The Dark Night of the Soul is one of the most painful, isolating, and destabilizing experiences in life. Yet it is also a tremendous blessing in disguise.
As a primordial process of death and rebirth, the Dark Night of the Soul is a period in life where we are stripped of everything that is false.
The veils of illusion are torn from our eyes. We suddenly see the fragility of ourselves, other people, and existence itself.
Out of nowhere, we start asking big questions such as “What is the meaning of life?” “What happens after death?” and “Why was I born?”
The more we start to question our lives, the more deception we come across. We see the lies perpetuated by society.
We see the ways we have become wounded and behave dysfunctionally. And we may even notice a sense of emptiness inherent in our lives. Something feels missing. But what?
For many people, the Dark Night of the Soul heralds big life shifts. We may quit our jobs, leave our marriage, and seek out something more meaningful and aligned with who we truly are.
For some, the Dark Night is a call to begin the spiritual wanderer’s journey toward self-actualization, spiritual illumination (or enlightenment), and reconnecting with the Soul.
Dark Night of the Soul Questions
When people first enter this dark period of life, they often have many questions.
It can feel scary to lose interest in what you once valued and have your life turned upside down. Due to its destabilizing effect on our lives, the Dark Night is synonymous with what is known as the spiritual emergency.
Here are some commonly asked questions which might help to relax your mind a bit:
Most people who go through the Dark Night feel a sense of loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and depression. It’s common to crave solitude and quiet, comforting environments. While some describe the experience as a death and rebirth, others describe it as the feeling of disintegrating or falling through a void.
The Dark Night of the Soul is an experience that is unique to everyone (although it does share many common characteristics). For one person it may last a few months, for others, it may last a year or many years. Most importantly, please understand that this is a temporary experience, and many people can relate to what you’re experiencing. You’re not alone, although it might feel that way.
There are many ways to answer this question, but it’s crucial to understand first and foremost that the Dark Night is a natural and organic process. Just as trees go through a period of losing their leaves in Autumn/Winter, so too do we as humans (metaphorically speaking). We all go through cycles of death and rebirth – periods where we are full of life and energy and then periods where we need to slow down and go within. The Dark Night helps us to stop and tune into our inner selves. It is a process that goes hand-in-hand with the spiritual awakening process and finding our true life purpose.
Good question! Think of the Dark Night of the Soul as entering a prolonged Winter period. What comes after Winter? Spring! After the Dark Night, we emerge refreshed, renewed, and ready to walk our true life paths. This is known as the ‘Illumination‘ stage on the spiritual wanderer’s journey. In this period, we have gained clarity, wisdom, tenderness, and the ability to tune into ourselves thanks to the Dark Night period. These qualities we then bring into our lives. It’s quite common to start big projects, make powerful life changes, and explore our newly found gifts after the Dark Night of the Soul. It’s a blessing in disguise.
Dark Night of the Soul Test
Are you experiencing symptoms of loneliness, isolation, depression, and soul loss? Does it feel as though you’re cut off or totally disconnected from the Divine?
If so, you may be experiencing a Dark Night of the Soul. Take our free Dark Night of the Soul Test to confirm (or challenge) your suspicions below:
What result did you get? Feel free to share your results in the comments as well as any reflections.
If you need more in-depth guidance, see our Dark Night of the Soul Journal for more help.
What has your experience during the Dark Night been like so far? I’d love to hear from you below. Your words might inspire or support someone else on this difficult journey.
I scored 95% and feel like everything I have lived, has been a lie. I find myself questioning our existence and purpose – asking people whether they are happy – asking myself whether I am? I feel like running away to somewhere new, but I know that won’t change how I feel. I feel so exhausted and all I do is rest. I feel so emotional and sad about a lot of things, I’m working through trauma and healing – and am on antidepressants so I know I’m not depressed – but I’m tired. And my body is so tired, sore and exhausted.
I find myself researching into angels and god, reconnecting with the bible and dreaming about a better life and world.
I know it will get better but this experience is horrible. I’ve also released a lot of friends and possessions. I’m closing the door on relationships that don’t serve me and opening up my third chakra by speaking my voice and implementing boundaries.
Just take this journey one step at a time. Day always comes after night, so the light will rise again 💜 Use this website as a resource on your journey. Best to you, Marcella.
Hi, my dark night has lasted over 9 years now. There has to be something I’m doing wrong on my journey.
I’m sorry to hear that Joey. And it’s hard for me to say why that is the case, and whether you have regular depression or existential depression (or the Dark Night of the Soul experience). Please do stay connected and read around this website for more guidance. <3
It’s good reading comments and realize l have a family people like me who just need guidance
Yes, it can be so comforting to know this 💜
Me am just lost got an accident during the beginning of my collage and broke my leg into pieces it was put in order with a metal now am walking perfect but during recovery l underwent alot of questions in my life am my first question was what am l am l soul in body am l just a spirit in a vessel all these my mind gave me answers l kept asking myself questions and got answers from myself but then l hve recovered l want to go back to college and live my old life but l have failed because something in me is crying for spirituality and spiritual knowledge because it’s all l knew during recovery l kept getting spiritual knowledge from my deepest self but now l want to move on go back to college but then my heart craves something else l feel a deeper calling, my inner man has taught me alot during recovery to a point l began seeing Angels around, but when l see people leave normal life l feel alone , l feel l know too much what people don’t it’s crazy it’s like am nuts or the people l see are the one nuts ,so l feel like moving on because the majority people around me see me like crazy because l see things when l tell then they think am nuts and am so clearvoyent that l know things before they happen it’s more of seer power but l feel am alone the only light in the dark so l just wanna go back to my past and take the red pill and leave normal but when l try going back am hunted by forces l feel more freaked so am in a loop but whenever l choose spirituality l feel better and save again but the problem is being the only light around l see people live normal l wonder what l should do remain on enlightenment wea l feel save and new me although others see me different or go back to my old normal me wea l feel more depressed sad and absolutely not fitting in.
I scored 85. Over the last year, I’ve lost my friends and hobbies and quit my job. I can barely stand going to the store anymore – I feel bombarded by toxic energy from other people and I need to withdraw from it. Things that used to mildly annoy me feel unbearably wrong. I can’t enjoy things I used to do for fun, and things I used to worry about seem irrelevant. It’s different from depression – I’ve been depressed before, and this isn’t so much of a miserable mood as a sense that everything I used to do is no longer right. I don’t know what to do next, but my intuition tells me if I only wait, the answers will eventually come and I’ll emerge into a very different life. At the same time, I can’t see that life, or how it will happen, and I feel very alone. It feels like my old life is gone, almost like it was someone else’s life, intolerable to remember, like wearing clothes that don’t fit.
Hi. I’m going through this or I’m just totally going insane. Im having severe moods swings also but I was diagnosed as bipolar type 2 along with 6 other mental illnesses so I’m not sure what is going on with me. I’m very angry and sad, all my good habits have gone out the window, my food and sugar addictions are back, im craving nicotine. I feel Lost, I feel hopeless and I’m experiencing alot of negative feelings for myself, calling myself stupid ect. My body is a vehicle and I don’t have control of the wheel anymore :( Im actually considering going for electric shock therapy. Im miserable and making everyone around me miserable. I have suicide ideations. Im glad I found this website because I don’t know how long I can go on this way.
Thanks for sharing Stephanie and I can’t imagine how hard it must be though I’ve seen it first hard through a close family member. I don’t recommend focusing too much on the topics of Dark Night when going through the ebbs and flows of any chemical imbalances that are the result of bipolar or other disorders.
As someone who encourages a gentle approach to spirituality, trying to find inner peace while feeling like you’re going 100 miles an hour can make it unnecessarily difficult. Following what your health care professionals recommend, even if it’s medications, if only for a short period, can create enough stability to continue this journey when you find yourself in a more calm place.
Sending you good wishes 💜
I’m on mood stabilizers at the moment. My mental illnesses have almost completely disappeared except my bipolar. The thing is the medication I’m taking is not helping anymore and was asked if I wanted to try lithium. Im terrified, just the name scares me. I’m thinking of microdosing because I’ve heard such good things about it. I was told to see a naturopath to help me.
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I scored 55. But at this moment i do not experience some sort of depressing, lost or hopeless feelings. Yes, i do not know a few answers, yet. Unlike a few months ago, I’m totally fine with it. I try to challenge my creativity, discover new things. I am finally able to enjoy writing in a journal. Taking a moment every day to do breathing exercises. Spending more time learning to listen to my body. On a different level than i used to learned because of physical limitations. I am actually looking forward to whatever is coming. There was already a lot of change inside lately. And i do hope the proces keeps going on.
I do wander though,… I am about the start the inner child journal, as a follow up to the self love journal. Would it still be useful for my personal growth to do the dark night of the soul journal?? Even though there is a period where life isn’t that dark or depressing.
It’s good to see the score on the lower side Evelien. The ebbs and flows of growth drive us through different stages and different periods of our life.
I’d follow the inner child journal with the shadow work journal. The shadow side is something we all carry at any stage of our journey, and it is important for everyone to have some level of awareness of what they carry within their shadow sides.
I don’t know who I am anymore. I don’t feel anything. Complete, absurd numbness. I used to feel everything. I used to have joy and energy. Now I’m depleted and feel helpless. I no longer want to be here. All I see is suffering. I just want to leave. Why won’t the Lord let me leave? After all I’ve done for Him? After all the devotion and love…
I scored over 50. I feel deeply alone in the dark, and it is
exhausting. I have to say i feel afraid for the process because i dont trust myself, and dont know if i can handle it. But i will fight to stay in the process because i want to heal the past, and start living again and learn to love my self. When i find your website ill get hope. Because i then know that i am not alone going thru this painfull process. So thank you for sharing your knowledge with us🙂
I just did the test again I got 50% again because I am rereading all the material again because my brain is not absorbing anything which is weird for me because I have always been a walking sponge & remember every thing word for word. I have also noticed that when I meditate I am going no where fast, & when I try to do chakra absolutely nothing it is like my brain has shut off. I know went thru a depression last fall, am i still depressed so my brain has shut down. Is this normal because it is strange to me. I have meditated for many years off and on & it was never like this. Chakras for about 4 years evan last fall when I was depressed I could still meditate and had good experience with my chakras.
Denice, Are you familiar with the fact that a lack of certain nutrients can cause depression?? Or certain underlying physical issues? When i suffered my thyroid disease in the past, there was a long time i could not remeber information.
In the meantime I have learned a lot, not only about thyroid diseases, but also about nutrition, the intestines and what problems, for example, long-term stress due to an unsafe childhood or other heavy stuff can cause for your health. It is good and also important to do the inner work, but there are methods to help the physical body so that life doesn’t have to be so hard.
I hope I can give you some inspiration with this.