dark night of the soul
Power of Pain #3
John of the Cross is one of those rare spiritual practitioners who is embraced across traditions.
His “dark night of the soul” has resonated through the ages. But it’s not just a painful or challenging season that you struggle through. It’s the willingness to see these times as transformative work being done. On you. Through you. For you.
And the dark is not malevolent. It’s obscure. Things are hard to see. And that’s necessary. Because you’re going somewhere new and your limited perspective would hinder you. John even says that grappling for control, attempts at understanding, and premature meaning-making will get in the way (and increase suffering). Instead, embrace the mystery of metamorphosis. Allow the unfolding. Trust the process.
And the more you understand the nature of pain, the more capable you will be during dark nights of the soul or enduring the realities of pain and aging.
Tomorrow, you’re invited to Office Hours where we'll explore pain, the dark night of the soul, and how to apply these to practice. We’re spring-boarding off Trina Mann’s Embodiment Education presentation on the Power of Pain. You can watch it here.
During Office Hours, we'll unpack pain as:
bio-psycho-social phenomena
a catalyst for change
in your brain (and what that means for your body)
the spiritual dimension of pain
Can't make it live? The session will be recorded and posted for replay. Free access will last until 11/21. After that it’s part of the Miracle Makers Membership.
May your practice carry you through dark nights,
Alison
