Dark Night of the Soul
‘The Dark Night of the Soul’ was a term coined by Spanish mystic St John of the Cross (1542-1591). He noted, that during this phase you feel as though there is no way out; you feel stuck and cannot shake the feeling of emptiness or heaviness - you feel dark. Your thoughts keep flipping from one extreme to another. You feel lost and adrift in the middle of a perfect storm. You feel helpless. During these times you believed that nothing would get better and you feel powerless and defeated in such a profound way that you can easily lose your sense of self.
Caroline Myss wrote in her book, Defy Gravity (2009), “To truly heal we must go past our ego and into the depths of our soul, into our dark passions, examining the source of our actions and choices in life.” Encountering the Dark Night of the Soul forces us to embark on this journey, rather than it being an option.
Inge has been in that dark, lonely abyss where no light shines and all illusions have come crashing down. In such despair, day after day, one can put on a brave face for a few hours, masking the pain within, almost like the walking dead. During this time Inge did not know where to turn, she did not want to talk to anyone, yet needed someone she could trust. Inge needed help but didn’t know who could help her. All while this was going on Inge continued on the roller coaster of the living and dying. At some point, she gave up and lost the will to live. Inge was so tired and exhausted she felt like she wanted to go 'home' and sleep but never wake up again. But before Inge took this final step she wanted to thank all the people who had loved her and made her who she was. Inge surrendered herself to the universe. She was done. “Let thy will be done.”
Inge did not tell anyone that she had given up on life. She was consciously aware of everyone and decided being grateful to everyone was her way of saying goodbye."
At the point of surrender, everything shifted, and synchronicity stepped in. Inge was able to go home, to Auckland, November 2009 on a one-way ticket. She didn't even know if she would be coming back to Brisbane. Inge did not tell anyone that she had given up on life. She was consciously aware of everyone and decided being grateful to everyone was her way of saying goodbye. That was one of her first milestones, by choosing to be consciously aware, grateful, thankful, and in a state of surrender. Inge was in alignment with the universe. She had found her path of least resistance. She was receptive to love, and it poured into her. Everyone she came across at that time was incredibly loving, and she had never felt as loved and accepted as she was at this time. However, Inge still felt somehow incomplete and was still not well.
Inge had taken a role as an acting general manager of an iconic Auckland restaurant. Through one of her restaurant managers, she was able to connect with Kiri, an incredible Maori healer. Unbeknownst to Inge, her intent of giving up life was so strong that by the time she arrived at her clinic on 6th January 2010, her soul was already on the way out. If Inge had waited only one more day, she would have been gone. Kiri performed 'Bypass Soul Surgery' to knit Inge’s soul back into her physical body. Kiri had never had to perform in a case as extreme as this. A team of archangels, masters, and other divine light beings guided Kiri in this difficult task. It was an incredibly poignant, humbling and eye opening life moment for Inge. She received stern words that she was never to do this again. There's always someone who will assist her. She just has to ask, and the guide will appear. However, Inge job was not finished. This experience opened her eyes to herself, her gifts, her purpose in this world, and the understanding of it. This gave Inge first building block of her peace.
This was the first building block. Inge had found the purpose of her life was to set an example for others. She was to be a groundbreaker in a new way of living and to walk the talk. Inge’s past, both professional and personal, was part of her training. Everything that happened in her life in the past had a meaning in her future. From this, she was able to catch a glimpse of the bigger picture. Inge learned to accept and understand her gifts of clairaudience, clairvoyant, and her unique ability to interpret other people’s energies and blocks. She learned about self-worth, self-love, surrender and to trust herself without reservation. Inge now understood total unconditional love and acceptance of self. She recognized and owned the fact that you have to put yourself first, to operate from the heart, to listen to one's own guidance, to find the frequency of the Source within and stay tuned to this frequency. As Inge and many others have discovered, this isn’t easy.
Recovery was both challenging and rewarding. For Inge, the few years that followed were incredible. She was involved in the aid effort during the Brisbane floods that occurred on the 12th January 2011. Working with major organisations and companies in such catastrophe and the subsequent recovery was life transforming for Inge. After this, she was involved in one of the most exciting developments in Brisbane. In a professional sense, Inge flourished again. She worked in collaboration with the best minds in Australia and also found a business partner. She thought things were going for the better. Alas, this was not to be. Her now former business partner then was involved in a midlife crisis. He cheated on his wife, got involved with drugs and got ultimately got caught in a police raid. And in one fell swoop; Inge was in the middle of the muck again. This time, however, she used her skills and surrendered a lot quicker, asked for guidance from the universe and followed the synchronicities. Inge made a smart deal with 'upstairs" if they all got free from all this debacle unscathed, she would give her life to the universe and do anything required of her for the greater good.
Etched into Inge’s memory was the day at the Sydney Downing Centre Court. She watched the proceedings, and the situation felt surreal. The charges were dropped. There was no conviction, no record, only a miracle! Inge knew her life would never be the same. Within a week of that verdict, her former business partner was cheating on his wife again, instead of honouring their deal with the heavens. They launched the business. It took Inge 18 months to prepare the groundwork and built it, despite the trying circumstances. However, it only took 14 months for her former business partner to ruin it.
From that Downing Centre Court verdict, the outlook was never going to be great for the business. Success can be achieved only in harmony. There was a rift between the two business partners. He could not honour his commitment to his wife, and his new girlfriend tried to exert her influence on the business. It was not pretty. Finally, Inge opted out of the business. Not surprisingly it crashed not long after she left.
While this was a period of great upheaval, there were incredible lessons to be learned. These were lessons of believing in oneself."
Inge realised she had achieved a lot of what seemed like impossible feats. She learned about letting go and forgiveness. These skills and experience would prove invaluable for those she will work with. Inge showed that she was a true professional feminine force, all with effortless grace. In return, she gave the other collaborators what they need to see and have. She had set them an incredible benchmark, and lasting impression. To both them and Inge it was a fair exchange.
Inge took two years to recover in a physical sense. She had lost 20% of her body weight from stress. She had to clean up all the minerals in her system completely. Inge engaged a team comprising of a naturopath, osteopath (for her spine/energy alignment), and an astrologer to help her recover. She needed to get back to her healthy self and take a glimpse of what was ahead of her.
This was part of Inge’s Dark Night of the Soul. This experience brought her to a new place of self-confidence, self-worth and quiet appreciation. It helped her find the strength within, mental, physical and spiritual. Inge may not have kept the businesses, but she did it and would do it again. The skills she has gained from these crises will now prove invaluable for those she meets and works with. Inge followed and trusted her inner voice, her GPS within, does her best to stay tuned to it.
During all this, Inge solidified her understanding of her gifts and learned more about cellular frequency and energy healing. Sydney beckoned with a friend request of establishing another brand for a year, so off she went. Inge had been living in Sydney in 1986, left in 1990 and didn't want to return. In spite of that, she ended up back here again. It’s funny when she realises when the universe takes her somewhere, they take her somewhere for a reason. For the first time, Inge feels at home in Palm Beach, at peace.
Having successfully endured what is known as the ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ or a ‘midlife crisis’, Inge has used this soul journey to discover and awaken her spiritual gifts, which she had denied for nearly 30 years.
Inge has spent her career in hospitality working with companies across Australia and New Zealand. Most recently she has spent time consulting with start-ups in Brisbane and Sydney. Inge now owns and operates a hospitality consulting agency and healing practice.
Inge has always been intuitive but never believed that she had gifts. When she finally accepted and surrendered to life, and the universe, Inge discovered that she could use her gifts of healing to help her others to navigate the many, difficult turning points of life.
Surrogate and
Wellbeing Partner
At Surrogate and Co., Inge facilitates life transformations, and with any transformation, one may experience a broad array of intense feelings. To an unsupported individual, these feelings can be overwhelming and at times, even debilitating. As your surrogate partner, Inge will work with you by 'holding' your emotional and mental space safely and supporting your process during throughout your unique transformation.
Spiritual Director
The Dark Night of the Soul is about one's spiritual journey and spiritual transformation. Each are distinct and unique. The three major components of Dark Night of the Soul are: the absence of meaning, the loss of self-identity, and the need of devotion. As a skilled spiritual director, Inge can guide you through each component of your Dark Night regardless of its intensity.
Transformational Guide and Life Coach
Wouldn't it be easy if life came with GPS system? Transformation opens up tremendous life opportunities. However, the lack of choices or too many choices is not easy. With her instinctive therapy, Inge will work to help you find your inner intuitive navigation system. She will enable you to take decisions allowing you to move forward consciously to transform your life.
Tree House Sanctuary
Sometimes, what one needs is a quite, calm place to recover and clear there mind; our tree house sanctuary has been established to provide individuals with a space they can utilise throughout their journey. Whether you're staying a few hours or a few weeks; the tree house sanctuary is available throughout your journey with Inge.