Voyage of Light

A Journey of Light: From fear to courage & ignorance to wisdom
As winter settles in and the nights grow long, many of us find comfort in traditions that celebrate the resilience of light. Across the world, festivals of light remind us of our shared journey from darkness to brightness, fear to courage, ignorance to wisdom. They offer a timeless reminder that, even in our darkest moments, light can guide us forward—and as leaders, they call on us to be torchbearers of hope, spreading resilience and strength within our communities.
Lighting the Path of Triumph and Compassion
Imagine the ancient city of Ayodhya, awaiting the return of King Rama after his long, hard-fought victory over the demon Ravana. On a moonless night, the people light thousands of small oil lamps, or diyas, creating a sea of light to welcome their king home. Diwali commemorates this triumph of good over evil, symbolizing resilience and the shared power of kindness. Each diya, while small on its own, adds to a collective brilliance that can pierce even the deepest darkness.

In leadership, the light we bring to others is often the result of small, steady actions, much like those diyas. Together, these small acts can have a profound impact. Leonard Cohen once said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” We don’t need perfection to inspire hope; rather, we need the courage to let our own light shine, however imperfectly. Diwali encourages leaders to believe that even a single act of kindness or courage can illuminate a path forward, offering hope to those around us.
Guiding the Dark Season with Light
In the cold, dark last quarter of the year, Swedes celebrate Santa Lucia, a festival of community and compassion. On December 13th, a girl dressed in white leads a procession, crowned with candles that cast a gentle glow against the winter night. This is Lucia, whose story tells of a girl who wore a crown of candles to bring food and hope to those in need, driven by kindness. Her candles remind us that even in the deepest winter, light finds a way in.

Santa Lucia brings people together, with shared songs and saffron buns, as Lucia’s candles fill the winter night with warmth. It’s a celebration of kindness as light—a testament to Desmond Tutu’s words that “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Lucia’s light shows us that the kindness we offer others reflects back on ourselves, bringing warmth and strength to our communities.
Nature’s Role in Stories of Light
Both Diwali and Santa Lucia are deeply intertwined with nature’s rhythms, honoring our connection to the earth’s cycles. Diwali arrives as autumn fades, and Santa Lucia comes at the heart of winter, celebrating light as both warmth and resilience. Diwali’s clay diyas and Lucia’s candles glowing in the snow are reminders that, like nature, we live through cycles of light and dark. Just as winter gives way to spring, our challenges can lead us to renewal.
Edith Wharton said, “There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Leaders embody both roles, initiating change like the candle and reflecting hope to those who may feel lost. Like nature’s seasons, our roles shift, but the call to spread light remains constant, teaching us to be adaptable, resilient, and steadfast, using both inner strength and community support to navigate difficult times.
The Power of Knowledge and Understanding
Light isn’t just what we see; it’s also what we understand. Diwali and Santa Lucia celebrate not only physical light but the light of knowledge, guiding us through challenges and helping us grow. Each diya and candle offers a moment of clarity, reminding us that wisdom and kindness can overcome fear and division. Maya Angelou once said, “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” As leaders, we must nurture this inner light of knowledge and empathy, sharing it to help others find their way forward.
Illuminating the World: The Power of Unity
Festivals of light across the world—from the All Saints Day, glowing Lanterns of China, the bonfire of Guy Fawkes Night, the moonlit Vesak celebrations in Buddhist countries to the Menorah of Hanukkah—remind us that light has the power to bring us together, spark hope, and foster peace. Each tradition tells a story of resilience and unity, reminding us of our shared humanity and the strength we gain from community. Leaders can draw inspiration from these celebrations, fostering spaces that illuminate the way forward for others, knowing that even the smallest spark can make a lasting difference.
Embracing Growth: From Darkness to Sustainable Light
As we reflect on the symbolism of light in festivals around the world, we can draw a powerful parallel to the guiding principles of sustainable growth outlined in the Future of Growth Report 2024 by World Economic Forum. Much like the journey from darkness to light, quality growth requires us to embrace four essential pillars: Innovativeness, Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Resilience. These pillars are not just ideals—they are essential for guiding us toward a future where progress benefits everyone and respects the planet.

Innovativeness brings forth new solutions, much like the diya that lights a path through darkness, encouraging us to be creative in solving complex challenges.
Inclusiveness reminds us of Lucia’s light, bringing people together in unity and equity, where everyone can contribute and share in growth’s benefits.
Sustainability mirrors nature’s cycles honored in these festivals, urging us to grow within ecological limits so that future generations can thrive.
Resilience embodies the spirit of Santa Lucia’s unwavering flame, showing us that strength lies in communities that are prepared and adaptable.
By embracing these pillars, leaders can inspire a future where light and growth illuminate the way for all, making even the smallest sparks of progress last far into the future.
Illuminating Pathways to Progress: From Institutional Integrity to Global Peace
The 2024 Nobel Prizes in Economic Science and in Peace offer valuable insights that resonate with the themes of transformation and resilience.
The Nobel Prize in Economic Science was awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson for their research on the importance of inclusive institutions in shaping economic prosperity. Their work highlights how nations thrive when institutions support the population broadly, fostering democracy, fairness, and economic opportunity. This insight reflects the need for societal “light”—knowledge and equitable frameworks—to uplift communities from conditions of exploitation toward inclusive, sustainable growth.

Similarly, the Nobel Peace Prize 2024 went to individuals and organizations advocating for democratic principles, underscoring the global need for resilient systems that support peace and human rights. This aligns with the message that even in the darkest of times, collective efforts to safeguard integrity, equity, and freedom can bring about meaningful change.
Together, these awards underscore the idea that strong, fair institutions, like light in the darkness, are essential for guiding societies toward shared prosperity and resilience. They reinforce the blog’s theme of spreading wisdom and compassion, demonstrating how global leadership rooted in fairness can light the way forward for sustainable and inclusive progress.
The Nobel Prizes and light are also celebrated during the dark last quarter of the year. Nobel Week Lights is a an annual light festival brightening Stockholm’s darkest season. Hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum, it features public light installations by international and local artists, designers, and students, inspired by Nobel Prize laureates’ contributions in science, literature, and peace. The installations not only celebrate these achievements but also invite for reflection and inspiration thorugh light.
Carrying the Light Forward as Leaders
Diwali and Santa Lucia are more than just celebrations—they’re calls to action. They teach us that the light we share matters, and that in challenging times, leaders have a responsibility to hold hope high, even if it’s just a small, flickering flame. These festivals encourage us to seek out the cracks and to help others see that, even in darkness, there is always a glimmer of light. “It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.” Eleanor Roosevelt reminds us.
As we light diyas and candles this season, let’s honor the journey of light these stories represent. Let us be the light for those who cannot see it and reflect it back for those who need it most. By embracing hope, showing kindness, and sharing wisdom, we can be both the candle and the mirror, carrying the legacy of light forward into a world that needs it more than ever.
Welcome to Pathways of Light: Shaping Shadows into Radiance

In this immersive virtual exhibition, Pathways of Light: Shaping Shadows into Radiance, we invite you to explore a transformative journey through the play of light and shadow, capturing moments where darkness evolves into brilliance. Here, each artwork serves as a beacon, tracing the delicate paths from obscurity to revelation, from fear to courage, and from the unknown into clarity. Each piece challenges us to look beyond initial impressions and witness how even the darkest moments can illuminate insight and resilience. Join us on the journey along these Pathways of Light, discovering how the interplay of radiance and shadow can shape new dimensions of perception and understanding.
Personal Reflection and Art Guide
Explore the exhibition with the support of our Art Guide, available here
This guide will help you navigate and reflect on the deeper meanings behind each artwork.
Explore, reflect, and be inspired by how glimmer of light transforms darkness through this unique virtual art exhibition.
With a related song – Pathway to Light
About the Artist: Novisali (Liselotte Engstam)
Novisali, the multi-media artist behind the exhibition, brings a curious and explorative mind to her work, aiming to extend art experiences to both current and new audiences using traditional and digital mediums. The exhibition features a blend of watercolor paintings, AI-modified artwork based on paintings, text and photos, digital drawing, and manipulation tools. Additionally, the music and poetry accompanying the exhibition are composed and generated by Novisali, enhancing the overall tone and atmosphere.
More ways to enjoy Pathways of Light
Reading Inspiration
“Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive” by Amy Edmondson (2023)
“The Corporation in the Twenty-First Century” by John Kay (2024)
“Venture Meets Mission: Aligning People, Purpose, and Profit to Innovate and Transform Society” by Arun Gupta, Gerard George, and Thomas J. Fewer (2024)
“Nexus” by Yuval Noah Harari (2024)
“On Freedom” by Timothy Snyder (2024)
“The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder through Science & Poetry” by Maria Popova (2024)
“1066 Turned Upside Down: Alternative fiction stories” by nine authors incl Anna Belfrage (2021)
Pathways of Light inspired Music
Playlist Pathway of Lights at Spotify
The Future will be shaped by Optimists
Pathways of Light Poem
In silent depths where shadows lay,
A flicker stirs, a breath of day.
Threads of warmth in darkness spun,
Awakening paths where light may run.
A whispered glow, a tender spark,
It carves its way through layers dark;
In crevices where fears reside,
The light begins its quiet stride.
It dances soft on whispered fears,
Turns doubts to mist, unwinds the years;
Through corridors of hidden grace,
It finds the heart, reveals its face.
Radiance grows in subtle waves,
Guiding hands from shadowed caves;
Through twists of courage, veins of fire,
It lifts each spirit, draws them higher.
And in this journey, night to dawn,
The paths of light go ever on—
From depths unknown to brilliance bright,
We walk as one, through dark to light.
In twilight’s hush, where whispers dwell,
The first soft gleams begin to swell.
A golden thread, a slender line,
Unraveling where dreams entwine.
Each step we take, a flame ignites,
Guiding souls through restless nights;
The shadows bend, retreat, and fade,
As courage walks where light is made.
Reflections bloom in hues anew,
Casting colors bold and true.
In every shade and shifting tone,
The darkness finds it’s not alone.
Through arches high and caverns deep,
Where hidden hopes and secrets sleep,
The light unfurls with patient grace,
Revealing strength in every space.
And as we journey, hand in hand,
Across this vast, illumined land,
We find the brilliance was always near,
A quiet pulse, a light sincere.
Through tangled paths where shadows twine,
A steadfast glow begins to shine,
Tracing arcs of quiet might,
Guiding lost steps into light.
Like rivers drawn to morning’s call,
We move as one, we rise, we fall;
Each flicker grows, each ember feeds,
The radiance born from hidden seeds.
Soft echoes pulse, a warm refrain,
Turning darkness into gain;
What once was dim now glimmers bright,
A tapestry of woven light.
With every glint, a story told,
Of fears released and hearts made bold;
A spark ignites, a dream takes flight,
On pathways carved by inner light.
And in the glow that softly leads,
We find the answers our journey needs—
For light and shadow, hand in hand,
Unveil the beauty of the land.
References
Future of Growth Report 2024 by World Economic Forum
Nobel Peace Price 2024
Nobel Price in Economic Sciences 2024
About Diwali
About Santa Lucia
About Liselotte Engstam, Digoshen and Novisali
This blog post was originally shared at the blog of Digoshen www.digoshen.com, and the blog of the Digoshen founder www.liselotteengstam.com, and at the art blog Novisali www.novisali.com
At Digoshen, we work hard to increase #futureinsights and help remove #digitalblindspots and #sustainabilityblindspots. We believe that Companies, Boards, and Business Leadership Teams need to understand more about the future and the digital & sustainable world to fully leverage the potential when bringing their business into the digital & more sustainable age. If you are a board member, consider joining our international board network and master programs.
Welcome to also explore the Digoshen Chatbot on AI Leadership for Boards and Boards Impact Forum, where the Digoshen Founder is the Chair.
Find a link to Digoshen Chair Liselotte Engstam Google Scholar Page
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