Dark Night of the Soul
In the Christian mystical tradition one of the great texts is Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross, in which he talks about the periods of loneliness, fear, and doubt that one goes through after the initial awakenings into the light. Evagrius,
Jack Kornfield • Bringing Home the Dharma: Awakening Right Where You Are
The Dark Night of the Soul (St John Of the Cross)
On a dark night,
Kindled in love with yearnings–oh, happy chance!–
I went forth without being observed,
My house being now at rest.
In darkness and secure,
By the secret ladder, disguised–oh, happy chance!–
In darkness and in concealment,
My house being now at rest.
In the happy night,
In secret, when none sa
Such obscurity and attachment, followed by God-given clarity, liberation of love, and deepening of faith, are consistent hallmarks of the dark night of the soul.9 Often, this liberation results in a remarkable release of creative activity in the world. This is especially obvious in Teresa’s case. Once paralyzed by uncertainty and self-doubt, she we
... See moreGerald G. May • The Dark Night of the Soul
Thus the dark night of the soul exists for the sole purpose of furthering love, a love that is partially realized in each experience of the dawn. In the last verse of his final poem, John writes of this awakening: How gently and lovingly you wake in my heart, where in secret you dwell alone; and in your sweet breathing, filled with good and glory,
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