Concealed & Exposed

PENUMBRAL

Lat. paene (almost)+umbra (shadow) the partial, lighter, outer part of a shadow that surrounds the darkest, central part of an opaque object (Kepler, 1609)

Penumbral blends boundaries, engages the senses, imagines with our mind’s eye, and glimpses what is beyond the spotlight.

A word born in the stars, penumbral refers to the outer shadow cast by an opaque object—such as the Earth or Moon—where the light source is only partially obscured. In a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through the edge of Earth’s shadow, only subtly dimming the Moon’s beam.

From that celestial start, penumbral evolved to describe anything shadowed, shaded or marginal — from physical space to lighting to concepts. It acknowledges nuance, even in U.S. law. Penumbral Guarantees refer to human rights that implicitly follow from major protections in the U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights. For example, the courts presume a “freedom of association” because without the right to form groups, the major rights to free speech and assembly would be undermined.

Penumbral also has an artistic flair, expressing the hazy boundary where light and shade blend in painting or photography.

Claude Monet’s Palazzo da Mula, Venice

The connotation of penumbral as synonymous with shading, intrigue and mystery found application in other life contexts. It describes candlelight flattering faces in soft-focus, sparkling in eyes as shadows flicker on walls. Or the umbrageous shelter of a lush oak tree overhanging a hammock, inviting a nap or place to ponder.

Penumbral’s visual interplay with degrees of illumination taps into our associations with light and darkness. While lambent lighting or a shady refuge favor romance or rest, we link pure darkness with danger, gloom, and the unknown. Just as shifting planetary positions change what’s concealed and exposed, our human condition travels a spectrum of emotions:

Will a candlelit romance ignite the light of love? Can a hammock inspiration spark creative genius? Do colleagues deceive with hidden agendas? And especially in these confusing times—does the boogie man live in the dark, or in the limelight seeking my vote?

Ironically, intense light obscures vision and perception. How many of us have been bedazzled by a sparkling lure — only to find ourselves hooked and dangling like a large-mouthed bass!

Try as we might to determine true from false, authentic from fake, altruism from self-interest — we find that life is neither all light nor all darkness. Penumbral reminds us it’s in-between, both/and. Politicians can be ego-driven, but act in the public good. Misfortune can yield unexpected benefits. Good people sin, and horrible people sometimes do good things.

We know we are born with an inherent human dignity—meaning there’s much more to us than meets the eye. In fact, with our hearts we can even see and feel the invisible — yet most powerful — forces in the world: love, trust, compassion, hope, and the inspiration that leads to creativity.

Human creative brilliance has brought us from the murky penumbral light of

sea and cave to the present unprecedented moment of lightening-speed technological advancement. As we find our way in the dark again, navigating the mysterious, wondrous potential of an intelligence beyond our own, let’s eradicate evil, disease and hunger; establish economic justice; render war extinct — all while remembering, as Pope Leo recently wrote, “to lovingly safeguard the grandeur of our humanity.”