We know what it feels like to be happy, content and at peace. When we feel this way we seek out life’s experiences with a sense of optimism and hope. But what do we do when confronted by the muck of our daily existence, when our world is in peril and things feel out of control? Is it possible to access a light that can ward off the darkness? In this wise and inspiring book, Julia Baird reflects on her encounters with phosphorescence, a luminescent phenomenon found in the natural world, and how she was able to cultivate her own ‘inner light’ in the face of suffering and illness. When we spend time in nature, humble ourselves to the mystery of the world, and recognise the ‘soothing power of the ordinary’, we are able to discover hidden sources of strength and resilience. It is these experiences that sustain us, help us place one foot in front of the other and cultivate our own essential light when the world goes dark.