We are well into Fall; the days are growing shorter and it is getting dark earlier. This is a dreaded time for many people in the northern hemisphere, when the sun is moving further away, making its way south. Many people plan their vacation to a sunny destination, going south to escape the long darkness of the winter days. For those who remain behind, they can find comfort in the night lights of the bright city life. In my neck of the woods, there is no city life to escape to. In fact I escaped to the country to experience the reality of nature; to behold a starry sky in total darkness; to witness the phases of the moon in a sky unhampered by the glare of city night lights.
I have always been intrigued by the night life culture of different cities. In Barcelona, Spain, I loved walking the Ramblas at night, a boulevard more than a kilometer long that runs through the heart of the city center. In the afternoon the city is quiet when everyone is having a siesta or rest time, retreating from the heat of the day. After 8 pm it all seems to come alive; the main meal of the day is eaten then, and later it is a really noisy social time as families go walking along the boulevard, enjoying the night. In India it is the same, at 2 am the cities, towns and even small villages are still alive with commerce and entertainment. Night time activity makes sense in these places where the climate is extreme in the daytime but I often wonder how it affects people’s biochemistry.
Melatonin, a mood calming hormone, is affected by the amount of darkness compared to light that we are exposed to. Our bodies can only manufacture Melatonin during periods of total darkness so there is a concern as to our emotional balance with the excessive amount of artificial light that lights up the night skies of our cities . When melatonin production increases, cortisol, the “stress hormone” decreases. Imbalances of these two hormones are associated with insomnia, depression, and mania. Is our mental health at risk in our modern culture where we are exposed to light pollution in the cities throughout the year?
Nature’s cycle of seasonal length of light and darkness are essential for the fecundity of life. Seeds and bulbs nestled in the earth, need long periods of darkness and moisture to germinate. In the Spring the young seedlings shoot up, out of the darkness in synchronicity with the light of the longer days. Perhaps we humans also need to hibernate in the Winter, to turn inwards, be more meditative, to allow our dreams to take form in the darkness of our psyches, just as babies grow cell by cell in the dark refuge of the womb. In the Spring when all of nature is clamoring with activity, maybe that is the time when we will be most competent to make our dreams come true, after a period of rest and rejuvenation. We can then offer our creative best after we have had time to gestate our projects with careful nurturing in the dream-time of the long Winter nights.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Miruh,
I like the energy of nightlife. I used to walk along Sunset Boulevard (a famous street in Los Angeles) and feel the energy of the people coming out to enjoy the evening. Whether they were heading to nightclubs, restaurants, hotels or comedy venues, there was something unspeakable in their action and intention. The excitement and the joy of people visiting was also cool. They had the wonder of children. For me night time is the best time to observe people.
Happy weekend.
I have only seen Sunset Boulevard in the movies; I imagine it would be a great place to watch people!
There is something alluring about the darkness of night that brings out the sense of magic and mystery no matter how old we are. As a child I loved the night, looking up into the sky, I felt it was home, feeling very close to the moon and the stars.
Happy, wonderfilled weekend Alexys.
This is a timely discussion as we are edging towards the solstice. Yesterday, I noticed how much earlier darkness falls. Winter is a creative time for me. Days of moonstone pearl with overhead clouds, and rain a torrent against glass windows, keeps one inside and on task. I am planning to do a series of poetic collages this winter and work on a long fiction project in process. I appreciate the kind comments you leave on my space.
Dear Miruh,
Another tender and beautiful post.
I love the darkness. We live in a society which villifies the darkness…. Night time is womb time…The deep sensuality of night, the softness of moonlight on rippling water, the fall and drape of shadows across a lonely wall… speaks to something deep in the human spirit….
So many of us are afraid of the dark….and yet it is only by exploring the darkness that we become more acquainted with the light…
and so the paradox of living goes on,
Thank you dear friend for your presence here,
Sending you the gifts of the deep,
Maithri
Hello Princess Haiku,
“Days of moonstone pearl with overhead clouds, and rain a torrent against glass windows…”
Your poetic description reminds me of monsoon season in the tropics when the overhead clouds are all shades of purple-green -grays and the roaring sound of rain and wind on tin roofs is cozy and comforting.
Your Winter projects sound delightful! I enjoy the sense of whimsy I get when I visit your blog. It’s what the world needs more of; lightheartedness and beauty in art, music and poetry.
May your winter projects be filled with richness and joy!
Hello Maithri,
Beautiful words my friend, “the softness of moonlight on rippling water, the fall and drape of shadows across a lonely wall… speaks to something deep in the human spirit…”
I have a friend who loves to go on cruises, I asked him what is so enticing about it. He said he loves the starry night sky in the darkness of the open sea. It is humbling and the pettiness in his life drops away; it is a deeply spiritual experience for him.
Truthful words, “…And yet it is only by exploring the darkness that we become more acquainted with the light…and so the paradox of living goes on…”
Thank you for your insightful comment.
Enjoy the warm sunshine of the long summer days down under!
Peaceful cheers.
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