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» Home » Facing The Darkness

Your Calling is Calling: How to Find Purpose in Times of Crisis 

by Aletheia Luna · Updated: Jul 19, 2025 · 52 Comments

A person shining a light underneath a stone archway symbolic of finding your soul's purpose
life purpose existential crisis dark night of the soul image

Perhaps you’ve been feeling it recently. Maybe you’ve felt it for a long time. 

The darkness around us is deep. 

We no longer trust the big institutions that were meant to protect us and there is an increase in social unrest at almost every level of society.


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Our ecosystem is suffering. Wars between volatile countries are breaking out. Mental health issues are on the rise, so much so that the children these days are labeled “the anxious generation.”

Many of us are struggling to pay for basic necessities. The rise of AI is wiping out many livelihoods and our sense of fundamental security.

Mateo explores more of this crisis in this video:

I don’t need to go into every problem out there because I’m sure you’re more than aware. 

We are living in an age of Soul Loss, personally, societally, and globally.

Alchemically speaking, we are living in the phase of nigredo – the darkening, the burning, the dissolution of the old structures in society that we once relied upon.

Image of fire representing the nigredo process
(Picture by Anna Popović)

There is a collective sense of disillusionment and a level of cynicism I’ve never seen before. Do you feel it?

The other day, someone left a comment on one of my posts that perfectly summarizes what I mean. They wrote:


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“There is no such thing as love. Especially agape (“unconditional love”). Humans suck. They don’t want to love. Majority of humans are trash.”

Now I don’t know if this person was a troll or whether they were speaking honestly, but comments like these mirror something tragic but critical:

We are going through an existential crisis as a society – one directly related to a loss of soul, a loss of meaning, and a loss of connection to the spirit of nature (the anima mundi).

When I considered what to write in response to this person, the image of Viktor Frankl, one of the most powerful and awe-inspiring guides on finding purpose in times of despair, immediately came to mind.

Here was my response: 

“Hi C. This is a very one-sided and short-sighted perspective. “Majority of humans are trash.” Someone like Viktor Frankl who survived the Nazi death camps chose to turn that horror into a source of power, helping many through his development of logotherapy. The way I see it is that some people in this world choose self-indulgent and self-destructive cynicism which is easy, but also empty and pointless. Others choose to transform that into power, purpose, and potential, making this world better (love in action). At the end of the day, we’re all in this together, whether we like it or not.”

This comment reflects the essence of what I want to share with you today.

In times of crisis, trauma, and darkness, the only path that I know to be truly powerful, healing, and transformative is to turn your pain into a source of power, purpose, and potential. 

Anything less than that leaves us feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, angry, and stuck in a pit of self-indulgent cynicism, which doesn’t do us or anyone else much good.

This idea of finding your inner path is not a new one. The notion of having a unique calling can be found in many old religious and spiritual ideas, such as dharma in Eastern thought (one’s sacred duty), vocatio in Christian belief (God-given vocation), or one’s unique “medicine” in shamanic cultures who performed vision quests and other rituals to find their calling. 

Image of Aboriginal art
(Photo by Pilbara)

Where I live in Australia, the Aboriginal people believe in a concept known as Songlines, where their ancestors left pathways across the land for them to follow, connecting them to their greater path, role, and linking them to ancient knowledge.  

In times of crisis, a large doorway to the inner world opens. We could say that pain is the portal. Suffering is the initiation. Mythologically speaking, the “call to adventure” and finding a new way of living and being almost always begins with some kind of crisis.

As Viktor Frankl writes, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” And sociologist Martha Beck complements that by saying, “Any deep crisis is an opportunity to make your life extraordinary.”

In other words, your calling is calling you.

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In times of crisis, more than ever before, your calling is calling you to step up, listen to the yearning of your soul, and give back to the world your unique form of “medicine.”

This personal medicine can be small and humble. It can be done between jobs, on lunch breaks, or in the early hours of Saturday morning. It can be visible or invisible – it doesn’t have to look any one way.

Image of a woman placing her hand over her heart
(Photo by Darius Bashar)

The simplest way to get started is this:

Put a hand over your heart, close your eyes, get quiet, and turn inwards. Ask your Soul,

“What am I called to do right now?” 

Pay attention to the first words, images, or feelings that come up. Trust the first rush of insight.

Also remember this:

Your calling is calling you in many different ways, shapes, and forms. It calls to you through signs, synchronicities, dreams, and longings. It calls to you every day. Listen carefully. 

If you struggle to connect with that inner calling or feel blocked in your ability to be proactive, see my Alchemical Soul Work Workbook – a work of passion and the soul – which can help you find clarity and focus.

It’s time to find your path in this time of crisis. 

The world needs your unique form of medicine now more than ever. Don’t delay. Now is the time.  

Tell me, what came up for you when you asked your heart and Soul, “What am I called to do right now?”? I’d love to hear in the comments below. 

Three paths to inner transformation – here’s how I can help you go deeper:

1. The Spiritual Wanderer Course: Are you feeling lost, adrift, and unsure of your life's purpose? Gain clarity, focus, and direction on your inner path by uncovering the five archetypes of awakening within you. Learn how to navigate the highs and lows of your inner journey and chart your unique path with 3+ hours of audio-visual content, workbooks, meditations, and a premium test.

2. Shadow & Light Membership: Do you crave consistent support on your spiritual quest? Receive weekly intuitive guidance and learn to embrace your whole self, including your shadow side. Cultivate deeper self-love with our affordable, personalized support.

3. The Alchemical Soul Work Workbook: This powerful psychospiritual tool helps you turn inner blockages into breakthroughs using the ancient wisdom of spiritual alchemy. Through guided prompts and deep self-reflection, you’ll gain clarity, dissolve emotional pain, and reconnect with your Soul’s wisdom. Transform confusion into clarity. Live a more authentic, ensouled life.

More Facing The Darkness

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    What is Nigredo? 13 Signs You’re Having an Alchemical Breakdown 
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    The Core Wound: Why You Still Feel Broken, Unseen, and Alone
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About Aletheia Luna

Aletheia Luna is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and intuitive guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. As a survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. [Read More]

(52) Comments

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  1. Sandra Boelter says

    July 21, 2025 at 7:17 am

    I’m called to rest right now because there is something coming and I need to be prepared

    Reply
  2. LeAnn says

    July 18, 2025 at 2:31 am

    I have messaged before for a different article and said that I feel like I’m in a holding pattern. I again felt while reading this that something wants me to hold and wait. I’ve been having a sense, and it could just be my ego making a story, that I’m waiting with the possibility of helping to rebuild (maybe emotionally, spiritually) after the complete collapse. Who knows if that is actually going to happen and I’m trying to live like it’s not. I feel tugged between utter hopelessness and near hatred of humans and trying to show kindness, thoughtfulness, love, appreciation and most all empathy to people. Hopefully I’m not crazy or weird.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 19, 2025 at 2:25 pm

      “I’m waiting with the possibility of helping to rebuild (maybe emotionally, spiritually) after the complete collapse”
      Thanks for sharing, LeAnn. I don’t think you sound crazy or weird at all – these feelings are normal. It sounds as though what will help prevent that sense of utter hopelessness is taking action of some kind, maybe even before the complete collapse, whatever that looks like. Collapse is already happening, and doing something proactive, whether internally, externally, or both, help bring back that sense of self-agency, giving an outlet for restless angsty energy.

      Reply
  3. Lola says

    July 15, 2025 at 5:37 am

    I feel sadness and love for the person who made that comment. That was written through pain. I hope they are ok. Not only love exists, it is the answer to everything. It’s not that humans are “trash,” just many are sleepwalking through life passively reacting to patterns that run them. We have to remember news is skewed, and we mostly get fed the negative, extreme stuff because it produces engagement, views and profit. When looking overall, there is more good than bad in the world, and many, many folks are working tirelessly, and often for free, to make this world a better place. We have to watch our media diet. I follow news sources like Positive News or Upworthy to balance out the perspective. Another great organisation to follow is Action for Happiness — their courses and daily reminder app are amazing.

    Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 19, 2025 at 2:36 pm

      ” We have to remember news is skewed, and we mostly get fed the negative, extreme stuff because it produces engagement, views and profit. When looking overall, there is more good than bad in the world, and many, many folks are working tirelessly, and often for free, to make this world a better place.” – well said, Lola. Thank you for this thoughtful and uplifting comment 💜

      Reply
  4. Donald Cameron says

    July 15, 2025 at 2:25 am

    I agree with your thoughts about what is happening in our troubled and wounded world. I thought your return comment to C was well done. Being angry, describing the majority of people as “trash” and denying that there is love will never bring the changes we need. Since I was a young man, I had five tenets that guided my life: Be honest; Be respectful; Do good work; Keep your body healthy; and Share your life’s experiences so that others may smile, heal, laugh or learn something new. As for my message to the world, I ask the question: “Why take by force what you can have with love ?” Do not let Hope perish.

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      July 15, 2025 at 3:12 am

      Absolutely inspiring, uplifting and such worthy tenets, beautiful, thank you for sharing. Your final comment about Hope is so very true. I am a volunteer alongside my working life, for a charity with Hope in its name, it is much more than a word and I believe it is a powerful and positive way forward.

      Reply
    • Aletheia Luna says

      July 19, 2025 at 2:34 pm

      Your five tenets are brilliant, Donald. Thank you for sharing this wisdom!

      Reply
    • Jan 😊 says

      July 24, 2025 at 12:16 am

      The first thing that came to mind after I put my hand on my heart to ask my soul was – do the dishes , pay the outstanding bills , text clients and do the annoyingly little things around the house – I believe this to be a true answer.As I then remembered what the Buddha said
      “ Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment;
      chop wood, carry water.”
      lol perhaps we need to do these daily chores and tasks to keep us grounded and to remind us to take our minds off things that swirl around our heads. This way the subconscious gets a chance to come forward and bring answers . Instead of our front egoic mind taking over and becoming troubled and obsessed . Sooo, I am going to do those dishes now ! lol x

      Reply
  5. Pierre says

    July 14, 2025 at 11:24 pm

    Your comments are powerful and needed. Yes, Victor Frankl is awesome and a great role model. My hope is for AI to elevate humanity in our spiritual evolution, not be a deterrent.
    I know, it’s a farfetched dream but I have to believe. I want the best for all living beings.

    Reply
    • Ted says

      July 16, 2025 at 4:39 am

      Are you on drugs? AI and technology in general are destroying nature and humanity. Good god what is wrong with you

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna says

        July 19, 2025 at 2:31 pm

        I admire your dreams, Pierre. I hope so, too. To me, AI has the potential to do a lot of good and a lot of harm – it depends on how it is used and who is using it. For instance, AI has already been used for early cancer diagnosis, among other positive uses. Unkind, inflammatory, and emotionally reactive comments like Ted’s one above show me that this is still something people have a black-or-white mindset towards, which is predictable. I’m paying attention to those who can hold the tension of opposites and find useful paths forward. With that said, AI does worry me a lot right now, and I’m hoping this website and body of work can withstand the changes it brings, especially in the creative field.

        Reply
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Aletheia Luna and Mateo Sol are psychospiritual educators, authors, guides, and the creators behind lonerwolf.com, which has reached millions worldwide since 2012. With over 30 years of combined experience, their work has been featured in publications like The Mind’s Journal, Wake Up World, Tiny Buddha, and more. Their mission is to help seekers overcome soul loss and live a more purposeful, ensouled life. Start here »

 

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