Dark Walking

As we close in on the longest night, I find myself walking in the dark both morning and evening. It helps tremendously to get out and walk no matter the conditions. The payoff is great. The house feels cold in the morning before I go out- and it feels life-giving and warm when I return. The transition from full dark to twilight to dawn is also terrific.

Seeing the stars and planets – and shooting stars – is fulfilling. I’ve seen so many shooting stars in the last few years, I’ve lost count. The one that really stands out, though was in early 2020- maybe late February. I could hear it as it burned through the atmosphere. Then about 10 days later the pandemic started. I can see how ancient peoples might put the two occurrences together and think of shooting stars as harbingers of doom.

It’s always nice to look up into the hills around the valley as I walk and see headlamps bobbing along trails that I know well. Other souls are out in nature at 6am in the winter, too. Less than 20 days to the longest night, then we will slowly begin the journey back towards increasing light. But for now- I walk in darkness.