The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth

The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth
by Gerald G. May

The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth
List Price: $14.99
Our Price: $8.62
You Save: $6.37 (42%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Gerald G. May
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-02-01
ISBN: 0060750553
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: HarperOne
Product features:

Book Reviews of The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth

Book Review: A Pleasant Surprise
Summary: 5 Stars

I was intrigued when I first saw this book. However, I almost immediately decided it sounded a bit too "new-agey". Thus is was with some hesitation that I began reading it, but any hesitation soon turned into pleasant surprise. Gerald May brings to life the both Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. He explains their concept of the dark night of the soul, both what it means and how it is manifested in the life of each person. The mystical experiences which John and Teresa write about are not seen by May as the exalted visions of great saints, but rather as the approach which each of us follows in our own lives. The more we are open to it, the more fruit it will bear but all of us are essentially on the same journey. I particularly appreciated May's thoughts on the relationship between the "dark night" and various psychological problems. I wish he had spent more time developing this section.

Summary of The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth

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.

General Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Psychological Alchemy- Nigredo
Psychology and Alchemy (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.12) ImagePsychology and Alchemy (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.12)
by C. G. Jung
Princeton University Press; Published: 1980-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.84
Price in other shops: $29.95
Dark Night of the Soul ImageDark Night of the Soul
by St. John of the Cross
Baronius Press; Published: 2006-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.14
Price in other shops: $11.95
The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth ImageThe Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth
by Gerald G. May
HarperOne; Published: 2005-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.58
Price in other shops: $14.99
Persephone Unveiled: Seeing the Goddess and Freeing Your Soul ImagePersephone Unveiled: Seeing the Goddess and Freeing Your Soul
by Charles Stein
North Atlantic Books; Published: 2006-06-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops: $17.95
Persephone Returns: Victims, Heroes and the Journey from the Underworld ImagePersephone Returns: Victims, Heroes and the Journey from the Underworld
by Tanya Wilkinson
PageMill Press; Published: 1996-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $16.95
The Black Sun: The Alchemy and Art of Darkness (Carolyn and Ernest Fay Series in Analytical Psychology) ImageThe Black Sun: The Alchemy and Art of Darkness (Carolyn and Ernest Fay Series in Analytical Psychology)
by Stanton Marlan
Texas A&M University Press; Published: 2008-08-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.66
Price in other shops: $19.95
Pregnant Darkness: Alchemy and the Rebirth of Consciousness ImagePregnant Darkness: Alchemy and the Rebirth of Consciousness
by Monika Wikman
Nicolas-Hays; Published: 2004-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.88
Price in other shops: $18.95
Similar Books and other products
Sacred Tree: Reflections on Native American Spirituality ImageSacred Tree: Reflections on Native American Spirituality
by Judie Bopp
Lotus Press; Published: 1984-01-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.87
Price in other shops: $10.95
Ordinary People As Monks & Mystics: Lifestyles for Spiritual Wholeness ImageOrdinary People As Monks & Mystics: Lifestyles for Spiritual Wholeness
by Marsha Sinetar
Paulist Press; Published: 2007-05-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.77
Price in other shops: $14.95
Simply Sane: The Spirituality of Mental Health ImageSimply Sane: The Spirituality of Mental Health
by Gerald May MD
The Crossroad Publishing Company; Published: 1993-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops: $19.95
Modern Psychology and Ancient Wisdom: Psychological Healing Practices from the World's Religious Traditions ImageModern Psychology and Ancient Wisdom: Psychological Healing Practices from the World's Religious Traditions
by Neil Douglas-Klotz, Dwight Judy, Sheldon Kramer, Stephen G. Gilligan
Routledge; Published: 2003-01-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $43.66
Price in other shops: $49.95
Gifts of the Spirit: Living the Wisdom of the Great Religious Traditions ImageGifts of the Spirit: Living the Wisdom of the Great Religious Traditions
by Philip Zaleski, Paul Kaufman
HarperOne; Published: 1998-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.73
Price in other shops: $18.00
Care of Mind/Care of Spirit ImageCare of Mind/ Care of Spirit
by Gerald G. May
HarperOne; Published: 1992-05-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.47
Price in other shops: $14.99
Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions (Plus) ImageAddiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions (Plus)
by Gerald G. May
HarperOne; Published: 2007-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.68
Price in other shops: $14.99
The Wisdom of Wilderness: Experiencing the Healing Power of Nature ImageThe Wisdom of Wilderness: Experiencing the Healing Power of Nature
by Gerald G. May
HarperOne; Published: 2007-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.94
Price in other shops: $13.99
Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology ImageWill and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology
by Gerald G. May
HarperOne; Published: 1987-06-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.55
Price in other shops: $22.00
The Awakened Heart ImageThe Awakened Heart
by Gerald G. May
HarperOne; Published: 1993-04-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.75
Price in other shops: $16.99
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories