Is there a difference between our Soul and Spirit? If so, what might those differences be?

Learn About Your Soul ~ Soul Alightment®

Our world consists of a beautiful variety of cultures, philosophies, spiritualities, life focuses, paths and languages. Each culture, philosophy, or system has its own vocabulary that provides a frame of reference. The same can be true for the concepts of Soul and Spirit. The word ‘Spirit’ for a metaphysician, may bring up different ideas than it would for a fundamentalist Baptist, because their frame of reference is different.

Keeping this in mind, let’s see what others have said about Soul and Spirit.

Christian websites basically say: We were created with a Spirit, a Soul and a Body. The soul is attached to the earth, senses and feelings, which leave it always restless and disconnected from god. Through our Spirit we connect with god, and therefore with things that are heavenly, and eternal, and we find peace.1

Egyptian- In ancient Egypt they believed the soul was immortal and made up of nine aspects: Khat- the physical body, Ka-one’s astral self, Ba-soul that travels between realms, Shuyet-the shadow self which operated as a protective and guiding entity for the soul in the afterlife. Akh- spirit-union between ba & ka, Sahu- ghost or dreambody, Sechem- master of circumstances, Ab- the spiritual heart which reflected the person’s character, Ren- one’s secret name given to them by the gods at birth.2
Greek- the word for Spirit is pneuma and Soul is psuche. It’s interesting to me, the correlation of the breath with the word pneuma, and psyche= psuche. 4

Buddhist- “…according to Buddhist ideology, the you that you think of when you think of yourself -- the you reading this article right now -- doesn't really exist. Unlike almost every other religious faith or spiritual practice, in Buddhism, there is no concept of a "soul," eternal or otherwise. Instead, Buddhists believe that the soul, or "self" is only a temporary composite of matter, sensations, perceptions, thought and consciousness that dissipates and ceases to exist at death.”5
Hinduism- “Because Buddhism has its roots in Hinduism, the two religions share many of the same ideas. In Hinduism, however, the atman is an eternal self that exists in a continuous cycle of rebirth called samsara. The type of life one is born into -- animal or human, rich or poor -- is a direct result of the karma accumulated over previous lives. While Buddhists also believe in both karma and in reincarnation, they do not share the notion of the transmigration of the soul. In Buddhism, there is no such thing as a permanent, individual soul.”5

My Own Contemplations About Soul & Spirit:
- The Soul and Spirit as different vibrational aspects of ourselves.
If the Soul and Spirit are two aspects of ourselves, then what distinguishes one from the other, at the foundational level, is their vibration. A thing’s energetic vibration, whether it be physical matter, water, air, a chakra, or an organ, is a reflection of its qualities, purpose, or function and vice versa. This would hold true for the Spirit & Soul. Though they have distinctly (though perhaps subtly) different vibrations, they do intermingle and commune (see more on that below).
- The Soul knows itself as experience.
The Soul has a history connected with physical realm experience, but experiences itself beyond concepts of past-present-future. It is non-linear. This is why traumas often continue to affect us as if they just happened yesterday, even if they happened years, or lifetimes ago. It’s also how our gifts & knowledge from pervious lifetimes can be immediately accessible (ever heard of the little boy who was a piano prodigy at age 6?)
- Spirit is a vibrational aspect close to Source energy.
Our Spirit is an energy connected with high vibrational multidimensional energy realm realities. Our Spirit has the potential to know itself as Source, as Oneness, as that place from which all is birthed. Our Spirit carries Grace into our human experience, and assists.
- If Soul is the horizontal axis of energy, Spirit is the vertical axis of energy.
The Soul axis includes connection with life- with others, the greater soul body of earth, the human Soul collective, and the physical universe, sensuality, experience at physical, mental and emotional levels. The Spirit axis involves our connection to Source, our unique spiritual essence, the matrix of light-love-wisdom energy that exists at dimensions beyond the physical. When these axis work together, spirit and matter commune. We experience synchronicity, flow and evolution.
- The Soul is all our experiences, our joys, our wounds, life themes, archetypes, life history- in this life time and past lifetimes.
- The Spirit is pure always and forever. It is our distilled essence. Our divine spark.
- Spirit assists the Soul as inspiration.
- An evolving Soul provides the opportunity for our Spirit to embody more and more.
- Soul is everywhere. Animals have a soul. The land on which you live has a soul.
- Spirit is everywhere. Permeating everything. Available and accessible.
- There are larger overarching Souls such as the Soul of humanity, the Soul of the Earth, Soul families.
- There is larger overarching Spirit. There are various levels and layers within the Spirit realm.

From John O’Donohue:

Candlelight perception is the most respectful and appropriate form of light with which to approach the inner world. It does not force our tormented transparency upon the mystery. The glimpse is sufficient. Candlelight perception has the finesse and reverence appropriate to the mystery and autonomy of the soul. 7
All the possibilities of your human destiny are asleep in your soul. 8

…the soul holds the echo of a primal intimacy, a fountain of love…the wellspring of love within the heart… 9

To be holy is to be home, to be able to rest in the house of belonging that we call the soul.10

Everything is stored within your soul in the temple of memory. 11

The human deeply desires expression. One of the most beautiful ways the soul is present is through thought. Thoughts are the forms of the soul’s inner swiftness 12

Presence is the way a person’s individuality comes toward you. Presence is the soul texture of a person. 13

There are invitations to move out of that protective, controlling way of being toward an art of being that allows openness and hospitality. To practice this art of being is to come into your soul-rhythm. If you come into your soul-rhythm, then the final meeting with your physical death need not be threatening or destructive. The final meeting will be the encounter with your own deepest identity, namely, your soul. 14

In response to some of the writings mentioned above on the Soul: I do not believe that the senses are bad or prevent us from spiritual growth. I believe the senses, when related to with respect, are a pathway through which Spirit enters, and one way we commune with Spirit.

Through sacred senses, and higher senses such as intuition, we commune with Spirit within ourselves, and our vibration is raised. We begin to merge heaven and earth. We become the vessel of Spirit.

Through practices, we have the opportunity to experience our Soul and our Spirit and bring them into relationship. By way of this immediate relationship, we have new experiences, fresh insights, personal growth and inspiration.

Some practices that potentially provide communion of Soul & Spirit are yoga, painting, drawing, dance, and meditation. Even viewing art, watching a phenomenal ballet, or artist in action, could bring a Soul-Spirit experience,

One of the reasons people come to me (or other practitioners) for sessions, I believe, is to touch into their Soul & Spirit. It’s a time and place where their human personality or life issues have a chance to commune with the Soul and the Soul to commune with the Spirit. Most people’s daily lives don’t provide time for Soul-Spirit, a session creates that time.

We traverse the dimensions of Spirit & Soul maybe more often than we realize though. When we realize this and take the opportunity, we expand our experience of who we are. It’s pleasurable. These dimensions come with qualities such as Joy, Unconditional Love, Synchronicity, Serenity, and Peace. You can turn any moment into a Spirit-Soul experience - usually by slowing down and becoming more present.

Soul without a little mystery is no longer the Soul. - Beth Budesheim Kaoihme

“Hiking, I don’t like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains- not hike! Do you know the origins of the word “saunter”? It’s a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people use to go on pilgrimages to the Holy land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply. “A la sainte terre” “to the Holy Land”. And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers, or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.”~ John Muir

I leave you to saunter with Soul and Spirit.

Connect with your own soul & spirit