St John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul isn’t a necessary text on the path, but I like to mention it because beginners to the journey have come to use the phrase “Dark Night of the Soul” colloquially to describe any state of spiritual or emotional lowliness.

Because there is this vulgar (common) use of the phrase ‘Dark Night of the Soul‘, I must make the distinction between a perpetual phase of poor decision making and the original meaning of the words.

I don’t want anyone to believe that this course is about the strong sensitivity of our profound sensitivities, and end up in the epoch of a metaphysical rabbit hole. That may cause an unexpected sting.

Dark Night of the Soul was originally written by a monk named St John of the Cross, therefore it’s very heavy on religious doctrine. This is why, I leave it as an optional course.

For those comfortable walking the line between doctrine and the message, the work will develop a greater insight into the many phases of a true spiritual journey.

In alchemy the mental process of Dark Night of the Soul is called “Nigredo” or the blackening and is considered part of the process to meeting our shadow selves. Carl Jung used many of principles of alchemy in his study of psychology.

In general use, I have heard many people who claim to have passed over several Dark Nights. However, after studying the text, you’ll realize that there’s only One Big One. A person on the spiritual journey may traverse many levels, but these experiences are similar to false labor.

When the real one happens you will definitely recognize it as the real one. There’s no going back. You’re never the same. The Child is born.

After a person experiences a true Dark Night of the Soul, they’ll never need another one. The world will never be the same and they don’t give sh*t that it isn’t. As that person’s spiritual self concept is completely transformed.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always for the better. Some people are never able to move through the phases, and remain somewhere in perpetual darkness.

Personally, I found that the best advice for anyone feeling trapped in a phase is to realize that this is a journey and not a destination.

It is the journey that strips us of the need to see the immediate rewards of our spiritual works, the journey that causes us to grow and appreciate the Love of God for its own sake, and not use it as an ethereal stick and carrot.

So it is one of the most difficult journeys of all.