Written by Kirsti Formoso, MSc. Transpersonal Psychology, BSc. Psychology

From spiritual highs to psychological lows, the spiritual path can be a rollercoaster. One moment you feel expanded, open, connected; the next, you’re wondering what happened to the light you once touched.

If you’re here because you’re feeling lost, numb, disconnected, or spiritually abandoned, you’re not failing. You may be moving through what many traditions call a Dark Night of the Soul.

The Dark Night of the Soul is a term used to describe a period of profound spiritual and psychological crisis, often following a spiritual opening or mystical experience, in which previous sources of meaning dissolve, and a person feels inwardly lost or disconnected.

Far from being a sign that something has gone wrong, a spiritual Dark Night is a natural, and often deeply misunderstood, phase of genuine spiritual awakening and transformation.

WHAT IS THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

Definition: A Dark Night of the Soul is a period of profound spiritual desolation, meaninglessness, or spiritual disorientation that often follows a spiritual opening or mystical experience. It occurs when the ego’s usual structures of meaning dissolve, leaving a temporary sense of inner darkness as old sources of identity fall away and the psyche reorganises at a deeper level.

While the definition above captures the essence, the lived experience of a Dark Night is more nuanced. It reflects a disruption in the ego’s entire organising system — the familiar ways we understand ourselves, other people, and reality. After an awakening or expanded-state experience, the old frameworks of meaning can no longer hold, yet a new organising principle has not yet formed. This creates an unsettling gap: the previous sense of self is dissolving, but the new self is not yet stable.

The “darkness” of the Dark Night is not an error or a regression — it is the collapse of formerly reliable sources of identity, purpose, and conceptual meaning. What remains is a liminal space where inner clarity is temporarily obscured, not because something is wrong, but because the psyche is reorienting around a deeper level of truth.

INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

Spiritual awakening is a broad term used widely in spiritual circles. Some people use it to describe an event, others a process. For me, it's a gradual process of unfolding, evolving and transcending. It's the transformation we experience on our spiritual journey.

Spiritual awakening is the gradual process of moving from ego identity to a more expansive sense of self. It's a re-orientation from individual identity to universal consciousness, or from Maya to Oneness.

There is no end to spiritual awakening; it is a continuous spiritual journey that continues to flourish throughout our lives. A process of transcending our egoic selves and merging with the divine.

UNDERSTANDING THE AWAKENING PROCESS

THE SEARCH

The spiritual awakening process often starts with subtle shifts in perception, increased sensitivity, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction with purely material or superficial frameworks of life. We become aware of a growing sense that life holds deeper meaning.

As we search for deeper meaning, we embark on a spiritual journey in search of the more ethereal aspects of life. We begin to explore spiritual practices, engage in inner work and develop self-awareness.

Along the spiritual journey, EHE’s and moments of heightened spiritual awareness and transcendence become more frequent. We start to experience revelations, spiritual insights, and shifts in perspective and beliefs. Our conceptual sense of reality may collapse, leading to a loss of our own sense of meaning.

As our awakening deepens, these shifts can intensify, often leading to profound sacred, non-dual and mystical experiences.

SPIRITUAL HIGHS AND MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES

Kundalini awakenings, Mystical experiences and other enlightenment experiences are the spiritual heights of the spiritual journey. Expanding our consciousness, unifying us with all that exists, flooding us with love, joy and ecstasy, and opening us to noetic wisdom, these experiences are major markers on the spiritual path.

Most mystical moments are momentary; over as fast as they arrived, and yet nevertheless profound and life-changing. For others, they can last days, weeks and even years.

EGO DISSOLUTION

These spiritual highs are glimpses into the nature of reality and pure consciousness; in them, we as individual egoic identities merge into oneness. Our ego dissolves to nothing.

When I had my second mystical experience, I had a profound sense of being no thing that seemed to consume me for days. It felt so liberating, no longer tied and bound by the limitations of the conditioned mind and all the constructed meanings, rules and beliefs that came with it.

But for some, that nothingness is felt as a vast, dark, all-consuming and never-ending void that feels more real than everyday reality. A void where the individual's identity no longer exists, revealing that it was only ever an illusory identity. Dealing a devastating and torturous blow to the egoic identity that can be difficult to come back from.

Like the harrowing ego death that precedes the enlightenment of a psychedelic journey, this experience calls into question everything we know about life. For many, this is the point where reason collapses, and familiar explanations no longer suffice.

MEANING STRUCTURES COMPROMISED

These experiences can be so profound that they shake the foundation on which our sense of reality rests. Everything we believed to be true is pulled into question. Even our sense of identity and reality begins to lose its conceptual meaning. As the ego's structures collapse, leading to a sense of complete desolation, the perceived meaning we have assigned to our lives, activities, and goals dissolves into conceptual meaninglessness.

For some, this can be a gentle assimilation, but for many, it presents one of life’s greatest challenges. It brings the ego into conflict with new awareness; the ego’s habitual patterns of survival, like clinging to identity, certainty, and control, are confronted and often temporarily destabilised, which can feel overwhelming.

THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

This challenge beckons the Dark Night of the Soul, a specific type of spiritual death or dryness. The ego’s last-ditch attempt to maintain control when it is stripped of its usual anchors. With its very survival in threat, it draws us deep into suffering and anguish, for these are the things that make it feel most alive. And with it, we are plunged into despair, isolation, and abandonment, but amidst this darkness, we can find hope. The whole experience, to say the least, can feel traumatic, scary, and destabilising.

But with awareness, this post-awakening collapse acts as a purification phase, exposing unconscious patterns, limiting beliefs, and attachments. This confrontation with the ego can feel destabilising: familiar structures of meaning may collapse, old identities may dissolve, and existential uncertainty may intensify. Yet, this stage is also a profound opportunity within a new conceptual framework: it allows the deeper true self to emerge, a self that is aligned with authenticity, presence, and spiritual insight.

Far from being a punishment or failure, spiritual death is a sacred process embedded within awakening. This experience cannot necessarily be explained or rationalised, as it is meant to lead to a deeper, non-conceptual understanding and transformation. It is a phase that, once moved through, enables a richer, more resilient, and spiritually grounded life.

Not everyone goes through a spiritual Dark Night, and many people have what we call a Quiet Dark Night of the Soul.

THE PATH AFTER ENLIGHTENMENT

Whether you go through a post-awakening collapse or not, non-dual and mystical experiences are not the end of the spiritual journey or awakening process. They mark the beginning of the real work of integration and merging with the divine. They are, but just one stage or phase in your spiritual awakening.

QUIET DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

Many people navigate a Dark Night of the Soul quietly, without dramatic upheaval or obvious distress. The experience is subtle: spiritual motivations dissolve, the sense of progress fades, and even the desire for enlightenment may disappear. Yet beneath the emptiness, there is a peaceful clarity. The ego continues to narrate, telling stories of loss or failure, but these are just waves in consciousness — transient patterns that pass when observed without clinging. In this quiet surrender, life itself becomes more luminous, ordinary moments gain depth, and the subtle magic of existence reveals itself.

THE WISDOM OF ST JOHN

Saint John of the Cross, a 16th-century mystic and poet, provides some of the clearest guidance on navigating this disruptive and painful stage of awakening. Through his poetry and spiritual writings, Saint John distinguished the Dark Night from psychological depression, emphasising its historical and mystical origins as a profound and sacred process, a period of desolation and disorientation that purifies the soul and detaches it from egoic attachments.

According to Saint John, this descent into inner darkness is not punishment or failure; it is an invitation to surrender and transform. By embracing the darkness rather than resisting it, we allow the ego’s habitual structures to dissolve, creating space for the true self and deeper union with the Divine to emerge.

His writings emphasise the importance of faith, patience, and inner trust, showing that even in profound emptiness, there is guidance and purpose. For readers today, Saint John’s insights remind us that a spiritual Dark Night is both normal in the spiritual journey and a gateway to lasting growth, clarity, and spiritual depth.

DARK NIGHT OF SOUL VS DEPRESSION

It’s important to differentiate the Dark Night of the Soul (DNS) from ordinary psychological struggles. While depression or life setbacks like a breakup, job loss, or general stress can feel painful, they do not constitute a Dark Night on their own. A Dark Night of the Soul arises specifically after a spiritual or mystical opening and involves a profound confrontation with the ego, meaning, reality, existence, and one’s connection to the Divine. Unlike typical depression, it carries a transformative spiritual purpose, even if it feels deeply disorienting in the moment.

While its symptoms may resemble depression, this spiritual descent is fundamentally different: it signals the deep work of spiritual transformation. When navigated with awareness, the Dark Night can lead to greater clarity, inner freedom, and authentic connection to the Divine.

DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL VS SPIRITUAL CRISIS

Many people confuse the Dark Night of the Soul with Spiritual Crisis, but it’s not the same thing. Both may involve overwhelm, ego dissolution, or identity destabilisation, but a Dark Night unfolds as a purification process with an underlying sense of movement, whereas a spiritual crisis feels chaotic, dysregulating, and often requires stabilisation before meaning-making.

A Dark Night can occur without a crisis, and a spiritual crisis can occur without a Dark Night. Often, a spiritual crisis may precede a Dark Night as the nervous system and ego attempt to integrate expanded awareness.

Related reading: What Is a Spiritual Crisis? (coming soon)

Related reading: The Difference Between a Dark Night of the Soul and a Spiritual Crisis (coming soon)

TRIGGERS OF A DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

This disorientating stage of awakening is often triggered by the stark contrast between profound spiritual highs, such as mystical experiences or kundalini awakenings, and their inevitable fade. The triggers are complex, and usually it’s a combination of things that sends one spiralling into a Dark Night.

Possible triggers;

· Tensions between relative and absolute truth seem impossible to reconcile.

· Effortless joy and the feelings of bliss are replaced by the reality of egoic living.

· In the light, deep hidden traumas are exposed, and the ego is left to process them.

· The profound sense of love is replaced with an awareness of evil done by man.

· Feelings of being close to God turn into feelings of abandonment by God.

Related reading: The Triggers of a Dark Night of the Soul (coming soon)

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF DARK NIGHT

While each journey is unique, common indicators that someone may be experiencing a Dark Night include:

Persistent feelings of desolation or emptiness, despite external stability.
A deep sense of disconnection from the Divine, life, or one’s former self.
Intense inner questioning, including doubts about meaning, purpose, or identity.
Heightened awareness of egoic patterns, attachments, and illusions.
A deep longing for authentic connection, spiritual insight, or integration.
A profound shift in inner state, where despair and meaninglessness may give way to a deeper sense of purpose and awakening.
The collapse of the conceptual framework that once gave life meaning, leaving individuals feeling as though nothing makes sense anymore.

THE EXPERIENCE OF DARK NIGHTS

During a spiritual Dark Night, the familiar sense of self and connection to the Divine may feel temporarily dissolved. Emotions of emptiness, disorientation, and despair can feel overwhelming, while old narratives of control, identity, and meaning begin to unravel.

Although intensely challenging, the experience is not a failure or punishment. Beneath the turbulence, awareness remains intact, observing the process and gently guiding transformation. The Dark Night acts as a spiritual crucible, stripping away egoic attachments and creating space for the true self to emerge.

THE EGO'S ROLE IN THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

At its core, a Dark Night of the Soul is the ego’s last-ditch effort to maintain control, keep you in the relative world and not let you transcend it’s own illusory identity on your spiritual journey.

Transcending the ego means the ego loses its grip, loses its importance, its standing, and its power. It is the ego’s job to stop that at all costs. The ego holds this position of power for a reason – to keep your physical body alive.

Stripped of its usual supports, the ego uses the mind to generate narratives of loss, failure, or despair. These stories focus attention and reinforce neural patterns, which make the feelings feel persistent. Yet beneath this loop, awareness remains untouched. This period of spiritual desolation is not a failure, but the search for meaning as a natural unravelling of egoic structures, creating space for the true self to emerge.

THE MIND’S ROLE IN A DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

As the mouthpiece of the egoic program, it is the mind’s nature to provide a narrative through our lives. But an idle mind is not trustworthy or accurate. It’s there to serve the egoic program and the survival of the egoic identity. It is not there to serve you or your highest good.

An un-disciplined mind can be unruly and dangerous, and exceptionally so during a Dark Night of the soul. It is fickle, inconsistent, and contradictory. It also tends to ruminate and focus on perceived threats, keeping us in negative states and the relative world.

At its core, it is designed to keep you rooted in the relative world. And to that end, it will feed you a narrative that you have done something wrong, failed in some way, and are not worthy to remain in that blissful state of oneness and effortless joy.

Related reading: The Undisciplined Mind on the Spiritual Path (coming soon)

HOW LONG DOES A DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL LAST

The length of this spiritual awakening phenomenon varies greatly from person to person. For some, it may pass in weeks or months, while for others it can unfold over years, often in waves rather than a constant state. There are periods of emptiness and disorientation, but also moments of clarity, subtle peace, and everyday functioning. The experience is less about a fixed timeline and more about learning to inhabit the shifting landscape of awareness, noticing the patterns of the mind without getting caught in them.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a dark night of the soul is important for our piece of mind, but just as important is knowing how to navigate this process without rushing it or pathologising it.

MOVING THROUGH A DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

A Dark Night of the Soul arises as a natural stage of ego dissolution, but it isn’t something we have zero influence over. How we relate to the experience, how we notice our thoughts, observe the stories our mind tells, and gently anchor ourselves in presence can shape both its intensity and our ease in moving through it.

Practices like mindful awareness, presence, embodiment, journaling, or simply allowing yourself to witness the waves of emotion without clinging can help the ego loosen its grip. Over time, this supportive engagement allows the process to unfold more gracefully, revealing clarity, spaciousness, and the subtle magic of life beneath the surface of the mind’s stories.

INNER WORK SUPPORT FOR DARK NIGHTS

Inner work is a powerful tool as we move through this difficult period of spiritual transformation. Inner work is a multi-pronged approach to spiritual growth and personal development. It's about doing depth-psychological work to balance your spiritual transcendence.

It involves confronting egoic patterns, attachments, triggers, and limiting beliefs, thereby fostering greater self-awareness and spiritual growth. This practice should be a gentle support for your dark night of the soul journey, rather than going in deep and committing to hours and hours of psychotherapy.

Use it to address the unresolved traumas that are naturally coming to the surface as you transition through this process of upheaval and spiritual transformation.

Reading books about shadow work, keeping a daily journal, and engaging in self-reflection and inquiry are gentle ways to do inner work and can support integration over time, allowing dark night insights to transform daily life, relationships, and purpose.

GETTING SUPPORT A DARK NIGHTS OF THE SOUL

The spiritual path can be a lonely path at times, and a post-awakening collapse amplifies this loneliness. The challenges that we face are misunderstood by most. Professional carers like doctors and mental health practitioners are most often unversed in spiritual matters, totally clueless about dark nights of the soul or spiritual crises, and usually misdiagnose. With no one to talk to, we’re left with little support at the most challenging time of our lives.

While we can find some guidance in books, spiritual communities, and online content, support of this sort is passive and general, and our unique challenges may not be met. If you’re having a challenging time, I encourage you to find a practitioner that you can talk to.

Look for professionals with a background in transpersonal psychology and existential therapy for the best support. While an existential therapist is well-positioned to support the egoic sense of dying and

A spiritual director can also be a compassionate, experienced guide during the Dark Night of the Soul, offering insight, tools, and companionship as you navigate this period.

However, be aware that any practitioner who has not had at the very least a mystical type experience of some sort will likely fall short of understanding. As William James noted, research into mystical experiences should be reserved for those who’ve had one. Otherwise, it’s like a chocolatier who’s never tasted chocolate. Some spiritual teachers may also be able to help, but spiritual teachers usually teach solely from their own experience and often don't experience a Dark Night of the Soul.

Guidance and support from a professional can help you to understand what you’re going through, find meaning when things feel desolate, and adopt tools to support your journey.

If this article resonates with you, and you would like a grounded space to explore any challenges you’re navigating after a spiritual awakening, I offer one-to-one mentoring sessions. These sessions weave together psychology, mindfulness, and spiritual wisdom, helping you integrate and live from your deeper awareness.
Learn more ➜

THE ROLE OF TRUE SELF IN DARK NIGHTS

After navigating the turmoil of post-awakening darkness, the journey turns inward toward the absolute self, that part of you untouched by egoic stories, social conditioning, or habitual thought patterns. Where the ego clings to control, an illusory identity, and certainty, the true self is expansive, present, and deeply connected to life and the Divine.

Embracing the true self requires letting go of attachments and illusions. This doesn’t mean abandoning life, but rather shifting perspective from the narrow confines of ego to the broader landscape of awareness. In practice, this can include:

Mindful presence: noticing thoughts and emotions without being consumed by them.
Self-inquiry: exploring “Who am I beyond my roles, fears, and stories?”
Surrender to uncertainty: allowing life to unfold without clinging to outcomes.

Through this process, the true self gradually guides us out of desolation, fostering freedom, authenticity, and a renewed sense of purpose. The Dark Night, once endured and integrated, becomes a gateway to living in alignment with our deepest awareness.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR HEALING DARK NIGHTS

During this intense period of spiritual dryness and confusion, the intensity of inner experiences can feel overwhelming. Spiritual practices, like a simple meditation and embodiment, can provide gentle anchors, helping us stay present and connected while navigating desolation. Practices that support healing include:

Meditation and mindfulness: cultivating presence to observe thoughts and emotions without being consumed.
Contemplation and reflection: journaling, prayer, or guided inquiry to explore inner patterns and emerging insights.
Gentle breathwork or somatic awareness: reconnecting with the body to release tension and remain grounded.
Ritual and sacred practices: lighting candles, walking in nature, or other personal rituals that foster connection with the Divine.

Consciously embracing our experience without identifying with it is one of the keys to moving through a dark place. These practices do not “fix” the Dark Night, but they support awareness, patience, and resilience, creating space for deeper integration and clarity.

THE SUFFERING IN DARK NIGHTS

The Dark Night can feel unbearable, yet suffering itself carries a hidden purpose. By confronting discomfort, emptiness, or fear, we are invited to look beneath the ego’s stories and reconnect with the true self. Suffering:

Illuminates attachment and limiting beliefs that no longer serve growth.
Deepens compassion and empathy for oneself and others.
Cultivates resilience and humility, offering insights that remain long after the darkness passes.

When approached as a teacher rather than an enemy, suffering becomes a doorway to spiritual maturity and transformation.

OVERCOMING INNER BLOCKAGES

Inner blockages—such as fear, resistance, or persistent doubt—often arise during the Dark Night, keeping the ego in a loop of struggle. Overcoming them involves:

Self-inquiry: identifying recurring thoughts, beliefs, or habits that limit awareness.
Integration practices: meditation, journaling, or mindful reflection to process insights and emotions.
Gentle guidance: support from mentors, reflective peers, or trusted spiritual resources to help navigate intense experiences.
Compassionate presence: meeting oneself with patience and acceptance rather than judgment.

Through consistent practice, blockages gradually loosen, allowing the true self and newfound clarity to emerge more fully in what feels like a rebirth.

EMERGING INTO A NEW LIFE

After the intensity of the Dark Night, life begins to feel gradually lighter and more integrated. This phase marks a rebirth: the ego’s habitual patterns loosen, attachments fall away, and the true self emerges more clearly. Emerging from this disruptive stage of awakening is not instantaneous—it is a process of gentle unfolding, where insights gained during the darkness begin to transform everyday life.

During this stage, you may notice:

A deeper sense of inner freedom and authenticity.
Enhanced clarity of purpose and direction, aligned with your core values.
Increased presence and connection with yourself, others, and the Divine.
A growing capacity to navigate challenges with equanimity, rooted in awareness rather than reaction.

Supportive practices—mindfulness, contemplation, journaling, or gentle reflection can help solidify the insights gained and integrate them into daily life. Over time, the Dark Night becomes less a memory of despair and more a transformative chapter of spiritual growth.

What Is the Dark Night of the Soul? Meaning, Signs, and How to Navigate It

WHAT IS THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL AWAKENING