Spiritual Emptiness: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Work Through It

By Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
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For many people on a path of growth, awakening, or healing, there comes a moment when everything feels strangely hollow. What once brought joy, purpose, or meaning now feels lifeless and empty. This experience is often called spiritual emptiness, and while it can feel unsettling, it is also one of the most transformative thresholds on the inner journey.

Spiritual emptiness is not simply boredom, sadness, or even clinical depression—although it may share features of these states. Instead, it is the profound sense that the inner self and outer world have lost their solidity, purpose, or fulfillment. You may feel disconnected from your old beliefs, cut off from your usual motivations, and uncertain about where to turn next.

Although painful, this stage of emptiness is also deeply important. It often signals a shift away from surface-level identity and toward deeper truth. Like a seed falling into the dark soil, spiritual emptiness can be the fertile ground for a profound rebirth.

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What Is Spiritual Emptiness?

Spiritual emptiness refers to a deep sense of inner void, where life feels stripped of meaning, vitality, and connection. It often arises during times of personal or spiritual transition, when old ways of understanding no longer feel true, yet new insights have not fully formed.

Unlike loneliness or lack of fulfillment, spiritual emptiness carries a sense of existential depth. It may feel as though the very foundation of “who you are” has dissolved. People experiencing it often describe sensations like:

A hollow, empty space within that cannot be filled by external achievements or pleasures.
A loss of interest in spiritual practices, even those that once felt alive and meaningful.
A painful awareness that what once felt solid—identity, purpose, beliefs—now feels like illusions.
A yearning for something indescribable, paired with the frustration of not knowing what that “something” is.

This void can feel frightening because it strips away the illusions of certainty. And yet, in spiritual traditions across the world—from Buddhism to Christian mysticism—emptiness is seen not as a failure, but as an essential step toward liberation.

The Causes of Spiritual Emptiness

Spiritual emptiness does not arise randomly. It often appears at moments when you are ready to outgrow your old structures and move into a deeper relationship with reality. Some of the most common causes include:

1. Spiritual Awakening and Dissolution of Old Beliefs
When awakening begins, the mind’s old frameworks—religious beliefs, ego-driven identities, or inherited values—start to collapse. This can leave a profound vacuum before new understanding emerges.

2. The Dark Night of the Soul
Mystics like St. John of the Cross described the “dark night of the soul” as a spiritual dryness and emptiness that precedes initial awakening. In this stage, previous resources vanish, leaving the seeker feeling abandoned and empty.

3. Loss or Life Transitions
Grief, trauma, or major life changes (such as divorce, illness, or career upheaval) can trigger existential questioning. These experiences dismantle old identities and open the door to feelings of emptiness.

4. Over-Identification with Ego
When we live primarily through ego-driven goals—success, recognition, material gain—we may eventually discover their hollowness. This realization can produce a deep sense of spiritual emptiness, as if life itself has been drained of meaning.

5. Existential Awareness
For some, emptiness arises as part of philosophical or contemplative inquiry. When we see the impermanence and fleeting nature of all things, it can provoke a crisis of meaning.

Video: The Empty Path | Billy Wynne

The Difference Between Emptiness and Depression

It’s important to distinguish spiritual emptiness from clinical depression. While they can overlap, they are not identical.

Depression is often characterized by pervasive sadness, loss of energy, changes in appetite or sleep, and difficulty functioning in daily life. It is primarily a psychological condition, though it may have existential elements.
Spiritual emptiness may include sadness or lack of motivation, but it centers on a loss of meaning, a sense of disconnection from spirit or self, and a yearning for deeper truth.

If emptiness is accompanied by severe despair, suicidal thoughts, or inability to manage daily life, professional mental health support is essential. Spiritual emptiness can be transformative, but depression requires careful and compassionate treatment.

Conceptual Emptiness: Beyond Ideas and Beliefs

One of the subtler but most profound forms of emptiness is conceptual emptiness—the recognition that even our concepts, beliefs, and mental constructs are empty of solidity.

Most of us unconsciously cling to concepts—about ourselves, others, and the world—as if they were permanent truths. But in deep awakening, we begin to see that concepts are not reality itself. They are mental labels, useful for communication but ultimately hollow when examined closely.

To get a taste of conceptual emptiness, you can try this simple exercise:

Conceptual Emptiness Exercise:
Ask yourself the following questions. If your mind tries to jump in with answers, gently ask it to rest so you can simply feel what conceptual emptiness is like.

What is between belief and no belief?
What is between thought and no thought?
What is between emotion and no emotion?
What is between self and no self?

Does it feel like there is nothing in between? Does it feel like there is everything in between? Does it feel like there are no words to describe what is in between? Just sit here for a moment with that feeling of conceptual emptiness.

This practice helps reveal the limits of language and thought. When you directly experience the “in between,” you may discover a spacious awareness that cannot be captured by concepts. This is the living essence of emptiness—silent, vast, and beyond the reach of the thinking mind.

Worksheet: Exploring Conceptual Emptiness

Sit quietly, free from distraction, and move through each step slowly. Avoid forcing answers—simply observe and note whatever arises. Conceptual emptiness is not about intellectual understanding but direct experience of the “in-between.” Return to this worksheet as often as needed to deepen your awareness. Download Worksheet Here.

Step / Exercise	Instructions	Your Reflections / Notes
1. Recognize the Void	Notice the space between thoughts, beliefs, and concepts. Do not try to fill it—just observe it.
2. Inquiry Into Belief	Ask yourself: “What is between belief and no belief?” Allow your mind to rest without rushing to answer.
3. Inquiry Into Thought	Ask yourself: “What is between thought and no thought?” Notice any sensations, images, or silence that arise.
4. Inquiry Into Emotion	Ask yourself: “What is between emotion and no emotion?” Let yourself simply feel the in-between without labeling.
5. Inquiry Into Self	Ask yourself: “What is between self and no self?” Observe any spaciousness, resistance, or curiosity.
6. Notice Patterns	Reflect: Are there concepts you cling to? Do you feel tension, emptiness, or expansiveness?
7. Rest in Awareness	Spend a few minutes sitting with the awareness that cannot be captured by concepts. Simply notice.
8. Integration	Consider: How might experiencing conceptual emptiness shift your daily perception of thoughts, beliefs, or self?

The Transformational Potential of Spiritual Emptiness

Although painful, spiritual emptiness carries hidden gifts. In fact, in many wisdom traditions, emptiness is not a problem to be fixed, but a doorway to ultimate freedom.

In Buddhism, emptiness (śūnyatā) is the recognition that all things lack inherent, separate existence. Realizing this is central to enlightenment.
In Christian mysticism, the dark night of the soul empties the seeker of attachments so they can be filled with presence.
In Sufi traditions, the heart must be emptied of worldly attachments before it can experience union with God.

Conceptual emptiness ties directly into these teachings. By seeing through the illusion of fixed concepts, we become more open to reality as it is—not as we imagine it to be.

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How to Work Through Spiritual Emptiness

While there is no quick “fix,” there are ways to navigate spiritual emptiness with wisdom and compassion. This stage is not about escaping the void, but learning to rest within it so it can reveal its hidden meaning.

1. Allow the Experience Fully
Instead of resisting or trying to fill the emptiness with distractions, allow it to be. Sit with the feelings of hollowness, as if observing them with gentle curiosity.

2. Practice Witness Consciousness
By cultivating awareness of your inner experience, you can observe emptiness without being consumed by it. Meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer help create the space to watch without judgment.

3. Explore Conceptual Emptiness
Engage in direct inquiry into the emptiness of thoughts and beliefs, using exercises like the one above. This deepens your ability to rest in awareness beyond concepts.

4. Let Go of Old Attachments
Much of the pain of emptiness comes from clinging to what no longer works--outdated beliefs, identities, or external sources of fulfillment. Trust that letting go makes room for something more authentic.

5. Find Supportive Community
Sharing your experience with others on the path can reduce the isolation of spiritual emptiness. Whether in awakening groups, spiritual circles, or therapy, connection brings perspective.

6. Trust the Process
Perhaps the most important step is recognizing that spiritual emptiness is not a mistake. It is part of the natural unfolding of awakening. Like a cocoon stage, it prepares the soul for transformation.

The Gift Hidden in Spiritual Emptiness

Those who pass through spiritual emptiness often emerge with a deeper capacity for love, freedom, and authenticity. Once illusions fall away, life is no longer about chasing external validation but about living in alignment with truth.

Conceptual emptiness, in particular, dissolves rigid thinking and opens us to direct experience. Without being bound by mental labels, we can live with greater fluidity, presence, and openness.

Final Thoughts on Spiritual Emptiness

Spiritual emptiness is one of the most misunderstood but essential stages of spiritual growth. It feels like loss, but it is really preparation. It feels like nothingness, but it opens into everything.

If you are experiencing spiritual emptiness—whether existential, emotional, or conceptual—know that you are not broken. This stage is a natural part of awakening. It is an invitation to let go, to rest in the unknown, and to discover the deeper truth that cannot be lost.

Through patience, surrender, and openness, the hollow void of spiritual emptiness can become the most fertile ground for awakening into freedom, love, and wholeness.

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Inspired by a previous publication at The Berkeley Well-Being Institute.

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