The dark night of the soul is not something pleasant to go through and does not end with a fellowship supper after church on a sunday night. Exposition of the stanzas describing the method followed by the soul in its journey upon the spiritual road to the attainment of the perfect union of love with god, to the extent that is possible in this life. The premise of the book is that there are two dark nights, or times of spiritual bleakness that a person must travel through in order to come to a completely mature and perfect union with god. Written by richard bucher pastor of our redeemer lutheran church, lexington, ky martin luthers relentless search for forgiveness and peace with god can be fully understood only against the backdrop of his frequent anfechtungen. John of the cross and teresa of avila, and addresses some of the misconceptions of the process. Sep 17, 2010 dark night of the soul describes the painful experiences and their significance on the spiritual journey of st.
May, md, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has been trivialised and neglected to. The book explores the dark night through the writings of two of the best known christian mystics. Shop the latest titles by gerald g may at alibris including hardcovers, paperbacks. Gabriels vocals are outstanding and elevate the product. Distinguished psychiatrist, spiritual counselor, and bestselling author gerald g. The phrase dark night of the soul comes from a poem by st. Mar 31, 2009 only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what christian spirituality has called and described in helpful detail as the dark night of the soul can lead to true spiritual wholeness. Gerald may, md, the esteemed younger brother of the late famed psychiatrist and writer rollo may, md, is one of the great spirituality teachers and writers of our time. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth paperback february 1, 2005. Thats what the dark night of the soul is all about. At some point in your life, you will experience the dark night of the soul where it seems that everything that can possibly go wrong, will go wrong.
The first is the purgative way, where we break habits of vice, acquire habits of. Nov 11, 2014 the dark night of the soul is the term used to describe a state of being that is, not unlike most states of being, typically hard to describe. Download the dark night of the soul pdf for free from the above download link. Dark night of the soul by saint john of the cross free ebook. This edition includes over 176 footnotes, creating a study edition for readers to better understand st. Loreena mckennitt the dark night of the soul lyrics. I rather wish the title of this book had been different. The first night or purgation is of the sensual part of the soul, which is treated in the present stanza, and will be. As his guides through the dark night of the soul, may uses two 17thcentury spanish mystics, st. In gifts of a dark night, celebrated author thomas moore invites you to consider. May emphasises that the dark night is not necessarily a time of suffering and near despair, but a time of deep transition, a search for new orientation. The dark night of the soul was a phrase first used by the spanish mystic st john of the cross in 16th century.
I think it gives a false impression of what the subject really explores. The dark night of the soul upon a darkened night the flame of love was burning in my breast and by a lantern bright i fled my house while all in quiet rest shrouded by the night and by the secret stair i quickly fled the veil concealed my eyes while all within lay quiet as the dead. John of the cross 15421591, a spanish carmelite monk and mystic, whose noche obscura del alma is translated the dark night of the soul. John of the cross and teresa of avila has enlightened my understanding of how the socalled dark night experience is an essential. Jun 01, 2018 the dark night of the soul by saint john of the cross book 1 chapter 10 read by maria lectrix after the soul has grown in love for god and gotten rid of attachments to things as described in. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase. In chapter x, the saint describes the discipline which the soul in this dark night must impose upon itself. It was the malady that earned for jeremiah the sobriquet, the weeping prophet. He says, the dark night is a profoundly good thing. Gerald may in this book helps the reader to appreciate the spiritualities of both st. This can happen many times on our spiritual journey, and each time we tend to gain new levels of wisdom. It is something essential, something at the very core of our being. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth by gerald g.
Somewhat reluctantly, out of respect for a venerable tradition, we publish the dark night as a separate treatise, though in reality it is a continuation of the ascent of mount carmel and fulfils the undertakings given in it. John of the cross and teresa of avila has enlightened my understanding of how the socalled dark night. Taking off the mask much has been written and will be written about the dark night of the soul, and it can be confusing in understanding what it really is. Different labels for the dark night the dark night of the soul the night season the divine darkness journey into the desert cloud of unknowing there is a deeper and more abiding union an experiential oneness with god that he desires for every one of us where we can experience his presence and his joy and rest in the. May, 9780060750558, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Gerald may and describes how the book illuminates my own experience of spiritual darkness, the implications of spiritual direction for recovery from addiction, and the meaning of mays statement p. If you are living a spiritual life, it is inevitable that one day you will be plunged into darkness, what saint john of the cross described as the dark night of the soul. I will also give quotes from a book that is utilized in what is known as gnostic. As john makes clear, it is not god who disappears, but only our concepts, images, and sensations of god. The dark night of the soul, a term coined by the 17th century spanish mystic saint john of the cross, describes a point in a pious christians life when they are unable to. Only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what christian spirituality has called and described in helpful detail as the dark night of the soul can lead to true spiritual wholeness. The dark gives depth, dimension, fullness to the spiritual life. Jul 08, 2018 gerald may, md, a retired psychiatrist and senior fellow in contemplative theology and psychology, discusses both in his book, the dark night of the soul.
This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on. Jun 19, 2018 this week im reading the dark night of the soul by gerald may, subtitled. Feb 01, 2005 as john makes clear, it is not god who disappears, but only our concepts, images, and sensations of god. May, md, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has been trivialised and neglected to our serious. The dark night of the soul lies young women believelies. Here are seven signs you may be experiencing a dark night of the soul. May at barnes due to covid19, orders may be delayed. Was looking forward to seeing the band on the decibel 2020 tour, but in the interim this will have to do steve sullivan. Loreena mckennitt the dark night of the soul youtube. Countless have been the times that i have heard and probably said something to the effect. The dark night of the soul doesnt come at the beginning of ones journey to god. It is the conscious experience of that which was once in the subconscious andor stored in the physical body and has bubbled up for recognition. John of the cross and when one hears the phrase, dark night of the soul, one thinks of emotional or spiritual anguish. Though i now dont plan on correcting peoples misuse of this phrase, gerald may with the help of 15th century mystics st.
Dark night of the soul paperback january 24, 2019 by st. This week im reading the dark night of the soul by gerald may, subtitled. The dark night of the soul ebook 9780061895173 by gerald g. The intensive movement and soulpsychology, now a popular. Although depression shares many of its characteristics with the experience of having a dark night of the soul, it can often be treated and sometimes cured with medications, cognitivebehavioral therapy cbt, mindfulness practices, lifestyle changes, and so forth. The dark gives depth, dimension and fullness to the spiritual life. The dark night of the soul book 1 chapter 10 youtube. May emphasises that the dark night is not necessarily a time of suffering and near despair, but a time of deep transition, a search for new orientation when things are clouded and full of mystery. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. And his merging of psychiatric analysis and counselling into deep spirituality is unique and highly esteemed. In the real dark night of the soul, it is always 3. Complete edition of the dark night of the soul by saint john of the cross, translated by e.
The dark night of the soul by gerald may adventures. The dark night of the soul by saint john of the cross book 1 chapter 10 read by maria lectrix after the soul has grown in love for god. The dark night of the soul embraces the universal spiritual experience of disorientation, doubt, fear, emptiness, dryness, despair, and the like, all of which are ingredients in developing a mature, authentic spiritual life. The first night or purgation is of the sensual part of the soul, which is. But, if we are able to make it through this dark time, and shed that which has weighed us down, then we will open up once again, and even wider than before. The dark night also occurs to those who do not seek relationship but immersion or unity in the higher consciousness. This phenomenon describes a malady that the greatest of christians have suffered from time to time. Care of mindcare of spirit, will and spirit, and the dark night of the soul. In this book, he argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has been trivialized and. Dark night of the soul can be described as a crisis in consciousness, literally. It was the malady that provoked david to soak his pillow with tears. Upon a darkened night the flame of love was burning in my breast and by a lantern bright i fled my house while all in quiet rest shrouded by the night and by the secret stair i quickly fled the veil concealed my eyes while all within lay quiet as the dead chorus. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The dark night of the soul ebook 9780061895173 by gerald.
Scott fitzgerald said that in the real dark night of the soul it is always three oclock in the morning, day after day. Dark night of the soul describes the painful experiences and their significance on the spiritual journey of st. Oh night thou was my guide oh night more loving than the rising sun. Guest writer for wake up world our lives will represent the rising of the phoenix if we allow it. The dark night of the soul is the term used to describe a state of being that is, not unlike most states of being, typically hard to describe. May emphasises that the dark night is not necessarily a time of suffering and near despair, but a time of deep transition, a search for new orientation when things are clouded and full of. Jun 12, 2016 written by richard bucher pastor of our redeemer lutheran church, lexington, ky martin luthers relentless search for forgiveness and peace with god can be fully understood only against the backdrop of his frequent anfechtungen. Dark night of the soul catholic spiritual direction. While the term dark night of the soul is used broadly, its general meaning in the field of higher consciousness is a lengthy and profound absence of light and hope. Traditionally, spiritual directors identify three primary stages or ways of growth in holiness.
A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth, by gerald g. It is the perilous place where lost souls wonder deeper into the void, farther from the light. The dark night of the soul a psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth. This dark night of the soul is described countless times during the psalms and throughout the entire bible. The dark night of the soul is a generally accepted title that has its origin in a. He is the source and fullness of all things, and without him, all joys, all loves, all pursuits are hollow and meaningless. The dark night of the soul by john of the cross, saint, 15421591. At one point the apostle paul wrote, for we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in asia. Publication date 1905 topics mysticism publisher london. The dark night is perceived by mystics and practicing monks from several religions to be a blessing in disguise, whereby the individual is stripped in the dark night of the senses of the spiritual ecstasy associated with acts of virtue.
May shows how our most desperate moments are necessary for authentic spiritual growth and vital to our experiencing both freedom and joy. This eightstanza poem outlines the souls journey from the distractions and entanglements of the world to the perfect peace. The first is the purgative way, where we break habits of vice, acquire habits of virtue and learn to live a catholic life. After gp read nattersons newest book, decoding boys, they sat down to talk about different ways to approach difficult and awkward. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth reprint by may, gerald g. Rediscovering the sacred paths for body, heart, and. Gerald may, md, a retired psychiatrist and senior fellow in contemplative theology and psychology, discusses both in his book, the dark night of the soul. The book was edited and conceptualized by willis barnstone and marvin meyer. This is the sequel to ascent of mount carmel by st. It was the malady that so afflicted martin luther that his.
Somewhat reluctantly, out of respect for a venerable tradition, we publish the. Rather than looking at the dark night of the soul as something negative, the author looks at it from a very positive perspective. Dark night of the soul a person seeking higher consciousness is, in effect, and with intensity, seeking the transformation of his own ego. He is seeking to end the tyranny of the ego and abide in his true nature, instead of a false nature concocted through experiences and emotional inputs during the process of life. After the soul has grown in love for god and gotten rid of attachments to things as described in the ascent of mount carmel in more extended form, it still cant get all the way to union with god, unless god does it himself. Dark night of the soul is an instructional religious book used mainly by the roman catholic church. John continues to describe the dark night in this sequel. Dark night of the soul a period of spiritual desolation suffered by a mystic in which all sense of consolation is removed.