Superficial and naively upbeat spirituality does not heal and enrich the soul. Rather than looking at the dark night of the soul as something negative, the author looks at it from a very positive perspective. The dark night of the soul spiritual growth ministries. In fact, they may pass through several until they experience the profound joy of their true nature. This phenomenon describes a malady that the greatest of christians have suffered from time to time. This is a guide exploring the concept of the dark night of the soul. The dark night of the soul a psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth. Gerald jerry gordon may june 12, 1940 april 8, 2005 was an american psychiatrist and theologian. Eckhart on the dark night of the soul by eckhart tolle. Although depression shares many of its characteristics with the experience of having a dark night of the soul, it can often be treated and sometimes cured with medications, cognitivebehavioral therapy cbt, mindfulness practices, lifestyle changes, and so forth. The book explores the dark night through the writings of two of the best known christian mystics. Jan 22, 2018 the gift of the dark night of the soul duration. Mar 22, 2017 the dark night of the soul is a way to describe what feels like a deep, existential depression.
A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth kindle edition by may md, gerald g religion. It is a term used to describe what one could call a collapse of a perceived meaning in lifean eruption into your life of a deep sense of meaninglessness. Images set to loreena mckennitts music and vocals the dark night of the soul, inspired by the words of st. The dark night of the soul is not the same as depression. He says, the dark night is a profoundly good thing. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth. Gerald may s the dark night of the soul 2003 for its accessibility, thoroughness and positive approach to the experience.
The dark night of the soul is a term that goes back a long time. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth paperback february 1, 2005. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth by may, gerald g. May shows that the dark side is a vital ingredient for deep, authentic, healthy spirituality. Dark night of the soul dark night of the soul sounds like a threatening and much to be avoided experience. Feb 03, 2004 as his guides through the dark night of the soul, may uses two 17thcentury spanish mystics, st. The dark night is perceived by mystics and practicing monks from several religions to be a blessing in disguise, whereby the individual is stripped in the dark night of the senses of the spiritual ecstasy associated with acts of virtue. Somewhat reluctantly, out of respect for a venerable tradition, we publish the. Somewhat reluctantly, out of respect for a venerable tradition, we publish the dark night as a separate treatise, though in reality it is a continuation of the ascent of mount carmel and fulfils the undertakings given in it.
An introduction to st john of the cross 1990 for its coverage of john and his life, plus welchs. This week im reading the dark night of the soul by gerald may, subtitled. The first night or purgation is of the sensual part of the soul, which is. Gerald may, md, a retired psychiatrist and senior fellow in contemplative theology and psychology, discusses both in his book, the dark night of the. Sep 17, 2010 dark night of the soul describes the painful experiences and their significance on the spiritual journey of st. May publication right here, you will certainly obtain some benefits not to choose guide store. While there is no substitute for reading the translated original writings from john and teresa, dr. May emphasises that the dark night is not necessarily a time of suffering and near despair, but a time of deep transition, a search for new orientation when things are clouded and full of mystery. The dark gives depth, dimension and fullness to the spiritual life. What once held your world together is now falling apart, or it just doesnt feel right anymore. It was the malady that earned for jeremiah the sobriquet, the weeping prophet.
A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth by gerald g. When you want change, great change you must enter the dark night of the soul. Description of the book the dark night of the soul. Jul 08, 2018 gerald may, md, a retired psychiatrist and senior fellow in contemplative theology and psychology, discusses both in his book, the dark night of the soul.
During this obscure time, god works in a persons unconscious to bring about healing and growth. From love of thingssensuality, to love of godspirituality. A dark night of the soul is a time of godinitiated growth. May s exploration is arguably one of the best companion guides i have. May, md, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has been trivialised and neglected to our serious detriment. May, md, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has. Out of all the topics i considered, the dark night of the soul kept tugging at my.
For example, he confronts the common notion that spiritual growth is achieved by surviving bad experiences. Yet perhaps a quarter of the seekers on the road to higher consciousness will pass through the dark night. The dark night of the soul ebook 9780061895173 by gerald g. Dark night of the soul describes the painful experiences and their significance on the spiritual journey of st. Dark night of the soul is a poem written by the 16thcentury spanish mystic and poet st. It was the malady that provoked david to soak his pillow with tears.
May, md, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has been trivialised and neglected to. The dark night of the soul is an expression describing phases in a persons spiritual life associated with a crisis of faith or spiritual concerns about the relationship with god, and which has. John of the cross and when one hears the phrase, dark night of the soul, one thinks of emotional or spiritual anguish. In this article we explore what exactly this experience is, the symptoms one may exhibit while going through, as well as looking at the benefits that one can receive by facing such a challenge and coming out the other side. Ascent of mount carmel subida del monte carmelo and the dark night noche oscura. You are being asked to live at a higher degree of integrity. Gerald may in this book helps the reader to appreciate the spiritualities of both st. What spirit is asking of us in the dark night of the soul. A dark night of the soul is not something that one can choose to initiate or participate in. Dark night of the soul by saint john of the cross free ebook. May argues that the shadow side of the spiritual life has been trivialized and neglected to our serious detriment. Different labels for the dark night the dark night of the soul the night season the divine darkness journey into the desert cloud of unknowing there is a deeper and more abiding union an experiential oneness with god that he desires for every one of us where we can experience his presence and his joy and rest in the. While this spiritual crisis is usually temporary, it may endure for a long time.
A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth gerald g. The dark night of the soul is a way to describe what feels like a deep, existential depression. Gerald may and describes how the book illuminates my own experience of spiritual darkness, the implications of spiritual direction for recovery from addiction, and the meaning of mays statement p. The dark night of the soul embraces the universal spiritual experience of disorientation, doubt, fear, emptiness, dryness, despair, and the like, all of which are ingredients in developing a mature, authentic spiritual life. The premise of the book is that there are two dark nights, or times of spiritual bleakness that a person must travel through in order to come to a completely mature and perfect union with god. Distinguished psychiatrist, spiritual counselor, and bestselling author gerald g. You are being asked to love yourself despite your past, and this may be the hardest part of the journey. John of the cross and teresa of avila, and addresses some of the misconceptions of the process. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth, by gerald g. As his guides through the dark night of the soul, may uses two 17thcentury spanish mystics, st. Psychiatrist gerald may writes, my experience is that people often experience depression and the dark night at the same time. Gerald mays the dark night of the soul 2003 for its. Download the dark night of the soul ebook pdf epub video.
May shows how our most desperate moments are necessary for authentic spiritual growth and vital to our experiencing both freedom and joy. The dark gives depth, dimension, fullness to the spiritual life. Feb 06, 20 this essay explores the dark night of the soul. In this article we explore what exactly this experience is, the symptoms one may exhibit while going through, as well as looking at the benefits that one can receive by facing such a. Dark night of the soul symptoms what you should know. The dark night of the soul by gerald may adventures. May at barnes due to covid19, orders may be delayed. It was the malady that so afflicted martin luther that his. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth by dr. Gerald mays purpose in writing this book is to clear up confusions and distortions about the role of the dark night of the soul in the spiritual life. Dark night of the soul catholic spiritual direction.
Gerald mays the dark night of the soul 2003 for its accessibility, thoroughness and positive approach to the experience. Dark night of the soul is an instructional religious book used mainly by the roman catholic church. The persons role in such a time is not significant. Simply link to the web as well as begin to download the page link we discuss.
May, md, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has been trivialised and neglected to our serious. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. The 12 gerald may, the dark night of soul, a psychologist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth san francisco. Jun 19, 2018 this week im reading the dark night of the soul by gerald may, subtitled. The author himself did not give any title to his poem, on which he wrote two booklength commentaries. As john makes clear, it is not god who disappears, but only our concepts, images, and sensations of god. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth 9780060750558 by gerald g. Find the dark night of the soul by may, gerald g at biblio.
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