When the Light is Hidden: Spiritual Wisdom for Times of Darkness

There are moments in life when the light feels far away—when clarity slips through our fingers, and the world seems cloaked in shadow. These are the times we might call “dark nights of the soul”—times of grief, loss, uncertainty, or spiritual dryness.

But what if darkness isn’t just something to endure or escape? What if, hidden within it, is a sacred invitation to grow, to see differently, to awaken?

Let’s explore how spiritual wisdom across traditions can guide us when the light is hidden—and how these shadowy seasons might, paradoxically, become the ground for deeper illumination.

Darkness Is Not the Opposite of Light

In many spiritual traditions, darkness isn’t framed as evil or bad—it’s seen as fertile, mysterious, and necessary. Think of seeds planted in the soil. They grow not in daylight but in darkness, slowly, invisibly, until they break the surface.

The Christian mystic John of the Cross called it la noche oscura del alma—the dark night of the soul. Not a punishment, but a passage. A deep spiritual reorientation where all that once brought comfort no longer satisfies, forcing the soul to seek something deeper and more real.

In Taoist philosophy, yin (darkness, stillness, rest) is not lesser than yang (light, activity, motion)—it’s a complementary force. Together they form the whole. Day and night, inhale and exhale, bloom and retreat. The cycle is sacred.

If you’re in a dark time now, know this: you’re not broken. You’re being asked to trust the process of spiritual becoming, even when the map is unreadable and the path unlit.

Stop Searching for the Light—Be With the Darkness

Our natural impulse is to “fix” the darkness. We reach for distraction, affirmation, productivity. Anything to avoid feeling lost or low. But spiritual wisdom invites us to do the opposite: to be present with what is.

Meditation, contemplation, and breathwork can help here. Not to make the darkness go away, but to create a container where we can feel and observe it safely. You might sit with the grief. Name the fear. Feel the fatigue without judgement. That’s not passivity—it’s profound courage.

When we stop running from the darkness, we begin to hear its teachings.

Ask yourself gently:

• What is this season asking me to release?

• Where am I being asked to surrender control?

• What truth have I been avoiding?

You may not get answers right away. But simply holding the questions with honesty opens a door.

Let Ancient Wisdom Light the Way

You’re not the first to feel like the light has disappeared. Across centuries, mystics, sages, and seekers have walked this path—and left luminous wisdom behind.

The Desert Fathers and Mothers in early Christianity retreated into the wilderness to face inner darkness. Their practice wasn’t about escape but transformation. Silence, simplicity, and solitude were tools for encountering the divine in desolation.

The Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree and faced Mara, the tempter, with unwavering stillness. Liberation came not from fleeing fear, but from looking directly into it.

Julian of Norwich, a 14th-century anchoress, lived through the Black Death and personal illness, yet emerged with a vision of hope: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”

Each of these stories reminds us: light often returns through the cracks made by darkness.

Practices for Finding the Hidden Light

Here are a few simple spiritual practices you can try when you feel lost in the dark:

1. Daily Stillness
Sit in silence each morning or evening, even for five minutes. Let the stillness hold you. You don’t need to “do” anything—just be.

2. Journalling Your Inner Weather
Each day, write down how your soul feels—foggy, flat, raw, tender. Treat it like a weather report. No judgement. Just naming what’s true can bring surprising clarity.

3. Breath of Compassion
When the heart feels heavy, place a hand on your chest. Breathe in gently, and on the exhale, imagine sending kindness to yourself. You are not failing. You are unfolding.

4. Read the Mystics
Choose one voice of wisdom to sit with—perhaps Rumi, Hildegard of Bingen, or Thomas Merton. Let their words be your companions.

5. Light a Candle at Dusk
Symbolic acts matter. Lighting a candle at dusk can be a reminder that even a small flame holds meaning. You don’t need to feel it to honour it.

Trust That This Season Has Purpose

When the light is hidden, it’s tempting to believe we’ve done something wrong. But spiritual darkness is often a sign that your soul is expanding beyond old frameworks.

You’re growing roots, even if you can’t see them.

Sometimes, what feels like losing your way is actually a deeper homecoming. A reorientation from ego to essence, from external approval to inner truth.

If you’re walking through darkness now, you’re not alone. Many others are journeying alongside you, quietly holding lanterns of faith, trust, and presence.

Let this be your reminder:
The light is never truly gone.
It waits within you, quiet and eternal—
ready to rise again
when the time is right.

And when it does, it will be a deeper, wiser, more enduring light than the one you lost.

Final Thoughts

Spiritual darkness isn’t something to conquer—it’s something to befriend. When the light is hidden, we’re invited into the mystery. Into slowness, honesty, and transformation.

Let yourself be shaped by it.

In time, the dawn will come—not because you forced it, but because you let the night speak.

Extra Resources

You might find this post interesting: The Dark Night of the Soul

Ready to find your inner calm? Go here to start your journey.

Why not treat yourself to a Mindfulness Retreat or a Meditation Retreat in the beautiful Devon countryside?

Best Wishes,

David.

© D. R. Durham, All rights reserved, 2025.