Equinox: Where Shadows Call
She crawled into the cave, the sharpness of gravel pressing into her chest and abs with every move. The tight entrance bore down on her, forcing her breath to slow, her senses to sharpen. In that confined space, darkness wrapped around her like a second skin, and she found herself wondering: What does darkness sound like? What does it look like?
Darkness sounded like truths muffled beneath layers of lies, words silenced to preserve a fragile hierarchy. It echoed like a cold winter morning in the high school yard, where she sat, reciting hollow religious phrases—a ritual meant to enforce control rather than connection.
Darkness looked like the absence of light, an unyielding wall that blocked the brilliance of change, the warmth of influence, and the freedom to express one’s own truth. It resembled the endless descent into an ocean’s depths, where light faded little by little, and she found herself befriending the deepest part of the abyss.
In that darkness, vibrant and colorful creatures thrived, their beauty hidden from the surface. Yet, the same fragile powers that silenced truth seemed to force it into the shadows of prisons or the underground, smothering it entirely. At times, she longed for a dark cloth to hide beneath, to blind herself to the chaos around her, just to keep the light within from flickering out completely.
But even as the darkness pressed in, she imagined carrying light into the depths of the ocean—a light that could illuminate the wonders veiled by shadow. For the darkness there did not stem from lack; it was the weight of water above that made it so. It was as though the darkness whispered an invitation: Come closer and see what I hold. Come closer, and I will surprise you.
When she finally entered the cave, a profound calmness washed over her. All her senses were freed to be fully present. Her sight focused on the next step ahead, her breath carried the quiet smell of crisp air mingled with earth and water. Only the sound of admiration and awe from her companions broke the stillness. The taste of soil lingered on her lips from kissing the earth on her way in, and the sharp, cold, wet stones grazed her fingertips as they traced the cave walls.
Deeper inside, the ground disappeared beneath her feet, and she found herself levitating above a vibrant underground river. Fear rippled through her, but she stood still, closing her eyes to let her body to take in the moment. A whisper emerged from within:
In the darkness, I close my eyes and turn on my inner light. I let my mind, my body, my ancestral wisdom speak to me. In the darkness, I dive deeper, beyond the literal surface of shadow, to reach the source. I try to understand where the light has been blocked, creating this beautiful, dynamic shadow. It is an invitation to come and play, to discover. Don’t be afraid—be fluid. I’ll guide you, even if the path isn’t yet clear.
As she surrendered to the moment, it became clear that she didn’t need her senses to return to the light.