The phrase “Dark night of the soul” was coined by the Spanish mystic and poet John of the Cross (1541-1597).
John was a member of the Christian religious order of Carmelites along with St Theresa of Avila, and tried to reform that order – for which he was imprisoned for eight years. During his years in prison, he wrote poetry, and summarized his experience in a commentary entitled “Dark Night of the Soul”. He wrote about the night of the senses and purification of intentions, and living by trust and faith.
Dark Night of the Soul Meaning
The term itself refers to the period of trials and tribulations in one’s life that have spiritual transformative meaning, and typically lead to the next level of spiritual evolution upon successful resolution. An example of this is an individual taking the challenge of going through painful trials and emerging as a Phoenix from the ashes in the end.
All life events have an alchemical effect on a person’s life and soul. However, those who don’t see the difficult experiences as a lesson and an opportunity to evolve, they may end their lives by suicide, severe illness and death. They will miss the spiritual awakening that can come from these events.
Benefits of Dark Night of the Soul
The depression and sadness that accompany the Dark Night of the Soul could gift a person with a wisdom of withdrawing from the world and going deeper within oneself to examine and re-evaluate their lives to choose a more positive trajectory for the evolution of the their Soul.
I frequently hear from my patients who went through prolonged periods of illness or stress that these experiences were a spiritual journey that changed the trajectories of their lives, taught them to be more aware of their body and simplified their lives.
Facing one’s mortality is always a powerful experience that results in deeper awakening to the transcendent nature of spirit.
Losing a child is another example that makes many parents crusaders for their children’s cause. Many establish foundations and start fighting for a new cause that gives meaning and purpose to their lives. Others find new religion, spirituality, or lose the old one, and many give up the load of unnecessary responsibilities, ambitions and simplify their lives and definitions of “success” happiness”.
All of a sudden, it is no longer relevant to long for recognition or promotion, and it becomes enough to be able to walk, or wake up every day being grateful for another day of life. They turn to simple joys of life like watching sunsets, and warmth of the sunlight, and the beauty of butterflies and flowers on a balcony.
I also frequently hear that they “needed” this particular experience and have argued for this limitation in order to experience the emergence from it.
Why we Need Trials and Tribulations
I ask myself frequently why human beings need these upheavals and drama in order to learn from the dualistic contrast of despair and joy. Would it be too boring to be constantly happy, without needing to be miserable?Can we imagine the world without suffering? Can we create one?
I think we can by giving up the addiction to drama and prolonged conditioning in needing suffering to learn from provided by all religions and schools of thought. How about changing the mentality of suffering and scarcity to turn it to perpetual worship of Beauty? Nature, Magic, Laughter, art, music, dance?
No longer needing to grow from pain? Create from the heart– live like a hummingbird going from one flower to the next? This would not be the 3rd dimensional Earth – it would be different – we will be different.
Like Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz”, we will realize that we are not in “Kansas” anymore because of the magical Technicolor rainbows, and fairies and other magical creatures surrounding us.
How This Suffering Can Impact Our Future
Where do you think all current upheaval is pushing us? All the wars, mass shooting, division, screaming matches, blame and finger pointing– an ultimate Chaos and denigration of human spirit, abuse of women and children?
How low do we have to fall, in order to rise from the ashes? Where is that rock bottom? How much longer? I am ready to emerge now and finally enjoy my humanity, my power of creating beauty and peace. Let all children be born into this new world. Let’s all imagine it and manifest it. We will not be bored. We will not suffer. We will all prosper.
Our collective Dark Night of the Soul is an invitation to become just that. How much longer do we need to suffer to finally find that rock bottom, and realize that in order to survive, the entire humanity has to rise up like that proverbial Phoenix rises out of the ashes? My sense is that we are close to that resurrection! Now-Soon! I am hopeful!
One Response
Dr Lavretsky Once more we are resonating. “dark” affective states which may imply depression, anger, and fear are potentially important in disconnecting from dysfunctional life paths (like addiction) to engage with a personally meaningful life path (ie Tao). This disconnection may be gradual and hardly perceptible until it is completed, or there may be a dramatic disconnect/rejection with associated affect (grief!) until the transition is accomplished. This may occur at the individual level, the community, or perhaps even the nation. It should be differentiated from other affective changes that are not part of a path of life development but reflect other etiologies.