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"The dark night of the soul comes just before revelation. When everything is lost, and all seems darkness, then comes the new life and all that is needed."
-Joseph Campbell
When it feels like all is lost…
Keep going.
Sometimes world events make us feel that we are entering dark times. How do we reckon with that?
The “dark night of the soul” is a phrase you may have heard. It originates in the 16th century, but has taken on many different meanings. Think of “it’s always darkest before the dawn” or “having a crisis of faith.”
We use “dark night of the soul” these days to mean being in our darkest days, or having everything we believe be tested.
In story structure, the dark night of the soul happens immediately after the “all is lost” moment, where the character, having just hit rock bottom, must grapple with what it all mean. It’s a transition stage before it all becomes right and better than before. In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey’s dark night of the soul begins around when he’s on his way to the bridge.
Spanish Christian Mystic St. John of the Cross wrote a mystical poem called The Dark Night of the Soul which is where the term originates.
In some spiritual traditions, the basic premise is that after “illumination,” there may come a reversal, a feeling of absence of unity with the Universe, The One, The Divine, whatever it may be called.
The Solution? True Will
We ourselves possess Beauty when we are true to our own being – Plotinus
When there is darkness all around, the light must come from within.
Belief systems often have a concept of staying true to yourself. Thelema has the concept of “Pure Will” or “True Will.”
“True Will should spring, a fountain of Light, from within, and flow unchecked, seething with Love, into the Ocean of Life.” – Aleister Crowley
True Will is aligning with your purpose, and staying true to it, as a path to spiritual growth and harmonizing with the cosmos.
This is a recurring concept across the ages. Walking down the path that is truest to yourself, that is aligned with what you know to be true, honest, and good.
That’s all you need to do. Good will follow.
“Behave in such a way that all those who share your existence or live in contact with you regard you as an example and feel the desire to be like you…” - From the Rosicrucian Code of Life
Don’t give up.
- Joe
A couple things for you
Need help finding your purpose?