Contemplation, Nervous System Vulnerability, Sensitivity and Inner Openness

The journey inward is not a straightforward path. Those who embark on the contemplative path soon realize that the inner world is not always immediately accessible. There are phases of ease, where meditation flows effortlessly, and phases in which the inner self seems hidden behind a "cloud" (2DN 8,1; 16,1). This cloud is a kind of spiritual blockage, separating us from meditation and cognitive abilities (cf. 1DN 8,3; 11,4). During this phase, access to one’s soul appears locked, and our nervous system reacts to this blockage, often without conscious awareness. When this occurs in the Dark Night, Johannes of the Cross provides some explanations.

Information differentiating the Dark Night from pathological states can be found in another article. The distinctions between phases of the Dark Night have already been covered in a previous blog episode.

The First Dark Night: Blockage and Vulnerability

In the first Dark Night, inner regulation is severely limited. Normally, the nervous system, particularly the parasympathetic branch, helps us calm down, relax, and stabilize during rest periods. Yet during this blockage phase, this natural balance is missing: even small everyday stimuli can suddenly feel overwhelming. Nervousness rises, emotions intensify, and even people normally resilient to stress experience an inner exhaustion that is hard to explain.

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It is not external circumstances that are the problem – it is the lack of inner self-regulation that makes us vulnerable. In this state, the sympathetic nervous system may overreact: fight-or-flight impulses are triggered, even by small, otherwise harmless stimuli. Early signs are often physical: racing heart, inner restlessness, shallow breathing, slight panic.

Alongside distinguishing this from depression, it is important to assess whether trauma is involved. This will be discussed in an upcoming episode.

Practical Tips for the First Phase

Those experiencing this phase should handle themselves gently. Try to reduce external pressures: fewer appointments, no overload, create spaces for spontaneous rest. Structure, usually supportive, can be counterproductive here – inner openness requires flexibility. Small, simple rituals that create no pressure can help relieve the nervous system, such as conscious breathing, short meditative breaks, or walks in nature.

The Second Dark Night: Openness and Permeability

The second phase of the Dark Night is subtler and paradoxical: here, the inner space opens, allowing deeper contemplation to begin. Sometimes this happens only after a long time, sometimes briefly. Physiologically, it can be described as a kind of parasympathetically influenced calm: the nervous system is more relaxed, heart and breath stabilize, and attention can focus on what truly matters.

However, it is no coincidence that mystics like Johannes of the Cross describe this phase as "terrible" or "beyond comparison" (1DN 8,2).

This openness comes at a price. Once deeper contemplation is experienced, one becomes particularly vulnerable when external circumstances or inner setbacks occur. Stimuli that previously had little effect now impact more strongly. Any interruption of contemplation feels deeper – a fall from this state can be more distressing than the first phase of the Dark Night or an ordinary depression.

This effect occurs because, in the second Dark Night, one has already been purified. Old attachments, emotional blockages, and excessive cognitive fixations have been partially released – the nervous system becomes more permeable, more receptive to external stimuli and the emotions of others. “Highly sensitive” is an insufficient term for this state: it goes beyond ordinary sensitivity and describes a spiritual openness that simultaneously implies vulnerability.

Practical Tips for the Second Phase

Accept vulnerability as part of the process: setbacks are normal and indicate the depth of your openness.
Create external calm to maintain inner balance: spaces free from noise, minimal schedule pressure, reduced contacts.
Pay attention to your own rhythm: spontaneity is preferable to rigid structure, as the nervous system is now more reactive.
Gentle rituals, like breathing exercises, slow walking, or contemplative sitting, help stabilize inner calm.

Johannes speaks of hope in this regard, which for me provided a deeper sense of meaning for the first time. This is also covered in a separate post.

The Nervous System as a Mirror of Contemplation

The nervous system is not merely a medical organ – according to C. G. Jung, it reflects our inner development. In the first Dark Night, it shows us where blockages exist, which stimuli we can no longer process, and where fear, tension, or stress needs attention. In the second phase, it becomes a sensor for the depth of openness: the calmer the nervous system, the greater the capacity for connection to deeper, subtler contemplation – what Johannes calls the true meaning of the Dark Night.

Experiencing the Dark Night teaches one to embrace vulnerability. Each setback, emotional reaction, and moment of overwhelm indicates the extent of inner openness. Bodily reactions are not a weakness but a sign of the intensity of inner work.

Contemplation, Dark Night, and Everyday Life

The Dark Night does not occur in isolation but interacts with our societal environment. Time pressure, noise, social expectations, even seemingly harmless interactions, now feel more taxing. Sensitivity to external influences reinforces the understanding that the nervous system mirrors inner processes. Over-adapting or attempting to manage daily life as usual easily creates new stress – “self-made traumas” or emotional imbalances.

A contemplative lifestyle therefore does not mean total withdrawal from the world. It means developing awareness of the nervous system and one’s openness, shaping everyday life to avoid interrupting inner work. This includes:

Conscious breaks from social contacts
Flexibility with appointments
Reduction of stimuli and pressure
Space for spontaneous, meditative activities

Conclusion

The Dark Night of the soul is not an obstacle but part of the contemplative process that tests the nervous system and inner openness. The first phase blocks and makes one vulnerable, the second phase opens and deepens contemplation but increases sensitivity. Understanding the nervous system as a mirror of inner development allows better navigation: setbacks, vulnerability, and hypersensitivity indicate depth, not weakness.

Contemplation thus means consciously engaging with oneself, one’s nervous system, and the environment – creating spaces that allow openness without compromising inner balance. Only in this way can subtle, deeper contemplation arise, enabling true inner transformation.

The Soul's Night and Awakening