1. SCRIBBLE PAD Soulful Healing? At what level of human
existence does healing begin?
2. Optimum healing? In May of 1997, when I spoke on behalf of
the American Academy of Family Medicine in Paris and Lourdes,
France; concerning prayer and the practice of medicine, I was
adamant that any and all healing which does not encompass the soul
is at best transitory healing. My work and experience as a hospital
chaplain and healer has completely convinced me that this a bottom
line truth.
3. Healing: curing vs wholeness Many believe healing is
synonymous with curing and it certainly can be, yet its possible to
be cured and not to have healed. Returning to wholeness is one
definition of healing, and I like that one best. I interpret it as
a return to our core essence.
4. Baseline path to wholeness 1st... restore the soul 2nd...
calm the mind 3rd... heal the body
5. What does the word soul mean? No one can give a definition
of the soul. But we know what it feels like. The soul is the sense
of something higher than ourselves, something that stirs in us
thoughts, hopes, and aspirations which go out to the world of
goodness, truth and beauty. The soul is a burning desire to breathe
in this world of light and never to lose itto remain children of
light. Albert Schweitzer, medical missionary & Nobel peace
prize laureate
6. Why put soul first? illnesses of the soul (are) of more
concern than illnesses of the body the soul carries our fundamental
Self, that mysterious, enduring part of us that is able to survive
death and achieve union with God Sanford, Healing Body and Soul,
120
7. Soul growth: as above so below The soul is full of
possibilities--it is not unchangeable. Physical realities and
possibilities are but a reflection of Spiritual realities and
possibilities. Just as the brain and body may be trained, the soul
may also be trained. .. just as the mind and the body must grow,
mature, fail and succeed, so must the soul achieve insight and
skill. The body and mind can lapse into darkness, sickness, and
confusion; and so too the soul. Repetitive and countless learning
opportunities are needed for mental and physical development and
also for soul development and soul maturity. Miller, 13-14
8. Insights from those who know! Stay alert. It is your soul
which matters. If your soul is harmed something irreparable
happens, the extent of which you wont realize until it will be too
late. As soon as you notice the slightest sign of indifference, the
moment you become aware of the loss of a certain seriousness, of
longing, of enthusiasm and zest, take it as a warning. You should
realize that your soul suffers if you live superficially. People
need times in which to concentrate, when they can reach their
inmost selves. Albert Schweitzer, medical missionary & Nobel
peace prize laureate
9. Insights from those who know! The emotional complaints of
our time, complaints we therapists hear every day in our practice,
include emptiness meaninglessness vague depression disillusionment
about marriage, family, and relationship a loss of values yearning
for personal fulfillment a hunger for spirituality All of these
symptoms reflect a loss of soul and let us know what the soul
craves. Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul
10. Soul neglect is a serious issue When the soul is neglected,
it doesnt go away, it appears symptomatically in obsessions,
addictions, violence and loss of meaning. Harry Moody, The Five
Stages of the Soul
11. Are there stages of soul growth? The structure of the great
religions of the worldChristianity, Judaism, Taoism, Islam,
Buddhism, Hinduism--are all rooted in ideas of progressive
developmental passages The notions of stages of the soul, in short,
is a universal one Stages of soul growth can be charted Harry
Moody, The Five Stages of the Soul
12. Points of consideration From a spiritual perspective, the
purpose of life is to achieve soul realization Spirituality
completes us Spirituality unfolds in a series of steps and stages
Spiritual awakening requires struggle and effort Each persons
experience of the Stages of the Soul is similar, yet uniquely
different The Stages of the Soul are spiritual stages
13. The five stages of the soul are Each one of these stages
leads naturally to the next, and is an extension of the one that
comes before it 1. The Call 2. The Search 3. The Struggle 4. The
Breakthrough 5. The Return A contemporary media example of
explanation is the book and movie Jonathan Livingstone Seagull
Harry Moody, The Five Stages of the Soul
14. Care of the soul is not a project of self-improvement is
not a way of being released from the troubles and pains of human
existence care of the soul touches another dimension soul is its
own purpose and end we are well on the way toward soul when we live
as much from the heart as from the head Ultimately, care of the
soul results in an individual I, an I you never would have planned
for or maybe even wanted. Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul
15. For more information contact David Grinstead, MA, CHt
336-380-0203 [email protected] www.livealife.biz