Excerpt from The Dark Night of the Soul This is the doctrine of the Kabbala, the kiss of love in which in an excess of rapture, the soul is united with God. This is the treasure revealed by Plotinus - the great and noble man - not his doctrine only, for Truth is mightier than scientific theorizing -but his Knowledge and his message to the world. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Every human life is made up of the light and the dark, the happy and the sad, the vital and the deadening. How you think about this rhythm of moods makes all the difference. Our lives are filled with emotional tunnels: the loss of a loved one or end of a relationship, aging and illness, career disappointments or just an ongoing sense of dissatisfaction with life. Society tends to view these “dark nights” in clinical terms as obstacles to be overcome as quickly as possible. But Moore shows how honoring these periods of fragility as periods of incubation and positive opportunities to delve the soul’s deepest needs can provide healing and a new understanding of life’s meaning. Dark Nights of the Soul presents these metaphoric dark nights not as the enemy, but as times of transition, occasions to restore yourself, and transforming rites of passage, revealing an uplifting and inspiring new outlook on such topics as: • The healing power of melancholy • The sexual dark night and the mysteries of matrimony • Finding solace during illness and in aging • Anxiety, anger, and temporary Insanities • Linking creativity, spirituality, and emotional struggles • Finding meaning and beauty in the darkness

All Christians experience dark nights times when everything seems to be going wrong with them. Some wallow in despair, others learn in darkness. St. John explains the four benefits of the dark night: 1. Delight of peace. 2. Habitual remembrance and thought of God. 3. Cleanness and purity of soul. Practice of the virtues. 4. Practice of the virtues

Now in paperback: a distinguished psychiatrist, spiritual counsellor and bestselling author shows how the dark sides of the spiritual life are a vital ingredient in deep, authentic, healthy spirituality. Gerald G. May, MD, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark 'shadow' side of the true spiritual life has been trivialised and neglected to our serious detriment. Superficial and naively upbeat spirituality does not heal and enrich the soul. Nor does the other tendency to relegate deep spiritual growth to only mystics and saints. Only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what Christian spirituality has called and described in helpful detail as 'the dark night of the soul' can lead to true spiritual wholeness. May emphasises that the dark night is not necessarily a time of suffering and near despair, but a time of deep transition, a search for new orientation when things are clouded and full of mystery. The dark gives depth, dimension and fullness to the spiritual life.

Perfect for taking the next step toward a truly fruitful Lent, and ideal all year round at home, before Mass, or combined with our other devotions, Meditations on the Passion and Death of Christ, packs huge spiritual rewards into short, manageable meditations.

Excerpt from The Dark Night of the Soul, a Spiritual Canticle, and the Living Flame of Love, of Saint John of the Cross, of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel The meaning of 'disguised.' The colours in which the soul dis guises, itself in this night 139vl contents. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Here Mr. Hall interprets an extraordinary work by St. John of the Cross. Written over three hundred years ago, it deals with Christian symbolism on a mystical level. Its early insights are invaluable for modern man's continuing growth.