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The entrance into the Dark Night is often blocked by a fundamental disorientation: we attempt to navigate the "void" without a North Star. St. John of the Cross identifies the first movement toward conquering the appetites as a habitual desire to imitate Christ. However, many people attempt to imitate a projection rather than a Person. We must move past emotional sentimentality and into a rigorous, interiorized study of the Gospels. Without the blueprint of the Word, the soul lacks the necessary coordinates to bring its life into conformity with the Divine.

• Why true union with God is impossible without the mediation of the historical and mystical Christ.
• Understanding spiritual growth through the lens of craftsmanship—moving from external mimicry to internal mastery.
• Identifying why "not knowing" Christ’s reactions in Scripture leads to a breakdown in the active purgation of the senses.
• How to maintain the habit of imitation even when the internal state is dominated by frustration or sadness.