From The Darkness Shines the Light

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness”. — Desmond Tutu

We will endure these hard times, and we will overcome the darkness.

The global pandemic is being described as unprecedented times. The reports can be overwhelming, and our lives will never be the same again. I want to share with you one of my original paintings, inspired by the Māori (indigenous New Zealand) creation narrative. A description of the forming of the cosmos, when light overcame the darkness. Keep believing and keep looking up. We will all endure.

A few years ago, I found my birth family and my way home to New Zealand. The journey had a significant impact on my identity and self-worth. During this time, I spent a semester studying Māori art and culture. This painting is my visual interpretation of the creation narrative.

Forming The Cosmos, acrylic on canvas, original painting (photo by author)

Forming The Cosmos

In the beginning all was dark. Nothing had form, but the darkness was full of the essence of things that could be, but were not yet. This darkness, this nothingness was still, but rich and thick with potential life. Its name was Te Kore. It may have existed for aeons, but who would know, for time itself did not exist. There was nothing to measure it by.

A strand of energy in the darkness contracted into a thread, an action — the twitch being the start of form, shape, of the separation of light and dark. Dark settled from light into Te Pō, the night and Ao Marama, the world of light. — source

Ranginui (Sky-father) took Papatūānuku (Earth-mother), to be his wife, and they lay blended in the close embrace of matrimony. From these two flowed the waters of life. Within their love, the forces of creation continued to swirl and spiral and take form. Children (gods symbolizing the forces of nature), were born who dwelt in the darkness of their embrace.

The children of Ranginui and Papatūānuku did not want to stay in the cramp and dark conditions of their confinement. They yearned for freedom, and one of the sons had glimpsed the light shining from under the armpit of Rangi. They longed for the light and then devised a plan to separate the primeval parents.

Tane (the god of the forests), dug his feet firmly into the Earth and with his hands pressed against the Sky-father, he pushed with all his might. He separated his parents. Rangi was hurled far into the sky above, and Papa was left far below.

As they separated, the distance between the Sky and the Earth filled with light, and revelation flooded the realm, as Te Ao Marama was ushered in. The new day had dawned. The red in the painting signifies the blood of separation and the white, the light of day.

I want to inspire you to lift your head

This painting is describing an unseen reality. It is an abstract depiction of hope. We can push through our confinement and create a new life.

“You can overcome whatever is going on around you if you believe in the light that lives within you.”
― Justine Edward, Shine

This painting could also symbolize the Christian story and the stages of creation. ‘In the beginning, the earth was formless and empty; darkness was over the surface of the deep’ (Gen 1). Then God separated the light from the darkness and created all of life. God made a way through.

Even an agnostic worldview traces the origins of the universe from darkness, then into the light and the light shines even brighter today.

According to the Big Bang theory, the universe was born as a very hot, very dense, single point in space. Light chemical elements were created within the first three minutes of the universe’s formation. But at this stage, the intense heat from the universe’s creation made it essentially too hot for light to shine.

Many years later, as the universe cooled, light intensified. The light that was unleashed at this time is detectable today in the form of radiation from the cosmic microwave background. — source

Whether you look through the lens of the Māori creation narrative, Christian theology or even an agnostic worldview, our origins started in darkness. Then the light broke through and everything changed.

Light can shine through this dark time, as we care for those we love. We can appreciate the moments of solitude to improve our mindfulness, and we can show kindness to strangers. By offering encouragement to others, we can empower ourselves.

May the light of life, give you hope to overcome this difficult season.

Each new dawn enables us to embrace new knowledge, to be inspired by the possibilities that rise in front of us.

Travel well on your journey.

(Source — Leather, K., & Hall, R. (2004). Tātai Arorangi: Māori Astronomy
Work of The Gods. Paraparaumu, New Zealand: Viking Sevenseas NZ Ltd).

Froyle Davies
I’ve been a visual artist for over 25 years and now I tell my stories.
Let me inspire you with this beautiful free print, ‘Above the Stormy Waters.’

Cheers Froyle