dark night of the soul

[Logic]

I like to weigh the situations, look at the good points and the bad, I'm pretty optimistic. If its really a problem, I usually meditate. Althought, I've never been in a true 'crisis', so I cant elaborate really past that point.

[Spirit_k9]

Oh boy. I can't answer this one in short....but I'll try....

Before I actually HAD a crisis, the smaller problems in comparison that -SEEMED- like crisis at the time would consume me until I found a way around or through them. That's what I did, just kept pushing my way through till I saw daylight.

Now that I know what a real huge crisis is like...nearly losing my son, I can tell you how I reacted to that. First, I used every ounce of will I had to keep from becoming an emotional puddle, or a burning pillar of hatred, or both. Second, when I heard the doctors tell me that there was less than a 1% chance he'd survive that morniing, I decided to give everything I had to his survival.

Everything. I meant it and I gave it. I went to the deepest levels and the highest levels I could find to gather the strength and energy my son needed to find his way home and I gave it to him. I had the help of thousands of mystics, shaman, witches, and religious folk working and praying on his behalf. Beyond this I can't say specifically what I did, but I can tell you I worked hard at it, and it did work. I found a way through the crisis for myself as well as for my son.

Now I am happily paying for that favor from Spirit, having devoted whatever is left of my life to ensure he has a good life with little worries...he deserves it.

Hope you can get something out of that. Basically, when a TRUE crisis arises, all you can do is everything you CAN do to overcome. Sometimes it will not work out, but you HAVE to believe it will and work to that goal. Worry about the debt later on if there is one []

[WalkerInTheWoods]

Escapism is underrated. Sometimes loosing yourself in a video game or a good book can give yourself much needed rest from your problems. It all really depends on the problem as to how to deal with it. Many things are probably not as bad as you think and only require a little time to smooth itself out. I guess I have never been in a major crisis and honestly I do not know what I would consider a major crisis. Your point of view is a major factor. It all depends on how you view it. Either you can get really work up about something, or you can take it in stride and realize that it is not that big of a deal, especially when you look at the big picture.

[Novice]

I always associate the dark night of the soul to spiritual lessons, which may, but not necessarily, have physical manifistations. In case you aren't aware, I believe the term was coined by St. Francis of Asissi (sp?). Many famous people have written about it. Dante's Inferno was another version of the same tale.

To me its about loneliness. But a loneliness beyond words. Challenges and trials with seemingly no one there to help you (you mention God doesn't give a damn).

No one can really help you through this. I personally think we each have our own version of the dark night, because we all have varying strengths and weaknesses. Its a humbling and a strengthening at the same time. I realize that this sounds contradictory, but it isn't.

One of the lessons of the dark night, is determination. You keep getting up every morning and doing what you need to do. You don't think about tomorrow, or the fact that you feel you have nothing left to do or give. You just keep getting up and giving or doing whatever it is. It seems like you are stuck, but you are not. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The only way to get there is to keep trying.

Good luck!

[RJA]

Technically, "The Dark Night of the Soul" is a stage in the spiritual transformation process that occurs just before one reaches "Christ Consciousness" or enlightenment.  Christian mystics throughout the ages have written about it, including St. John of the Cross (I think he coined the term in a book by the same name) and Teresa de Avila (John's spiritual mentor, I believe - look on Amazon for her book entitled, I think, Many Mansions).  

For a more modern discussion of the spiritual transformation process that includes "The Dark Night of the Soul" read "Putting on the Mind of Christ" by Jim Marion - in which he describes his own spiritual transformation as a Christian by putting it into the context of a model of consciousness put forth by Ken Wilber.

In short, Marion would assert that when our life seems to be in upheavel with all manner of problems coming to the surface this could be side-effects related to the work of the Holy Spirit purging us of psycological/spiritual problems in order to push us to the next level of consciousness - so it doesn't have to necessarily be the Dark Night of the Soul, but rather any transition from one level of spiritual consciousness to the next.  And ultimately the answer to how to deal with it is essentially to ride it out, recognize it as a spiritual cleansing of sorts, and to try to see it as a life-lesson and to strive to have the proper perspective on the suffering and confusion that is a necessary part in the transformation process and life in general.

[Kristen]

Thank you all -

- for the insight and sharing of experience...

I've been through a lot of things - tragic crisis more than once - but I've never had the core of my being challenged like its being challenged now with every step or move that I make in any direction... its amazing how purposeful the negative dynamics are.

I'll check out that literature and take the words to heart... and Spirit k9 - my heart goes out to you and your son.  I've got a boy and a girl - a young man and woman I should say - and have some experience with mother's worst nightmares.  The strength of your love in the face of such pain and potential loss is humbling.

thanks again,

Kristen

[phobe]

I don't know if this has already been stated, cuz i haven't read all the replies [], but even better than a prayer is realizing and understanding that any burden you find in your life is equally something to enhance you spiritually. Yeah, sure, that's been said a million times, but once you have experienced it and have related it to your spiritual life it makes everything so much easier. Always remember, Love is your natural state. Occasionally you'll forget and be a slave to anger, or depression, whatever. But you always love people and life, no matter how much they've forgotten their "natural state"....

[need]

Hi everyone,Hi Kristen,

My name is Need. I have been to astral pulse a few times. Somehow I feel drawn to comment on "the dark night of the soul".Since I feel I'am going through one of my own.

I don't exactly know the technical meaning of the term but we all get the feeling that the term indicate the actuality of a person going through a bad time. First of all I'd like to say textbook spirituality and reallife spirituality are two very different things. In the book it seems so clearcut , but real life is complicated to say the least. I'am not an especially spiritual person but I'am very aware that 99.9 percent of written information is 100% rubbish. Not much works in real life from that source.There is a lack of synthesis in this world we are living in.

The term "dark night of the soul" has really romantic notions to it. But to my mind a true "dark night of the soul" can completely uproot everything you believed in. I guess when we refer to this term we're really talking about physical experiences,"Why is this happening to me." I cannot speak with authority on this, could be possible that we get these things to learn lessons, is there a reason or no reason. I have been going through something quite sad in my own life. But I have never experienced so much difficulty for so long. To my mind a true "dark night of the soul" are points when you reach the absolute bottom, bereft of almost everything apart from that dark night, whatever it is, a breakdown or a let down of some type. But the difference in coping or getting through it can be different for different people. What you have suggested yourself are very sensible strategies. Mine unfortunately for the moment has been to withdraw as I genuinely don't feel or know what to do next.

I guess suggestions on how to pull through would be to entertain the thought of homeopathy treatment. I'm doing it myself but haven't had a major breakthrough. Homeopathy isn't always easy however. Do and be and get wholesome things. The thoughts others expressed here on purposeful escapism are really helpful I think. Become stronger, and free yourself form suffering. With some luck there will be morning on the otherwise.

Take Care and Keep Well

Need

[Kristen]

Hi Need -

Hey I read and responded to your thread about your difficulties posted some time ago.  I hope you're doing better - you sound more positive which is great [].  Thanks for sharing your thoughts and kind words.

~Kristen

[RJA]

Need,

You are right when you say that no written material can adequately represent the reality of these painful spiritual transitions.  We tend to think that a spiritual transition should somehow *seem* spiritual, but from what I've read that is not necessarily the case.  

Like you say, for the spiritual person these transitions are often times when your beliefs are being uprooted and drastically revised. It's also a time when you may not even necessarily feel close to God and you may think you are in a spiritual dry spell.  There may also be various social, physical or other problems seemingly unrelated to spirituality.  These however, are in fact side-effects of the Holy Spirit working to bring about a transition to a new level of spiritual understanding (consciousness).

For those who aren't spiritual seekers, turmoil in one's life may just be the natural consequence of bad decisions but I believe that for those who are spiritual seekers such problems are very possibly related to spiritual growth.

[Kristen]

Hi All -

I've got a general question to pose to anyone out there who would like to speak to it...

Robert has written in the past about his experience of a "dark night of the soul" I think is how he put it; and, has talked about or wondered philosophically about when it is that all the signs are pointing in the wrong direction, that maybe that means you're on the right path...  at least that is how I took his meaning... and how the negative experiences in life are proportionate to the amount of strength we need to develop...

For any and all who have been through the dark night of the soul, if/when everything seems to be opposed to you by design, in small and large, even horrific ways - how did you get through it?  Some might say tenacity, some might say support of friends and family, some might say a row of shots of whiskey - but I'm talking about the lonely, abandoned moments - the ones in the wee hours when I'm sure that God doesn't give a damn...  

Anyone have prayers to share - for healing, for guidance, for breaking out of old habits?  For balance, for defense, for strength?  I've got some but they've been loved to death like an antique teddy bear - maybe if I can't get out of this right now I might as well distract myself with trying something a bit new... and shamelessly fish around for advice and commiseration...

~Kristen