Dark Night of the Soul
A Daring Path to Love
"Life is a grand, unpredictable play, and love is our boldest risk. It moves like breath—rising and falling, expanding and contracting, drawing us into its rhythm and space. Knowing and not knowing, losing and finding ourselves, breaking apart and reuniting—this unfolding, holy, mysterious dance is the gateway to the divine." 1
The Divine Exchange
Sheltered in the afterglow of their lovemaking, the Goddess Shakti gazed into her beloved’s eyes with deep yearning. “Dearest Shiva, how can I know the essence of our co-creation? What is the purpose of this existence? The human heart?”
Shiva searched her eyes, questioning, “Shri, you truly don’t know?”
“No, I do not. You, dear heart, have spent years in solitude, meditating on mountaintops, in the forest, and at the cremation grounds. Surely, after eons, you’ve grasped the essence of this existence. Please tell me what you know.”
Shiva tenderly held her hands within his and softly murmured, “You are the embodiment of existence and the essence of the human heart. Only you. Unadulterated love.”
Shri, the Auspicious One, sat quietly for a few minutes, absorbing the matrika shakti (the power of sound and words). With tears in her eyes, she nodded at her beloved, recognizing the truth that Shiva, the Omnipotent One, needed her presence. She was the divine spark of creation that transformed his vision into manifestaion. Shakti understood that without her, Shiva’s power remained dormant.
Tantra: A Pathway to Understanding
As the winds of change disrupt our internal and external balance, it’s easy to forget that our primary purpose is to love and embody love. Often, it feels nearly impossible when hostile forces with angry, loud voices thrive on spreading hatred and cloud our senses, appearing to succeed in extinguishing all that is good. All that is love.
Tantra is a profound philosophy and far more than an intellectual pursuit. It provides a framework and valuable strategies for fully engaging with life regardless of outer circumstances. "Tantra" can be confusing because sacred texts are called Tantra.
The teachings of this type of yoga, which I align with, originated in India around the 8th century BC, responding to prevailing political, social, cultural, and religious norms and unrest. This living system is frequently regarded as dynamic and enduring, primarily due to its continued relevance in contemporary society. Myths and stories of gods, goddesses, deities, and demons are intricately woven into the fabric of the lineage—though, depending on the school of thought, they may differ slightly in the telling. Like most myths, these tales convey profound universal themes and truths.
The Dark Night of the Soul
Imagine once again the deep conversation between the god Shiva and his consort Shakti as they explore the significance of the yoga of existence and the essence of the human heart. Even with the foundational understanding they offer, human life involves challenge and struggle—an unfortunate plunge into the underworld of darkness that comes before the rediscovery of light.
St. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Carmelite monk, is believed to have originated the term "the dark night of the soul." However, this agonizing descent and transformation has been a part of the human experience since the dawn of time.
Personally, we often experience this existential crisis when the rug has been pulled out from under us. Something significant hits you unaware, breaking your heart and usually your mind. Imagine that everything you know to be true shatters like broken glass, shards that slice through the illusion of what was once your life.
Collectively, everything we hold to be true about the world, what we value, and the bonds that connect our human family are at a breaking point.
The Bhagavad Gita—The Song of the Lord
This ancient scripture presents a renowned dialogue that unfolds on a battlefield between Krishna, the Lord, and the formidable warrior Arjuna, who finds himself in profound internal turmoil. Krishna explains to Arjuna the two available paths of yoga: the path of light that leads to liberation and the path of darkness that returns one to a shadowy realm of spiritual death and samsara.
As structures and systems falter, people around the world are plunged into darkness, searching for meaning. What once felt secure has vanished; solid ground now feels like quicksand, and sources of inspiration and motivation have dwindled or disappeared. Those of us in our later years also face the reality of aging bodies and their shifting capabilities. I wonder—how many times must we endure a dark night of the soul in a single lifetime?
It’s impossible to ignore the weight and heaviness many in our human family are experiencing. Challenging as it may seem, it is precisely now, during these difficult times, that we must search for illumination through a direct experience of love.
Returning to Love
With a tender kiss, Shiva acknowledged the moment his beloved Shakti embraced her divine agency and true self while understanding her purpose. With her beloved’s gentle encouragement, Shakti recognized the depth of her being—vast, boundless, and unshakable. Her love—indeed, love itself—moved like a great river, steady in its course, unstoppable in its force. The goddess graciously accepted her mission to touch the hearts of all beings and ignite the flame of indomitable love needed to dispel the darkness.
Shiva and Shakti’s intimate conversation reminds us to seek solace in the gift of the dark night of the soul and to remember that we are both the agents and co-creators of our joy and suffering. Their legacy is an open-ended invitation—no RSVP required—to seek refuge in our precious and fragile human hearts so that we can become ambassadors of love.
It might seem naive, if not improbable, to claim that love alleviates our global anxieties and collective existential dilemmas. However, what alternatives do we have? Fear and hatred are love turned inside out, like a shirt worn wrong, distorting its true essence. Our task is not just to turn our hearts right-side out but to reclaim their full power and purpose.
But how when we feel hopeless? Where do we begin when we think our one voice means nothing in the cacophony of noise? What do we do?
We return to love.
Whether you’re blue, red, or somewhere in between, I believe we all desire freedom. The issue causing a global crisis is that our definitions of freedom—and what it looks like and how to maintain it—vary significantly.
If you’re called to “do” something, to resist through your writing, march at a protest, or contact your senator to oppose what you believe are the barriers to freedom and equality for all, heed that call. And still, do so with love, for love is our most potent antidote.
Love is not separate from existence—it is the pulse of life itself. In the world's chaos, we can return to this knowing, surrendering to the intimacy of life’s unfolding.
Shiva and Shakti’s intimate conversation reminds us that love is the fire that transforms and creates. And it begins with each of us.
I urge you to ask yourself this question and act on it in the upcoming week: "How can I love more?”
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The Radiance Sutras is a poetic interpretation of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, a sacred text that offers spiritual practices for elevating consciousness. Sutra 99 highlights the role of loving, intimate relationships as a gateway to divine love. Footnote 1 reflects my interpretation of Sutra 99 from The Radiance Sutras by Lorin Roche, PhD.
Paulette, This is such a beautiful piece. I enjoyed learning the story of Shiva and Shakti and how power is nothing without love. As you point out, it can sound cliché to suggest that we return to love, but love is the essence of all spiritual traditions. This is the path through this dark night of the soul if we are willing to answer the question you pose and act in greater and greater love.
Love is always the answer, even now. A question to consider: how can I be a force of love during this divisive time? We should ponder this because it will bring us forward.