5 Signs you're going through a Dark Night of The Soul

• Do you feel trapped in an emotional rut that has shown up in your life without having a known history of depression or an external source to link?

•  Have the people in your life disappeared  or been cut off from communication as a result of the isolation you have put yourself in?                                                                              
•  Do you feel like you've lost interest in everything that you once cared deeply about and found comfort and solace in?                                                                                                                                                                                                       If you answered yes to these questions then you might be going through a  Dark Night of The Soul . The Dark Night is a Process we go through (grow through) that allows us to awaken to the truth of our souls journey. This usually happens after a spiritual seeker has just obtained a lot of spiritual knowledge but can happen to anyone when the soul is ready. A dark night can be very confusing and have you wondering how this could be happening after everything you've already been through to get where you're at right now. You may even think that you've done something wrong and this is the punishment for whatever reason. This couldn't be any farther from the truth. The Dark Night isn't talked about much within the Religious community and in the church setting which is why a lot of people are unaware of it. So for people who have never heard of the dark night, this is my understanding and experience with The dark night of the soul.  Our dark night is sacred and once you realise that the only thing keeping you stuck in the dark is yourself and you choose to let go, you gain full access to all things spiritual. Mind, body, and soul. This is a time for great celebration and joy, for you will be that much closer to your truth. That much closer to becoming your highest and best self. 

Our dark night forces us to come face-to-face with our fears and open up to the truth of who we really are. It is a calling for transformation from the ego self to the true self, an Awakening of the soul.   Like the caterpillar becoming the butterfly, it is a truly beautiful transformation. It won't feel this way as it is happening though.  It is in this moment that we realise that the false self, the ego, never really existed. The ego is terrified of this because losing the old identity means losing the ego. The ego will tighten its grips and do everything in its power to keep you from seeing the light.  It could be described as a darkness that lingers everywhere you go. Strong emotions coming up for no reason at all that.  This is why it is called  "dark night of the soul"  Just trust the process and know that you are the strength you need to get through it. To see the light one must first fall in love with the dark. 

    5 signs you're going through a dark night of the soul 

 

    UNEXPLAINED NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

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You feel as though you are going through a depression. You're constantly feeling angry and sad. Guilt and shame hover over your head like a dark cloud. And there is no true reason nor external cause for these strong negative emotions. 

What is happening is a sort of emotional purging, a Cathartic moment. These emotions are coming through so that you may acknowledge them, accept them for what they are, and let them go. Most of us find its easier to run away from or hide our emotions. This is what we have done most of our lives. As children there were no rewards for tantrums and bouts of crying so as we grow older we associate these emotions as bad. We stuff them down and ignore them. We resist anything that doesn't reward or benefit us in some way.  However, resistance keeps us stuck. We feel the emotions we do for a reason. Every emotion we feel has a message for us and if we keep ignoring these messages they will only start coming in louder and louder until you allow them to be heard. If these emotions are silenced and ignored for too long they have a way of forcing you to listen by manifesting in form of disease. Dis-ease.

 

The "Purging" process allows us to understand that emotions are actually the work of our Ego, we believe that emotions can control us at any given point. This is a thought process we have been conditioned into believing. Emotions are just feelings we attach to a story and let steer our life choices. When we surrender to any arising emotion and give it permission to feel what it wants and to go where it pleases without any attachment, a space is created. We are able to let in more love and joy with this space that is created by letting go of what is and allowing what will be.

  

     

             Isolation

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You have cut yourself off from the world. You don't relate to the people  you once spent all your time with. Your family doesn't get it or understand why you are feeling this way. They might even think that you're crazy. It has gotten to the point where being absolutely alone is the only way you feel comfortable and safe.

  This is a time to activate stillness within the body and mind.  Take this time to focus inwards. Listen to your thoughts without judgment.  You'll be surprised by all the silly things we tell ourselves and act upon without even being consciously aware.  This is an example of how the ego tries to control us. By becoming aware of our thoughts we then have a chance to call out the ego self for what it is. This will be a bit of a struggle as we are essentially stripping ourselves of all that we once knew. Just allow it.

 Reflect on what  you are experiencing. Meditate on healing and forgiveness. Forgive for all self inflicted pain. Forgive yourself for everyone you have hurt or feel you've wronged in some way. Ask for forgiveness from all and give yourself permission to let go of any all attachments that you have from this lifetime and any past lifetimes as well. Understand that being alone doesn't have to feel lonely. Love yourself.

       Feeling as though you are losing progress

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You just had a day that felt better than any you've had in a really long time. You feel as though you have finally made it through the darkness and go to bed only to wake up the next morning feeling lower than ever. This is the stage of the dark night where we learn surrender and control. It is in this moment that we get to make a choice. Let these emotions control us and and wallow in self pity and pain or stand tall, smile and invite the unwanted company in and embrace it. Dance with it, laugh with it, even cry with it. Do whatever it takes to become sentient and in total control of all emotions. 

We are taught to respond to unpleasant feelings or situations with what we have labeled  "negative" emotions. Fear, Anger, Resentment, Anxiety, Jealousy, Hate, Shame, Guilt. When one of these emotions shows up in our lives we react and feel in our mind and bodies the only way we know and were taught. Our  usual conditioned reaction to "negativity" is never a positive one and very detrimental to our health. However, this can all be changed. All we have to do is remember the second something dark comes up that we all have the free will of choice. Choose to react in an unhealthy manner and let the ego keep us stuck. Or,  embrace and accept the emotions for what they are. I know this is easier said than done but once this is achieved it will change your view of the world and it's entirety. Success and achievements are handled with confidence and ease with our ability to surrender. 

Let each day be as it is, accept that there will always be good days and bad days.

Without bad, there wouldn't be good. They are interdependent and co-originating. One cannot survive without the other. Trust that no obstacle or set back is too big for you to handle. When the noise in your head becomes too much just become aware of your surroundings and remember you are in control. You are more powerful than you think.

"Sometimes, the problems

 you must face are more than you wish

 to cope with,

and tomorrow doesn't seem 

to offer any solutions.

You may ask yourself 'Why me?'

but the answer is sometimes unclear.

You may even tend to feel

that life hasn't been just or fair

to burden you with such obstacles.

The roads any of choose 

to follow are never free

of bumps or curves.

but eventually the turns

lead to a smoother path ahead.

Believe in yourself and your dreams.

you will soon realize that

the future holds many promises

for you.

remember... difficult times

don't last forever' -Geri Danks

     

   You start to see people and situations from a new eyes

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As your intuition becomes more clear, so do the intentions of those around you.

you notice things that normally would go unnoticed without even the slightest thought.  A persons body language, the way they speak, even the emotions people once easily hid from you are now something you spot almost instantly. All these once normal, human characteristics, are illuminated. People who you once used to consider your friends begin to drive you insane. Your vibrational frequencies no longer match as you are vibrating at a much higher frequency. You feel that life up until now has  been a lie. The truth is The Ego has taken hostage of your identity and everyone around you as well. Understanding this truth will clear up a lot of anger and hurt. 

You are not alone in this. People now are waking up at a more accelerated rate than ever before. Seeking out like minded people, who share the same experience, becomes a mission. You do in fact have what is called a "soul tribe" and when you find them you will definitely know. You will feel like you are finally home. Well where is my soul tribe you might ask? Explore your horizons and venture off wherever your intuition leads you to. To an introvert that probably sounds exhausting and maybe even terrifying. Luckily the internet exists and has you covered.

 The internet has hundreds of resources to take you where you want to be. Meetup is a great place to find people in your community who share the same interests and likes. facebook and craigslist are also great sites with hundreds of groups and forums full of spiritually connected people.  Youtube is a great resource for people wanting more information and guidance through your experience. 

Just be open and you'll naturally find the place where you need to be. 

  

          You start to question EVERYTHING

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You may start to question everything and wonder if anything is actually real.            Is God real? 

Why would god let me suffer like this? Why do the people in my life seem so unreal to me now? Why am I running away from the people and places that use to comfort me? Am i stuck in a nightmare? Will this ever end? Is my life over?

These are examples of the questions that you will probably be asking yourself often. The lesson here is to find light in every outcome. knowing that this is only temporary and that better days are coming. It can be a bit of a challenge at first but with time and practice you'll be able to change your thoughts instantly.

The first thing to do is start a gratitude journal. Every night before you sleep write down something you are grateful for. It can be anything. literally. Anything.

By starting this type of practice you are attracting more of what you love instead of the opposite. We attract what we believe. Gratitude helps us open our hearts and accept the love we deserve. We are then able to give love in return.

Next, Yoga. Yoga is not only a great way to get in shape, but it is a direct doorway to our spirit. Yoga helps us become in tune with our body and mind. When we are fully aware of what our bodies are trying to communicate to us then the better we are able to nurture and love ourselves. You may be surprised by what you find out. Thank your body for all the hard work it does and give it the attention that it needs. 

Going back to Youtube

An absolutely amazing chanel that I highly recommend is Yoga with Adrienne her chanel is beginner friendly and will definitely put a smile on your face if you're feeling down or just not sure about things. I can personally say that Yoga with Adrienne is what inspired me to be heard. Just give it a shot. I know you won't regret it.

And finally, most importantly, give back. Find a charity group or church or nursing home or whatever it is that you are open to and volunteer your time. When we help others it raises our frequency. We begin to match the positive aspects of life and begin to shift out of the negative. When we open up our hearts to giving and caring for others we are opening space to receive more abundance. What we give out we receive in return. If you're not receiving the things that you want in life then I think that's your que to start giving back. 

The dark night doesn't have to be hard. Just trust. And no matter what always know that you are not alone. 

How has the Dark Night affected you? Any thing in particular help you through it? Let us know in the box below