From National Park Service photo gallery, Delicate Arch at Night
When Gretchen, Karla and I chose Moab, Utah for our first Destination Psych CE event, we knew that it was a place where you could see the vast, desert night sky, and we were delighted when we discovered that November 9, 2026 will be the night of a new moon. Aptly, Dr. Kelly Wilson, will be workshopping on The Poetics of ACT – Finding Beauty in the Midst of Darkness. The way these things are coming together is beautiful and exciting!
This lovely synchronicity has led me to be more curious about dark skies, stars, and the Dark Sky movement. I learned about the Dark Sky International organization, which educates people about the importance of preserving dark skies and works to protect them. This organization has a program that certifies communities, parks and other protected areas; Arches and Dead Horse State Parks, both close to Moab, are certified International Dark Sky parks and Moab is a certified Dark Sky community, where there is an intentional effort to manage light pollution and preserve dark skies.
It is always so interesting that once our awareness is raised about something, we start to notice it everywhere! I was listening to NPR in my car a couple of weeks ago, I heard an interview with Craig Childs, who recently published a beautiful book called The Wild Dark; Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light. I have been avidly reading it and reflecting on it and on my own relationship with darkness and the night sky. Craig Childs writes about the way people have used stars to navigate, how animals, especially birds and insects are impacted by light pollution, and how access to the dark and the stars are our birthright. He asks “What questions do we not ask when we aren’t aware of the stars?” He introduces the concept of noctalgia, or the grief of feeling the loss of the night sky… and I realize I am feeling some of that, and becoming sort of obsessed with the idea of seeing the stars in Moab when I get there.
Dark skies offer us an experience of space, quiet beauty, expanse, vastness and awe. As I wonder about the night sky, I am also reflecting a bit on the darkness, quiet and space within us, and between us and how we often keep ourselves busy and distracted to avoid experiencing these. Just as we have lost touch with the vastness of space, we often have a hard time slowing down and paying attention to our own inner experiences, especially the ones that might feel uncomfortable, ambiguous or painful. Allowing ourselves to breathe, notice and slow down gives us the opportunity to discover things that sparkle and surprise.
I look forward to connecting with you in Moab under the new moon in November!
From National Park Service photo Gallery, Balanced Rock with Star Trails
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