What is ‘dark night of the soul?’

[Nicolina]

I keep hearing/seeing this phrase and am really curious what it is.

How do you know you’re in it?
What is the significance/gain from it?
How long does it last?
What’s the next step from it?
How do you get out of it?

I’ve read some articles and get the basic gist of it but am also very curious what other people’s personal experiences are on it too.

Thank you for answering if you do!

Discussion

[awalla98]

For me, my “dark night” was the second stage of my spiritual journey. After “waking up”, there was an initial bliss that came with all of the new things I learned. However, after the initial shine of my spiritual awakening went away, I was left with what feels like a really deep depression. It came in stages, starting with doubt, which turned to fear, and then disgust/jadedness. After the initial magic/wonder wore off, I began to realize the act of opening myself up to the spiritual world meant that I had to acknowledge a lot of personal trauma that needed healing, as well as a whole new concept of self. It’s been a lot of existential anxiety mixed with overwhelming fear and sadness that came with the death of my ego. It requires letting go of what once was and moving forward towards light and love, which is harder than it seems. But overall, through research and a lot of advice, it definitely just seems like a normal stage within the journey of becoming a true spiritual being. It’s hard when you’re in it, crippling for some, but there’s another side to it that comes with acceptance and loving yourself.

[RicottaPuffs]

The ‘Dark Night of the Soul” was a phrase coined by St, Teresa of Avila to describe the seventeen years in which she did not have any faith. She did not feel God,. She did not feel inspired and she was consumed by doubt.

During this seventeen years, Teresa continued to minister to the sick and to travel around Spain teaching others how to pray, without actually having any confidence that the prayers did any good other than to comfort the person praying.

The original meaning and intent of this phrase is often misconstrued or adapted to slightly different meanings. However, it is meant to be indicative of a spiritual journey, through doubt and disbelief and back out into faith.

St. Teresa was rather odd. But, her writings and ideas have survived for a few centuries. She alos coined the phrase, “In my Father’s house, there are many mansions” to describe Heaven.

[jbrojunior]

It may refer to a phase of meditation/insight in the Theravada Buddhist path of insight. The phrase was coined (amongst practical meditators) by Daniel M Ingram in his book Mastering the core teachings of the Buddha.
https://www.mctb.org/mctb2/table-of-contents/part-iv-insight/30-the-progress-of-insight/5-dissolution-entrance-to-the-dark-night/

[SimplyJames168]

I’d recommend to read The lightworkers source from Sahvanna Arienta to get a further understanding and exercises to be used during the dark night of the soul.

[[deleted]]

For me personally it was and partly still is, was a terrible existential depression, full of anxiety and nightmares. Horrific purging symptoms.

It only began to ease when I found spiritual past times and pursuits. I never want to experience another as long as I live.

It was almost, and it feels mad saying it, but I was being pushed into this spiritual life I’m trying to embark on.

When you’re having a dark night, you definitely know it lol

[Plsimanub]

A beautiful way my friend put it.

> Classically the first ego death, puts people onto the path … towards wanting *more* insight, because it’s like… being given a puzzle, and you know in your heart there is a solution to it, but the puzzle is hard.