The Spiritual Journey -
Dark Night of the Soul
The dark night of the soul is a stage in spiritual development where a significant transition takes place. In this phase, one’s sense of identity is stripped away. This loss of identity is experienced as a loss of loved ones, status, a job, or other forms of material wealth.
This project is comprised of images that illustrate my recent experience walking through such a dark night - and coming out the other side to embrace a new way of creatively expressing myself through photography. The fire and being ‘in the belly of the dragon’ are metaphors for the burning away of a false sense of self. This phase of the journey, by its nature, is a solitary one. I face this night alone and find the courage to move forward, even when I cannot see where I am going.
And one day surrender comes - I develop a deeper sense of who I am, and the storm begins to clear. And I no longer feel alone. I realize that I am accompanied by fellow travelers who have themselves traversed the darkness and come out the other side. I begin to feel I am in the flow of life again.
 Entering the Mystery
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Entering the Mystery
Darkness begins to fall - I sense that the night is creeping up to engulf me.
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 Swept into the Vortex
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Swept into the Vortex
I am inexorably pulled down into a deep, dark well against my will. Resistance is futile.
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 Dragon's Breath
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Dragon's Breath
This place smells like fear. I think of fire and brimstone - am I in hell?
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 Crossing the Valley of Fire
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Crossing the Valley of Fire
I now know there is just one way out of here - I must enter the fire before me. I do not know how I can possibly survive this. Every step is fraught with uncertainty. But I have no choice except to move forward - one step at a time.
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 Breaking Storm
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Breaking Storm
I now surrender to the process and let go of the old sense of self. I am not yet sure who I am becoming but there is now light ahead that beckons me.
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 Quenching Waters
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Quenching Waters
The fire is behind me now. I have made it through. A sense of liberation arises in me as I drink in the cool, clear waters of life. Healing has begun.
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 Gathering of Souls
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Gathering of Souls
As I leave the darkness behind and emerge into the light, I sense that I am not alone. I awaken to the realization that we are all on this journey together. I find myself in the midst of a gathering of souls preparing, like me, for flight.
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 The Divine Flow of Life
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The Divine Flow of Life
I once again join in the divine and joyous flow of life with a renewed sense of who I really am. And the next phase of my journey begins.
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