The Dark Night of the Soul

You've probably heard this phrase before. Every novel I write has what I learned (in a book about story structure called "Save the Cat") as a "dark night of the soul," a period when the hero or heroine feels like all is lost, when they go through a period of despair and darkness before they emerge "changed."

 

The term "dark night of the soul" originated from St. John of the Cross (1542-1591).

 

Born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez in 1542, Saint John of the Cross entered the world in the Spanish town of Fontiveros. His early life was marked by hardship. His father, ostracized by his family for marrying beneath his social class, died when John was just three. Poverty became a constant companion, forcing his mother to work as a weaver to support the family.

 

John's path towards religious life began at a boarding school for the poor. Drawn to a life of devotion, he entered the Carmelite Order in 1563. Ordained a priest in 1567, his life took a pivotal turn when he met Saint Teresa of Ávila, a charismatic reformer within the Carmelite Order. Inspired by Teresa's vision of a stricter and more contemplative life, John joined her movement, becoming a Discalced Carmelite in 1568. This period also marked the adoption of his religious name, John of the Cross.

 

John's life became one of fervent prayer, theological study, and unwavering commitment to the Discalced Carmelite reform. He actively participated in establishing new monasteries and played a key role in the order's growth. However, his dedication to reform also brought him conflict. The established Carmelite friars opposed the Discalced movement, leading to imprisonment for John in 1577. He managed a daring escape, further solidifying his reputation as a champion for the Discalced way of life.

 

Despite the internal strife, John's spiritual experiences and profound theological understanding began to flourish. He poured his insights into his writings, composing masterpieces like the "Dark Night of the Soul" ("Noche Oscura").

 

That's what I'm going to focus on today. Because his insights here weren't really new. But they do put to words something that most people who have undergone any kind of spiritual growth have experienced. It's part of the process of spiritual maturity.

 

The "dark night of the soul" is described as a period of spiritual emptiness that precedes closer union with God. It's a paradoxical path... 

 

It's paradoxical because to get closer to God, we invariably go through a time when we feel like God couldn't be further away from us. Think of Jesus' time in Gethsemane, for example, or Paul's period of blindness after he was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus.

 

John of the Cross describes the dark night as a necessary stage in the soul's journey towards God. It's a period of intense spiritual struggle characterized by feelings of:

 

• Desolation: A sense of emptiness and separation from God's presence.

• Doubt: Uncertainty about one's faith and the path forward.

• Aridity: An inability to find solace in prayer or devotional practices.

• Despair: Feelings of hopelessness and a sense that God has abandoned one.

 

Why the Darkness? This seemingly counterintuitive experience serves a purpose, according to John. It represents the stripping away of everything inessential – worldly attachments, ego-driven desires, and even the consolations of religious practices. This "unselfing" allows space for a deeper transformation, a purging of the self to make room for a more profound union with God.

 

The Stages of the Night: John outlines different stages within the dark night:

 

• The Night of the Senses: Loss of joy in prayer and religious practices.

• The Night of the Spirit: Deeper spiritual doubt and desolation.

Sound familiar? Ever go through something like that? Most of us who've been in the faith for a while have.

 

For me, it came after a period of intense "dogmatism," a period when I thought I'd had everything mastered having completed a M.Div. and most of my Ph.D. in theology. It came when in the midst of an addiction, nothing at my disposal was working.

 

I began to despair. This period of darkness stripped me of all my previous assumptions. All the things that I thought mattered to my faith suddenly seemed... meh...

 

But I never lost faith. I didn't turn from God. I just began to question if what I'd believed or had been taught up to this point was what it was all really about. I knew in the midst of the darkness that there had to be something more... something more real...  

 

What I discovered wasn't that what I'd believed was wrong. Rather, I found out there was more depth to it than I'd realized. There was something more... a profundity and intimacy that I'd lacked. I needed to take everything I'd ever learned out of my head and really embrace it in my heart.

 

And in that darkness everything I merely knew before became real...

 

Old structures and ways of "doing theology" didn't work anymore. Even if my views hadn't radically changed, the way they worked in my life was profoundly altered.

 

Emerging from the Darkness: John emphasizes that the dark night is not an end in itself but a necessary passage. Overcoming it leads to a state of illumination – a renewed connection with God on a deeper, more intimate level. This transformed state is characterized by:

 

• Detachment: Letting go of worldly attachments.

• Surrender: A complete acceptance of God's will.

• Inner Peace: A sense of serenity even amidst external struggles.

 

Relevance Beyond Religion: The concept of the dark night of the soul resonates beyond the confines of religious belief. That doesn't mean it replaces those beliefs. That's why I underlined "beyond."

 

The "dark night of the soul" can be seen as a metaphor for any period of profound personal growth, a time when we must confront the limitations of our current understanding and shed old ways of being to make way for something new. It's a period of intense questioning and discomfort, but ultimately, a necessary crucible for transformation.

 

It's the valley we all have to go through if we truly desire a closer relationship with God.

 

Maybe you've been through it. If you have, I'd be happy to hear your story. But if you haven't yet, well, maybe knowing about it can prepare you for it when it comes. Because if you continue seeking God, it will come... and it's a genuine gift.

 

Blessings,

Judah