"Darkness is a concept that tends to evoke negative reactions. Many people feel uncomfortable in the dark; it has connotations of ignorance, lifelessness, oppression, a sense of being lost. Darkness is something to be conquered, controlled, and, if possible, eliminated.
"And yet, many beautiful things happen in the dark. Seeds germinate and strike root. Most creatures rest during the hours of darkness. Passionate sexual intimacy often occurs in the dark. Many of our body functions operate during the rest of night. Life seems to need the realm of darkness to realize its full meaning and potential. Even at the cosmic level, the forces of darkness seem to play a crucial role."
