Or night of the dark soul as I mistakenly thought it was entitled for some time. What’s it all about? Believed to be coined originally by John of the Cross, a Spanish priest who lived in the 1500s. He penned a poem, or some say prayer, about a spiritual crisis that led to a loss of the ego and transformation as a result. My experience of a ‘dark night of the soul’ has happened twice I would say in the last five years. Most recently then standing down from a promoted leadership role in my school. Before that on the conclusion of a somewhat tumultuous and anxiety-inducing relationship with someone with narcissistic tendencies.