Experiencing Transformational Nights
Have you ever experienced a “Dark Night of the Soul?” In December’s We Conspire series, we turn to the wisdom of St. John of the Cross, the poet and mystic whose personal challenges inspired language for the universal experience of spiritual isolation—and the sense of wholeness that awaits us as we continue to surrender to the unknown.
St. John of the Cross, born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez in 1542 in Fontiveros, Spain, was a beloved poet, writer, and Carmelite monk whose writings on the soul’s journey toward union with God, especially through the “Dark Night of the Soul” offer language for our own journeys of hope and healing.
John of the Cross’s most beloved poetry blossomed during his political imprisonment in Toledo, Spain in the 1570s. Finding himself on the progressive side of church reform movements, John was thrown in jail and suffered extreme physical limitations. During this period, he turned inward to a state of deep prayer and poetic creativity, ultimately giving words to moments of the human experience when we feel lost and deprived—emotionally and spiritually.
John’s poetry is sensual, loving, and often speaks of the encounter with the Divine as forbidden romantic tryst, emotional but illusive, and resistant to demands and any sense of control.
“John’s poetry is sensual, loving, and often speaks of the encounter with the Divine as forbidden romantic tryst, emotional but illusive, and resistant to demands and any sense of ownership or control.”
John came to understand that spiritual desolation is not only a psychological state, but an opportunity for meeting and deepening this mysterious relationship with the Divine. He describes the process of the soul passing through two purgative “nights”—the “night of the senses” and the “night of the spirit,” each serving a purpose in the soul’s journey.
The “night of the senses” involves the stripping away of attachment to worldly pleasures, which can distract us from our inner experience. For John, this is a necessary detachment from the desires that keep us unnecessarily enmeshed in the temporal world. The “night of the spirit,” on the other hand, represents a deeper interior darkness where the soul feels abandoned by God and struggles with a sense of spiritual dryness. This phase can be agonizing—and is often marked by doubts and a loss of consolation. In the midst of these difficult moments, John emphasizes that the pain we experience is not a sign of God’s absence, but rather, a crucial milestone on the long journey to experiencing a deeper union with Divine love.
As we navigate these “nights of the soul,” John advises that we practice one more seemingly impossible task—letting go of our desire for control. This, John reflects, helps us honor the incomprehensible nature of God. John writes, “The journey of the soul to the divine union is called night for three reasons: because it begins in detachment from worldly desires, proceeds through the obscurity of faith, and leads toward a God who, in this life, is incomprehensible and infinite.”
“The journey of the soul to the divine union is called night for three reasons: because it begins in detachment from worldly desires, proceeds through the obscurity of faith, and leads toward a God who, in this life, is incomprehensible and infinite.”
—St. John of the Cross
In his teaching on contemplative prayer, John stresses the importance of letting go of all mental effort and allowing the soul to rest in God’s embrace. He encourages a kind of formless prayer, that is not concerned with thoughts or intellectual activity, but simply with being present to God in love. He writes, “The soul must surrender into peace and quietude, even if she is convinced she is doing nothing and wasting time. . . . The best thing for the soul to do is to pay no attention to the fact that the actions of her faculties are slipping away. . . . She needs to get out of the way.”
This “infused contemplation” is not something we can produce by our own efforts; it is a gift that falls gently in our lap as we release our sense of control. It is in this quiet surrender—a restful waiting—during which the soul is quietly transformed and made whole.
“The soul must surrender into peace and quietude, even if she is convinced, she is doing nothing and wasting time. . . She needs to get out of the way.”
—St. John of the Cross
For modern-day contemplatives, John’s words continue to offer solace in times of darkness and spiritual dryness. John’s message is not one of avoiding suffering, but of embracing it as part of the soul’s journey toward wholeness. Through the practice of silent prayer, even the most difficult moments of the contemplative path become a means of profound healing—transforming not only the soul but one’s entire life. By embracing “the nights” on our journeys we move closer to the profound and loving union with God that John of the Cross so beautifully describes.
Reflect with Us
We invite you to reflect on your own “Dark Night of the Soul.” What mantras or practices help you to release an impulse to control the outcome? Share your reflection with us.
Thank you to CAC’s librarians Seth and Lee for their research on St. John of the Cross.
We Conspire is a series from the Center for Action and Contemplation featuring wisdom and stories from the growing Christian contemplative movement. Sign up for the monthly email series and receive a free invitation to practice each month.