What is a dark night of the soul?
Have you ever felt like everything was falling apart—and yet, somewhere deep inside, you sensed it might be for a reason?
That’s the essence of a Dark Night of the Soul.
It’s not just a bad day or a rough week. It’s a full-on spiritual crisis. It’s the feeling that everything you once believed, trusted, or leaned on has crumbled—and you’re left standing in the ashes, unsure of who you are, what you believe, or where to go next.
The Symptoms of a Dark Night
A Dark Night of the Soul often feels like:
Spiritual disconnection — You can’t feel your guides, your intuition, or even your own light.
Emotional chaos — Grief, anger, numbness, confusion, or hopelessness flood in.
Losing your sense of self — The person you used to be no longer feels like you.
Existential questioning — Nothing makes sense anymore, and the things that once lit you up now feel meaningless.
Deep, isolating stillness — Even in a room full of people, you feel alone.
It can look like depression from the outside, and in many ways, it mirrors it. But a true Dark Night of the Soul has a spiritual root. Your soul is asking for something deeper, more aligned, and more authentic.
Why It Happens
A Dark Night of the Soul usually arrives during a major shift in your life or spiritual path. It can be triggered by a loss, a betrayal, burnout, a spiritual awakening, or simply reaching the edge of who you’ve been.
Your soul is calling you to shed the old skin—the outdated beliefs, attachments, roles, and versions of yourself that no longer serve your highest path. And that shedding can feel like death before it feels like rebirth.
This is not punishment. It’s purification.
It’s not the end. It’s the threshold.
What Can Help
If you’re in the middle of a Dark Night right now, here are a few gentle reminders:
Surrender. Stop trying to fix or force your way out of it. Let yourself unravel.
Rest. Nourish. Breathe. Your nervous system is doing a lot. Be kind to it.
Let it be sacred. Even if you don’t understand it yet, this is a spiritual initiation.
Ask for support. This path may feel lonely, but you don’t have to walk it alone.
Trust that the light will return. It always does. But first, we go through the dark.
You’re Not Broken—You’re Breaking Open
If this resonates, know that you’re not lost. You’re being invited to find a deeper version of yourself.
Your soul knows the way—even if your mind doesn’t right now.
Let this season strip away what’s false. Let it soften what’s hardened. Let it initiate you into the next, truer chapter of who you really are.
