Soul Care is a subject
that seems to be growing in importance and popularity. For far
too long the spiritual aspect of existence has been absent from most
people's lives, but there seems to be a growing awareness and concern for
a balanced life that involves a deep spiritual dimension. A few of us
are awakening to the sad fact that possessions (like shiny new electronic devices)
don't bring us lasting happiness. Instead
of instilling a sense of peace or well being they only seem to further fracture
the minds ability to focus. If the latest and greatest can't bring
any sense of satisfaction, then all we are left with is that vague feeling
that something is missing. For some the
spiritual quest begins as we search for a deeper meaning to our experiences and
a larger frame to place global events and personal tragedies in perspective.
The more deeply one peers into the
inner workings of their own heart and mind, the more clear it becomes that
contentment comes from within and that our reaction to people, places and
situations are simply a reflection or projection of our inner state of being.
The point being that the external stimulus is secondary to contentment, so it
follows that soul care is mostly a solo endeavor in the sense
that it's "an inside job." That is not to say that you cannot have
people in your life to provide a support network, or even a trusted guide who
can share their experience, strength and hope.
Naturally these resources can be invaluable when it comes to healing
core issues. Compassion and self-acceptance are really the key to
unlocking your hidden potential and empowering the soul; by practicing
unconditional love and acceptance with yourself first you are then able to
do so for others. Since we project our inner state onto the world, how we feel
about ourselves is how we feel about the world at large. "Change
your attitude and your whole world changes."
This axiom of the inner reality
being reflected by the exterior also applies to the teachers who are only
there to remind you of what you already know to be true within yourself. This is why the Latin root of the word
knowledge essentially means to remind, or remember. An astute teacher knows
that they are simply a mirror reflecting your inner wisdom back at you, because
the truth lies within you. That inner knowing is often obscured by
erroneous assumptions, predispositions, predilections and ideologies. This is why many of us need an outside
source to help us sift through the illusions (Mya), the personal
history and wreckage of the past (Karma), and the ego (Ahamkara) that obscure
the clarity of the soul. Once you see yourself as an intimate and intricate
part of the living universe that is the divine, caring for yourself, and in
turn others, seems like the only sane option.
For any form of hatred or harm inflicted stems from unconsciousness or
delusion.
Real
soul care involves rigorous honesty, humility and compassion, with regards to where
we are on our spiritual journey at any given moment. You cannot rightly say you
love someone (yourself included) unless you truly know them and accept
them exactly as they are. Humility is the realization that we are no
better, yet no worse than anybody else regardless of wealth, education, age,
gender, ethnicity, or religion. And this is the very core foundation of all
spiritual principles. For when we see ourselves as right sized (i.e. equal to
our fellow human beings), all of that self-imposed sense of importance,
disempowerment and competition vanishes into thin air. All of this was never based anything real to
begin with, since it’s the ego’s way to oscillate from one extreme to the other.
The hero/heroine's quest always boils
down to self-discovery, and only when we learn to love ourselves first are
we capable of giving or receiving love from another.
By caring for your soul, you invariably come
to truly care for others, as the other is just a part of the wholeness that
includes you too. When we see ourselves as spiritual beings having a human
experience, then it only follows that the same is true for all those around us.
This is important because the world is no longer divided into friend/foe, even
those we would choose to see as standing in our way are simply teachers presenting
us with the opposite of what we seek, which in turn clarifies that which we are
after.
I believe that the "great way
has no gate and there are a thousand paths that lead to it." The spiritual
journey is the path that leads you back to your authentic self; stripped
of all illusions that separate and divide the self, the world, and the
universe and obscure the wonder and miracle of all that
is. I could create a list ad infinitum as to the various ways people seek
spirituality, but I believe far brighter spirits have already written countless
volumes on this subject. So instead I
decided to touch on the aim rather than the means and hint at the larger truth
behind the individual varied quest for it. Acceptance, awareness
and compassion is what soul care means to me.
I am a thirty two soon to be thirty
three year old woman, born and raised in Bend, Oregon and current resident of
Maui. I moved to Maui to pursue my yoga path and passion for teaching,
while helping people to practice self-care and guiding them on their personal
journey towards wholeness. I love the way yoga engages my creative and
spiritual nature, I am involved in other creative projects and interests as
well, such as writing and creating hand crafted jewelry.