As I was translating the Orphic Hymn of Nyx (Night), I was struck by the lines referring to Nyx’s co-identity with Aphrodite. I’ve written elsewhere about what I call the “fractal animism” of the Orphic Hymns — how, for the Orphics, different deities and cosmic forces both “are” and “are not” identical. So I won’t repeat all that here.
What I’m offering in this short audio clip is a question that emerged for me from the process of diving deep into the many layers of meaning in the hymn of Nyx:
What would it mean if our experience of darkness (both literal and metaphorical) were informed by the Orphic understanding of Night as cosmic longing and love?
If you’re curious about the translation that gave rise to this meditation, you can read it here:
Suggested Resources
Bayo Akomolafé
And for diving deeper into philosopher Bayo Akomolafé’s notions of blackness, this interview is a great place to start. I’ve studied with brother Bayo for several years and recommend him to any and all who will listen. His beautiful way of pointing out and celebrating modernity’s cracks and dark fissures has inspired a lot of my own thinking about the Orphics.
And here’s an audio version of my own teaching on Fractal Animism, for those who prefer to listen:
That’s it folks! Happy Solstice, wherever you live!
In the service of Earth and Starry Sky,
✨✨Kristin
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