ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to define what is meant by the terms "Dark Night of the Soul" and "depression", and to identify indicators that may help us to recognise the few conditions. Nelson's view that "The dark night is really a normal process, whereas most people consider depression to be an abnormal condition". In their writings, both St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila use the word "dark" in the sense of "obscure". A dark night experience is perhaps mainly about letting go of our attachments in order that our relationship with God can develop in new and liberating ways. Perhaps one of the most vivid descriptions of the serious and potentially life-threatening effects of clinical depression can be found in the opening words of Darkness Visible by William Styron. Moore states: "Depression is a psychological sickness, a dark night is a spiritual trial".
