finding the Light in the Darkness

thoughts on Blackness, astrology, and music theory

Let the Sunshine In / The Fifth Dimension

Sun is Shining / Bob Marley & the Wailers

Everybody Loves the Sunshine / Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Sunny / Bobby Hebb

So, what do all of these songs have in common?

The word Sun or Sunshine (duh)
Written and performed by Black musicians (kind of obvious)
They’re all composed in minor keys (i bet you didn’t realize this!)

What does this mean, if anything?

In music, you don’t use minor key signatures to celebrate themes of Light and Joy. We associate minor keys with sadness and grief. So it’s interesting that these songs use Bm (Let the Sunshine In), A#m (Sun is Shining), F#m (Everybody Loves the Sunshine), and Em (Sunny), respectively.

In the Olde Days of Astrology Twitter, this brilliant (and controversial) Black astrologer @/iJaadee posited that Black people/Blackness is ruled by Saturn. A lot of (white) astrologers tried to tell her this was an inappropriate way to use astrology, insert White Superiority Complex Statements Here, etc; but what she really so off base?

Saturn is the planet of delays, challenges, seeing the bigger picture for what it is; flaws and all. Saturn is about being tested and being better off for it. Saturn is distant, stands out, is innovative and futuristic. Saturn is on the edge of our visible solar system, Saturn is on the edge of culture; it creates its own structure. Saturn puts in the work; climbs the mountain (Capricorn), bears the water (Aquarius), because Saturn knows the results will be worth it.

See what I’m getting at?

I can only speak from my lived and observed experience, but the Black people I know will endure a bit of struggle, if it means life will end on a good note. And you know what? This is in line with music theory because minor progressions resolve to a major chord.

Obviously, at times, the relationship to the Struggle is toxic. I’ve observed Black people identifying with the Struggle, getting lost in how Hard life can be sometimes. I get it. It can feel good to sit in a minor progression for a while without ever resolving. Like in Bob Marley’s, “The Sun is Shining”. The musical aspects of the reggae genre helps with the sitting in the groove, however, this song is pretty somber. And yet, you still want to dance. You feel grounded in the rhythm, despite its mellow mood. This is a song that doesn’t resolve to a major chord, either. It really is possible to sit in the sun forever with this jam. Same with Roy Ayers’ “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”; no resolution, just another melancholic song about loving the sun and the subsequent consequences (the mentioned Folks getting down in the sunshine, and getting brown in the sunshine).

But what does it really take to love the sun?

In the physical world, the summer solstice lasts for one day. One day of ultimate sun exposure before we immediately begin counting down days to fall and winter.

In astrology, the Sun is associated with Leo. this Solar energy is associated with fame, being a celebrity, etc. “15 Minutes of Fame” is called such for many reasons, but the one that comes to mind is this: Often, when you shine too bright, too quickly, you burn out. You get burned by the world.

The Sun (literally or metaphysically) is not an entity that we’re supposed to engage with 24/7. Being in the spotlight all the time is weird, spending all day in the sun gets you burned and exposes you to health risks, always operating from your ego (aka the Sun, in astrology) puts you at risk of losing community, connection to others, connection to your true Source.

Quick side note: I think about this connection to ego/Solar energy when I think about Black millionaires and billionaires. I think about what parts of themselves had to be burned in order to justify Millions and Billions. I mean, we see it so blatantly:

Kanye West
Oprah
Diddy
Tyra Banks
Beyonce and her husband
Nicki Minaj

I hate millionaires and billionaires. However, I am deeply disappointed by Black millionaires and billionaires. At the same time, I think about what Black mills/bills had to sacrifice in order to have their Time in the Sun. Another perspective, these are all people who built their legacy off of their ego. And I have to wonder how much of their profits go back into the communities that supported them. I wonder if they are still concerned with ethics and justice. Hm. Side note over.

Anyway, I think loving the Sun means knowing when to get out of its way. Loving the Sun means getting in touch with your own darkness, so you can truly appreciate the Light when it comes back around. You know the expression, Work Hard, Play Hard? That’s the relationship between Saturn and the Sun. accept the consequences of the process (Saturn) so you can savor the consequences of your success (Sun).

Back to Saturn. In a previous newsletter, I wrote about the concept of Critical Optimism, embracing life’s inherent contradictions and realizing that “Yes, life is a tragedy, but let us find meaning in the struggle.” That’s one of Saturn’s many lessons. One that I think Black people learn very early. The systems and social structures are against us from day one. We know the weight of our Blackness before we know most other things. And yet, we succeed. We create. We love. We push back against the systems that have tried to put us down.

We have learned to groove, regardless of the key signature. We have learned to dance with tears in our eyes. We continue to find the joy within the struggle.

The ad-libs in Fifth’s Dimension’s “Let the Sunshine In (Reprise)” also share this sentiment:

(And when you feel like you been mistreated / And your friends turn their backs upon ya / Just open up your heart and let it shine on in)

(And when you’re lonely / You gotta open up your heart / And let it shine on in)

So again, what does this mean, if anything? Okay, maybe it means nothing. But as Saturn begins this new cycle in Aries, as we see the systems and structures around us continue to crumble, I have to think we’re all being called to examine the obstacles to our personal processes. To create and express our egos in a healthy way that breeds connection, not isolation. To keep moving and dancing, regardless of the darkness.

I recommend looking to where Saturn in Aries is moving through your birth chart to figure out how you’re being called to groove differently; to balance the Light and Dark of your Aries House’s expression. And all the other stuff I mentioned before, lol.

Don’t know your chart? Here are my fave websites:

For example, this transit is starting in my 3H on its way to my 4H Aries Saturn. Along with the meanings above, the 3H is related to writing, the power of the mind, your immediate environment/neighborhood. Saturn starting its transit in my 3H, a reminder for me that the full, creative life I want starts with my mind. My mental habits and routines. Like being more intentional about writing time. Taking more walks before I start creating. Reminding myself that no one will do the work for me; I must show up every day.

Showing up is hard. I have a hard time expressing my ego. That’s the Aries Saturn; it’s taken a long time for Me to become Me. I’ve picked up and put down a lot of different ego expressions in this short lifetime of mine. But through this struggle to become Me, I have learned to appreciate my own shadow. I do love to dance with tears in my eyes. I am learning to love the sun and all of its consequences.

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