Brain Food #864: "The greater the light, the longer the shadow"
Easter reflections on seeing in the dark
A short post for the break, where the symbolisms of Easter remind us that sacrifice and resilience in the face of suffering, ridicule, and betrayal can lead to rebirth. The message, perhaps, is to stay true to oneself, even when doubt and pain creep in.
The light of a candle
Yosa BusonThe light of a candle
is transferred to another candle—
spring twilight.
The light of the candle being transferred reflects continuity and rebirth through sharing. Sometimes we must let a flame go out. Everything the light represents—wisdom, knowledge, experience, kindness, care—will only continue to exist if passed on to others, even other versions of ourselves.
Spring, the season of rebirth, is juxtaposed with twilight, the onset of the evening. Though the night is coming, there is a sense of peace accompanying the transition. The spring night sky brings the promise of being able to see the stars.
Similarly, to fully appreciate the light of a candle, you need the dark. As Carl Jung allegedly said, “The greater the light, the longer the shadow.”
