Astrology & the dark night of the soul.

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Astrology and the dark night of the soul

By Fiona Aedgar 

The  dark night of the soul is a psychological and spiritual journey which  causes feelings of bleakness, disconnection, depression and  hopelessness. Activities and people that previously brought us joy no  longer make us happy. The life that we once lived feels restrictive and  uncomfortable, like a shrunken sweater. 

During  this process, we struggle to find happiness and fulfilment from  anything that was once familiar and comforting. If we were already  practicing spirituality before the dark night, we may lose faith and  feel abandoned by our Gods and ancestors and detached from former beliefs. 

We  may stop meditations, rituals or any spiritual contemplation because we  just think “what’s the point.” It’s important to realise that this process is temporary and many others have gone through this journey  before you. Just as they did, you will return to the light as a stronger  and wiser person than you were before. 

The  term “The dark night of the soul” comes from St John of the Cross, a  16thcentury mystic, but the process is described in many older  traditions as Gods’ or Goddesses’ journeys into the underworld. Odin  hanging on the tree, Inanna’s journey through the underworld and Jesus  in the desert are just some examples.

A dark night of the soul can be triggered by a traumatic event and we may experience more loss as we continue to descend into the dark, lonely  tunnel. This process could be more appropriately named the dark night of  the modern ego. Our souls are complete and free from earthly attachments. It  is the ego that is shattered during this process as we question our identities and our roles in the world. 

As  we reach the stage of the chrysalis, encased in a hard, protective,  shell, we feel the need to disengage with others. We may retreat into solitude and avoid communication as much as possible. Lacking energy and  feeling exhausted are common symptoms and we may sleep more than usual  as this provides us with periods of respite. We  find ourselves alone in the world with no help from others. We just can’t verbalise our emotional states and we feel that nobody will understand anyway. 

During  this time, it’s common to feel abandoned by family and friends. The  reason for this is that the dark night is our journey to empowerment and  we must take on this trial alone without any other human interference.  We may reject any offers of support and comfort from others as  attempting to articulate this experience is too taxing. 

Just as our tribal animals accompany us on a shamanic journey to the lower worlds, animals can be our greatest allies throughout this ordeal as  they offer unconditional love, expecting no words in return.    

As we grow and reconnect with ancestral wisdom, we no longer feel that we have anything in common with people who were a large part of our lives for years. We pine as we replay memories in our minds and wish for  everything to return to the good old days, but we can never go back.  The entrance to the past is closed and guarded by Griffins. Any attempt to return to the old life will be a wrong turn in the shadowy maze of  the underworld. The past is now a crumbling pile of ruins. 

As we descend further into the abyss, we detach ourselves from our old  identities and move towards a stronger connection to our souls and ancient wisdom. The ego is a part of the human experience and we should never seek to remove it,  but create a balance between our modern egos and identities, and our ancestry. In Astrology, this is symbolised by the Sun and the Moon. 

What  can we expect as we leave the nightside journey and emerge, bleeding  and dishevelled from the dark belly of the underworld and into the  light? Rebirth and illumination. Spiritual knowledge, wisdom and power.  Purpose in life and a new vision for the future. A greater sense of  fulfilment as we gain the ability to live authentically. Astrologically,  the descent is symbolised by the sign of Scorpio, leading to the  illumination and knowledge of Sagittarius. The process can take weeks, months or years. 

Scholars of Astrology  benefit from extra insight that the planets can provide. The sky contains the map of the underworld maze and moving in harmony with the  planets can guide us through the dark night of the soul more quickly and  with less suffering. 

Pluto transits are often involved in the dark night of the soul. One of the modern planets, it is connected to demons and darkness. Spiritual attacks are a strong possibility with this planet. 

 In 2020, humanity experienced a collective dark night of the soul and this was symbolised by Pluto’s conjunction to the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Hopelessness,  fear and despair were emotions that many people felt. Those of us who have already experienced personal dark nights of the soul  were less shaken by the year’s events. 

It's important to recognise that this age of darkness, or kali-yuga was predicted thousands of years ago. This is said to be the time when mankind has lost its connection to the Gods, nature, and everything that is good or pure.  Evil acts are venerated, while the few people with honour are said to be hunted in the streets like animals. 

It is the time when hoards of demons incarnate into human bodies to experience degeneracy. The kali-yuga is one period within the cosmic clock. There have been many other ages of darkness, each one precedes a golden age.   

Saturn within progressed and solar arc transits, planets moving into the sign of Scorpio and/or transits to the 8th house (P and SA) and solar returns can provide more clues to the nature of the DNOTS. 

The karmic North lunar node in the natal chart is hugely important in the  path of spiritual evolution as it holds the keys to new experiences and  outlooks. The gifts of the south node should not be rejected but used with the North Node. The South node represents skills developed through ancestry and "past lives" and is a comfort zone. Both of these areas can be a source of difficulty due to a lack of balance and obsessions with the qualities connected to the signs and houses that the Nodes are in. 

12th house transits are commonly experienced in the dark night. The 12th house is a place of isolation. Some creatures that dwell in this space are frightening and symbolise the unhealed parts of the psyche. However, the 12th house is where the Gods and ancestors can speak to us, if we listen. 

Neptune is a planet of the kali-yuga and symbolises isolation, deception, illusions and the toxicity of modern life. Neptune is connected to Abrahamic religions and beliefs, including the new age. Escaping spells of delusion can make a person feel that they are in a dark night of the soul. 

Working through these transits will result in the native's rose tinted glasses falling off, which is necessary to become a sovereign and authentic human. It is similar to the movie "The Matrix." The real world is profoundly less glamorous but it is made from truth.   

A  mistake commonly made during the dark night is to seek comfort through  fantasy and unhealthy escapism such as drugs, alcohol, porn, affairs, new age and abrahamic religions. This only prolongs and worsens the experience.  Interference and attacks from entities will encourage these unhealthy activities as the beings feed off negative energies and have an invested  interest in keeping the person in a weak state. 

At times a person experiencing their dark night may contemplate suicide  and this is a mistake as the weakness will have to be resolved in the next lifetime with the wound passed on to descendants.  

The returns of Saturn, and difficult aspects from the planet to the natal,  progressed and solar arc charts are common in this experience. Saturn, the wise Grandfather of the sky, is connected to karma and his hard lessons can feel bleak, isolating and  joyless, but successfully navigating these periods leads to greater wisdom and knowledge, creating a much more fulfilling life. 

Mars and Mercury retrogrades, both by transit and in the progressed chart, might potentially be dark night periods. Aspects from the solar arc chart to the natal will also symbolise life events, positive and negative. 

Working  with the “Chironic arts” as I’ve coined them – Astrology, natural healing, music  – can provide relief and guidance during  troubled times. Native Gods and blood ancestors should be approached for guidance. New age astrologers and gurus should be completely avoided.  Ancestral astrology can be a massive help with the identification of ancestral wounds. 

The breakthrough period of enlightenment that comes after the dark night is symbolised by the planets Jupiter and Saturn, progressed Sun, Moon or ascendant and other planets or transits within the progressed and solar arc motions, in particular the 9th house. 

Jupiter gives us a vision for the future, following the path of the arrow that shoots through the sky leads to a sense of  purpose and direction. The Sun and Moon make us feel whole. 

9th house natal and progressed transits can symbolise this period. 

Saturn brings us truth, stability and a strong moral code, or honour. Saturn is strength and willpower. 

There  are many other Astrological movements which may be involved in a dark night of the soul and checking your own personal transits regularly, or hiring an astrologer to do so,  will help you to identify upcoming periods of strife and provide you with  the comfort of knowing when these cycles will end.   

 Copyright © Fiona Aedgar 2020