The Dark Within: A Path to the Light

We often talk about the light within.

It’s described as a beacon, a glowing ball of energy that radiates peace, joy, and fulfillment. We’re told to search for it, to find our light, as if it’s some hidden treasure waiting to be uncovered.

But what I’ve learned is that the journey isn’t about finding the light—it’s about understanding the darkness.

For years, I walked through a tunnel of darkness without realizing that this was my journey. I kept searching for the light, not knowing that it wasn’t something I needed to chase. My path wasn’t about discovering the light; it was about understanding the darkness that stood in its way.

People and experiences came into my life, shining a mirror on the shadows I didn’t want to see. It was painful. It was uncomfortable. It was everything I didn’t want to face. Society had taught me to shun the dark, to suppress it, to fear it. “Darkness leads you astray,” they said.

But in the dark, I found the truth. I found the pieces of myself I had abandoned.

The darkness wasn’t something to overcome. It was something to understand. And through that understanding, the light emerged—not as something I found, but as something I became.

Poem: The Tunnel

I searched for the light,

chased it with trembling hands,

yearning for its warmth to banish the cold.

But the tunnel stretched on,

dark and silent, its walls holding whispers I didn’t want to hear.

"Stay," it said.

Stay, and you will see that the dark isn’t the absence of light, but its beginning.

So I stayed, and in the shadows, I found myself.

Reflection: The Journey Through Darkness

Society tells us to fear the dark. It teaches us to suppress our pain, ignore our shadows, and focus only on positivity and light. But the truth is, the light we seek is born from understanding the darkness within.

Darkness is not the enemy—it’s a guide. It holds our grief, our fears, our unspoken truths. When we shun it, we shun parts of ourselves. But when we stay with it, when we allow ourselves to explore what it contains, we find clarity, healing, and wholeness.

For me, the dark held the lessons I didn’t want to learn. It showed me the parts of myself I had buried, the truths I didn’t want to face. But in accepting the darkness, I stopped fighting myself. I learned that the light isn’t something outside of me—it’s what emerges when I embrace every part of who I am, even the shadows.

Path Forward: Embracing the Dark

As you reflect on your own path, ask yourself-

• What have you been taught to shun about yourself?
• What might the darkness within you be trying to show you?
• How would it feel to stop searching for light and start exploring what’s hidden in the shadows?

The journey to the light isn’t about escaping the dark—it’s about walking through it, understanding it, and realizing that it’s part of you.

Dr. Zohra (Zo/Z) Damani is a writer, researcher, healer, and a seasoned Talent Development Leader with over 15 years of experience. She is a Certified Coach and is currently undergoing Shamanic Practitioner Training in Scotland. In addition to her coaching credentials, she is a trained Yoga Teacher (Hatha & Yin). Zohra brings a unique blend of expertise and a holistic approach to talent transformation and organizational development, integrating mindfulness, spiritual practices, and personal growth into her professional practice. Her diverse skill set allows her to address the needs of individuals and organizations from multiple dimensions, fostering growth and transformation on both personal and professional levels.