When Your Soul Feels Lost
You’re waking up tired despite sleeping.
You’re questioning everything – your purpose, beliefs, work, even your identity.
What once felt meaningful now feels hollow.
You’re not “depressed” in the clinical sense… but you’re undeniably in pain.
This is what many mystics, psychologists, and spiritual teachers call the “Dark Night of the Soul.”
Coined by 16th-century mystic St. John of the Cross, this phrase originally described a state of spiritual desolation one endures before reaching divine union or transformation. But in modern life, it’s expanded to include deep psychological and existential crises – periods where your old self begins to dissolve, but the new self hasn’t yet emerged.
If you’re in this void, this article is your survival guide.
What Is a Spiritual Crisis or Dark Night of the Soul?
A spiritual crisis is a radical shift in consciousness that destabilizes your inner world. It may be triggered by:
- Trauma or loss
- Sudden awakening or spiritual practices (e.g., Kundalini rising)
- Burnout or existential fatigue
- Psychedelic journeys or mystical experiences
- Major life transitions (divorce, illness, job loss, etc.)
Unlike depression, a spiritual crisis isn’t always rooted in brain chemistry – it’s a soul-level disorientation where your worldview collapses.
Signs You’re in a Dark Night:
- Loss of meaning or spiritual identity
- Isolation or emotional numbness
- Disillusionment with religion, materialism, or life goals
- Intense emotional purging (rage, grief, despair)
- Nightmares or existential fear
- Sudden intuitive insights or inner knowing, followed by confusion
Case Study: Ayomide, 32, was a successful creative director in Lagos. After a near-death experience during a flood, he couldn’t connect with his old life. He quit his job, broke off his engagement, and spent months in solitude questioning everything. He later said: “It felt like I died before I died – but I came back with new eyes.”
The Purpose: Breakdown Before Breakthrough
This isn’t punishment – it’s preparation.
In many traditions (Sufism, Buddhism, Jungian psychology), spiritual crisis is seen as initiation. You’re not “losing yourself” – you’re shedding false identities.
Your ego (the mental construct of who you think you are) is collapsing so your authentic self can emerge.
Metaphor: Think of a seed. It must break open in darkness before it grows.
Psychological Models That Mirror This Journey
Even in psychology, this transformation process is recognized:
1. Carl Jung’s Individuation Process
Jung saw spiritual crisis as a confrontation with the “shadow” – all the repressed parts of the psyche. The goal isn’t to escape, but to integrate.
2. Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey
The “Dark Night” is the “Abyss” or “Initiation” stage where the hero is tested, often appearing to fail – before they return transformed.
3. Maslow’s Crisis of Meaning
Once basic needs are met, individuals may face existential dissatisfaction (a.k.a. “Maslow’s cliff”) leading to self-actualization or spiritual hunger.
7 Steps to Navigate and Overcome a Spiritual Crisis
These aren’t quick fixes – they’re tools to walk through, not around, your darkness.
1. Surrender the Need to Understand Immediately
Your mind wants to “fix it.” But transformation isn’t linear.
Healing begins the moment you stop fighting the unknown and start witnessing it.
Practice:
- Daily breathwork or mindfulness to anchor your awareness
- Journal your feelings without analyzing them
2. Purge – Safely
Crisis often stirs repressed emotions. Give them space to move through you.
Safe outlets:
- Scream into a pillow
- Dance wildly (ecstatic dance)
- Write “rage letters” you never send
- Create chaotic or abstract art
Case Study: Sophia, a 27-year-old Kenyan artist, began painting her grief after the loss of her mother. “The canvases felt like they wept for me,” she said. Her work later became part of a sold-out exhibition on grief and rebirth.
3. Seek Soul-Aligned Guidance, Not Just Advice
Not every therapist, priest, or coach understands spiritual crisis.
Look for someone who integrates psychological, spiritual, and body-based wisdom – not someone who pathologizes your journey or offers shallow “good vibes only” advice.
Look for:
- Jungian therapists
- Somatic practitioners
- Spiritual mentors experienced in shadow work
- Trauma-informed healers
4. Rediscover Sacred Silence
Solitude can be painful, but it’s where clarity grows.
Practices to embrace silence:
- Nature walks without your phone
- No music or podcasts during chores
- 1–2 days of digital detox
- Guided meditation retreats
Research Insight: According to a 2023 meta-analysis published in Journal of Consciousness Studies, participants who practiced 3+ days of silent retreat showed a 38% increase in inner clarity, emotional stability, and purpose-driven decision-making within 30 days.
5. Reframe the Crisis as Initiation
This isn’t a detour – it’s the path.
Spiritual crisis is evolution in disguise.
Ritualize it:
- Write a letter to your “old self” and burn it
- Mark the start of your healing journey with a sacred object
- Revisit initiation rites from your culture or ancestry
Example: In many African traditions, initiates are removed from their communities, undergo symbolic death, then return as transformed members. Embracing your own version of this can be deeply healing.
6. Anchor in a Daily Practice (No Matter How Small)
Consistency is more powerful than intensity.
Suggestions:
- Morning: 10-min breathwork or affirmations
- Midday: Grounding (barefoot on earth)
- Evening: Candlelit journaling or prayer
Insight: Building “ritual rhythm” trains your nervous system to feel safe – crucial during upheaval.
7. Transmute Pain into Purpose
Once you’ve moved through the fire, don’t waste the ashes.
Use your insights to serve others. Many spiritual entrepreneurs, authors, and guides began with a dark night.
Example: Byron Katie created “The Work” after years of suicidal depression. Eckhart Tolle wrote The Power of Now after a spiritual breakdown on a park bench. Your suffering may birth your life’s mission.
Spiritual Crisis vs. Clinical Depression: Know the Difference
They may overlap, but they’re not identical.
| Symptom | Clinical Depression | Spiritual Crisis |
| Emotional numbness | Yes | Sometimes |
| Loss of interest in daily life | Yes | Yes |
| Suicidal ideation | Common | Rare (but possible) |
| Sleep/appetite issues | Frequent | Varies |
| Existential questioning | Mild | Intense |
| Mystical experiences | Rare | Common |
| Potential for transformation | Low without intervention | High when supported |
Important: If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek medical help or crisis support immediately. Healing can coexist with safety.
How Long Does a Spiritual Crisis Last?
There’s no fixed timeline. It can last weeks, months, or even years depending on:
- Depth of your ego identity
- Type of trigger
- Level of support and surrender
- Willingness to integrate lessons
Reminder: You’re not failing if it’s taking time. You’re transforming.
Resources for Healing & Integration
Books:
- The Dark Night of the Soul – St. John of the Cross
- When Things Fall Apart – Pema Chödrön
- The Untethered Soul – Michael Singer
- Owning Your Own Shadow – Robert A. Johnson
Online Platforms:
- InsightTimer – Free meditations
- Sounds True – Courses on shadow work and spirituality
- Therapist directories – Filter for spiritual and Jungian therapists
Your Soul Knows What It’s Doing
Spiritual crisis isn’t a flaw. It’s a calling.
You’re being asked to let go of the lies, the masks, the conditioning, and step into truth, depth, and wholeness.
You may feel lost, but this is where all heroes begin.
Hold on.
Something beautiful is trying to be born.
