“Step 1 of learning to walk in the dark is to give up running the show. Next you sign the waiver that allows you to bump into some things that may frighten you at first. Finally you ask darkness to teach you what you need to know.”
Introduction
Let’s dive in shall we? How does that quote above strike you?
Barbara Brown Taylor’s beautiful book is going to give us permission to stumble around and find our footing as we learn to walk in the dark. And, with a little practice, we can walk right onto the path we’ve been made for.
Questions to Consider
Introduction
Chet Raymo’s quote from “The Soul of the Night” is found before the introduction to the book even begins. He writes, “…there is a tendency for us to flee from the wild silence and the wild dark…” What comes to mind for you when you think about what your own wild silence, and wild dark is?
What is your relationship with the dark? Do you have any memories as a child of being afraid of the dark? Any positive memories? And now, as an adult - how often do you find yourself “in the dark”? Do you walk outside at night? Do you ever sit in a dark room on your own? Take some time to think about how you would describe your relationship to the dark as if the dark was a person. (ie. “I enjoy it’s company”, or, “I feel like we haven’t seen each other in a while.”)
What is your favorite quote from this section? (by the way…this will be a question for you every single week! You’ll see one of Christa’s favorite at the top of the page!)
Contemplative Practice
If you were apart of the “An Altar in the World” Book Club, you’ll recognize this practice. And, each week, part of our contemplative gaze will be to pay attention to the moon above. On page 16, Brown Taylor mentions that she intentionally wrote this book as with the cycles of the moon (did you notice how the moon symbol in the chapters change throughout the book!?). We will do the same.
Have you ever considered the lunar cycles that shape and influence our planet every day? And how familiar are you with the classic names given to each moon? For example, the February full moon is often called the Snow Moon, while March is called the Worm Moon. You can learn more about Moon dates & names here. Why not download a moon phase app to help you tune in and track.
One of my favorite contemplative practices is Audio Divina. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re in good company. If you are are familiar with Lectio Divina (Divine Reading), then you’re about to be introduced to it’s sweet cousin. Instead of using a reading (Lectio) in a contemplative way, you use a sound (like some music or sounds outside and in the street).
If you don’t know what either is, no problem! Audio Divina is a simple, contemplative way of paying attention and listening to how our soul is stirring and how the Divine is moving within us - as we listen to the sounds around us. It has four simple steps. I’m providing the Latin root, and the (English meaning) below.
Audio (Listen) - listen to a sound (and in our case a piece of music) three of four times in a row, noticing what is stirring within you. What images, feelings, memories, and ideas are coming up for you as you listen? Let the music wash over you and don’t “think” too hard about it.
Meditatio ( Meditate) - taking note of what was coming up for you as you listened, it’s time to meditate on these images and feelings and see how they connect to your specific life. Is it reminding you of a relationship? A struggle? Something you’re thankful for or anxious about? Simply ask yourself the question: how is this feeling or image or thought connecting to my life today?
Oratio (Speak) - this is where we bring our conscious thoughts we’ve been meditating on into our relationship with the Divine. If you identify yourself as a person of faith, this would be the opportunity to pray to God about what you’ve just been meditating on. You can speak your prayer out loud or to yourself, but it is our conscious time of prayer with God.
Contemplatio (Contemplate) - here we rest. We let our thoughts and conversation with the Divine to fall to silence, trusting we have been heard. We enjoy just being present with Presence, instead of doing anything. You’ve experienced this in your human relationships… there is something sweet in being in the quiet company of someone you trust where words fall away and just being with one another is where your heart is content.
So, as we pay attention to the beauty and ever-present-consistency we enjoy in the moon, we are going to use a piece of music for our Audio Divina by an amazing artist, Ryan O’Neal, also known as Sleeping At Last. He is creating a complete music library celebrating celestial events (you can see them all here on Spotify), but, this was one of his first.
Take about 20+ minutes to go through all four of the Audio Divina steps outlined above. To begin, make sure you have no distractions, take a couple of deep centering breaths, invite the Holy into this time and listen to this song 3 times (listen using video link below). Then proceed into the Meditatio.
Poems, Prayers & Blessings
There will be plenty of poetry throughout this book club. Even if you are not an aficionado of good poetry, or you’re not sure you really “connect” with it, I want to encourage you to take your time with these poems, prayers & blessings.
The first poem is by one of my favourites, Mary Oliver and this poem sets us up for the rest of this book club, because of it’s invitation to slow down and wake up to the unexpected.
The World I Live In
I have refused to live
locked in the orderly house of
reasons and proofs.
The world I live in and believe in
is wider than that. And anyway,
what’s wrong with Maybe?
You wouldn’t believe what once or
twice I have seen. I’ll just
tell you this:
only if there are angels in your head will you
ever, possibly, see one.
(From Felicity, 2015)
Is there a word or phrase that stands out for you in the poem? Why do you think it’s standing out to you?
What in your life currently “feels like a maybe”? How might you be craving “reason and proofs” and why might that be?
What word of welcome do you want to give the angels of your soul today as you begin diving into this book?
Gratitude Practice
Each weekly resource will encourage you to stop, notice, and give thanks for something “dark” in your life. Counter-intuitive, indeed.
Did you know that our brains are wired to get stuck more easily to negative thoughts and images than to positive and beautiful ones? A regular gratitude practice will help to rewire and renew our minds. It’s a true reframe.
GRATITUDE PROMPT:
Consider a challenge in a relationship (from the past or one you’re currently experience). What value or virtue is coming into greater focus through this difficult relationship, either from the lack of it, or something that is growing in you. (ie. honesty, integrity, courage, compassion).
Now take the 30 to 40 seconds to really focus on this virtue or value - where it’s growing in you, where you’ve seen it expressed in the past, how it can bring about better things…and give thanks for it. Feel free to pick 2 or 3 virutes and show your gratitude.
Additional Resources
Still looking for something more? Why not expand your knowledge and experience by feasting on these additional resources.
If you’re not familiar with Barbara Brown Taylor, head on over to her website to learn more. This icon is worth knowing!
And, if you’d like to receive her Substack newsletter, you follow her work, and while you’re at it you can subscribe to the SoulPlay newsletter too!
