- What Does the Phrase “Dark Night of the Soul” Actually Mean?
For St. John of the Cross, who first coined the term through his own poetry, the “Dark Night of the Soul” is a season of “weaning” us from the sins, religious experiences, concepts, and belief structures that we overly cling to… rather than free-fall into the mystery that we call “God.” - Is the Dark Night the Same Thing as Cinical Depression?
No, it is not. Clinical depression is a biochemical and emotional experience. The Dark Night of the Soul is a spiritual experience in which faith is stripped down to its bare essentials. - Is God Punishing Me If I’m Going Through a Dark Night?
Just the opposite. There are some for whom God has chosen to undergo this experience. It is not a punishing fire (although it might be experienced that way) as much as it is a purifying fire. Just as some are called to be teachers, preachers, or something else… some are called into this “Dark Night” and often come out of it mystics. - How Long Does the Dark Night Last?
The Dark Night takes as long as it needs to. It can be weeks, months, or even years. For St. John of the Cross, you might say it was a 9-month-long experience (the same time it takes a human being to develop in utero!). - What’s the Difference Between the “Night of Sense” and the “Night of Spirit”?
The Dark Night of the Soul is divided by St. John of the Cross into two different phases, each with its own two phases. The Dark Night of Sense concerns the purification of the senses and includes both active and passive dimensions. This means that there are times when you might purify your own sense experience of life of your own choosing, and other times when God will do that for you. The Dark Night of the Spirit is about the purification of your faith, and it also has an active and passive dimension. In this part of the Dark Night, it is about you actively purifying the mental concepts you used to use to comprehend God, and a passive dimension during which God takes that task even further for you. - Why Would a Loving God Allow This Kind of Darkness?
Here is what St. John of the Cross would say… It is not a loving thing of a Mother to eventually wean a Toddler from the food of a Baby, and help the Toddler to grow into its new season of growth? A Baby might experience that withdrawal as a painful purgation or as a season of darkness. Of course, this is just a simple analogy that eventually breaks down if you push it too hard, but St. John of the Cross says that unless someone has successfully navigated their own Dark Night of the Soul, they are still in “Beginner” Christianity. - Can I Make a Dark Night Happen, Or Make It End, Through My Own Effort?
No, you cannot “make” a Dark Night happen.
However, you can certainly extend it by fighting it. St. John of the Cross strongly encourages seeking out someone who has already navigated their own Dark Night of the Soul for trustworthy advice. To go to someone who has not experienced a Dark Night of the Soul opens you up to the possibility that they might give you unhelpful advice that might increase or heighten the pain or discomfort of it all. - Is Doubt During a Dark Night the Same Thing as Losing Faith?
Doubt is an integral part of faith. Remember, faith is not the same thing as certainty. Doubt and certainty are enemies. Doubt and faith are spectrums of the same experience of trusting God. - Does Everyone Go Through a Dark Night of the Soul?
Nope. Not everyone is called to go through this experience. However, I can definitely say that for St. John of the Cross, the Dark Night of the Soul is actually a romance through which God draws a soul closer to him. - What Comes After the Dark Night?
A glorious new dawn, unlike any sunrise you have seen before.
If you are interested, I also made a video and chart outlining the 4 stages of the Dark Night of the Soul. HERE IS THE LINK TO THAT PAGE.
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