The Dark Night of the Soul – The "Secret Ladder" to Transformation

Are you experiencing a season of profound emptiness, spiritual dryness, or a "dark night of the soul"? In this video, we explore the deep mystical roots and psychological power of St. John of the Cross’s 16th-century masterpiece to discover why the darkness is often a "secret ladder" to transformation. "The Dark Night of the Soul" is more than just a buzzword for a bad day—it is a profound mystical odyssey involving a sacred stripping away of the ego to forge a union with the infinite. We journey from a 1577 monastery cell in Toledo to modern-day psychology labs to understand how this "divine detox" works. We break down the two "nights"—the night of the senses and the night of the spirit—and examine how scholars and psychologists like Jung and Frankl view this crisis as a necessary stage for human depth and resilience. 0:00 – What is the Dark Night of the Soul? 1:30 – St. John of the Cross: Origins of the Poem 3:15 – The "Secret Ladder" and the Night of the Senses 5:00 – Purgation: A Divine Detox (Not a Pitfall) 7:30 – Psychology vs. Spirituality: Jung, Frankl, and McGrath 11:00 – Conclusion: Shadows as Stepping Stones If this video helped you find meaning in your shadows, please SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into mysticism and personal growth. Reflect: What is one line from the poem that lingers for you? Drop it in the comments below! [References & Further Reading] Olk, M. Dolores. (1980). Marquette University Thesis. Odorisio, David. (1994). Transactional Analysis Journal. McGrath. (2007). Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. #DarkNightOfTheSoul #Spirituality #StJohnOfTheCross [Connect with the Bad Dad Universe]: