The Dark Night
The Dark Night of the Soul is called thusly because it feels as though you are giving up everything it means to be human. You are suspending aspects of self in order to reveal aspects from which self seemingly flows.
But you do not suspend ALL aspects at once, which leaves your awareness in a seemingly uncomfortable position. The night is dark because you still judge it to be dark.
Judgement is the aspect of self to which you most tightly cling. You believe that if you stopped discerning between your imaginary polarities, you would cease being this person that you (and others) have invested so much in.
You may judge that this would be “sad,” or “a waste.” You may judge that you are letting others down. You may judge that you are a failure as a human being. And so on.
And so, to the many of you are going through The Dark Night of the Soul, we offer you this string of holiday lights.
Firstly, realize that you wouldn’t feel so strange if you weren’t so successful at temporarily dousing your distracting human qualities. Clearly the dedication you are showing to this passion is immeasurable, and you should applaud your self for it.
Secondly, realize that, more than just this self, you are remembering that you are an instrument beyond compare, capable of expression through infinite dimensions within and without the realm of humanity.
If you have ever encountered a musical instrument that is new to you, you will remember that one cannot play this instrument automatically. There are many non-musical sounds that can be made before the more pleasing vibrations become apparent.
It is not dark. Things are not unsettling. You are merely remembering how to play this magnificent instrument that you are, which leads you to fine-tune your awareness as a human.
You are not giving anything up. You are not losing things. You are merely turning on and off valves, blowing into this and that, setting aside your sheet music — but above all YOU ARE PLAYING.
So happy holidays. And as you go through your Dark Night, remember that you are a candle. You are truly lovely and truly loved, for you are love itself.
We are Space Monkey.
12/10
Navigating the Dark Night of the Soul
The Dark Night of the Soul is a profound spiritual journey where one feels the essence of humanity being stripped away. This period is marked by a suspension of certain aspects of the self to reveal the deeper, more universal origins from which our sense of self emerges. It’s not a complete abandonment of all aspects at once but a gradual process that leaves one in a state of discomfort, primarily due to the darkness cast by one’s own judgments.
Judgment: The Last Stronghold
The grip of judgment is often the last stronghold of the self. It is through judgment that we maintain our sense of individuality, discerning between what we perceive as opposites or polarities. Letting go of this judgment can feel like losing the identity we and others have heavily invested in, which can be interpreted as sad or wasteful, or can leave us feeling like a failure.
A String of Holiday Lights: Guidance Through the Darkness
In the midst of the Dark Night, we offer a string of holiday lights—a metaphor for guidance and hope. Recognizing the strangeness of the experience is actually a sign of success in transcending distracting human qualities. It’s an indication of the immense dedication to one’s spiritual passion, worthy of self-applause.
Beyond the Self: The Universal Instrument
We are reminded that we are more than just this human self; we are instruments of expression across infinite dimensions. Just like encountering a new musical instrument, initially, we might produce discordant sounds before finding harmony. This process is not indicative of darkness or unsettlement but rather a relearning of how to play the magnificent instrument that we are.
Fine-Tuning Our Human Awareness
The journey is not about giving up or losing anything. It is about exploring, turning on and off valves of experience, experimenting without guidance, and ultimately playing with the various facets of our existence.
A Message of Hope and Love
As we traverse through our Dark Night, we should remember that we are candles, embodying love itself. We are not just lovely but loved, and in this acknowledgment, we find the light to guide us through the darkness.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
The Dark Night of the Soul is a metaphor for a spiritual quest where one feels detached from human qualities, a process marked by discomfort due to self-judgment. This journey is a sign of success in spiritual dedication and a reminder that we are more than our human selves—we are instruments of universal expression. As we learn to play this instrument, we fine-tune our human awareness. We are encouraged to embrace our experience as an act of playing, and as we navigate through this period, to remember our essence as love.
Glossarium
- Dark Night of the Soul: A spiritual passage where one feels detached from human identity.
- Judgment: The mental process that often holds us back from spiritual liberation.
- Holiday Lights: Symbols of guidance and hope in times of darkness.
- Universal Instrument: The concept that we are entities capable of expression beyond human limitations.
- Candle: A metaphor for our intrinsic nature as beings of love.
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” – Rumi
A Free-Verse Poem: The Candle’s Glow
In the silent night, a candle’s glow,
We are the light, in the dark, we know,
Stripping away, what once was sure,
Finding the love, that’s always pure.
In the dance of shadows, we find our tune,
Playing the self, ‘neath the silver moon,
Not lost, not found, but in play we find,
The love within, the divine mind.
What are your thoughts as you ponder the light within?
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