Even though it may not always be obvious, it does seem that the universe is geared towards growth and self-unfoldment. People learn and grow from life experiences in the everyday world. Some of these experiences are pleasant and others not so much.
Sometimes a sudden life-changing experience, usually involving extreme trauma, fear, humiliation or loss could totally flatten you and you could feel devastated, shattered, empty and alone. In spiritual terms, this time is sometimes called the ‘dark night of the soul’, a period in which you are put in such a difficult position that you have to re-evaluate your life, your relationship with the world, your purpose and re-discover what is truly important.
This ‘dark night’ can come in the form of the death of a spouse or close family member, the end of a marriage or long-term relationship, a loss of work or career or a traumatic experience such as a violent physical attack, injury or a debilitating accident.
What you have previously believed about the world will often no longer make sense in the light of what has happened, and you may even experience a crisis of spiritual faith. You may be forced to abandon many of your outdated beliefs and ideas, and feel lost, until you are left only with an empty shell full of pain and despair. Sometimes people get lost in the intensity of this experience and struggle for many years to recover. Some never do, and that is the saddest part of all.
However, there is hope. The reasons, lessons and meaning in this dark night of the soul may come later with hindsight, especially if you are able to recognise it for what it is, a process of letting go, a time of cleansing, being forced to take a new path in life, or simply an opportunity to see what is truly important.
Obviously, it is still necessary for you to work through the painful thoughts and feelings that come with this experience, and for a while you will be mentally, emotionally and spiritually vulnerable and naked. However, if you can stand up again, your slate will be clean and you will once again be ready to face life, but this time with a new outlook, a deeper understanding and a hard-earned resilience and maturity.