*45 Dark night of the soul. When on a spiritual journey we end a period of internal and external happiness, divine beauty is suddenly torn from inner mystical experiences and we sink deeper into a hopelessly deep despair in which our external happy life inevitably collapses. Embarrassing and undignified contents of once repressed desires suddenly arise from within against our wishes so that they lose their existential meaning. The darkness of a blackened and blunt sense lasts only until the dreamer's spirit becomes humble and resigned, until it is cleansed and thus becomes simple, soft, open and resigned so that it can unify with the Holy Spirit. Although the experience of the dark night of the soul is very depressing, everyone should welcome it since it foretells that realization*68 is approaching.
