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Why
Body, Soul, & Spirit?
Also
see Body, Soul, & Spirit
Defined
Also see Getting Started
Most
traditions, may they be religious or psychotherapeutic,
fail to take into account the psyche's inherent drive
for wholeness. Wholeness comes about when, on a fairly
routine basis, a person allows awareness of and (under
the correct circumstances) expression of three major
forces of the psyche---Body, Soul, and Spirit. These
are the triple forces that have been considered throughout
history as great centers of human experience.
Awareness
of Body places one in close contact with:
one's physical place in the world, our externally
focused senses, our inner sensations, and
with the experience of Now.
Soul
Awareness affirms our connections---connections
to this world, to friends, to family, to objects,
to events. We carry these connections in our
dreams, our imagination, our mind, and in
our emotions.
Spirit
pulls us beyond our Bodies and our Souls toward
the divine as revealed in wisdom producing
visions and in the mystical experience. Here
we face the All and the Eternal.
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Unfortunately, most of us don't recognize this need
for inner wholeness and don't know how to move toward
that goal. But regular exploration of Body, Soul, and
Spirit has the potential to: deepen
one's experience of life, broaden one's vision, and
help lead one to greater meaning.
Many traditions of inner development have sought to
focus on one or two forces while rejecting the others.
By rejecting Body, or Soul, or Spirit, we throw out
a great deal of ourselves causing disharmony within.
Building
The Case
Only three forces of the psyche? Isn't the psyche much
more complex than these three divisions? Yes and No.
Yes, it is immensely complex. Just look at all of the
medical treatments and psychotherapies that have been
born since the beginning of modern psychology, just
a little more than a century ago. But even with that
innovation, the simple terms Body, Soul, and Spirit
seem to aptly capture so much of our humanity. We all
have a clear sense of what someone is talking about
when they speak of a "loss of soul" or "being
out of touch" with their body. And we know, at
least in general terms, what it means to live a spiritual
life.
Of course,
we are not alone in understanding these three major
categorizations of the human experience. People throughout
the world and throughout time have spoken of these same
forces. Cultures large and small knew of soul and spirit
and body. Art, literature, everyday conversation, dreams,
passing feelings, great expressions of religion---all
hold tributes to these simple words.
Philosophers,
formal and informal, have used similar terms to express
the presence of these forces. The Body is the source
of the burning energies of instinct, sensations, pain,
and pleasure. Soul is the catch-all for another form
of energy--our passions. Spirit---the priests, philosophers
and poets think---is universal enough to describe flights
of imagination, ecstasy, or inner relationship with
a deity. General terms to be sure, but quite useful
in placing most of the world's myths, experiences, and
inner practices into a graspable whole.
How
To Follow The Path of Body, Soul, and Spirit Awareness
The path of Body, Soul, and Spirit Awareness requires
consistent work with each force in one's everyday life.
This work focuses on two approaches. First, one needs
to get a very clear understanding what each terms means.
Not in some abstract manner, but in a really palpable
sense. Borrowing from literature, movies, television,
and other sources, we can develop a deep feeling of
what the terms Body, Soul, and Spirit mean as well as
develop the ability to recognize them in our lives.
Moving beyond knowing definitions, the student of Body,
Soul, and Spirit must complete exercises developed to
increase one's awareness of each force. For instance,
for developing heightened Body awareness, sensory focusing
experiments can be done. Soul awareness can be heightened
by paying close attention to changes in mood. Spirit
exercises can include recovering memories of extreme
feelings of freedom in dreams, a day dream, or in life.
As training progresses, one is ready to take the second
approach, that is learn how to hear Body, Soul, and
Spirit "calling us." We all are frequently
called by our psyche to be more aware in many ways.
A few examples include: Our Souls call us when we have
gone long periods without focusing on our deeper feelings
and on their needs. We start to feel lifeless, dead
to the world and ourselves. The workaholic is called
by his/her Body when they suddenly feel "depressed,"
out of energy and unable to get a sure footing again.
Our Spirits call us when we find ourselves longing for
"freedom," or distance from the things or
people we usually desire to be close to. If we can just
hear these callings and then answer them, we can come
to greater wisdom.
This site includes some of the basic information needed
to begin and progress along this path. Definitions
of Body, Soul, and Spirit
are included along with a listing
of a wide variety of materials
useful in getting a feeling for these experiences. Also
made available is an initial program
of exercises
that can be incorporated into daily life. These resources
are just a start. Above all, use your own imagination
and insight to guide you to other material and experiences
which can deepen your awareness of Body, Soul, and Spirit.
Note: This Is An Open Path
The
path being proposed here is an open path in the sense
that it can be used alone or along with other traditions
(i.e. Buddhism, Christianity, etc.). Religious traditions
fit easily into this path. Most can be followed in the
sense that they provide an approach to the Spirit. However,
they should be followed mindfully since they more than
likely preach a rejection of the Body or Soul. Most
also put a cap on how much of a spiritual experience
one may have especially if it rivals sanctioned experiences.
Psychotherapy
can also build one's ability to have Body, Soul, and
Spirit experiences but, it too can be exclusionary.
Some therapies wish to shut aside experiences of Spirit
or expressions of Body. Good judgment and experimentation
will be necessary to determine how psychotherapeutic
work will fit into the larger task of Body, Soul, and
Spirit Awareness.
Probably
the more preferred approach, is to use these exercises
and learning resources alone, outside the circle of
psychotherapy or religious tradition, because they are
so inclusive in their scope. They draw one closer to
the arts, the humanities, and to religions while at
the same time encourage a simple path of looking closely
at your own experiences of everyday life.
Related topics:
Resurgence of interest
in Body, Soul, and Spirit - Coming
The Gnostics and
Body, Soul, and Spirit - Coming
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