Did you ever stand beneath a night sky and feel tiny? It’s not hard to do when you consider the universe. One of the most enigmatic things in the universe is the black hole — an area of space in which gravity is so intense that nothing, including light, can escape. Although this may sound like something scientists alone think about, black holes can also have something to say about our inner lives, particularly emotional trauma.
What Is a Black Hole?
Let’s begin with the basics. A black hole occurs when a star has died and collapsed in upon itself. What is left is a region so dense and intense that it sucks everything towards it. Even time appears to act strangely close to a black hole.
In a sense, trauma, particularly emotional trauma, feels the same. Trauma usually originates from something painful, such as loss, abuse, or intense fear. It sucks you in, much like a black hole, and makes it seem difficult to move on or get away from the past.
The Pull of the Past
When a person experiences trauma, it is as if part of them is frozen in that moment. They may laugh on the outside, but remain internally wounded. Emotions can be trapped in a location that feels inaccessible, similar to matter entering a black hole.
But here’s the shocking bit: scientists have begun to believe that black holes may not lose information after all. According to some theories, information consumed by a black hole could still be floating around somewhere, just encoded in a new form.
The same may be true with trauma. The feelings and memories may be lost or buried, but they are still part of your narrative. And though they can sting, they can also define who you are in profound ways, just as stars form black holes, and black holes could someday teach us more about the universe.
The Light That Escapes
You may have imagined black holes to be spaces of pure darkness. But, surprisingly, it has been discovered that when material gets sucked in toward a black hole, it is heated up and emits strong light — brighter sometimes than the rest of the universe.
That is possible for us as well. When we confront our trauma—by speaking about it, getting help, or allowing ourselves to heal—we can start shining again. The journey might be difficult and messy, but the light that emanates from it can be gorgeous.
Read more: Heavenly Reasons to Look Up at Night
You Are Not Alone in the Darkness
Space may be lonely, but in the same way that trauma leaves you feeling alone, black holes are not by themselves. Around them exist galaxies, stars, and marvels. They are within a much larger picture.
When you’ve been through something hurtful, keep in mind you’re not alone. Other people have gone through it as well. Support, love, and bonding are the stars that orbit around your inner black hole, guiding you towards light.
Light Can Still Escape
One of the most stunning facts about black holes is that when matter approaches them, it tends to release intense energy and light before it reaches the point of no return. Black holes have some of the brightest locations in the universe.
A Journey Through the Cosmos — and the Self
The universe is big and mysterious. So are you. When we venture into the stars, we venture into aspects of ourselves as well. Black holes are frightening, but they also push us to question what we believe we know, just as trauma does, and how we perceive the world and ourselves.
Yet, with time, curiosity, and care, both the universe and the human heart can show us something incredible: that even in the darkest places, there is wonder, growth, and even hope.
