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Dealing with depression - suicidal thoughts - Join the conversation (including helpline details)

Think I am going through what is termed as the dark night of the soul, just interested if anyone has experienced it. Also would like to know if anyone is interested in Non duality as I have become quite interested in it my self.

Only just logged on, so missed your post; not sure that I have fully understood your post.

What is it that you are describing as the 'dark night of the soul'?

None Duality isn't a word that normally swims in my limited vocabulary but if you are referring to us all as having roots within the creator from whence we are made it sounds a little like some of the teachings of the ancient cabbalist and perhaps even some Christian mystics.
 

teslacoils

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincolnshire
A dark night of the soul could be described as a moment preceding the revelation of one's true self. It's a shattering; a loss; a darkness where what you previously held to be true about yourself or your place or purpose in the world disintegrates to nothingness and all about becomes black or shrouded. The only light shining is that of your soul into which you plunge or turn. It's often the preceding point to a great revelation or beginning of the true path, where all your previous notions are cataclysmically destroyed before glorious rebirth.

It's supposed to be a quiet and empty place preceding a wonderous discovery of true meaning.
 

Farmer Roy

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
NSW, Newstralya
Has this been posted before?, it's the sentiment not the detail. Sons pal, about 22, you know the rest.

His cattle didn’t get a bid, they were fairly bloody poor,
What was he going to do? He couldn’t feed them anymore,
The dams were all but dry, hay was thirteen bucks a bale,
Last month’s talk of rain was just a fairytale,
His credit had run out, no chance to pay what’s owed,
Bad thoughts ran through his head as he drove down Gully Road.

“Geez, great grandad bought the place back in 1898,
“Now I’m such a useless barsteward, I’ll have to shut the gate.
“Can’t support my wife and kids, not like dad and those before,
“Crikey, Grandma kept it going while Pop fought in the war.”
With depression now his master, he abandoned what was right,
There’s no place in life for failures, he’d end it all tonight.

There were still some things to do, he’d have to shoot the cattle first,
Of all the jobs he’d ever done, that would be the worst.
He’d have a shower, watch the news, then they’d all sit down for tea
Read his kids a bedtime story, watch some more TV,
Kiss his wife goodnight, say he was off to shoot some roos
Then in a paddock far away he’d blow away the blues.

But he drove in the gate and stopped – as he always had
To check the roadside mailbox – and found a letter from his Dad.
Now his dad was not a writer, Mum did all the cards and mail
But he knew the writing from the notebooks that he’d kept from cattle sales,
He sensed the nature of its contents, felt moisture in his eyes,
Just the fact his dad had written was enough to make him cry.

“Son, I know it’s bloody tough, it’s a cruel and twisted game,
“This life upon the land when you’re screaming out for rain,
“There’s no candle in the darkness, not a single speck of light
“But don’t let the demon get you, you have to do what’s right,
“I don’t know what’s in your head but push the bad thoughts well away
“See, you’ll always have your family at the back end of the day

“You have to talk to someone, and yes I know I rarely did
“But you have to think about Fiona and think about the kids.
“I’m worried about you son, you haven’t rung for quite a while,
“I know the road you’re on ‘cause I’ve walked every bloody mile.
“The date? December 7 back in 1983,
“Behind the shed I had the shotgun rested in the brigalow tree.

“See, I’d borrowed way too much to buy the Johnson place
“Then it didn’t rain for years and we got bombed by interest rates,
“The bank was at the door, I didn’t think I had a choice,
“I began to squeeze the trigger – that’s when I heard your voice.
“You said ‘Where are you Daddy? It’s time to play our game’
“’ I’ve got Squatter all set up, we might get General Rain.’

“It really was that close, you’re the one that stopped me son,
“And you’re the one that taught me there’s no answer in a gun.
“Just remember people love you, good friends won’t let you down.
“Look, you might have to swallow pride and take that job in town,
“Just ’til things come good, son, you’ve always got a choice
“And when you get this letter ring me, ’cause I’d love to hear your voice.”

Well he cried and laughed and shook his head then put the truck in gear,
Shut his eyes and hugged his dad in a vision that was clear,
Dropped the cattle at the yards, put the truck away
Filled the troughs the best he could and fed his last ten bales of hay.
Then he strode towards the homestead, shoulders back and head held high,
He still knew the road was tough but there was purpose in his eye.

He called his wife and children, who’d lived through all his pain,
Hugs said more than words – he’d come back to them again,
They talked of silver linings, how good times always follow bad,
Then he walked towards the phone, picked it up and rang his Dad.
And while the kids set up the Squatter, he hugged his wife again,
Then they heard the roll of thunder and they smelt the smell of rain.

i actually know the bloke who wrote that, Murray Hartin, he used to work with an ex girlfriend of mine
Google or YouTube it, you need to hear it rather than read it, can be quite emotional

 
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Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
A dark night of the soul could be described as a moment preceding the revelation of one's true self. It's a shattering; a loss; a darkness where what you previously held to be true about yourself or your place or purpose in the world disintegrates to nothingness and all about becomes black or shrouded. The only light shining is that of your soul into which you plunge or turn. It's often the preceding point to a great revelation or beginning of the true path, where all your previous notions are cataclysmically destroyed before glorious rebirth.

It's supposed to be a quiet and empty place preceding a wonderous discovery of true meaning.
I think i'll stick with a Sausage sandwich.
 

Gong Farmer

Member
BASIS
Location
S E Glos
Only just logged on, so missed your post; not sure that I have fully understood your post.

What is it that you are describing as the 'dark night of the soul'?

None Duality isn't a word that normally swims in my limited vocabulary but if you are referring to us all as having roots within the creator from whence we are made it sounds a little like some of the teachings of the ancient cabbalist and perhaps even some Christian mystics.
Non duality is, I think, similar to the cosmic consciousness idea, that we and everything around us are manifestations from a single being or consciousness. Hence we are all linked in this.
 
A dark night of the soul could be described as a moment preceding the revelation of one's true self. It's a shattering; a loss; a darkness where what you previously held to be true about yourself or your place or purpose in the world disintegrates to nothingness and all about becomes black or shrouded. The only light shining is that of your soul into which you plunge or turn. It's often the preceding point to a great revelation or beginning of the true path, where all your previous notions are cataclysmically destroyed before glorious rebirth.

It's supposed to be a quiet and empty place preceding a wonderous discovery of true meaning.

Hmmmm, interesting! I do remember a time, many years ago, when I viewed no point in life at all; what if I had the best farm in the country, won the football pools, was able to paint better than Michael Angelo, etc, etc, etc? I was only going to die anyway! Strangely I had all that I had ever dreamed of; a wife, a house, a home, gardens front and back, two children (one of each), and a job that paid darned good money.

Unfortunately I had been pumped full of high strength Valium for months and then had my supply removed and entered into a living, waking, hell; with inner nightmares that Edgar Allan Poe would be hard pressed to depict in words.

A strange thing the mind, we tamper with it at great cost but with help and support survive and recover we can!

Mind you, still struggling to beat Covid here at the moment and we are slowly improving but it effected Margaret much more than my self. We are both still testing positive on the Lateral Flow Tests
 
Is ‘duality’ the same as what was a popular spiritual movement after WW2 called ‘Unity’?

Despite being a little on the old side and having entered this world just as WWII was drawing to a close, I have never heard of the spiritual movement 'Unity' but following a quick search it appears to be alive and well today.

I can't help but wonder if religion is nothing more than tribalism in fancy dress and any real truth gets swamped out by power seeking egotists seeking converts that will allow them to then cut an other notch on their religious six-guns. :(

I know that these days it's a bit of a contentious word but I do wonder how many folk still believe that there is a 'God' and is she still black? ;)
 

Gong Farmer

Member
BASIS
Location
S E Glos
........ that there is a 'God' and is she still black? ;)
The BBC would probably have you believe so.

I personally don't worship anyone or anything but there has to be a superior being* overlooking the universe who/which may have been responsible for our existence. Whether we need to show reverence or worship it, or even personify it, is up to individual choice and belief.

*Even if it's some spotty teenager in his dad's garage on another world running a very complex computer game :unsure:
 
After the big bang, it would appear that the universe made all that there is and some would have us believe that the universe actually responds to our input and is benevolent. Scientist would also have us believe that we are stardust; the material of which is made up of mostly nothing.

I like the analogy of it all being a great computer game; a bit like The Matrix, or Bill Murry's Ground Hog Day.

It's interesting to study scientific explanations and compare them to scriptural records; one tells us how we were made and the other tells us why we were made but I think that mankind kinda lost the plot somewhere along the way.
 
Aaaaaahhhhh; slowly pulling out of a downward health spiral!

Following a funeral on December 29th I started to feel a wee bit off and by January 3rd was feeling as though I had full blow flue ( but no temperature) and tested positive for Covid, using a lateral flow test.

Margaret followed suit a day or so later and we both 'eventually' had NHS confirmation test done and they proved to be positive. Pulling out of the downward spiral I was amazed to watch Margaret descend ever lower and actually suffer far more symptoms than my self.

Just got off the phone to our GP and she said that there are no antiviral drugs available for Margaret; so we are just having to wait and see how the infection plays out,

We both had the two Covid inoculations and the follow up booster and I would dread to think what the end result would have been
had we not. :eek:
 
Aaaaaahhhhh; slowly pulling out of a downward health spiral!

Following a funeral on December 29th I started to feel a wee bit off and by January 3rd was feeling as though I had full blow flue ( but no temperature) and tested positive for Covid, using a lateral flow test.

Margaret followed suit a day or so later and we both 'eventually' had NHS confirmation test done and they proved to be positive. Pulling out of the downward spiral I was amazed to watch Margaret descend ever lower and actually suffer far more symptoms than my self.

Just got off the phone to our GP and she said that there are no antiviral drugs available for Margaret; so we are just having to wait and see how the infection plays out,

We both had the two Covid inoculations and the follow up booster and I would dread to think what the end result would have been
had we not. :eek:
Glad to hear you are on the way to recovery and hope that your wife will soon be better too.
 

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