The Dark Night of the Soul is a period of spiritual “downness,” or even depression, that people frequently experience before an increase in understanding or spiritual growth. Put simply, you increase your understanding by solving problems in your own life. When the problem goes away, your burden is lighter and you can see a bit more clearly. Sometimes when problems leave, they rear their heads one last time before going away completely. Thus, the Dark Night of the Soul.
Another explanation is that an increase in understanding often comes hand in hand with releasing an attachment you have to something or someone you’ve been holding on to unnecessarily. It’s a kind of grief you have to go through as you give up that attachment. When the grieving is over and the attachment is gone, understanding comes.
I wonder how many people these experiences have turned away from the Narrow Path.
