Winter is coming and that means many people will go into “hibernation,” or what others may call a Dark Night of the Soul. Though this phenomena can happen at any time of the year, this time of year is when an influx of Dark Night of the Soul experiences occur.
Essentially, a Dark Night of the Soul happens when you go through an extremely dark period in your life where your ego dies and your reality shifts. During this time, your soul begins to emerge, and everything that you thought you knew is dismantled.
What is a Dark Night of the Soul?
A Dark Night of the Soul is almost inexplicable, unless you’ve experienced it. The best comparison I can think of is a deep state of depression, however, it’s not necessarily sadness or thoughts of wanting out from this world.It’s better compared to a period of loneliness, confusion, and discomfort.
Some people may experience feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, similar to being depressed. They might question whether or not there is a light at the end of the tunnel because life seems so dreary.
Imagine being lost in the woods on a cloudy night where the moonlight is nowhere to be found. You might feel scared, worried, or unsafe because you’ve never been to this wooded forest and you are completely by yourself. You’re not sure what to expect because it’s impossible to see ahead of you. There’s a lot of what-ifs and unknowns, and you just aren’t sure if daylight will come.
Why Does It Happen?
A Dark Night of the Soul happens when you are called to work for the light. It is a period of preparation for an intense spiritual training orchestrated by none other than the Universe. Those who are chosen are gifted with this experience to help them gain spiritual wisdom, strength, and resilience.
It might not seem like a gift while you are going through it, but you know what they say: “hindsight is 20/20.”
It is one of the most extreme obstacle courses you will encounter during your spiritual journey.
A qualification of being chosen is having hands-on experience. As someone who is chosen, your duty is to bring light into the world and to drive out darkness.
How can you turn on the light for someone else if you’ve never been in the dark?
The Dark Night of the Soul is like a prerequisite that you have to complete before you can take the next step on your spiritual journey.
For example, those in the Army chosen to attend flight school have to undergo a course called SERE, which stands for survive, evade, resist, and escape. They’re placed in the woods for 2 weeks, and are challenged to overcome extremely strenuous obstacles. Only those who pass the course are qualified to move on to progress to the next step.
Think of a Dark Night of the Soul as rigorous training to ensure that you are fully prepared to handle the assignment that you’ve been called to do.
What Triggers a Dark Night of the Soul?
A Dark Night of the Soul can be triggered by a traumatic event such as the death of a loved one, different forms of abuse, a near death experience, being fired from a job, or even relationship conflict.
Any experience that forces you to wake up from the slumber that you’ve been in your entire life is fair game when it comes to activating this transformational experience.
My experience was catalyzed by the realization that I’d been experiencing narcissistic abuse throughout my entire life. Once I comprehended that I was entangled with multiple narcissists, and the toll it had on my life, my Dark Night of the Soul began.
How Long Does it Last?
Everyone is different. For some, this period can last for months while other people experience a Dark Night of the Soul for years.
You can experience multiple Dark Nights of the Soul as well. Each time you are being called to level up in terms of your spiritual growth, there is a chance that you’ll go through a period of darkness so that you can emerge transformed.
To shorten the length of time that it lasts, don’t resist the experience. Learn all you can so that you can transmute the darkness into light.
5 Things to Expect During a Dark Night of the Soul
During a Dark Night of the Soul expect the unexpected. There’s no telling what sort of darkness you’ll have to overcome during this period. Know that it will be extremely difficult and you may feel like it won’t get better. But it will.
Someone made the reference that a Dark Night of the Soul is like having a “tower” moment. In the Tarot, the Tower card represents massive change, deconstruction, and awakening. This is an excellent comparison to what a Dark Night of the Soul is like. Continue reading to learn about what you can expect.
1. Extreme Isolation
Many people experience a period of isolation. This is because the Universe has to get rid of all of the distractions in your life so that you can receive the wisdom necessary to be a light warrior.
Your relationships are subject to change and you’ll start to lose friends. People you know will suddenly disappear and before you know it, you are all alone. Another Tarot reference is the Hermit card.
In the Tarot, the Hermit card represents a withdrawal from society to introspect and seek understanding. During this period, you are completely alone physically, but spiritually, you have support all around you.
For some people, this time of isolation is by choice and for others it just happens. Either way, it is a necessary part of the experience. If you are being called to keep to yourself, end relationships, or to take a break from everyone you don’t fight it. There is much to be learned and gained during this period.
2. Revelations
Once you’ve been in isolation for some time, things will suddenly be revealed to you. You might start to receive downloads from Spirit about people and situations in your life that you’ve had weird feelings about but maybe ignored.
If there have been things that you’ve been questioning, it’s likely that you’ll finally receive answers. All of a sudden, you just know things. There’s no way to explain it in a logical sense but you know in your gut that it is true. Your inner wisdom comes through and reveals to you what you need to know to continue moving forward.
3. Psychic Abilities Come Online
Those who are chosen work for the supernatural, and because of this, you will be gifted with the activation of supernatural abilities. Your third eye or spiritual eye will be opened, and you’ll be able to tune into the spiritual realm.
It’s as though you’ve found a new station on a radio that you never knew existed. Or you can compare it to going to a speakeasy where entry is only for those who have the password and have been told about this secret place.
Your hearing may improve and you’ll start to hear angelic music. Some even begin to have prophetic dreams, an increase in clairvoyance, and then develop the skill of seeing auras.
Things that you might have been skeptical about in the past will now be a reality for you. Don’t be scared of it. Know that it is a gift from the Universe to help you better navigate the seen and unseen realms.
4. Increase in Spirituality
Because a Dark Night of the Soul is so lonely, you’ll want to have someone to turn to, but because you don’t trust anyone or don’t feel in alignment with the people that you used to, you’ll have no choice but to find company in a higher power.
You might begin learning about your guardian angels, spirit guides, your Higher Self, and Source. Once you realize that you are protected and supported and that this experience is not happening by accident, but by Divine will, your faith will begin to grow.
At some point, you’ll even be thankful for the experience because you recognize that it is shaping you into a completely new person.
You’ll have the urge to learn all you can about yourself through astrology or numerology. You might start studying spiritual texts like the Kybalion, the Emerald Tablets, the Vedas, or anything else that aligns with your spiritual beliefs.
Your new found spiritual devotion will be the guiding anchor to help you through this time.
5. A Shift in Your Current Reality
One thing that you can absolutely expect is for the course of your life to be completely altered. Life as you knew it will change during a Dark Night of the Soul. The things you used to do before no longer appeal to you.
This can be in regards to anything in your life. Your diet might change, your hobbies and interests, and even your career. During my experience, I went from being a plant-based pescatarian to adopting a totally plant-based diet. I had no desire to eat anything that previously had a heartbeat.
When you go through a Dark Night of the Soul, your ego dies and your soul emerges. You commence to align with your heart and soul, and start to live for yourself rather than for other people.
You disconnect from the matrix and begin listening to your heart. You learn about your purpose and work towards fulfilling your dharma.
Since you were basically asleep before, now that you are awake, your reality shifts. When this happens, you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize that you’ll be just fine. It takes some adjusting to, but you become optimistic and excited for what’s to come.
Final Thoughts
While a Dark Night of the Soul is an extremely uncomfortable experience, it is necessary for your spiritual evolution. Your old way of life must end for you to embrace the new.
To spread light, you must know what it’s like to be in complete darkness. This experience equips you with the wisdom needed to help those who are stuck in darkness themselves.
It’s a life changing experience and basically an initiation into the spiritual realm. If you happen to be going through a Dark Night of the Soul, know that it will get better. You are on the way to the light.
If you’ve experienced this enlightening phenomena, leave a comment to share what your experience was like.
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