The Dark Night of the Soul

Heading into the unknown can bring about a spiritual and emotional crisis called the dark night of the soul. "Dark Night of the Soul is the title of a poem written by 16th century Spanish poet and Roman Catholic mystic Saint John of the Cross. The expression has since become a metaphor used to describe a phase in a person's spiritual life, marked by a sense of loneliness and desolation. It is referenced by spiritual traditions throughout the world, but in particular by Christianity"...(Wikipedia). The crisis is really about letting go of the ego and trusting your heart. When you listen to your soul you let go of the ego controlling, ego centered existence. The battle between the ego and the true self is the dark night of the soul. It can lead some into a phase of feeling lost, disconnected and wandering. The dark night of the soul is considered to be a blessing in disguise. Only with feeling completely lost, can you let go of everything you were clinging to for dear life. The spiritual journey of awakening often requires a shifting of old roles, self perceptions and outdated behaviors. The phase can last hours, days, weeks, months or years. It depends on how much the ego is still tying to fight for control. The battle eventually resolves and the individual emerges more alert, aware and in touch with higher consciousness. The journey for humanity at this very important time is to awaken. "One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night"...(Kahlil Gibran). Perhaps the world is going through the dark night of the soul of sorts. With 2012 approaching, the new energy is urging all of humanity to become more aware. Awakening is about heading into uncharted territory. As Eckhart Tolle writes in A New Earth, "When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life. It means fear is no longer a dominant factor in what you do and no longer prevents you from taking action to initiate change....If uncertainty is unacceptable to you it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity." People in the dark night of the soul might label themselves as depressed. It just may be however, that life has urged or forced you in a new direction and you are fighting the inevitable. Remember the ego wants comfortable, status quo and the old order even if those things were no longer optimal for the growth of your consciousness. When life throws you on a new path by losing your job, your spouse leaving you, or any other changes....you are being urged to release the ego and resist fighting for control. You may even be the one making the decisions to quit your job, end a relationship or move to a new location.....by following your heart you trust the higher purpose of your journey. Truly trusting that each lesson is what is best for your souls growth is about honoring whatever is happening in your life right now. Being in the moment is the lesson and becoming aware of your true self underneath the ego's desire for control. I know that in my own life, I have cycled in and out of the dark night of the soul over the past several years. It forced me to reassess my life on all levels and I emerged with numerous answers and increased clarity. The clarity also meant that I would have to make many changes. No wonder my own ego fought for awhile, trying to preserve a sense of security. "On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life nothing can destroy him; If he has conquered greed nothing can limit his freedom"....(Buddha). Do not fear if change is upon you and you have entered the dark night of the soul. It is the opportunity to emerge strengthened, with increased hope and a new direction. The new path can bring unlimited possibilities and with your true self leading the way, a sense of purpose unfolds. If awakening is upon you, then change is inevitable and some of the battles with the ego self are bound to happen......so be in the moment and know that each and every moment is a lesson in awakening. "The dark night of the soul comes just before revelation"...(Joseph Campbell).