Thomas Moore on Dark Nights of the Soul

I have just finished reading this most beautiful book by Thomas Moore, former monk and now a career psychotherapist in private practice, and am still digesting its deep and human wisdom. He writes lucidly and profundly about how to find meaning from within the challenges that life presents to us. But while my soul's gastric juices are doing their hidden cud-chewing work, I wanted to share some lines from his final chapter. Here goes:

"I realize that I am far out of step with the times in recommending numinosity rather than health as a goal. Ours is still a therapeutic society that values the removal of symptoms over the soul's sparkle and shine. But just as the unicorn's horn was valued for its inspiring beauty and yet guaranteed health and beauty, so letting your spark light up a dark and dangerous world is a way of healing both you and your world.

"Nothing could be more precious, then, than a dark night of the soul, the very darkness of which allows your lunar light to shine. It may be painful, discouraging, and challenging, but it is nevertheless an important revelation of what your life is about. In that darkness you see things you couldn't see in the daylight. Skills and powers of soul emerge from your frustration and ignorance. The seeds of spiritual faith, perhaps your only recourse but certainly a valuable power, are found in your darkness. The other half of who you are comes into view, and through the dark night you are completed.

"You become the wounded healer, someone who has made the descent and knows the territory. You take on a depth of color and range of feeling. Your intelligence is now more deeply rooted and not dependent only on facts and reason. Your darkness has given you character and color and capacity. You are now free to make a real contribution. It is a gift of your dark night of the soul!"

There is much blessing in these words for me, and in the rest of this life-affirming book from a lifelong student of the human soul. We cannot avoid suffering but we can try to transform it into something healing and humane.

You can find the book here.

Happy 2013

Instead of a raft of resolutions, just choose one habit to change in 2013. If you're giving up something you really love (tobacco, alcohol or caffeine, for example) then you will probably lack focus for anything else. If you're determining to be kinder or more compassionate, or less confrontational, or a better listener, that will be just as difficult as giving up a chemical. Hour by hour, day by day, inhale, exhale, that's the way.

Or, if you're determined to have more than one resolution, then leave the second one until February, and the third one till March. Have some compassion for your mortal frame, as the good book says. And always start with the end in mind. You might not reach it, but you won't be aimless.

Peace and fire!