It’s tough being a human. Especially now, yes?
It’s easy to blame it on all the topsy-turvy-ness that just won't quit.
But if you’re in utter hopelessness, even pondering giving up, you could actually be going through what’s referred to in spiritual circles as a ‘Dark Night of the Soul.’
It might make you feel better to know it isn't just you.
The world is going through a Dark Night of the Soul on a collective consciousness level. In other words, we signed up to go through this intense time in order to learn some Huge Spiritual Lessons to shift the planet in Huge Spiritual Ways.
It's a dirty job, but, as the saying goes, someone has to do it, right?
What's a Dark Night?
Although it sounds ominous, a Dark Night of the Soul just means hiding from your true self.
I like to call it ‘spiritual amnesia,’ like the light turned off and you suddenly forgot who you truly are. Which, by the way, you also did shortly upon arrival in this physical realm.
That forgetfulness makes it super hard to pass your Planet Earth Assignment 101: Remembering that you are a spirit temporarily inhabiting a body.
A Dark Night is one more alarm clock your Higher Consciousness uses to shake you awake and remember that assignment. (It does whatever it takes.) However, it’s up to you to hear the beep-beep-beep going off, turn the light on, and get the message.
Dark Nights frequently occur right before a big transition is about to happen. Sadly, since it's so dark, many give up, never attaining what was waiting right around the corner.
Looking back, hopefully you'll see your Dark Night as a growth-filled gift, one of the most significant times of your life. Perceiving it that way bumps your passing grade quite a bit.
Serious Shedding
Dark Nights often force the letting go process big time. Especially anything you’re holding onto that’s preventing you from being authentic --things, people, fears -- even as you kick and scream in resistance.
Dark Nights get your eyes to open and you start questioning things – relationships, careers, religions, government, etc. -- realizing they aren’t what you thought they were.
Things that previously allowed you to construct meaning in your life suddenly feel empty. Those things that brought happiness, fun or escape no longer work.
What’s the Cause?
Oftentimes, a spiritual awakening or mystical experience of some kind can trigger a Dark Night.
Or something happens shaking you to your core, like a serious accident or illness, or a significant loss.
Or maybe you've finally acquired everything you ever wanted and you’re still not happy.
Applying the above to the world going through a pandemic, a political uprising, an environmentally threatened planet --is it any wonder we're experiencing a communal Dark Night?
How to Deal
In this quick fix world, it’s all too easy to hang a diagnosis label and rush a prescription to “repair” a Dark Night experience. Sometimes that might be appropriate, but not always.
Rather, recognize that you might be in a spiritual transition and allow yourself to mindfully surrender to whatever you’re going through.
Patience is essential. Dark Nights unfold in their own time and take as long as they take to wake up those spiritual messages. Attempting to speed up the process, fighting or running from it, only slows it down.
Take time for some radical inner discovery (I can help with that) through meditation, prayer, or anything that goes deep. Courageously shine light on all you've been denying or suppressing about yourself. Let go of the facades that aren’t in alignment with who you are becoming.
Take action, especially where fear has been stopping you. Make some Big Changes in your life, especially the ones you’ve been resisting.
Remember: Your personal Dark Night is what the planet is going through. The more of us that wake up, the more the light turns on for all.
Know that what’s trying to be awakened is love, purpose, power, awareness, trust and joy. Who you really are. Who all of us really are.
You/we are getting there. Really.
Keep in mind that, although it seems really dark right now, this cliché does hold true: “It’s always darkest before the dawn.”
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Royce Morales, a renowned transformational facilitator, developer and teacher of Perfect Life Awakening, offers unique, breakthrough, spiritually-based tools to discover and resolve the roots of self-sabotaging, negative inner programming. This profound inner work awakens and transforms you by overcoming limiting beliefs, shifting your consciousness and resolving what's keeping you from a life of deservingness and true joy.
Royce offers remote group classes, an e-course and private inner journey sessions using her empowering spiritual clearing techniques.
Contact Royce for a free fifteen minute consultation to see if this inner-journey work is a good fit.
Royce is the author of three fascinating books about her teachings: “Want: True love, past lives and other complications;” “Know: A spiritual wake-up call;” and “Back: Rebirth After Stroke,” all available on amazon.com
Her website is www.RoyceMorales.com and Twitter is @RoyceMorales. She can be reached at LvsreaL@aol.com