Call of the Soul

The soul cries out to us every day. Sometimes it asks us to challenge something that everyone else is supporting, or to forgive someone who seems undeserving, or to undertake a big project that appears beyond our abilities. It takes strength and courage to stop, listen, and act upon the soul’s guidance.  When we do, often our lives are changed forever.

But more often than not, we ignore the soul’s call. The mind judges its ephemeral whispers as “crazy” or unworthy of our attention. 

Sant Rajinder Singh, head of Science of Spirituality, has said, “One would think the soul, with its infinite power could be strong and resistant, but the nature of the world is that the mind is operating in its home territory whereas the soul is but a guest visiting temporarily.”

Tragically, the world has it completely backwards.

Look at our beautiful planet. We have raped and pillaged its forests, minerals, water, land, and wildlife. Only now are we are beginning to see this. But until we truly grasp who Mother Earth really is, we will not be able to stop this destruction.

We humans have become very clever, but are we truly wise? Wisdom falls into a very different category than cleverness. Wisdom comes from the soul; cleverness comes from the mind. Wisdom sees in ways that the mind, no matter how brilliant, can never grasp. Wisdom knows that this planet is as alive as our own body. Like a mother, she would nourish and cradle us. But when we look just from the mind, we objectify the earth as well as each other. We cannot see her as a sacred being, nor can we see ourselves as sacred. Until we know Who We Really Are, we cannot know Mother Earth.

Many years ago I was taking a walk on Bowen Island, just outside Vancouver BC, and sat next to a large boulder to rest. This rock was very beautiful and I felt compelled to touch it. To my astonishment, I couldn’t lift my hands from its surface. It was as though a giant magnet were holding them there. A surge of energy coursed through my body and I felt this boulder/Being communicating with me. Its essence had a distinct Feminine quality. I was overcome with a deep sadness. Then some images appeared and I saw many forms of destruction to the Earth. I also saw where I had cut off or objectified others, the planet, and myself. I felt the pain of that – it was humbling. But what amazed me most of all was feeling Mother Earth’s devotion for all of life. Feeling Her unconditional Love, despite our mistreatment of her, made me weep.

When I finally could let go of the boulder, I knew that I could never return to the old separation and objectification in the same way. Earth was no longer just a beautiful object to be used and abused. She was a living being, just like me.

I often think about how our indigenous peoples have always known the truth about the Earth, which is why everything that they took would be given back in some form of exchange. Those who are in touch with this truth live from a place of great wisdom, as they know that everyone and every thing is just another gift of the Creator. Some of these wise ones have developed powers that we generally don’t hear about because, unlike most of us, they know how to receive the gifts that Mother Earth offers.

If we are to heal our Earth and ourselves, there is much that we can learn from these beings. But first we need to silence our analytical and judging mind so that we can receive the call of the soul. In this way we can be directed to our life’s purpose and to our real reason for being here on Mother Earth. If we let ourselves open to the wisdom, love, and intuition of the soul, we may just uncover the hidden secret of our very existence.