Conclusion to The Shattering Of The Soul

We have moved a long way from the issues of soul and consumerism, soul and the environment, soul and the ego, and finally to soul and that old dragon, time. However, this movement highlights one essential reality; the inner quality of soul and spirit which binds us to our true self and the world confers an intimate awareness of the brevity of our mortal span. We are all Mayflies in the face of eternity and yet our lives are precious for all that. The shattering of the soul is an illusion, a metaphor for our ignorance and neglect of the one quality, which brings meaning, purpose and beauty into our lives. Nevertheless, it is possible to cultivate our awareness of soul and invite it into our lives. While there is no single way to accomplish this reunion, each of us can initiate the journey.

Awakening The Spirit

I am particularly fond of the paths of nature and art when it comes to entering the domain of soul . Planting a tree, growing some pansies, taking a casual stroll through the woods or by the ocean awakens my spirit and feeds my essence. I have asked my clients to spend a minimum of one hour a day engaging in any practice, which strengthened the bond between themselves and their spirits. They could spend this hour digging in the garden, knitting socks, meditating on a vase of cut flowers or taking a walk through an old graveyard. Those who favour a sensual approach to life might strengthen the bond through the medium of a candle lit bubble bath, a foot massage, or a traditional native sweat lodge. Those of us who feel a kinship with the dramatic displays of colour and form in the evening sky could visit an art gallery, or better yet, get out the crayons and finger paints. The key to these and other soul reviving practices is silence, simplicity and a lack of attachment to outcomes. The latter is critical, for all too often one loses touch with the process by focusing on a future reward or an expected resolution. The cultivation of the spirit is not an accomplishment to be achieved, but a journey through life.

There are so many books, therapies, and would be gurus to aid us in our progression through this mortal sphere that I feel almost embarrassed to be offering my own prescription for living. However, if you want to save, become acquainted with, or enhance your relationship with your soul you need to cultivate simplicity. My favourite approach to the fine art of simplicity begins with my clothes closet. Periodically, I go through all my clothes, trying them on and contemplating their function in my life. When was the last time I wore something? Does it fit? Does it feel comfortable and of course, does it look good on me? By the end of this exercise I generally have a large bag of dysfunctional, impractical or just not me items. My second step is to call the Salvation Army or some charitable organisation to take them away. For me simplicity involves elimination of the extraneous items in my life. I periodically apply this exercise to the other cubby holes in my home, the kitchen cabinets, the hall closet, the boxes in my storage bin and so on. Since I am a collector of all sorts of pretty, interesting or weird items, it takes a lot of determination to let go of my assorted treasures. I also find that giving these items away, sharing my baby spider plants and divided geraniums helps me connect with my neighbours and extend my friendships. Simplicity also entails not purchasing those things one can make or aren't needful. For example, having made rice the old fashioned way for most of my life, I see little use in buying a rice cooker and as far as an automatic bread maker goes, well, how much bread do I eat any way? This is not to criticise those who collect gadgets or who cant resist a sale. All of us have our own notions of what is necessary in our lives and households. The key to material simplicity is to make your possessions stand up and account for themselves. The following questions could help an inveterate pack rat with this process: "Do I really need this? How does it enhance or contribute to my life style? Could someone put it to better use than myself?"

Letting Go

Another, slightly more difficult step in the process of simplification is letting go of useless opinions. This process entails careful examination of how you express your feelings and judgements. Before one articulates an opinion or judgement regarding ourself, someone else, or society in general, we need to decide if it is true, if it is necessary and if it is kind. By true, I mean does it accurately reflect your real thoughts and feelings on the subject and does it bear any relevance to the facts? Questions regarding the necessary nature of your statement primarily refer to when it is spoken and to whom. For example, I believe in alerting the police when my next door neighbour is beating the hell out of his wife. However, I don't think subsequently alerting all my friends about my neighbour's domestic conflicts is particularly necessary! Finally, a lot of people are under the misconception that being kind means being nice. Such people often confuse not rocking the boat with being a friend. Kindness in this context refers to making a contribution to someone's life, future well being, or simply taking their feelings into account. You can judge the kindness content in your speech by apply a variant of the golden rule. For example: would I really want to have someone say this about me? How does it benefit my audience or me?

This exercise in mindfulness encourages us to examine our thoughts, our motives and just how we are trying to impress or influence our fellow human beings. It is not a particularly easy one, so be kind to yourself if you find yourself slipping into old patterns of gossip or playing the games of poor me and Ain't it awful. Closely related to the practice of mental simplification is the art of avoidance. This entails avoiding those people whose primary communication consists of cutting down, complaining about, or slandering others. It is not necessary for you to correct these people, simple avoidance will suffice. This might prove difficult if they are family members or work mates and business associates. In this situation, you can be brave and assertive and tell them that you don't want to discuss the person or you could fall silent every time the subject came up. Since most people expect some kind of response to their communications, silence on the part of the recipient generally encourage the gossip monger to either change the subject or go away. Of course this particular discipline involves not buying or reading gossip columns and tabloids. It also entails avoiding any form of communication that encourages prejudice, racial or ethnic hatred. If you apply the formula of: Is it true? Do I really need to pay attention to it? Does it encourage kindness in my self and others? you will be well on the way to cleaning up your own and societies mind set.

The Art Of Apreciation

No less important to the cultivation of your soul is the art of appreciation. Since most of us are experts when it comes to criticising anything which is incompatible with our preferences and expectations, we need to balance our critical styles with our capacity to appreciate and enjoy the small delights of this world. When we appreciate ourselves, our lives and everything, which contributes, to our well being, we acknowledge the blessings of life and evoke the spirit of celebration. We begin this process by paying attention to everything that is beautiful, that comforts, that makes us smile or laugh, and that has eased our way in life. I generally ask my clients to carry a notebook around for a week and write down everything that conformed to this standard. They were asked to pay particular attention to anything that produced a sense of awe or wonder. They might note the smile of an elderly person; the song of a bird, the brilliance of a star filled sky, or the hug of a friend.

Subsequently, I would ask them to list as many things as they could which contributed to their lives. Several examples would be the support of a dedicated teacher, the love of a parent, the affectionate greeting of a pet or a particular piece of music. Finally, I would ask them to write down everything they appreciated or admired about themselves. It could be as simple as sending a Christmas card, planting a flower garden or cooking a meal. It could involve hard work or volunteer activity. It was critical for them to be as specific and as concrete as possible. In doing so, they not only learned to pay attention to the positive aspects of everyday living; they also learned the language of appreciation.

Expressing Gratitude

However, as important as being mindful of the small pleasures of life is, the art of appreciation also involves expressing gratitude. As a small child, I learned to write thank you notes to distant relatives for Christmas and birthday presents. I also learned to say thank you when someone did something for me. As an adult, I have expanded such expressions of gratitude to encompass the divine. Prayer is my chief method for doing this, but periodically I find myself applauding a particularly beautiful sunset or saying thank you to a tree in bloom. Expressing gratitude also implies sharing the things we love and bequeathing their benefits to those who follow us. My favourite technique for this lies in writing a will and testament.

Pretend that you have simplified your life by eliminating the useless bits of stuff that clogged up your apartment or house. You probably have a good idea of everything you own and its relative importance to you. You also are aware of the people who have contributed to your well being and which beliefs and ideals you hold sacred. Take a piece of paper and write out a tribute to those friends and relatives you love and appreciate. Don't forget to testify to your faith and your beliefs. This document is designed to inform your contemporaries and loved ones about your beliefs, your hopes for their future and what you are grateful for. It also can act as a final will and testament, enabling you to dispose of your possessions, property, books, CDs, plants, furniture and bank accounts, subsequent to your departure from this mortal sphere. You may have them donated to a charity or sold and the proceeds sent to a distant relative. However, the significance of this will bears little relationship to your material wealth, its importance rests in your ability to openly acknowledge and express your appreciation for your life and the people in it.

If making a will seems a bit premature, you could periodically phone your friends or relatives (especially children) and tell them how much you love and appreciate them. Even more important is sending a card, or writing a letter to those you care for or who have done something special in your life. By remembering and acknowledging the good in our lives, we move from an ego-centred attitude regarding our neediness and lacks, to a soul enhancing vision of our true wealth. Strangely enough, the more we share, the less impoverished our spirits are. This brings me to one of my private myths.

The Fire in the Heart of the Galaxy

At the dawn of creation a fire was kindled in the heart of the galaxy. The fire was built from the love of the Creator and She added to it: the sweetness of birds singing, the power of winds blowing, the wisdom of nature evolving, and the joy of children playing. Incorporated into and generated by its flames are the blessings of generosity, kindness, empathy, intelligence, affection, music, humour and all the wonderful things that make up the human spirit. It is said that every time someone expresses love or shares some portion of their wealth, the fire burns hotter and the Creator laughs in joy. It is also said that every time a needy soul voices its hunger, pain or sorrow, the fire in the heart of the galaxy reaches out to warm the needy ones heart. In its flames there is no such thing as ownership, possessiveness, moral judgements or getting what you deserve, and it is said that the only thing that can exhaust its fuel or block its light is indifference, neglect and a callous disregard for ones life and the lives of others.

We celebrate this fire and the one who set it ablaze by kindling our own spirits with the sparks of friendship, appreciation and gratitude.

The Final Curtain

Saving Your Soul