Beauty in darkness
 

I often feel like I find great beauty and meaning in the darker and sad side of the life experience.

Sad music, sad or tragic stories (fiction, nonfiction, history), dark poetry, dark art, and other sad/dark things I can't think of at the moment. Of course, it is not just dark things, I appreciate the happier joyful side of art, history, life, etc. just as much (I mean I am not goth :smile: ). But I am often drawn to those darker aspects of the human experience and they in some way make me feel good instead of sad.

I am also aware that many people are not, and would rather steer clear of the darker and sad side of life. Often they almost think something is wrong with those who appreciate those sad and dark moments.

I am curious as to how others on this forum line up. Do you find you derive beauty and meaning from the darker aspects of life and are often drawn in (maybe even comforted) by them, or do they just bring you down and would prefer to avoid them when that is possible?

Any reflections on why we are one way or the other?

The darkness or darker side of life play and important role in this creation. There is great beauty in childbirth
yet often the mother giving birth to a new life is in great pain. In theory, and exploding star can be very beautiful
yet I would not want to be in its wake,

Frequently it takes a tragedy to bring people together, with great beauty and in ways that they most likely
would not have come together if not for the tragedy. There is a metaphysical belief that the darkness is
nothing more than the shadow of the light.

The negative is nothing more than a blueprint for the positive. There are those who believe in “no pain, no gain,”
but I would like to believe that we can gain and grow without pain. But that does not too often seem to be the case.
The greatest thing about the darker side of life is the triumph over it.

There is a beauty in being triumphant and vanquishing the darkness. Stories of this nature draw cheers and applause.
There are people who can not imagine living without a nemesis, a foe, or something to oppose. They often label
that thing “evil,” But if there is something called “the devil” then it works for what we call “God.”

If there is something called “evil” then it exists to bring out a greater good. The only problem is not to become its’ victim.
I have learned as much, if not more, in my life from the dark nights of my soul as I have from the great experiences
I’ve had of love and light. They are both our teacher.

When it comes to actually experiencing the dark part of life it doesn't really feel beautiful in that moment. Its usually afterwards that i can see the beauty behind it. This is only from my personal experience. I can't speak for others.

I don't see much beauty in the triumph over our dark side or the darker side of life. I see more beauty when a person can befriend their darkest side or when a person can feel a sense of gratitude even in the mist of their darkest moments.

I do enjoy dark art and poetry much more so than the peachy, positive, nature, lovey dovey type of art and poetry, or music and haiku's, etc. There is a much more authentic sense of expression behind that.

I do not enjoy the ''darkness'' as in how most people understand it. I'm not interested in sad things, violence, dark tourism, or horror genre..

I do however like to claim the word darkness, but in a good way. There is much beauty in the darkness of the night.. or a rainy, dark jungle.. or in various creatures, such as snakes and nocturnal animals that most people don't like. Darkness is also the hidden, introverted aspects of ourselves, which can be good..

Darkness should therefore be claimed as something positive, and not just be associated with all manner of human states of being that are awful, dead things, and stuff that is harmful..




That's your call to call it ''more authentic''. Doesn't mean that it is. As a fantasy enthusiast I've come across people thinking blood and violence, grey and black colours are all more ''authentic'' and ''mature''. They're a bit silly if you ask me..

Sometimes seeing the light is easier when you are in the dark

Although some members here probably think I am the ultimate personification of darkness itself, I'm not really interested in darkness at all. What fascinates me the most is the 'grey area' in between light and darkness, because it's neither too bright nor too dark, but a perfect balance and combination of both. Whether it exists or not, it's still an interesting thing to think about.

Well, you do call youself the Slayer of Light, that could have something to do with it.:D

It depends how you look at it. One could also interpret my username as an agent of light who slays evil, rather than someone who slays light (which is impossible to begin with) but funny enough no one thought about that before. But honestly, it's just the name of some song and has no connection with me.

This is usually true, but I can recall times when I was in extreme emotional pain and anguish yet somehow felt a sense of beauty about the whole thing as well. It occurs to me as a write this, that perhaps I was feeling the growth that I was going to get from the experience at the time. Such moments are rare though, usually I suffer first and only appreciate it much later.

Though we can often only see the beauty in the darker moments in life from the perspective of hindsight, I think the light is always there. When one focuses intently on the yin, one finds the yang at the center, and vice versa. The two are intertwined and inseparable, only different perspectives of the mind creates the illusion they are two different things.

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“ I often feel like I find great beauty and meaning in the darker and sad side of the life experience “ @ ketzer

In your own life as experienced as pain or in the lives of others? I’d have thought that everyone wishes to embrace, imbibe, assimilate and radiate bubbling joy immersed in unending bliss in a boundless surging expansion of consciousness in permanence.

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In both my life, and the lives of others. I see the pain and feel bad, but I often see the beauty and feel moved. Somehow, if feels like it is all ok, meant to be how it is.

That is what I would think too. Yet I am certainly not alone in seeing the beauty in what is otherwise sad and dark. Perhaps that is one of the things that is necessary to get to that unending bliss, IDK?

Darkness is one of the antidotes to sensory overload. Any of the antidotes to sensory overload compel us to journey within. It serves as a seedbed for introspection and is beneficial because of that.

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ketzer ...

Like as in pain pushing us to shift the fulcrum of our consciousness by accepting adversity, then transcending it?

***

Certainly at a personal level I can see that in play in my life. Mostly of course in hindsight and from a safe distance in time. Yet it is there all through the story of human history as well. Even in some of the most horrific periods, there is an undercurrent of purpose, meaning, and beauty. Moments of perspective when it seems like judging any of it is folly for my limited mind to attempt. That there is a greater consciousness and purpose at work that is playing out a symphony that I can somewhat appreciate the beauty of, but never fully comprehend.

I think the dark stuff is raw and real and truthful. I'm not talking evil. I'm talking humanity at it's hardest and lowest points. Yes, I can see the beauty in it. A piece of music, one of the saddest I've heard, but it's beautiful, Adagio for Strings - Samuel Barber:

For you M.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQsgE0L450

Correct, my words and point of view is totally meaningless. And should be.


Depends on context i suppose. But even in fantasy i enjoy it more. I'm more a horror, thriller movie type of guy. Though i'm speaking more about art that expresses the darker or sexual sides of ourselves and the world around us. That part of our world and life that many keep suppressed, hidden. And its not just the images itself, but the feelings expressed behind it.


Oh, i'm definitely more than a bit silly. Just in a different way. :wink:

Oh yes.

Love nothing more thsn writing songs, poetry, relating about the whole kit and caboodle. I know through personal experience of facing fully my own shadow aspects, the clarity, love and joyful being that arises through all that, shows me how this allows me now to create through the whole of myself. It’s like travelling the streams freely, as a creator, born from everything I have been, have become..

Where we relate is often where our focus is at any given time. If you understand the completeness within all sides of your being, then one doesn’t require sides, seperation or division, but simply aware and moving with it all. You can create from any where you are in it all.

I know some people in my world will only focus on happy, happy thoughts, staying out of pain and suffering ones. I do feel in these observations it is a way to not add fuel to ignite their hold. It’s a way to end suffering. Walking through the whole has shown me, that there are abundant gifts in facing fully the shadow more as a whole body integration. There is much freedom in this way of creating and being in the world.

Adagio is one of my favorites.

Another the comes to mind is Ashokan Farewell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZmxZThb084

They used it as a backdrop to a letter from the American Civil War in a PBS series, I thought it made a perfect backdrop. Very sad, very moving, and very beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY1lmeL22jg

I liked that one. I didn't find it sad though.

Thank you for this thought Molearner. I agree. Sensory overload is the new bane to our existence. Darkness can be tragic and sad, but not always. Sometimes it is a balm to the soul .

Side note: I am familiar with the Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings, but every time I hear that Ashokan Farewell piece it blows me away.. something about the ‘lonesome fiddle’ just breaks my heart in a good way..

HEARTLESS MONSTER! Just kidding,

Well put. Sounds to my ears like a rather artistic expression of the taoist conception of flow.
You are perhaps aptly named.

This one's middling for me. What do you think? Erik Satie - Gnossienne No.1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFVGwGQcB0

Middling is the word.
Not sad. Maybe it is the rock"n"roll generation in me but I keep thinking that any minute it is going to take off. :redface:

Here is a sad one with a happy ending.:D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btVGz294X0w

Gets to you every time, doesn't it!! Poor n.

Here is one that runs the gamut, sad, beautiful, uplifting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLoBWpiOczQ

This one is not dark but has a bit of a sad ending, which seems to make it all the more beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ2gizaqVw8

I'm glad n had an happy ending. I don't think I'd have been able to sleep tonight else. Again, gnome and puppet viewing, not great for a peaceful sleep. :D I don't do horror movies either :icon_eek:

Yes, it is good to occasionally see a happy n-ding.:rolleyes:

As for peace, to each their own, but my sleep has been haunted by far worse than gnomes and dancing puppets, so I will welcome a smerf now and then. :icon_bigsmurf:

I don't mind a :icon_smurfin: either, I used to collect :icon_smurf: Are smurfs gnomes?

Good question. According to Gargamel they are in the same genus but taste completely different.

You are seriously trying to give me nightmares.

Not unless you are a smurf.

Are you a smurf? Perhaps even..... a plump and juicy smurf?

I suspect then I’m a Taoist at heart without even trying to be that conception.

Passing through the many streams of others creations in me through those shadow stages has gifted me with awareness of others creations in this world as something I pass through most naturally as my true self.

Flow is just fine...

I suspect you are a Taoist as well, as I also suspect that without even trying is perhaps the only way to be one.

I'm plump and juicy but not very blue. :smile:

Well, in that case you can sleep easy. :happy4:

Hey Ketzer, are you me? :tongue: I feel the same way. I feel as though I can deal with the “dark” things in life more than others can. It exists and it’s part of our world, I tend to be able to embrace it. Like others have said, some steer clear of it completely but I find myself part of it, and I find it’s easier if I throw myself into the dark topics to be amongst them and try to understand them, rather than avoid them.

Well, that is really a good question, if off topic a bit. Statistically speaking I have certainly been you, and will certainly be you again. Am I you now? I suppose the answer depends upon the nature of one's belief about oneness and God. :biggrin: :biggrin:
I find that the light and dark are actually two expressions of the same thing (the yin / yang thing). Both are beautiful and meaningful, and to fully appreciate the one, one must fully appreciate the other. The manufacturers of televisions strive to create bright and vivid reds, greens, and blues, but they also strive to create deep rich blacks as well, both are needed to create the best picture.

Yet, when one is stuffed full, eating becomes unpleasant. If there is no hunger, there can be no satisfaction of it. Light is inherent in darkness, just as darkness is inherent in light. Both are expressions of the same thing. Perhaps all experiential realities are conditional on separation of dualities. Without the separation of dualities and the fluctuation of imbalance from one to the other, the universe and life would stop.

What do you mean by the "false completeness" of darkness?

"Although light is inherent in darkness, it is not expressing."

I suppose so in total darkness, but one never finds such a thing in expression (nor in concept when it comes down to it). Yet, even the dimmest of lights, that cannot be seen in the bright of day, becomes a beacon in the darkness. It is light that renders itself indistinguishable, darkness just makes it more apparent. Light relies upon darkness for its very existence. The idea that there can be one without the other is perhaps a definition of "false completeness."

bliss and silence can be experinced in everything. because the divine is in everything. everything is one. and what i mean is in sadness can be a great joy experinced in it. in being scared can be experinced with a joy in it. everything. not by choice. not by anything other than being open to bliss and silence. so without choice everything will be in a joy. because the divine mother expresses herself through the nervous system. when one has become opened to it. if its permenant it will ALWAYS be experinced in everything. doesn't mean no prefernces. emotions and thoughts carry weight.

many people perhaps dont get into spirituality because it for many appears to be a club for a certain type. but there is no type in how it really is. its for the all. perhaps your interests are you discovering how great god really is. i don't know?

I found going into the deepest dark was the way through to the light, and now there is balance between light and dark within myself, both are required and have their purpose and work together to heighten my consciousness.