As the Soul

One Symbol of the Soul is the Butterfly

I want to be clear about what the soul is when I write about it because there are many possible definitions and approaches to soul. In the way I am focusing my work, the Soul includes and transcends the entire personality. The physical, emotional and mental components of our being, as well as the subpersonalities that we form as a result of our roles, life experiences, and contact with role models, comprise our personal self, our unique individuality. As the Soul we explore all the dimensions of our being. At first, such self-awareness is focused on what we have to work with, our bodies, emotions and minds as they grow through innate patterns of development, are shaped by our interactions with the world into which we have been born, and by the choices we make along the way.

The next posts will address inner awareness of the physical, then the emotional, and the mental. After that, our attention will turn to subpersonalities, the parts of self we all develop as we grow and interact with others.  I will be presenting suggestions for increasing awareness and self-knowledge in relation to the physical, emotional and mental dimensions of the personality. In addition, I will address how to increase our capacity to know and bring our subpersonalities into harmony. From there, I will move to examining in more detail the inner "I" that observes, is aware, and consciously selects experiences the "I" wants to have. Along the way, I will bring into the discussion the fact that some experiences and knowledge go beyond the limits of ordinary consciousness, and so will identify some possible ways integrating these experiences into ordinary life. Furthermore, as the Soul makes itself increasingly known, puts forth calls or demands for attention and action, I will address the relationship between the Soul and the individual's personality. Sometimes the "I" or subpersonalities will resist the magnetic pull of the Soul, or become confused about what the "call" really is. Throughout the history of human experience, a number of patterns have been explored for resolving these tensions. These, too, will be presented and discussed.

Perspective

I want to say a few words about my perspective. I accept that humankind is in the midst of a major transformation, sometimes called a shift in consciousness, sometimes thought of as a breakthrough into a whole new way of life and culture on a planetary scale. I believe that the most important element of that transition is for humankind to get in touch with our Soul. Caroline Myss puts it this way in the introduction to her book, Entering the Castle: An Inner Path to God and Your Soul, "As an evolving spiritual culture, we are now ready to meet our souls."

What has formed my perspective is a lifetime of spiritual seeking, experience and reflection. I have explored Christianity in depth, and continue to practice as a Christian. I have also read deeply in Buddhist writings, studied shamanism, and have benefited from the teachings of Islam and Hinduism, as well. My favorite authors and teachers are open to Spirit in all religions, and in none in particular. Spirit cannot be caged or bounded, and neither can our souls.

Spirit can be met, and we can "meet our souls." We are transformed in the process. We can open to the transformational process, and embark on a journey of discovery that leads to peace, freedom and joy. T.S. Eliot wrote in "Little Gidding",We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, unremembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-tree
Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness
Between two waves of the sea.
Quick now, here, now, always—
A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)
And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be well
When the tongues of flame are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.

As we journey together we sense the destination, moving with excitement and joy toward new life and a transformed humanity.

About the Name of the Blog - Soul Focus

Sunrise in the mist
thundafunda.info

The Soul is more than the personality, includes more than ordinary consciousness, and has a timeless dimension as well as the ordinary-time dimension. When we shift our focus to the Soul, we have a broader perspective on our lives. We see ourselves differently, with more compassion, less self-judgment and criticism, and more detachment. From the point of view of the conscious personality, the Soul can seem mysterious and insubstantial, slippery, shrouded in mist and fog.

And yet the Soul also includes the personality, and all the sub-parts of the personality, those characters that we manifest in different parts of our lives. Soul has its physical, emotional and mental aspects as well. All of these and our eternal essence comprise the whole person we are.

Here, I explore ways we can focus on the Soul and as the Soul.