Key Theme: Death of the ego, dissolution of personality, descent into darkness

Mythical Symbol: Snake, dungeon, ash, night

Psychological Process: Decomposition of the old “self” the collapse of the image to which the soul was attached

What happens on the soul level during the Nigredo stage:

Confrontation with the true “self,” which can no longer be maintained through illusions
Identity crisis when everything collapses: faith in love, in people, in one’s “bright” side
Deep loneliness, darkness, hopelessness
The feeling that “I am dying,” when in fact only the old self is dying
Dreams, hallucinations, images, voices, and bodies appear — the Shadow becomes active