of The "Dark"Ages.
Historical examples of light coming from a perceived state of darkness.
3. The Yin and the Yang
There is no better time than the orange veils of autumn to evaluate (or perhaps reevaluate) the lighter or darker half you need to achieve wholeness. Find who or what may give the Yang to your Yin or the Yin to your Yang once the carefree days of summer are gone. As Tao Te Ching beautifully asserts...
"When people see things as beautiful,
ugliness is created.
When people see things as good,
evil is created.
Being and non-being produce each other.
Difficult and easy compliment each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low oppose each other.
Fore and aft follow each other."
So why can't the dark be as alluring as the light?
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