There are lesser recognized spiritual traditions comparable to Manichaeism and Zoroastrianism which have developed this dualistic cosmology with tales of epic battles between heroes of sunshine and enemies of darkness. Each religions emphasize the significance of selecting the trail of sunshine over darkness to attain non secular enlightenment.

The place do these concepts this come from? Nicely, if you happen to’ve ever been outdoors in a forest on a moonless evening, you know the way absolutely the darkness can overpower you and blind you. A candle or a lamp flickering in that darkness can look like a victory over concern and vulnerability.

We hardly ever expertise that sort of profound darkness in our trendy life, particularly in cities. There are solely completely different levels of dim illumination. And shadows within the daytime aren’t very darkish in any respect.

After I think about the daytime world from a painter’s perspective I’ve to look past these concepts of shadows as a sinister power. I feel as a substitute of shadows as a accomplice or a pal of the sunshine. Listed below are a number of the takeaways: