Beauty in the Darkness: A Magical Autumn Tablescape

Many of us have at one point experienced a personal dark night of the soul, a time when everything seemed bleak and shadowy, without hope and seemingly no clear way out. During these times, it’s easy to forget the larger picture—how life is and always has been dualistic in nature, made up of challenges and successes, despair and hope, shadow and luminescence. Sometimes when things are very bad, it’s hard to see the light peeking in around the edges.

Having just gone through a rough patch myself, I wanted to host a symbolic gathering that would illustrate this truth in a simple yet memorable way, so I built this table centered on moths and candles for a nighttime soirée. I invited my tribe to come together so that we might witness, quite viscerally, the beauty within the darkness and appreciate how they so often exist at the same time.

In spiritual terms, the moth represents transformation and rebirth, the dualistic nature of life, and ultimately the enlightenment of the soul. Moths are comfortable in the dark yet drawn to the flame. To me, moths are a powerful metaphor for living and getting through difficult times. At one point during the evening, I asked my guests to stop, breathe, and simply take in the experience.

In the future, when we go through a hopeless night, maybe some small part of us will remember this gathering: the candles that delineated the darkness, the moths always drawn to the flame, the crystals that needed only a small glimmer of illumination to refract and spread their magic. In this way, maybe we can remember that sad times are fleeting and will pass, that they turn gently in the constant rotating dance of life and will shift, as all things do, back into the light.

HERE’S HOW I CREATED THIS NIGHTSCAPE:

• For the location, I chose an old, abandoned building on the ranch where I live. I loved the symbolism of the dilapidated building past its prime being made dazzling once again. If you choose a similar old-timber structure, do make sure to keep a fire extinguisher handy!

• One way I make sure my tables are rich and lush is by draping not just one tablecloth but layers of them in shades of the colors and theme of the gathering. I took my cue from the colors of the moths and used a rich burgundy as the “petticoat” under the table, then a cloth in a chocolate brown and another in a gold-mustard color. On top I laid an Indian sari in black with metallic gold embroidery. My constant guide was to look for light within the dark, and I felt the sari illustrated this principle perfectly.

• I used a multitude of paper moths from Moth & Myth and hung them with monofilament line in among the votives. I folded their wings so that they looked like they were in flight; as they moved in the heat of the candles on the table, they looked so realistic. Make sure you use battery candles in the hanging votives so you don’t burn either the moths or the monofilament line.

• As with all my tablescapes, I included a veritable ton of candles. The glow of candlelight is flattering, and it sparkles and glimmers among the crystals, truly bringing a charming shimmer to the evening.

• I hung lots of votive cups from the rafters using monofilament line. Again, make sure you use batteryoperated tea lights so you don’t burn through the line or the hanging paper moths as they move in the heat generated from the candles on the table. After you take down your fishing line, dispose of it carefully so it doesn’t harm any wildlife.

• From my own collection of crystals, I used both natural geodes and polished crystal balls for the centerpieces. I nestled them in piles of fall leaves—artificial ones, as the real kind are a fire hazard and a bit dusty.

• I hung chandelier crystals among the votives and moths and tucked one in each napkin as a party favor for guests to take home, to remind them of their own radiance.