The Shattering Of The Soul
Is There a Connection between Cultivating The Earth and the Condition of the Soul? Is Soul simply a personal possession, like the Ego or the Self? Are you listening to the Soul or enriching your Spiritual life? How?
Religion and the Soul
As far as I know, there is no scientific evidence for the existence or the influence of the soul . However, theological concepts regarding its nature and ultimate future strike me as somewhat alarming. For example, is it possible to loose ones soul? Is it a thing, which requires salvation? Can you actually sell it? Does everyone get a soul at birth, or at conception? Does the soul have any connection with the mind, the intellect, or the body? Is soul a synonym for spirit? Do animals have souls? Is a clean and unblemished soul a passport to heaven? Does dropping an infant in a pool of water or sprinkling water on the infants forehead have an effect on the soul? At one time these and other metaphysical questions were the sole province of religion.
Prior to the onset of monotheism, religion referred to the practice of sacred rites. These rites acted to bind a person, a community, and a tribe to some mythical event or revered tradition. As time passed and human culture became more organised, religion as rite or ritual linked itself to religion as belief and faith. Individuals and groups joined together to celebrate their sacred traditions, their history and their unique relationship with a saviour, a prophet, or the Divine. Religion in this sense helps to create a context of belonging. It promotes a sense of community and provides a matrix for collective identity. Such a context was thought necessary for the cultivation and development of the soul, both communal and individual. However, in recent times the notion of a communal or group soul has taken second place to the profoundly egoistic definition of soul as the immaterial and immortal essence of a person. In short, soul has become a personal possession and its welfare is dependent on subscribing to the correct moral code, religious practice, and metaphysical commitment.
Striving for Immortality
Although the proponents of various religions seem quite divided on what constitutes salvation, heaven, hell, ethical and moral behaviour and the fate of the world, they seem quite united in the notion that the cultivation of the soul is crucial to our well-being if not our very lives. In this sense, looking out for number one means to look out for the soul . Of course, there are those who argue for the purely material nature of existence and have rejected the notion of any metaphysical reality. This implies that you and I, our children, our neighbours, and our enemies emerged from a sea of nothingness, are made out of a complex pattern of atoms, molecules, and cells, and once those cells loose their cohesive power, we are doomed to disappear into the nothingness of the universe. To ward off this inevitable disappearance, people engage in all sorts of activities designed to further their temporary interests. We strive for immortality through promoting our DNA (having children), through attaching ourselves to cultural institutions, political parties, reform movements, nation states, and artistic ventures. Those of us who lack faith in these activities often seek gratification in the here and now. This short-sighted perspective encourages people to embrace the credo of consumerism and mortgage their lives to pay off their creditors.Such people seem to believe that"he who dies with the most toys, wins!"
So potent is the allure and sheer wealth of the consumers creed that the religion of the market place has usurped the quiet rites of the soul the rituals of self-sacrifice, and communal sharing are subsumed by the Christmas advertising blitz. The idea that we can buy our way to happiness, to a meaningful life, an influential position, or connubial bliss underwrite the messages of advertising executives. Thousands of psychologists, and social scientists are hired each year to promote the advertisers credo, to get us to buy what we need, want, or must have if we are to enjoy the benefits of material civilisation. People are no longer defined as citizens, souls, or children of the universe. We are now consumers and need to pour our time, energy and resources into this most noble of human enterprises.
What does this diatribe against the wastefulness and materialism of the consumer culture have to do with the shattering of the soul ? We all have bodies to feed dress and shelter. People need to take care of their families, make living, pay their taxes, and find a cure for AIDS. All this takes money and unless we can figure out some other means of survival, most of us are destined to spend considerable time keeping up with the cost of living. Yes, it is a shame that it is necessary to sacrifice so many species of flora and fauna, so much green space, wild rivers, rain forests and song birds to the monolithic structures of economic activity.
Our Collective Roots
In this sense, Soul is not some exclusive property bequeathed by an Omnipresent Creator to the descendants of Adam and Eve. It rejects definition and will not be categorised, or neatly labelled. It doesn't participate in politics, corporate down sizing or fiscal restructuring. It is not interested in fur coats, utility sports wagons, or video games. Soul rarely speaks out of turn and is unlikely to win a scholarship to Harvard. Soul does have a special relationship with beauty, but is unlikely to win a beauty contest or star in a Miss America pageant. It knows little about race or gender and would get lost in a twelve-lane expressway. Because of its quiet, unobtrusive nature, some people dismiss its importance and much even doubt its existence.
Faced with this neglect, soul withdraws into the deeper recesses of the psychic plane. It may join forces with the archetypes of Jun collective unconscious, or attach itself to Freud's super-ego and live out its days in the depths of the unconscious mind. Unlike the vociferous ego, soul is far too shy to demand exclusive attention or public applause. It makes itself known through the effect of its absence rather than through the warmth and depth of its presence. Soul needs to be courted, to be coaxed if it is to emerge from its hiding places. You can find it in the silence, which accompanies meditation or prayer. It is also present in those brief moments of ecstasy when you loose yourself in the beauty of a sunset, or the embrace of a loved one. In this sense, soul is that quality which gives depth and meaning to life. It evokes our feelings of awe, of wonder, of compassion and of vicarious pleasure. It celebrates the laughter of children and weeps for the unknown victims of war and repression. It is the companion of artists and an inspirer of mystics. Soul also has its darker side. It lurks in the shadows of depression, evoking repressed shame, helplessness, and rage. It rants against the sheer ugliness, mindless brutality, and senseless cruelty, which characterise the urban landscape and those forces which scar the natural environment with asphalt earth-smotherers and concrete grass killers.
Because soul lends itself more readily to the language of the heart than the abstractions of the intellect, it lacks the capacity to defend itself when faced with the rationalisations of advocates of mechanical progress. It doesn't know how to cope with those who place short-term economic advantage ahead of protecting the environment or acting as stewards of the land. It senses that something is wrong when children bring guns to school and adults cant agree on what constitutes excessive violence on television. It is astonished by the rhetoric of politicians arguing over the appearance of wrongdoing and the letter of the law. It may even be suspicious of the motives of those who seek to preserve family values by outlawing abortions and denying impoverished mothers access to welfare benefits. However, soul offers no answers, no remedies, and no programs to deal with these and other social/political/economic issues. Soul is not utilitarian or practical. It might be accused of inspiring those "bleeding heart liberals with their policies of universal health care, equal access to education, and school breakfasts for children living in poverty. However, soul would be lost in the wheeler-dealer, you pat my back and Ill pat yours, world of politicians. I seriously doubt if it could even enter a motion or lobby for a bill.
A Virgin Sacrifice
Maybe, soul is too innocent, too unsophisticated for our modern world. Perhaps we need to sacrifice our soulfulness on the altar of technological progress and material benefit. Maybe soul has taken on the role of Iphigenia, the virgin sacrificed to the Gods by her father, Agamemnon. In this sad little tale, The Greek forces were going to sail to Troy to avenge the loss of the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen. She had the misfortune to fall in love with Paris and flee her home and marriage partner for the embrace of this prince of Troy. The Greeks were committed to settle this marital dispute through the mechanism of war, however, before they could carry out their righteous intention, they needed to get the winds to fill their sails.
Unfortunately, on the eve of their departure, an idiot soldier killed a sacred stag without making the appropriate offering. His omission insulted some God or Goddess (it was probably Artemis, the Goddess of wild things) and the entire expedition was halted until the Greeks could placate the Goddess and get the winds to blow again. Standard operating procedure in such a situation was to offer a sacrifice, but just not any kind of sacrifice, it had to be a virgin, a royal virgin. Iphigenia, the daughter of King Agamemnon was selected. She was told that she was to marry a great hero, Achilles and it wasn't until she saw the grim faces of the Greek warriors and the altar that she realised that there was to be no wedding feast.
How easy it is for us to sacrifice our innocence on the altar of political expediency, and practical affairs. How many of us believe we must placate the powers that be, by sacrificing our childhood or our children to the lords of wealth and power? Is our collective destruction of the wild creatures of air, earth and sea enough to arouse the ire of a God or Goddess? Deep within our psyche, where the soul takes root and extends its grace beyond the superficial issues of nation, state and ego we know there is a price to be paid. Like Iphigenia, the soul is shattered by the realisation of its betrayal. The knowledge that it is expendable, not valued or honoured for the awareness, sensitivity and beauty that it bestows is equally shattering. Should soul have an advocate? Should we appoint a royal commission to investigate its possible neglect or demise? Should we lobby for its defence and protection? Does soul need a protector?
What Does Soul Want?
I am very passionate when it comes to any issue regarding the planet and its relationship to the soul . Although I claim no expertise regarding spiritual matters, ecology, financial and political necessities, I am well acquainted with soul. Soul , whether I claim a portion of it as mine or struggle to convey its collective, universal nature, feels threatened by our all too human desire to subdue, control, and manipulate the natural world. Soul also feels rather confused by our notions of progress. I mean, what is progressive about covering the natural, fertile, and often beautiful earth with skyscrapers and freeways? Does technological progress involve covering North America with the discarded non-degradable remnants of baby diapers, the rusted relics of obsolete automobiles, and all the throw away paraphernalia of modern life? Soul wants to know if it is possible to be happy while living lightly on the earth? It wants to know if we could diminish our reliance on gas guzzling, air polluting cars or if we could spend more time talking to our neighbours than watching television? It wonders if playing with our children and grandchildren is more satisfying than shopping at the mall? It has the peculiar idea that making a living should not be the sole purpose of life and that educational progress has more to do with teaching a child to think than preparing him or her for a job. Soul condemns slavery in all its forms, especially that style of slavery which demands that a person mortgage his future energy, productivity and time, to pay off his own and his country's debts. Soul also rejects the popular notion that the more money a person makes, the more successful she is. You might ask, "What does soul want? What will feed and nourish my soulfulness? Does soul want me to sell everything I have and donate the proceeds to the poor? Would soul be happy if I joined the Sierra club or Green Peace?
Soul and Ego
Oh dear, it has just occurred to me that I am in error when it comes to describing the nature of our relationship to soul. Like a child who believes her parents need her care, concern, and protection, my ego perceives the soul in need of its support and defence. One really has to watch out for the overwhelming pride and vanity of the ego. Left to itself, ego could be so deluded as to assume that everything in creation revolves around it and its concerns. Ego likes the idea of being in control, of being the protector, the hero, and the good guy. We can forgive the ego this attitude. After all, ego is our first line of defence when it comes to the encroachments of all that is demeaning, unpleasant and down right dangerous in our world and us. Ego is Latin for I, and every time one refers to ones Self, what one has or hasn't done, what one wants, or doesn't want the whole issue of ego comes to the fore.
Within our depths, where childhood impulses, feelings and ideals exist, ego seeks confirmation of its worth. It wants to be brave, to rescue the less fortunate, to save the world. Ego feels betrayed by society's inability to live up to these noble values. It feels shamed by any hint of wrongdoing, of ignoble motives and quite often confuses doing something wrong with being bad. Faced with the knowledge of its less than perfect nature and performance, ego quite often creates a mask, a false image or a somewhat erroneous concept of who it is and what it really needs in life.
One of my old clients, Peter, is an excellent example of this process. Peter was an artist; he could have been a very fine artist, for he had an excellent eye for colour and some very original ideas. Peter also had a very fine singing voice (baritone I think) and took great joy in entertaining people with his lovely renditions of arias from Handle Messiah. Peter was generous, both with his time and property and had a real talent for meeting people. However, Peter had a problem when it came to listening to anybody's point of view, particularly when it differed from his own. He also showed a regrettable inclination to treat his acquaintances, friends and colleagues as audiences.
Ego and Image
In Peters mind, we existed for the sole purpose of applauding him and his efforts. His response to any criticism or lack of appreciation varied from sullen hurt to outright defensiveness and an insistence on his genius, originality and rightness. I suspect in Peters youth, he confused being right with being loveable and his need to be loved and nurtured was so powerful, he couldn't bear the slightest suggestion that he might be in error. However, Peters inordinate craving for approval, attention and applause did not limit itself to his interpersonal relationships. To put it simply, Peter was fat. He was so overweight that he waddled when he walked and had trouble fitting in the back seat when he got a ride from somebody.
I remember watching in horror as he devoured in a single seating enough food to feed me for several days. I was afraid he would have a stroke or a heart attack before he was fifty and I rarely felt rich enough to offer him dinner. On the few occasions when I did invite him over, I had to reserve a heavy weight chair for his use, since I had no desire to sacrifice one of my more delicate pieces of furniture to his girth. Now, I liked Peter. In spite of his flaws, his insecurities, his constant demands for approval, Peter was too friendly and too optimistic to reject entirely. So I fell into that ego trap that well meaning, good intentioned friends often do. I decided to rescue him by helping him with his weight problem. There was only one hitch to my plans; Peter seemed oblivious to the whole issue of weight.
In a moment of candour, Peter explained to me that when he looked in a mirror he saw someone who was on the brink of starvation. He told me that one of his friends, who appeared somewhat overweight, made a dreadful mistake when he went on a diet. This dear friend of his cut back on his food intake and ended up starving himself to death. "You see," Peter said," he may have seemed overweight, but instead of the diet eliminating excess fat, it attacked his heart and the autopsy revealed that the cause of death was starvation!"
I believe Peters self-image was that of a needy and deprived person, someone who had to fill up the empty spaces of his life and body in order to stay alive. Peters ego, his sense of self, was probably motivated by a sincere desire to bring beauty to the world and to inspire others through his voice and art. I believe he wanted to bring pleasure to everyone he met, unfortunately, faced with the cruel disregard our society has for artists and the fact that one has to work harder at being recognised as an artist than one has to work on perfecting ones craft, Peter adopted the classic theme of the starving artist a bit too literally. His mask had two faces. The inward face, the one he saw, was of a misunderstood, neglected and hungry artist. The outward face, the one that we saw, was of an insecure, self-aggrandising, glutton.
Denial and Role Play
When I look at myself and at the many faces of our society, I suspect we all have something in common with Peter. Faced with misunderstanding, rejection and the probable denial of our real nature, our soul self, we hide behind the masks of consumerism, of physical appearance, of social correctness and personal appeal. During adolescence, people select several roles, or masks to disguise their neediness, their hunger and their vulnerability. Some may focus on performance skills, and strive to perfect those aptitudes and attitudes that groom one for success in social and economic arenas. Failing this, a person might select a role, which wins the approval of others, and work hard to fit into whatever niche her family prepared her for. As years go by, we might embrace the comfort and security of these familiar roles and abandon our souls entirely. We might approve of something merely because others seem to be in favour of it. We might advocate for social change, for individual improvement, better schools for our children and harsher sanctions against our criminals, simply because such attitudes fit the current social climate or conform to the exhortations of television commentators and political evangelists.
I have no objections to most of these processes. After all, we are social beings; we need the approval of our friends and neighbours. Social interaction demands a certain amount of role-playing and economic productivity depends on it. However, a certain prophet once said "man doesn't live by bread alone" and "what does it merit a man if he gains the whole world and looses his soul?" By soul , I think he means that very special connection we all have with the world of creation, with nature, and with the roots of our being. There is a place in all of us where the sacred makes its home. There, amidst the shoals and reefs of deep feelings, high ideals, and inspired imagination, the soul seeks communion. It would nourish our ability to perceive beauty, to give and receive love, to realise our essential oneness with all that lives. Soul doesn't expect us to sacrifice our egos, our masks, our social games and economic roles. However, it would appreciate our taking time out to listen to its voice and accept its gifts.
The Tyranny of Time
Time is the key to life. It is that single resource that ensures our sanity, our spirituality and our even having a life of our own. No matter who we are, what our social status is, or even how much money one has, time is the great equaliser. Presidents and paupers, skid row bums and corporate executives, housewives and movie stars can't make a day, an hour or a minute last any longer than it does. None of us can shift back and forth in the years of our lives. Once you turn 56, you will never revisit 55 again and no matter how hard you try, your six-year-old child will not turn into a mature adult in a year. Oh yes, one can turn time into a resource, initiate time saving routines, make more efficient use of time. We could divide time into different points along a continuum and segregate this point in time from all the others. We can strive to control time through the practice of procrastination or action deferral by pretending that you will do a certain thing as soon as you can get around to it.
(The classic case of procrastination is that of a three year old, who faced with the demand that she pick her toys up, the reality that her parents are much, much bigger than her, and the fact that she doesn't want to pick them up, attempts to put off the inevitable by promising her future compliance. She knows she cant win when it comes to the picking up toys routine, but at least she can claim present time for her own use.) You can also over book yourself and pretend you can do five or six things in the time it takes to do two or three. Doctors and professionals often do this (or at least their secretaries do) when they set up their appointment schedules. A lot of time seems to be devoted to the game of catch up, as in when I allocate a single day to contact all of the people, I have previously ignored or decide to do a months worth of ironing in a single evening. However, whether you ignore time, manipulate your own and others time, push all awareness of time away, waste time or fill your time up, you are bound by its constraints and imprisoned by its tyranny.
Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
Edward Fitzgerald,
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Conclusion of The Shattering of the Soul 
Saving Your Soul