Note: As I begin to write about the soul, I want to start by saying that the only thing that qualifies me in this area is that I have a soul. I claim no expertise or authority on the matter—just a desire to open my eyes to the soul within me, so I can open my soul to the beauty of the souls and life around me.
Sometimes, when I’m trying to remember my place in the universe, I imagine myself as a pebble or a speck of sand at the edge of the water. I sense the waves coming toward me and feel the ebb and flow of the water’s energy. At times, I am engulfed in the water, and then again, I am of the earth. And as the steady back and forth of the waves roll over me, I pull myself outward and see the sky. The orange glow of the sun warms me as it bounces off of a million tiny waves—waves upon waves—light upon light. In this moment, as it all unfolds in an instant, I am at peace. My soul is free.
More Than a Snowflake
One of the ideas for Soulitics lies in building awareness of the soul and the related non-material elements of life and existence. One of the wonders of the soul is in that we are each an individual creation. Our brains and our beings are comprised of 10’s of millions of connections that are unique to our experiences—no one sees the world exactly as you do. No one has the gift that you bring to this earth. And as we build awareness of this gift and all that it entails, the responsibility that comes with it begins to take shape. Our individual capacity is something to be cherished and grown and shared. The world is not here to serve our uniqueness—our uniqueness, our true self and purpose is a gift to serve others.
You’re Not the Boss of Me
There are many challenges to accessing the awareness of our own soul and the gifts we are afforded to serve others. One is in the sheer power of the physical experiences we encounter on a daily basis. Simply looking at Maslow’s hierarchy, one can be reminded of the priorities that come before transcendence. If you are cold or hungry or lonely, it’s going to be all the more challenging to remember your soul. (Although, ascetic monks my offer a perspective that point to these hardships as a gateway to transcendent thinking. Many religions and spiritual practices use fasting as a way to attenuate our relationship with the material world in order to grow the spirit.)
Another challenge is in the ongoing efforts of external forces to assimilate our being to themselves. The culture that I live in is filled with argument. There is a constant flow of energy that is dedicated either to convincing others to take one’s side or that the side they’ve taken is wrong. What might be the result if, instead of using our energies to argue and convince each other, we spent our efforts in growing the spirit that is singular to each of us and using it to serve the earth? (Not that I’m trying to convince you to do things my way. I’m really just trying to remember that all of those forces are not the boss of me. I’ve got a higher power for that.)
What might be the result if, instead of using our energies to argue and convince each other, we spent our efforts in growing the spirit that is singular to each of us and using it to serve the earth?
Where might we start?
One thing I’d offer here, to support a journey to the soul, is a reminder to go slow. My thinking suggests that an instant is eternity and yet we might often find ourselves operating at breakneck speeds to keep up with the world’s demands. If the world is not the boss of me, I don’t need to go at the world’s pace. (Well, maybe I do sometimes if I want to keep my job.) The point here is to remember to pause no and again. Remember to be silent. Remember to chew your food. Remember to tell those that you love, that you love them and then sit with them and breathe together. Remember that your soul is always with you—it is who you are.
Here, I’ll ask for the help of you the reader in helping others find a path to the soul. What might be some strategies and rituals that you practice to keep yourself in tune with your soul?