I know that truth is more complicated than labels and stages, but it can be helpful to navigate our way, if we can define common experiences.
Like Erikson and Freud defined stages of human development, some, like Jim Marion have defined Spiritual stages of development...
1. Archaic Consciousness of Infants
2. Magical Consciousness of Children
3. Mythic Consciousness - Pre-Adolescence
4. Rational Consciousness
5. Vision-Logic Consciousness
6. Psychic Consciousness
7. Dark Night of the Senses
8. Subtle Consciousness
9. Dark Night of the soul
10. Resurrection from the Dark Night
11. Christ (or however you define God) Consciousness
12. Nondual Consciousness
In my experience, we don't necessarily go through these stages like a ladder... but more integrally.
Does anybody know much about #7 - #12?
Any guidance for this, especially the dark night of the soul... or as Carl Jung explained, confronting you shadow self?
There is no such spiritual growth in Catholic tradition.
Spiritual growth is organized in this way;
First we receive the sacrament of Baptism and the grace bestowed by the sacrament.
After the age of reason, about 7 yrs. of age other Sacraments follow and we receive even more grace.
With sacraments we receive Sanctifying Grace, actual grace, infused virtues, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the final stage is fruits of the H. Spirit and Beatitudes.
But to reach the final stages we have to go through this:
PART TWO: GROWTH IN HOLINESS
7. Conversion From Sin
The Psychosomatic Structure
The Struggle Against Sin
Temptations
8. Progressive Purgation
Purification of the External Senses
Purification of the Internal Senses
Purification of the Passions
Purification of the Intellect
Purification of the Will
Passive Purgations
9. Means of Spiritual Growth
The Sacraments
Meritorious Good Works
Prayer of Petition
10. The Theological Virtues
Faith
The Gift of Understanding
The Gift of Knowledge
Hope
The Gift of Fear
Charity
The Gift of Wisdom
11. The Moral Virtues
Prudence
The Gift of Counsel
Justice
The Gift of Piety
Temperance
The Gift of Fear
Fortitude
The Gift of Fortitude
12. Grades of Prayer
Vocal Prayer
Meditation
Affective Prayer
Prayer of Simplicity
Contemplative Prayer
Prayer of Quiet
Prayer of Union
Prayer of Conforming Union
Prayer of Transforming Union
13. Aids to Spiritual Growth
The Presence of God
Examination of Conscience
The Desire for Perfection
Conformity to God's Will
Fidelity to Grace
Plan of Life
Spiritual Reading
Holy Friendships
Spiritual Direction
14. Discernment of Spirits
Types of Spirits
Psychosomatic Phenomena
Extraordinary Mystical Phenomena
I copied this from Spiritual Theology by Jordan Aumann. Basically speaking our spirituality is based on 3 spiritual ages.
[FONT="]"The Fathers and theologians distinguish three stages or states of perfection. These are the states of beginners, the state of progress, and the state of the perfect. These states are also designated “ways”, because they are the ways of God by which souls are guided on the road to heaven." [/FONT]
[FONT="]Another good book explaining the first stage and the beginning of the second is Introduction to Devout Life by St. Frances de Sales.[/FONT]