Our Sacred World

Soul often reveals itself in myth – a symbolic representation or story of reality. There is a new myth attempting to come into our consciousness. This myth has the fundamental image of the unity or oneness of all life. It also has the image of the unity of all human beings. And it has within it the commitment of true service to others.

When new myths emerge from the unconscious spiritual dimensions they contradict the prevailing perceptions and thinking, and the common ways of living and understanding, because they are the emergence of the new soul or the new consciousness which has yet to be accepted as real and incorporated into our thinking.

What is it that stands opposed to the new myth in society and at times within ourselves? Is it not the common habit of viewing the world in which we live from mechanistic, scientific, analytical or physical perspectives? When we do this we engage our senses without involving the soul. We thereby remain on the surface of relationships, and give away the power of controlling our own lives and loves to external forces. We thus find ourselves increasingly disconnected from the world and others, and we become increasingly afraid of close encounters and intimate connections. In fact, we make victims of ourselves, feeling and believing that it is other people and situations that determine our experiences.

To many of us the world has lost its sacredness. People have become deaf and blind to the voices and visions of the loving and intelligent divine presence. The expansion of consciousness now emerging requires the psychic restoration of a sense of the sacred in order that soul, which crosses species and encompasses all kingdoms, can become the dominant center of consciousness from which we live our lives.

We need to ensoul our senses so that we can perceive the more subtle energies present – the divine intelligence (the elemental beings), the inherent love of all things in existence (what enables matter to join and fuse with other particles of matter. And we need to ensoul our minds so that what we analyse, take apart and create can be put into a larger more universal reality with inherent meaning and purpose.

Perceiving the world and others as sacred is a moral act, just as perceiving the world and others as defective is an immoral act. What is moral must correspond to the truth. According to Robert Sardello, to develop this moral perception all we need to do is “be more receptive and let the things of the world completely fill our consciousness, holding in abeyance the willful encroachment of our thinking into our surroundings. Gradually a soul mood of holiness comes through strongly along with whatever we are perceiving. Seeing the world through the developed capacities of soul not only reveals more of what is there but also invites back the Spiritual presences that have receded because of the literal-minded way we have come to view the world …” (Robert Sardello, Freeing The Soul From Fear, p. 129)

With the decline of religion which, for centuries, has been the custodian of morality, we need to find the essence of morality in a deeper understanding of life. Morality is declining in the world, and yet it is of such vital importance as we enter the age of relationships. We now know from the new consciousness perspective that an immoral act is a result of not deeply connecting with the object of one’s awareness or with the other in a relationship. Without connecting to the soul, the essence of the other, it is not possible to know who or what they are.

In place of the truth of the other, one creates a distorted perception of the other. This implies that there is no true love in the attitude or connection with essence in that relationship. Where love is lacking, immorality is present because the lack of love creates separation and disconnection from soul. This disconnection or lack of conscious soul is contrary to the true nature of human relationship. Morality, therefore, becomes a measure of our love.

We need to wake up to the ways that Spirit enters our world and speaks to us through others, inviting us in every single relationship into a creative partnership. This is our potential inspiration, but also our potential pain. Morality is not the path of ease, but of responsible love and sensitive awareness of the true nature of all beings.

Live in Joy!
Lilly

Soul Perspectives On The New Spirituality

There is a new spirituality unfolding, dictated by universal need and the cycles of necessity. Evidenced by its absence as destruction and disregard for human life and environmental sensitivity, this new Spirit of the times is enticing our consciousness to become increasingly inclusive and responsible.

The new Spirit of the times creates a necessity for spiritual dimensions and psychological dimensions to meet in the center of our being. Where they merge, the infinite and finite become one, creating soul and expanding consciousness. In the spiritual dimensions we embrace the universal realities. In the psychological dimensions we encounter the personal human realities. Living the two dimensions simultaneously is Soul Life and it is what the New Spirituality is all about. The manifestation of this enlightened consciousness in practical living brings about the beneficial changes needed for the well- being of humanity and the planet.

Turn your life around 180 degrees with soul-based psychology! Soul-based psychology is the basis of the New Spirituality. It is a radical re-visioning. Learn to see beyond the surface appearance of things and know what’s really happening. Understand how all experiences are really Love’s manifestations.

The foundation of the New Spirituality is intelligent understanding. Through understanding, love and empowerment become real. Through understanding comes transformation.

The New Spirituality that is emerging from the depths of humanity’s soul is demanding new responses from each individual. Most people do not recognize what the demands of this spirituality are, and do not therefore respond appropriately, thereby living in disharmony. The prevalent idea of the spiritual path is the religious attitude of believing and doing good works, while others who may be more contemporary say we only need to manifest ‘Spirit into matter’ without knowing how to do that, except to exercise a great deal of willpower and positive thinking. However, belief can be blind, good works can be highly subjective rather than a response to need, willpower can be heartless, and positive thinking can create denial and repression. Obviously these are not the primary elements of the New Spirituality.

These approaches do not meet the essential requirements of the new spirituality that involves a necessary transformation of consciousness. Many who understand that a consciousness change is required still confuse personality awareness with soul consciousness, and use personality effort to try to bring about the necessary changes.

Dealing with mundane, existential conditions is not an obligation imposed by an other-world view of spirituality, but an essential characteristic of the New Spirituality. For example, if one were financially irresponsible one would not be embodying the new spirituality. Ignorance of financial matters is no excuse. Ignorance is an impediment to the new spirituality.

Religion is often more focused on the transcendent, while the New Spirituality seeks to relate to both the transcendent and the immanent, seeking to bring the two together in consciousness. The New Spirituality seeks to bring the respect and devotion to the highest into practical demonstration of love for all beings, meeting practical needs as they exist.

Fear of Terrorism

When a country is at war or when people are threatened with potential terrorism, most individuals lose their connection to soul. This can be seen most clearly in many soldiers who have fought in battle. Many become emotionally disturbed, a result of disconnection from soul. This is especially notable among those individuals who tend to be compassionate and tolerant toward others.

There are two parts of the brain that do not operate together. They are poles apart. There is the prefrontal cortex which is the highest part of the brain. Being consciously soul connected requires one to focus through this part of the brain. In order for this focus to prevail, one must be at peace, non-combative, and not defensive. Being fearful blocks this part of the brain from controlling.

When people are afraid, they do not think creatively, compassionately or independently. This kind of thought requires the use of the higher brain. If we have previously developed this part of the brain, and have a tendency to use it on a regular basis, it will continue to attract our attention to cope with situations.

What results when both the higher brain wants to be active, and the primitive, defensive brain is activated through fear, is a real conflict between the two. This conflict typically produces heightened stress, chronic anxiety, chaos, confusion and depression.

This confused and depressed emotional-mental state unconsciously seeks escape because this is an unnatural state. Drugs (including prozac and the like) can provide temporary escape for some. Violence can erupt as a way of acting out the tension. Inertia may be a defense mechanism used. Creating a scapegoat or enemy to attack may be pursued. Giving up and surrendering to a governmental or military power may also be a way out.

None of these escapes, however, resolve the inner tension. We are still left with the problem that is rooted in fear. Unless we deal effectively with the fear we will not have peace and will remain disconnected from soul.

There are two things we can do that would help resolve this issue of government/authority-induced fear. First, we need to acknowledge that the fear is aroused within us by believing what we are told by those we accept as an authority greater than ourselves. We then need to rationally and intelligently examine what is said to ascertain its validity. In other words, are we being presented with facts, with the truth, or does the ‘authority’ have some hidden agenda for saying what it does?

Second, we need to rely on our own inner authority for what we believe and for the choices we make. We need to trust that we have the inner strength, intelligence and ability to be at peace and make appropriate decisions for our own well-being. By taking the time each day to relax deeply and/or go into a meditative state of mind, we reduce the amount of beta brainwaves that are heightened through fear and stress, and we produce an abundance of alpha brainwaves that make us feel peaceful and facilitate soul connections.

We cannot experience fear while we are producing strong alpha waves. In this relaxed meditative state our mind is receptive to soul impulse – the source of inner strength, love and intelligence. Through regular practice of this inner state of connection, we rely less and less on external authority, and gradually learn to trust the inner authority of soul. The choices we then make are more creative, compassionate and life enhancing for ourselves and others.

Developing Soul Consciousness and Overcoming Challenges

In Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore says that the greatest illness of modern times is ‘loss of soul.’ I do not think that we have lost soul, but simply have not yet discovered it, and therefore live in a soulless way.

The new consciousness on the planet today demands that each of us no longer neglect this vital aspect of who we are. Ignoring this reality has dire consequences, as Moore points out: “When soul is neglected, it doesn’t just go away; it appears symptomatically in obsessions, addictions, violence, and loss of meaning. Our temptation is to isolate these symptoms or to try to eradicate them one by one; but the root problem is that we have lost our wisdom about the soul, even our interest in it.”

Becoming soul-conscious or expanding consciousness is not a choice. It is a deep and natural urge within all of us that is being emphasized by the needs in the world today. The only choice is whether or not we will cooperate or resist the expansion of consciousness once it begins happening. And consciousness seeks to expand in all aspects of life where we have gained sufficient awareness and learning.

When we resist this movement of soul within, we become ill or accident prone or unhappy. We experience emotional pain or money problems or our relationships don’t work well. In general, our life sends us signals to which we must pay attention. Through developing soul consciousness, we learn what these signals are, how to interpret them, and then what to do about them.

The evidence of the drive for expanded consciousness, or soul, is found in everyone’s deep yearning for liberation. The liberation we want is the release from duality – the very stuff that the challenges of life are made of. But we cannot find this freedom unless we deal effectively with the challenges.

All challenges that we experience are initiated by the soul, even though it can appear that the challenges come from other people, the world around us, society, circumstances and situations. What is the nature of these challenges? What is their purpose? How can we master them?

As we master our challenges, we gain in wisdom and develop the power, love and intelligence that is characteristic of soul consciousness. When we incorporate the mastery into our identity, transformation ensues and greater liberation is experienced.

The Soul Journey