“By “soul” I mean the imaginative possibility in our natures, the experiencing through reflective speculation, dream, image, and fantasy—that mode which recognizes all realities as primarily symbolic or metaphorical” (James Hillman, Re-Visioning Psychology, p. x)

Let’s talk soul. I’m immersed in words and phrases related to soul: rediscovering soul, soul-making, soul-centered. With so much language centered on this one word, I believe it’s important to explore how I view soul and what that means for the work that I offer to the world.

In the larger community, there seem to be an endless number of definitions for that one word. Even within depth psychology – the field and connected ways of making knowledge that shaped my perception of soul, there are different understandings offered. In his best-selling book, Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore stated, “It is impossible to define precisely what the soul is (page xi).”

I agree with this statement, and will not even try to pin the word down by assigning one defining statement that would limit my ways of interacting with it. What follows is not a concise definition, but more an exploration of my ways of considering soul. I will reference the writing of Hillman and Moore, as their ways of considering soul have strongly influenced my own.

I see a difference between the soul and soul, or at least adding “the” changes how I move forward in my interaction. “The soul” leads me to see the word as a thing that we possess, a part deep inside of us that holds the essence of our being. Merriam-Webster lists eight definitions for the word soul, with this being the first: “The immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life.” This core of our very being is what comes to mind when I hear, “the soul.”

Shared by itself, soul brings up a very different image for me, and it here I turn to the words of Hillman. In the opening quote, Hillman described soul as “the imaginative possibility in our natures.” This quote is from the introduction to his book, Re-Visioning Psychology. He further considers soul in this introduction, sharing, “By soul I mean, first of all, a perspective rather than a substance, a viewpoint towards things rather than a thing itself” (p. x). He goes on to refer to soul as “the unknown component which makes meaning possible, turns events into experiences” (p. x).

Before you go on, go back and re-read Hillman’s descriptions of soul, for this understanding of soul is so very important to me and the work I do in the world. I’ll wait.

Ready?

Holding soul as a perspective, as a way of imaginally interacting—with the world, with others, with our emotions, with everything—is the heart of a soul-centered approach. This imaginal perspective encourages reflective perspective – a perspective that invites possibilities and finds deeper meaning through looking at moments in time from many different vantage points. Rediscovering soul is all about guiding others as they relearn how to access the creative and the imaginal, and, in turn, learn how to guide others as they do the same. Soul-making—that’s a bigger conversation that we'll have in a future blog post.

So how does this perspective of soul, drawn from archetypal psychology, flavor the offerings of a coach or facilitator? Asking questions that encourage individuals to reflect and consider multiple possibilities for understanding a situation or event provides the coach and facilitator with an approach that often shifts the focus from surface objectives. Imagining into life events and seeing them for more than they may appear to be on the surface—finding the experience and possibilities held deep within the event, invites individuals into a space of deep reflection and insight. Moving into this deeper space often brings with it richer understandings that result in more meaningful movement and actions, and results.

Inviting a soul-centered perspective may seem simple, but it is also complex—layered on a personal understanding and use of imaginal practices. An imaginal approach is built upon moving beyond just intellectual knowing to a space that honors the knowing of the body, mind, spirit, and soul. Soul is found in mythology and poetry and passions, if one knows how to see through a different lens. Holding a soul-centered perspective opens us to recognizing the universal themes and patterns that add nuance and meaning to our lived experience.

Seeing soul as more than an internal part of who we are is not always an easy shift to make. Moving to a space of understanding the soul and soul as two distinct entities can help make space to hold both. Moving slowly and allowing soul to come to you can also encourage “the imaginative possibility in our natures” to come forward. I invite you to slow down, to reflect, and listen for soulful insights and understandings.

For now, I’ll pause. My posts will continue to focus on writings that explore and encourage the imaginal perspective of soul. I hope you’ll continue to imagine and reflect with me. My next post will explore the word enchantment and how it connects to an imaginal perspective. Until then...

Keep Sparkling,

Marta

References

Hillman, James. Re-Visioning Psychology. Harper & Row, 1975.

Moore, Thomas. Care of the Soul. Harper Collins, 1992.