One feature of familiar plot structures is that moment in which all is lost for our protagonist. Their fall from grace precedes a stretch of despair where there appears to be no path forward—also known as the “dark night of the soul.” It’s the scene from The Matrix when we think Neo is dead. Or when Marlin, Nemo’s dad, believes he’s lost his son for good.

The idea comes from St. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Spanish poet and mystic, and his poem La noche oscura del alma. It represents a crisis of faith, accompanied by deep soul-searching, confusion, and pain before arriving at revelation. A spiritual glow up of sorts.

In the wake of the election, we have descended into our dark night four years. The soul-searching is well underway, and our voyage through the abyss will be long. Some are already gearing up for battle while others have only begun processing. No matter where you’re at, a reminder: our words are our beacons. They are calls to weary allies to keep the flame of hope lit and to never forget that we’re still here and we aren’t going anywhere.

I leave you with a poem titled Writers are Dangerous People.

Jamie

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