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Dark Night Of The Soul And Dryness Support Group


tinytherese

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cmotherofpirl

[quote name='tinytherese' post='1739152' date='Dec 30 2008, 08:23 PM']It's one of those things where you really don't understand it until you go through it yourself. No, I've never had estacies or a series of spiritual visions but my relationship with my Beloved Lord has drastically changed.[/quote]
Different paths for different people.

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Noel's angel

I often wonder whether people throw about the phrase 'Dark Night of the Soul' a bit too carelessly. We all go through spiritual dryness, depression, sorrow, doubts etc. but how many of us have really experienced a Dark Night? I would suspect it's a lot fewer than the number who believe they have.

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I don't know, sorry if I'm wrong...it just would be nice to feel certain about things and feel some warmth. I'm not talking about going into ecstasy or anything-just feeling [i]something[/i], some kind of incling rather than feeling "lost in the dark" I guess. I suppose it stands in comparison to how I used to feel, which was very certain in my faith, able to defend it easily and believe what I was saying, believe/feel that God is there and loves me. I'm not saying it's necessarily a "dark night of the soul"-I'm just saying I think I can identify with those who are having spiritual dryness and maybe i some respects with those having a "dark night of the soul". It's not that I don't care-if I didn't I wouldn't bother asking questions. -Katie

Edited by Tinkerlina
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Guest dizzyspirit

Hello,

Many thanks for your thought provoking replies. It is true that people can be experiencing depression or other causes, or perhaps just be having unpleasant experiences in the world and think it`s the dark night. It`s actually not the easiest thing in the world to correctly diagnose the dark night. The dark night can at times co-exist with depression. A good idea would be to read St. John of the cross, and maybe this will give you some idea on the matter.

Love to all

dizzyspirit

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Guest dizzyspirit

Hi Tinkerlina,

I can relate to what you are saying. I thought that I was certain about my beliefs, and would be willing to defend them. As the relentless pressure of the dark night continues however, I have become more and more passive, and sometimes wonder if I really know anything. But maybe all this is part of the dark night, to surrender everything up, and come to God empty handed.

Love

dizzyspirit

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[quote name='dizzyspirit' post='1741355' date='Jan 2 2009, 10:29 AM']Hi Tinkerlina,

I can relate to what you are saying. I thought that I was certain about my beliefs, and would be willing to defend them. As the relentless pressure of the dark night continues however, I have become more and more passive, and sometimes wonder if I really know anything. But maybe all this is part of the dark night, to surrender everything up, and come to God empty handed.

Love

dizzyspirit[/quote]

Thanks :) And to clarify, I'm not calling what's going on with me "dark night of the soul"-I don't think it's that extreme-but spiritual dryness, etc is a problem for me right now. I think you're on the mark about giving it all up to God. "Wondering if you really know anything"-that's exactly how I feel sometimes. -Katie

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Count me in, friends. I've been ignoring it for too long now. Just now that I've admitted it, I'm afraid it's NOT going to go away.

This isn't the first time, and I'll get through it. I'm just scared.

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[quote name='MissyP89' post='1742567' date='Jan 4 2009, 03:42 AM']Count me in, friends. I've been ignoring it for too long now. Just now that I've admitted it, I'm afraid it's NOT going to go away.

This isn't the first time, and I'll get through it. I'm just scared.[/quote]

It is kind of scary especially if you've been in a place before where you feel secure in your faith. To have that "feeling" or whatever it can be called, "knowing" of security, to have that taken away is scary, for sure. -Katie

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[quote name='Tinkerlina' post='1742750' date='Jan 4 2009, 04:03 PM']It is kind of scary especially if you've been in a place before where you feel secure in your faith. To have that "feeling" or whatever it can be called, "knowing" of security, to have that taken away is scary, for sure. -Katie[/quote]

Yea, but really if you think about it we really won't be completely sure and satisfied until heaven.

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cmotherofpirl

[quote name='Tinkerlina' post='1742750' date='Jan 4 2009, 05:03 PM']It is kind of scary especially if you've been in a place before where you feel secure in your faith. To have that "feeling" or whatever it can be called, "knowing" of security, to have that taken away is scary, for sure. -Katie[/quote]
I think however, that a part of growing up is realizing that all the things you think you know may not really so. Its an invitation to go deeper.

"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair. "
C. S. Lewis

“Faith... is the art of holding on to things your reason once accepted, despite your changing moods.” C.S.Lewis

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[quote name='cmotherofpirl' post='1744770' date='Jan 6 2009, 11:42 PM']I think however, that a part of growing up is realizing that all the things you think you know may not really so. Its an invitation to go deeper.[/quote]

I don't know when I'll "grow up", then-I'm definitely considered a "grown up" and gone through that many times already! -Katie

Edited by Tinkerlina
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[quote name='fidei defensor' post='1746904' date='Jan 9 2009, 03:14 AM']I had a dark night. I waited it out, but the sun never came back. So, I moved.[/quote]

Out of Alaska?

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[quote name='tinytherese' post='1744687' date='Jan 6 2009, 10:17 PM']Yea, but really if you think about it we really won't be completely sure and satisfied until heaven.[/quote]

Yes that's true :) I'm trying my best not to lose faith, and I think I'm slowly making progress. Even though a lot of what I'm doing is "going through the motions" I think at least it's making myself do something rather than nothing-I could be doing much more, no doubt, and I'll keep trying. -Katie

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