The Dark Night of the Soul

Life can be really cruel sometimes. It shakes you, breaks you and cracks you deep open to your core. You have no option but to move along. Dance to the rhythm of the beats. And if you patiently do so it showers you with all that you ever asked for. Also the things you never imagined you ever wanted or could ever have. One such phase that every woke person goes through is the Dark Night of the Soul.

Often experienced by many and heavily misunderstood. People rarely know that they going through this phase in life and consider it to be a huge stroke of bad luck. But this realisation doesn’t make it any less difficult. And nobody knows the cure for it.

In fact, calling it to be the most terrifying period of one’s life is an understatement!

The Dark Night of the Soul as the name states is a period of time in one’s life where all a person can see, feel, experience and perceive is darkness. No matter what he/she tries it cannot be escaped from. The more you fight the more it engulfs you. Like a snake that has coiled its prey. Where the prey has no idea what would happen next except for the fact that it probably won’t survive but it still keeps trying and trying. What else can it do?

Such is the feeling that one experiences on a regular basis.

I am well aware that it sounds cold and creepy but that is the harsh reality of all those who are experiencing or have experienced it. And this is just a snippet of it.

The Dark Night of the Soul is an initiation that the soul undertakes in order to begin its spiritual journey. It is done to make the person conscious of their pre-birth intentions for incarnating of Earth. A reminder from the Universe. A reminder strong enough to erode you.

Often triggered through mental health issues, death of a loved one, a major crisis or some traumatic event.

During the dark night of the soul, one goes through tremendous pain and suffering which cannot be comprehended in words but can only be experienced first hand. What one encounters is a black hole. A never-ending Void.

A void of pain, misery, suffering, helplessness and hopelessness. Experiencing all of this Alone. Nobody truly understands it or acknowledges it. And that makes it even more unbearable.

Every one who is acquainted with this person who is going through the dark night of the soul doesn’t even have the faintest idea of what he/she is going through other than the fact that he/she seems to be a little odd than usual. And the one suffering doesn’t even dare to utter a word because of sheer embarrassment.

Going through an Existential and Identity Crisis is a common theme for all going through this. One starts questioning everything in life.

Ideologies, beliefs, values, morals, constructs, structures and everything that he/she held onto perpetually. Nothing seems normal. The way it appeared to be before. Little does he/she realize that it is a blessing in disguise. But no one will ever say this when they are going through this! Because the truth of the matter is it feels like death. A metaphorical Death.

The death of the “Old You”.

Consider yourself a Caterpillar in Chrysalis.

The Caterpillar has to literally go through a pile of goo. It has to be in the cocoon all by itself; isolated. Though it feels lonely and terrible that is what is required for it to become a Butterfly. And if somebody did try helping it, then it would probably die and never become a butterfly!

Such is the process of Ascension that is initiated during the dark night of the soul.

Just like mother nature takes care of the little caterpillar and ensures that it becomes a butterfly.

The Universe nurtures us as well. The Universe always has our back!

To be a little more aggressive, you’re nothing less than a phoenix rising from your own ashes.

Ashes of the version of you that no longer serves you rather keeps you confined.

But there’s good news though! And that is, the Dark Night of the Soul is followed by a Spiritual Awakening.

Everything in nature happens in cycles.

The trees shed their leaves during the fall preparing them for winter and new life is thus welcomed in spring to once again experience the joy of summer.

The moon goes through different phases and cycles throughout the month.

Spiders moult.

Snakes shed their skin.

Tadpoles become frogs.

The process looks daunting. To put it right they too go through initiation. But in their own unique way.

The Dark Night of the Soul is an intense energy that makes you shed everything you no longer are.

Just like the butterfly, spider, snakes and phoenix.

You too have the power and capability to transform into something Magical. Something completely new and even more beautiful.

Keep going, keep believing. The night follows the Dawn.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and once you reach the end of that tunnel you will know that you were the Light.

You may not realize this and it may sound harsh but your pain and suffering serve a much bigger purpose than what you believe it to be. It will make sense soon. And you would be an inspiration for many…

Your story would serve as the Survival Guide for many!