Chapter 8

1. The dark night contains two kinds of darkness - sense and spirit

2. The night of the sense is relatively common the night of the spirit is very rare

3. The night of the senses is “bitter and devastating” “the night of the spirit is horrendous and terrifying.”

4. Souls entering the night of the sense have been involved in spiritual practice for some time and to good effect.  They have tasted sweetness and spiritual delight. They can endure light hardship and aridity without giving up on God.

5. Then God suddenly darkens all their light

6. Their old spiritual practices become “tasteless and bitter.”

7. God is “weaning them from dependency on the breast so that they can become strong.”

8. “A transformation of desire is essential to enter the blessed night of desire.”