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Soul Passages

There are daily challenges that we all experience. These are typically not life changing, but demand our soulful presence and response. But then there are other kinds of challenges that we can call deep challenges. These may be traumatic or extremely difficult to handle – like death, loss, separation, illness and the like. These challenges are for transformation and can be seen as soul passages.

What we need to know is that whenever we are deeply challenged we are always being invited to open to soul. There are typically three stages we go through in this process. Knowing these stages can help us to do what is required in each of them, thus making the transformation into soul consciousness that the challenges are meant to effect.

Stage 1. SEPARATION. When first challenged there is often a feeling of being alone, isolated or disconnected from others or even from oneself. You might feel that you are a victim. This separation stage is necessary as a first step to re-creating a new relationship with self, other and life.

Stage 2. INITIATION. The second stage is a ‘between’ stage where what has been familiar is receding and at the same time you are opening to something new and different. It is not usually clear what the new and different state is to be or how it is to be. This is sometimes compared to being in the womb, preparing for a birth. You might feel helpless or confused. This is a waiting time, a time for reflection and letting go. There is a kind of surrender required and trust in the intelligence and benevolence of life processes.

There might be no interest in the outer world at this time, and neglect of personal appearance. Manifestations of insensitivity toward others is not uncommon. Even dementia can be seen in light of this second stage, as the new that one is preparing for is death and life after death.

This stage can be chaotic and wild. Behaviour can degenerate. There is a deep search and exploration going on without fixed rules and habits dominating.

Teenagers typically go through this as they make the passage into adulthood. Others make a comparable growing up passage around age 42. And others still take several years to go through it.

Stage 3. EMERGENCE. This third phase is an emergence or return – like the return of the prodigal. As you go through your transformation process you will have incorporated new thoughts, new feelings, new attitudes or some new way of being within yourself and your life. Some behaviours may also have changed.

If the change has been profound you will be different and others will see this difference. Your changes may in a way force others to change because you relate to them differently. They might not like this, or they might not like you as you now are.

You might need to explain to others about the changes you have gone through. You might need to learn or practice sensitive communication skills so as not to alienate others. Present yourself clearly to others without making demands on them.

If you have gone through some kind of personality change only, then you might be less tolerant, more egotistical or arrogant. However, if you have truly emerged with a new dimension of soul consciousness, then your love, tolerance and understanding will also have expanded, so that you can be as sensitive as a new relationship will require.

Your transformation process is never complete until you have re- entered relationships in a renewed way – because soul is all about quality of relationship.

Exercises: Reflect on these three stages of a current transformation process that you are experiencing, or one you have experienced in the past. Is there any distortion or unfinished business that you detect which requires your more soulful response?

This is one of 99 Soul Perspectives. Click here or your BACK button to go back to the Soul Perspectives Index.