Saturday: Dark Night of the Soul

Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

Sometimes it seems that the problems in life continue without end. It can be like we are caught in a hell that cannot be escaped. Some people even seem to be covered by a dark cloud of troubles that seems to go on for years. It could be poverty. It could be illness. It could be circumstances that seem totally beyond our control. However, time shows that for most of us these times do pass.

When we are in a state of suffering due to the realities of the pain of life, it is hard to reach out to others. That is when friends take on the role of angels. Even if you are a stranger, you can still be a spiritual friend to someone in need of love and support. Many times we cannot afford to give money to solve problems of another but we can give love and belief that the person will find an answer. If all that you can do is listen, then this is an awesome gift of love. If the person suffering is unable to communicate - which can happen at the darkest hours of the night of the soul - then prayers to the divine and affirming belief in a miracle will help on a spiritual level to empower the friend to hang in there till times shift and change and the winds of joy return.

If you are in a state of pain and suffering, it is often hard to focus on hope. However, you can focus on distracting your mind from suffering. This could be done through meditation. It could also be done by doing something that gives you pleasure such as communing with nature or helping another person. The best way to get past the current state of suffering is to attend to the needs of another. When you focus on your own pain, you actually increase it and give it power. Take a moment and ask the divine to give you guidance to solve the issues that exist in your life right now. Accept that you will receive the divine support that you need.

Recognize that this is a transient moment in your life even though it may seem to continue longer than you think you can stand. Try to focus on how the bad times in the past did change; do not focus on the bad that happened but on the good that did come to you. A miracle is as close as your acceptance to believe that your higher good will manifest.

Let Go! Let Good come into your life!