About

The Night didn’t come once.

It came in waves. Each darker than the last.

It took my words. Then my beliefs. Then my sense of “I.”


I did not emerge awakened.

I emerged empty. And still—I write.


Not to teach, not to guide.

But to speak from a space I couldn’t find elsewhere:

Between Eastern silence and Western scripture.

Between spiritual overconfidence and theological rigidity.


I walk the space where Mystery is still sacred.

Where transformation is not a performance, but a slow, burning undoing.


This space is not for the ones who want quick light.

It’s for those who have seen the darkness—and know it is not the end.


This page treats the Dark Night of the Soul from 3 different but partially intertwined perspectives:

1) The concept of "The Dark Night of the Soul" as described by historical figures like John of the Cross, Teresa of Ávila and other mysticals.

2) How Jungian depth psychology and existential thought interpret or relate to this experience.

3) Stories or narratives that exemplify this experience from both historical and modern viewpoints.

Maybe also your story? 

Feel welcome if you are interested in sharing a guest contribution. Contact us anytime:

➡️ Instagram

➡️ Facebook

➡️ LinkedIn



Host:

Rebekka Waldesruh, former soldier. Now academic voice. Talking from the depths of psychology and philosophy. Especially about the Dark Night of the Soul. Not just as personal journey, but also underpinned with philosophical background of John of the Cross and other mysticals.

Disclaimer:

The whole website including its sub-pages is non-commercial, non-political, and even non-religious. If mystical or other religious elements are presented, they are drawn from a neutral perspective. Always questioned and seen through analytical "glasses" of well-educated researchers.

Popular posts from this blog

Guilt and the Dark Night of the Soul: Between Deep Spiritual Crisis and Everyday Life

Image
Most of us are familiar with guilt. We feel responsible for things beyond our control, or we believe we’ve done something wrong, even when, objectively, we haven’t. This type of guilt, arising from upbringing, societal expectations, or old childhood patterns, is conditioned . It weighs on us without us actually being “guilty” in a moral or spiritual sense. Social and Conditioned Guilt in Everyday Life Many people experience this type of guilt daily: a mother feels responsible when her children argue, even though she’s not involved in the conflict. A colleague believes they caused a project to fail, even though external circumstances were decisive. Such feelings are internalized expectations —social and cultural conditioning that can accompany us throughout our lives. Historically, churches and religious institutions have also contributed to a sense of false guilt . Strict moral rules, dogmas, and sermons often created pressure designed to control people. The result: we are accustome...
Open Episode »

The Sacred Value of Being Alone: Solitude in the Dark Night of the Soul

Image
1. A Hidden Longing in a Loud World In an age of hyperconnectivity, constant stimulation, and perpetual exposure to noise—both literal and digital—many people find themselves unexpectedly longing for solitude. It’s not necessarily because they dislike others, but because they can no longer hear themselves. The internal voice becomes drowned out by the noise of productivity, messaging apps, and the endless presence of other people’s expectations. This longing for aloneness becomes even more noticeable among people who engage in spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, or contemplation. Sometimes, without any obvious reason, a quiet but firm inner pull arises: Step away . Be still . Be alone . Far from being a retreat from life, this movement toward solitude may in fact be the soul's instinctive response to a deeper transformation at work. For the Christian mystic John of the Cross, aloneness is not an escape but a necessary condition for inner purification. Especially in what...
Open Episode »

Suicide Thoughts VS. Stoic Reflections on Death as Limitation, Melancholy, and the Dark Night – Four Perspectives on Death

Image
The thought of death reveals itself in very different contexts— from philosophical reflection, through emotional crisis, to spiritual transcendence. This timeless post introduces four distinct perspectives: stoic reflection, suicidal thoughts arising from crisis or depression, poetic melancholy, and finally the mystical experience of the Dark Night of the Soul. The aim is not just rational clarity but also possible paths to hope—especially through the contemplative way outlined by John of the Cross. 1. Stoic Reflection on Death In stoic thought, death is not an enemy but a prompt to live meaningfully. Marcus Aurelius puts it pointedly: “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” If we reflect that both the longest-lived and shortest-lived person give up the same thing— the present moment—then the point becomes clear: “When the longest-lived and the shortest-lived man, when they come to die, their loss is precisely equal.  For the sole thing...
Open Episode »