--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: (The dark night of the spirit) is more a…" description: "\"“(The dark night of the spirit) is more a deep and ongoing process of unknowing that involves the loss of habitual experience. This includes, at differ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/gerald-may-27216_dark_the-dark-night-of-the-spirit-is-more-a-d_2070918.png" --- # (The dark night of the spirit) is more a deep and ongoing… ![“(The dark night of the spirit) is more a deep and ongoing process of unknowing that involves the loss of habitual experience. This includes, at different times and in different ways, loss of attachment to sensate gratification and to usual aspirations and motivations, loss of previously construed…” quote by Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/gerald-may-27216_dark_the-dark-night-of-the-spirit-is-more-a-d_2070918.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/gerald-may-27216_dark_the-dark-night-of-the-spirit-is-more-a-d_2070918.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/gerald-may-27216_dark_the-dark-night-of-the-spirit-is-more-a-d_2070918.png) > ““(The dark night of the spirit) is more a deep and ongoing process of unknowing that involves the loss of habitual experience. This includes, at different times and in different ways, loss of attachment to sensate gratification and to usual aspirations and motivations, loss of previously construed faith-understandings, and loss of God-images. Accompanying this, of course, are loss of self-image/importance and of preconceptions about one’s own identity.”” [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual crisis involves losing familiar comforts and identities, leading to profound uncertainty and the dissolution of egoic attachments. **In simple terms:** Spiritual crisis strips away familiar comforts and identity. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty as a path to deeper insight. Themes spiritual crisis loss uncertainty Mood reflective somber introspective Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - midlife transition - grief - religious doubt - creative block Key Concepts ego dissolution ontological questioning faith deconstruction Questions to Reflect On - What comforts are you clinging to? - How can loss become a catalyst for growth? A Different Perspective Such loss can cause despair if not balanced with support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-night/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“There may come a time when you believe you have reached the end of the road in the darkest night. That will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/there-may-come-a-time-when-you-believe-you-have-reached-the-end-of/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [ I was interested in \[Hunter S. Thompson novels\]. The rebel in me fell in love with it, and the artist in me was confused… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/i-was-interested-in-hunter-s-thompson-novels-the-rebel-in-me-fell-in/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [I get inspired at different times and in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-springfield/i-get-inspired-at-different-times-and-in-different-ways/) [Rick Springfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-springfield/) > [Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night I can see paradise by the dashboard light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/though-it-s-cold-and-lonely-in-the-deep-dark-night-i-can-see-paradise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-dark-night-of-fascism-is-always-descending-in-the-united-states/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [A swift carriage, of a dark night, rattling with four horses over roads that one can’t see--that’s my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/a-swift-carriage-of-a-dark-night-rattling-with-four-horses-over-roads/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [“...the important questions are answered by not liking only but disliking and accepting equally what one likes and dislikes. Otherwise there is no access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/the-important-questions-are-answered-by-not-liking-only-but-disliking/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [One thing is certain, whatever choices we make: we will not miss out on some critical purgation by seeking treatment for depression or any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-farrington/one-thing-is-certain-whatever-choices-we-make-we-will-not-miss-out-on/) [Tim Farrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-farrington/) > [“Sitting outside on a dark night, under the stars, invites confidences amongst people of all ages, and all walks of life. It invokes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-shepherd/sitting-outside-on-a-dark-night-under-the-stars-invites-confidences/) [A.B. Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-shepherd/) > [“Look at all the resources around you before you make a decision. Look for ways to make your environment work for you. The solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-d-sutherland/look-at-all-the-resources-around-you-before-you-make-a-decision-look/) [C.D. SUTHERLAND](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-d-sutherland/) > [“Too often on such occasions one feels, as I feel so strongly with regard to poor old Stilton, that the kindly thing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/too-often-on-such-occasions-one-feels-as-i-feel-so-strongly-with/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [Maine out of season is unmistakably a great destination: hospitable, good-humored, plenty of elbow room, short days, dark nights of crackling ice crystals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/maine-out-of-season-is-unmistakably-a-great-destination-hospitable/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/faith-is-a-dark-night-for-man-but-in-this-very-way-it-gives-him-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) ## More by Gerald May > [But love's true nature remains forever beyond the grasp of all our faculties. It is far greater than any feeling or emotion and completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/but-love-s-true-nature-remains-forever-beyond-the-grasp-of-all-our/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Addiction is not something we can simply take care of by applying the proper remedy. For it is in the very nature of addiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/addiction-is-not-something-we-can-simply-take-care-of-by-applying-the/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Grief is neither a disorder nor a healing process; it is a sign of health itself, a whole and natural gesture of love. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/grief-is-neither-a-disorder-nor-a-healing-process-it-is-a-sign-of/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [When the desire is too much to bear, we often bury it beneath frenzied thoughts and activities or escape it by dulling our immediate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/when-the-desire-is-too-much-to-bear-we-often-bury-it-beneath-frenzied/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Love's true nature remains forever beyond the grasp of all our faculties. It is far greater than any feeling or emotion and completely surpasses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/love-s-true-nature-remains-forever-beyond-the-grasp-of-all-our/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Mysterious as it may be, there is something wonderful at the heart of our existence, and it is about nothing other than love; love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/mysterious-as-it-may-be-there-is-something-wonderful-at-the-heart-of/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [In every feeling, look deeply. Explore without ceasing. At bottom, love is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/in-every-feeling-look-deeply-explore-without-ceasing-at-bottom-love-is/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Willfulness must give way to willingness and surrender. Mastery must yield to mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/willfulness-must-give-way-to-willingness-and-surrender-mastery-must/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Peace is not something you can force on anything or anyone... much less upon one's own mind. It is like trying to quiet the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/peace-is-not-something-you-can-force-on-anything-or-anyone-much-less/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [The difference between work and play is only a matter of attitude. Work, fully done, is play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/the-difference-between-work-and-play-is-only-a-matter-of-attitude/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/to-be-alive-is-to-be-addicted-and-to-be-alive-and-addicted-is-to/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [I would prefer a thousand mistakes in extravagance of love to any paralysis in wariness of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/i-would-prefer-a-thousand-mistakes-in-extravagance-of-love-to-any/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Seek the truth, not what is comfortable. Seek the real, not the easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/seek-the-truth-not-what-is-comfortable-seek-the-real-not-the-easy/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [True growth is a process which one allows to happen rather than causes to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/true-growth-is-a-process-which-one-allows-to-happen-rather-than/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [Blessings sometimes come through brokenness that could never come in any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/blessings-sometimes-come-through-brokenness-that-could-never-come-in/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) [Explore all 21 Gerald May quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) ## More Dark quotes > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [“I could see her will leaving and death seeping through her skin to skewer her soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-stroube/i-could-see-her-will-leaving-and-death-seeping-through-her-skin-to/) [J.D. Stroube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-stroube/) > [The soul wanders in the dark, until it finds love. And so, wherever our love goes, there we find our soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-zimmerman/the-soul-wanders-in-the-dark-until-it-finds-love-and-so-wherever-our/) [Mary Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-zimmerman/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [All comedy comes from a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/all-comedy-comes-from-a-dark-place/) [Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“what do you call/that space between the dark geographies of sex?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethaway/what-do-you-call-that-space-between-the-dark-geographies-of-sex/) Natasha Trethaway > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) Nicole Gentile > [Even in the dark your shadow is like a guide to me! you are my rising sun that brings forth hope just as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkemjika-linus/even-in-the-dark-your-shadow-is-like-a-guide-to-me-you-are-my-rising/) [Nkemjika Linus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkemjika-linus/) [Browse all 10,198 Dark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“(The dark night of the spirit) is more a deep and ongoing process of unknowing that involves the loss of habitual experience. This includes, at different times and in different ways, loss of attachment to sensate gratification and to usual aspirations and motivations, loss of previously construed faith-understandings, and loss of God-images. 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