The Art of Trusting the Dark

I often wander into my backyard late at night. On the other side of the fence lies Sycamore Grove, a beautiful state park. So, no streetlights, no glow from the city, just pure, open darkness and the sound of a mysterious world that in the daylight I know so well, but at night it makes me so aware of my fragile nervous system.

The moment I step out I feel my heart racing, my breath shortens, and every sound snaps my body into "what's that?!". A rustle in the bushes, the creak of a branch, the occasional sound of night critters makes me want to grab my phone and switch on the flashlight.

Why do I still do that? There's a reason down below. But Darkness, for the survival part of our brain, is coded as dangerous. It stirs our most primal fears, pushing us to seek control, safety, and light.

Yet, darkness holds a wisdom of its own.

Just as our eyes need moments of complete darkness to regenerate and restore their ability to thrive, our lives offers us our own healing opportunity within our shadow parts. The way I see it, darkness is so astute, it requires us to slow down, be fully present, open and curious, perhaps aware of needing some guidance, and more than anything, darkness gifts us a pause from the constant noise of the mind, so we can eventually flow into the hum of our inner guidance.

Without that pause, we miss it.

My Journey Into Darkness

Back in 2016, I almost lost my vision to retinal detachment in both eyes. Life mirrored that darkness in every way: recently divorced, raising a teenage daughter on my own, and without a job or financial security facing blinding health issues and medical bills.

After my first surgery leaving me with 80% vision loss. I had to think outside of the box. I found and trained intensively with Meir Schneider and his Natural Vision Improvement program. Three weeks, ten hours a day, lectures, body work, yoga for the eyes, body movement. My eyesight was improving! On the final night, our group gathered in the darkest, most secluded corner of Golden Gate Park. At 9 pm, we switched off our flashlights and practiced Yoga for the Eyes for more than an hour.

Then something extraordinary happened: I started to see in the dark. A lot.

My eyes, exposed to full darkness and guidance, adapted. They learned to see again, because they are wired for it, when given the chance.

And I realized, we are too.

The Invitation of the Shadow

In life, when we hit dark chapters of loss, transitions, uncertainty, overwhelm often takes over, fears stir up, toxic self talk becomes too loud to bear. We may unconsciously, or consciously, choose to cope by filling our calendars or our bellies, or by pushing to outrun the unknown.

But here’s the paradox: it’s when we pause, slow down and trust with curiosity that revelations awaken. What if our shadows aren't here to hunt us, but as doorways to restore a part of us we forgot, or don't yet see?

When we lean into it with safety and patience, the shadow reveals its gifts:

• Hidden wisdom surfaces.

• Old patterns soften their grip and begin healing.

• New ideas, solutions, and perspectives begin to flicker in, like stars in a night sky.

A Practice for Today

Here’s a simple way to touch the wisdom of the dark:

🌙 Pause in the dark within. Find a safe space to sit in stillness.

🌬️ Breathe deeper and slower. Let your breath be the bridge that stretches past the edges of your mind’s busyness.

❓ Ask: “If I already knew I did enough, what would I choose now?”

Then listen. Not with your mind, but with your entire soul embodied.

Finding Your Doorway

The dark is not the absence of light. It is the very condition that makes light visible.

Your eyes know this. And so does your soul.

If you’re standing in your own dark season, wondering what’s next without knowing which way to turn, know this: the doorway is already here. There are ways to help you find it and move through it, more authentically you, confident and free.

✨ I invite you to a complimentary “Find Your Doorway” Clarity Call. This is a space to pause and discover the wisdom waiting for you in the shadow, in the self sabotage, in the "never enough". Together, we’ll explore your inner game so you can simplify it, and navigate any dark chapters in your life with clarity and trust in your inner light, no matter how cloudy things may look. Always cheering for you,

Claudia Book your time with me here

"A year from now you may wish you had started today.” — Karen Lamb