In his essay “The Undiscovered Self”, published in 1957, Carl Jung suggested the work of reconnecting to soul was the “the urgent necessity of our time.” In our increasingly polarised world, this statement feels more profound than ever.
“The salvation of the world consists in the salvation of the individual soul,” he added, underscoring the idea that our own inner work and the healing of one’s own soul is the pathway to healing the world.
At Meditation Australia, we aim to highlight the same understanding through our peace-building events; that doing one’s best to find personal inner peace through meditation initiates ripples on the pond that can then radiate outward.
Jung also said that “man is a peculiar psychic unity of experience of body and soul, torn in two pieces by the intellect” (Modern Man in Search of a Soul, 1933) describing how our rational mind, so often polarised and oppositional, can keep us separate from ourselves as much as each other. Hardly conducive to peace-building within or without.
It’s meditation that allows us to dwell in the space between these dualistic forces of right and wrong, black and white – it is a place where soul is invited to return to body.
As such, an antidote to separation might just be adopting a world view that arises from this space between. A world view that can hold all world views. A soulful understanding beyond cold hard facts, which only tell us a surface-level truth at best.
In the soul’s metaphorical language, this is knowing water is H₂O and also seeing it as a symbol of life that reflects the mysteries of the psyche, synonymous with the soul itself.
For me, alongside meditation, listening to myth and poetry also tend to my soul. They connect me to a timeless wisdom that evokes deep insight into the patterns that shape our lives. I find all these practices to be intertwined like braided rope.
How are you tending to your own soul? Meditation is fundamental, of course, and practices such as journaling, breathwork and yoga are likely already on your menu, but I would offer other this in addition:
Fall back in love with the creative activities that first brought you joy. Re-engage your imagination. Move your body, and nourish it with healthy food – with music, art, stories and poetry. Listen with your whole body. Be with others of like heart. Spend lots of time outdoors and remember to be playful. Your soul is the part of you that keeps growing but never grows old. It’s ancient, yet childlike.
Ultimately, tending to soul awakens us to the deeper dimensions of life. It offers inspiration and guidance, encouraging us onwards in the continuing journey toward whole humanhood.