What is the "dark night of the soul"?

The "dark night of the soul" refers to a period of profound personal and spiritual crisis where one experiences a feeling of deep disconnection or lostness. This term can describe moments when you've exhausted all possible solutions and feel entirely bereft of guidance. In such states, a person might encounter a transformative breakthrough often assisted by a form of grace or divine intervention which helps them find a path forward. Anne Lamott describes her encounters with the dark night as times of intense struggle and vulnerability, which led her to pivotal changes in her life, such as embracing radical self-care and accepting external help to overcome personal crises 1 2 3 4.