Dark Night of the Soul by Lisa Colón DeLay

R: The phrase first turned up in the poetry of Spanish Carmelite monk John of the Cross in the 16th Century. He composed many poems while in torment in prison.

Q: “Dark” seems awfully negative. Is it?

R: In Spanish the term is closer to the word “obscure.” Though the process may be confusing and painful, “dark” is not implying a negative state, especially once one is aware of the progression of growth involved, and knows how the dawn will approach.

Q: Is the “dark night of the soul” the same as depression?

R: No. It’s also not a “spiritual term” for the suffering of someone who needs help for trauma/abuse, medical treatment for illness (mental or otherwise), and/or therapy. Sometimes the two states are seen hand-in-hand, but many times they are not.

Q: Are there different kinds of “dark nights” of the soul?

R: Yes. John of the Cross spoke of a “dark night” involving the senses, as well as one involving the spirit.

Q: What is a good way to recognize a “dark night”.

R: A dark night of the senses may “feel” as though modes of prayer, experiencing God, or spiritual practices don’t “work” or satisfy. God may “feel” out of reach, distant, unavailable, or gone. It may feel like a dry period, or a time of being in a spiritual dessert. This is not cause for discouragement or alarm, but for stamina. It is a Divine invitation for growth, and greater spiritual depth beyond what one has known.

Dr. Gerald May, the author of The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth describes his patients experiencing “the dark night” as being different those patients who are suffering depression. There may be (felt) discouragement, and silence from God. There may be confusion, a lack of spiritual "experience" or lack of sensation of the spiritual as there had been before. But, compared to his patients who have symptoms of depression, these folks do not have despair like those who are depressed do. They do not have the same cynicism, even though they may feel alone. In the dark night times one knows transformation is underway, whereas during times of depression, one hopes to return to normal.

Because God is not a "thing" but rather Spirit–all places at once-as we progress spiritually, invitations come to rebirth and journey closer to union with him as Spirit. This is journey to a greater awareness of God, in a deeper, richer way. One that involves faith, not sight, or even the crutch of sensation, which may be confused for God, but also cannot be God, in actuality.

This way, we can leave behind the old methods of tapping into the spiritual that are like outgrown child's clothing–too small for us. Ultimately, we move toward union with God in this way. Some dark nights take years to move through. The end always results in greater insights of God's love, and greater union with the Divine, in a brighter day.

[Some information taken from my reading: Gerald G. May, M.D. The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth. Harper San Francisco, 2004.]

Lisa Colón DeLay has her master's degree in Spiritual Formation and speaks to a wide variety of audiences, as well as writing a blog: http://lifeasprayer.wordpress.com

(lit. agent Chip MacGregor)

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