soul path journey

What is the Soul’s Journey?

May 7, 2024

Lauren Williams

Souls & Spirits

Every experience, every choice, shapes our journey.

I find it empowering to think of myself as the creator of my soul’s path. Not just destiny, but making choices that define me.

I want to better understand my past and how it influences who I am now.

This journey is a deep dive into who we are, uncovering layers of our purpose and true self.

It’s a journey of discovery, growth, and potential transformation.

What is Your Soul’s Journey?

Your soul’s journey is an extraordinary concept – a story that unfolds far beyond this lifetime. It encompasses the many lifetimes and experiences your soul undergoes, spanning across your life within the spirit world.

It’s not just about the experiences we have on Earth, but the continuous growth of our soul over time.

At its core, the soul’s journey is about the accumulation and understanding of experiences. Every action you take, every word you speak, and every emotion you feel contributes to this journey. It’s a path of learning, experiencing, and evolving. The real essence of the soul’s journey isn’t just about what defines it; it’s about how you choose to define and shape it with your actions and decisions.

This journey is also an overarching narrative that intertwines our physical incarnations with our existence within the spirit world. It’s a continuous flow, a path that your soul takes from its inception to its evolution into a fully empowered creator being. Unlike a predetermined route, each soul’s journey is unique, marked by individual choices, lessons, and experiences. This journey is your personal story of spiritual evolution and self-discovery.

Understanding the Purpose of the Soul’s Journey

When I think about what the soul’s journey means, it feels like it’s about finding our true purpose and learning from life’s experiences. It’s like each of us is on a personal mission to understand who we are and why we’re here. This journey isn’t just about the big milestones in life; it’s also in the small, everyday moments where we learn, grow, and change.

Every decision I make, every challenge I face, feels like a part of this journey. It’s as if with each step, I’m getting closer to understanding my true self. Sometimes, it’s hard to see the bigger picture, but I believe each experience, good or bad, teaches me something valuable.

This idea makes me look at life differently. I start to see each obstacle as a learning opportunity and each success as a step towards a greater understanding of myself. It’s a journey that’s unique for everyone. Our paths might be different, but we’re all trying to find our way, learn from our experiences, and grow as individuals.

Thinking about the soul’s journey this way makes it more than a spiritual concept; it becomes a practical approach to life. It’s about making choices that lead to personal growth and understanding, constantly evolving and adapting as we walk our unique paths.

Spiritual Journey vs. Soul’s Journey

As we explore and understand our existence, it becomes clear that the spiritual journey and the soul’s journey, though distinct, are deeply interrelated. Each journey offers unique insights and experiences, yet they converge at a point of deep self-awareness.

This interconnection is where we find the I AM Presence , the unchanging core of our being that links our spiritual exploration with the evolution of our soul. Recognizing this interplay enhances our understanding of both journeys, allowing us to navigate our path more clearly and purposefully.

The Spiritual Journey

The spiritual journey is a personal and conscious quest for deeper understanding and connection with the spiritual aspects of life. It’s a path marked by exploration and discovery, where one seeks to understand the nature of the divine, the universe, and their place within it. This journey is unique for each individual, shaped by their beliefs, experiences, and the spiritual practices they adopt.

• Exploration and Awakening : On this journey, individuals may explore various religious beliefs, engage in spiritual practices like meditation or yoga, and seek experiences that offer enlightenment and deeper understanding. It’s a process of continual learning and awakening, where each step brings greater insight into one’s spiritual nature.
• Connection and Growth : The spiritual journey is also about developing a deeper connection with the self, others, and the universe. It involves recognizing and nurturing the spiritual essence within, which some might relate to the I AM Presence . This journey encourages personal growth, compassion, and a sense of interconnectedness with all things.

The Soul’s Journey

The soul’s journey, while intersecting with the spiritual journey, encompasses a broader scope of our existence. It is the path our soul takes through various lifetimes, gathering experiences, learning lessons, and evolving.

• Continuity Across Lifetimes : This journey considers the soul’s continuity beyond our current life. It is about the evolution and learning that the soul undergoes across different incarnations, with each lifetime contributing to the soul’s growth and understanding.
• Learning and Purpose : The soul’s journey is deeply connected to the lessons we learn and the experiences we accumulate. It’s about understanding the deeper purpose of our soul and the journey it takes to achieve its ultimate goals. This path is less about conscious seeking and more about the soul’s innate drive to evolve, learn, and fulfill its purpose.

While both journeys are integral to our growth and self-realization, the spiritual journey is about our conscious search for spiritual meaning in this lifetime, and the soul’s journey encompasses the soul’s continuous evolution across various lifetimes.

Understanding their distinct yet interconnected nature helps us appreciate the depth and breadth of our journey towards self-awareness and fulfillment.

The Soul as a Lifelong Student

The concept of the soul’s journey portrays our soul as a lifelong student, enrolled in the ever-evolving curriculum of life. This perspective views every experience, whether joyous or challenging, as a learning opportunity for the soul.

• Learning Through Life’s Experiences : Our lives are filled with a variety of experiences, each holding multiple possibilities for growth and understanding. The soul, as a student, absorbs lessons from every interaction, relationship, and situation. These lessons contribute to the soul’s evolution, helping it to grow wiser and more mature with each lifetime.
• The Soul’s Curriculum : The curriculum for the soul encompasses all aspects of human experience. From the trials we endure to the moments of happiness we cherish, every aspect of life teaches the soul something valuable. This process of learning is continuous and does not end with physical death, as the soul carries its wisdom into future incarnations.

The Process of Inner Exploration

The soul’s journey is deeply introspective, involving a process of inner exploration to understand the depths of our being. This exploration is essential for the soul to become ‘all knowing’ about its nature and purpose.

• Connecting with the Soul : This journey requires us to connect deeply with our inner selves, listening to the subtle whispers of our soul. It’s about going beyond the surface of our conscious mind to explore the deeper aspects of who we are. This exploration often leads to surprising discoveries about our strengths, desires, and life’s purpose.
• Inner Answers and Guidance : The process of inner exploration allows us to find answers to our deepest questions and guidance for our life’s path. The insights we gain from this journey are unique to us, as they are based on our soul’s individual experiences and lessons. This inner guidance is invaluable, helping us to navigate life with greater clarity and understanding.

In exploring our soul as a lifelong student and delving into the process of inner exploration, we come to realize the depth and richness of the soul’s journey. It’s a path that not only encompasses learning from life’s experiences but also involves a deep dive into the essence of our being, uncovering the wisdom and knowledge that lie within.

Stages Of Your Soul’s Journey

1. Awakening

The first stage of the soul’s journey is often marked by an awakening. This is a moment or period where there is a significant shift in awareness, leading to a deeper questioning of life’s purpose and one’s true self. It’s a stage of realization where the soul starts to see beyond the mundane aspects of daily life and seeks a deeper meaning.

2. Exploration

Following the awakening, the soul enters a phase of exploration. This stage is characterized by seeking knowledge, understanding different spiritual paths, and experimenting with various practices. It’s a time of curiosity and openness, where the soul is eager to learn and experience new things.

3. Challenge

The challenge stage involves facing and overcoming obstacles that are essential for the soul’s growth. These challenges can be internal, like confronting personal fears or limiting beliefs, or external, such as navigating difficult life circumstances. This stage strengthens and refines the soul, preparing it for further evolution.

4. Enlightenment

Enlightenment is a pivotal stage where the soul gains significant insight or understanding. This doesn’t necessarily mean reaching a final state of total enlightenment, but rather experiencing moments of clarity and profound realization that fundamentally change the soul’s perspective and approach to life.

5. Integration

After enlightenment, the soul enters the integration stage. Here, the insights and lessons learned are assimilated into everyday life. This stage is about living the wisdom gained, applying new understanding to daily actions, relationships, and decisions. It’s a process of aligning one’s life with the soul’s true purpose.

6. Contribution

In the contribution stage, the focus shifts from personal growth to serving others. The soul, having gained wisdom and understanding, now looks to share this with the world. This can manifest in various forms, such as teaching, healing, or engaging in acts of compassion and service.

7. Completion

The final stage is completion, where the soul reaches a sense of fulfillment in its journey. This doesn’t imply the end of growth but signifies a phase where the soul has achieved its major objectives for a particular lifetime. It’s a time of reflection, gratitude, and understanding the interconnectedness of all life.

Each stage of the soul’s journey offers unique lessons and opportunities for growth. Understanding these stages helps us to navigate our own journey with greater awareness and purpose.

Reflecting On Your Journey

It’s important to remember one fundamental truth: we are in control of our journey. This realization empowers us to embrace each stage with intention and purpose.

Our journey is ours to shape. Every decision we make, every challenge we face, is an opportunity for growth and learning. It’s a reminder that we are the architects of our soul’s evolution.

Reflecting on this journey, I’m struck by our profound responsibility. It’s not just about moving through life passively; it’s about actively engaging with our soul’s growth.

We own our journey. This ownership isn’t about control in a rigid sense, but about embracing our power to influence our path. It’s about making choices that resonate with our deepest selves.

In this journey, every moment is significant. From the major crossroads to the seemingly small decisions, each step shapes our soul’s narrative.

Looking ahead, the journey continues. It’s an ongoing process of discovery, growth, and transformation. With this understanding, we can approach each new day as an opportunity to further our soul’s evolution.

Remember, your soul’s journey is a reflection of your innermost self. How you navigate it is your greatest expression of personal power and purpose.

Lauren believes spirituality shouldn't be intimidating. She blends ancient practices with modern tools to help you unlock insight, improve your focus, and find deeper meaning within your everyday life.

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This topic is part of the Spiritual Calling stage of the Spiritual Wanderer's Journey

Soul Searching: 7 Ways to Uncover Your True Path

by Aletheia · Updated: Jul 25, 2024 · 93 Comments

You feel lost in life. You’re sick of your job, your relationships are mediocre at best, your friendships are boring and empty, you feel dead inside, and you’ve lost the zest for life …

Can you relate to any of these feelings or experiences?

If you can, you might be going through an increasingly common experience known as the existential crisis . In other words, you’re at a crossroads in life: you’re feeling stuck, and you’re starting to crave a more meaningful existence.

So, what’s the solution to this gnawing angst?

Soul searching.

You might have heard this term before but not given it much attention or importance. Am I right?

Well, I’m here today to point out that (1) you’ve arrived at this page for a reason , and (2) soul searching is a vital part of every life journey in this world.

In this article, my intention is to show you why and how.

Table of contents

What does soul searching mean (definition), why soul loss is the root cause of soul searching, 19 signs you’re a lost soul, how to practice soul searching (7 paths).

Simply put, soul searching is the quest to answer life’s problems and questions.

When most people refer to ‘soul searching,’ they are often talking about uncovering truth and happiness by questioning our thoughts, habits, and motivations. But soul searching also has a deeper meaning.

At its core, soul searching is a desire to return to the center of your being. Quite literally, it is a journey to find your Soul and reconnect with your True Nature. In other words, it is a spiritual path. And usually, it marks the beginning of the spiritual awakening journey.

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Practice reconnecting with your Soul.

Why do some of us have such an intense, visceral desire to soul search? To find what is meaningful, true, authentic, and deep?

The answer is soul loss.

When we are disconnected from our souls, we feel anxious, depressed, lonely, isolated, and chronically dissatisfied with life. 

To overcome this pain, we need to reconnect with the deepest, rawest, most alive, and fundamental part of ourselves.  

Indigenous and shamanic cultures for thousands of years have known about the phenomenon of soul loss, and it’s an increasing epidemic in our society.

In our age of technology, in a society run on materialistic ideals and egotism, we are becoming increasingly disconnected from the wild, raw, and primal Center of our being.

As teacher and author Gary Zukav writes :

We have not turned our attention to the needs of the soul. We have not considered what is required by the soul in order to be healthy. We have not studied the soul, or sought to help it attain what is necessary to its evolution and its health. Because we have been fivesensory, we have focused upon the body and the personality. We have developed an extensive knowledge of the physical apparatus that the soul assumes when it incarnates. We know of amino acids, neurotransmitters, chromosomes, and enzymes, but we do not know of the soul.

So, what exactly is soul loss?

As we explain in our soul loss article:

When we experience Soul Loss, a part of our Soul – or living essence – ‘hides’ or shuts away, hindering us from expressing and experiencing our true potential and wholeness as human beings. Often times entire aspects of our psyches are completely blocked out or repressed. 

There are many causes of soul loss. Some of the common reasons are listed below:

• Childhood trauma (physical, emotional, mental, or sexual abuse; divorce; immigration; death in the family; abandonment, bullying, etc.)
• Adult trauma (job loss, poverty, rape, violence, divorce, mental health issues, isolation, accidents, death of loved ones, discrimination, etc.)
• Social conditioning
• Religious brainwashing
• Overuse of technology/entertainment (i.e., a form of numbing and escapism)
• Inherited ancestral trauma
• Materialism
• Scientific/reductionist values and structure of society

… and the list goes on.

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Essentially, anything that threatens our physical, mental, or emotional survival – and any addictive, one-sided, suppressive ideology or habit – causes soul loss.

As a result, most of us feel a nagging, looming feeling that something is wrong …

Something is missing. We’re not happy with ourselves or our lives, no matter how popular, successful, or attractive we are.

Something is always missing. 

And what’s missing is the connection we have with our Soul , which is the doorway to our True Nature .

The truth is that most people in society are lost souls.

They don’t know about their deeper Self, aren’t interested in it, and have never dipped into the vast waters of their True Nature. Instead, they operate solely from the ego, the false self , that was constructed since childhood to defend against the overwhelming magnitude of Life.

Even when such people do begin to hear the longing of the soul to break free and be seen, they suppress it. They go back to the beliefs, habits, and structures in society that reinforce mindlessness and soullessness – because it’s easier, it’s less intimidating and less confronting.

But eventually, the longing becomes so intense that they have no choice but to listen. This is the beginning of the spiritual awakening process : the dismantling of the ego and the blossoming of our Soul, which longs to reunite with our True Nature as Spirit or Consciousness.

However, there’s an in-between place: a limbo. This is the space where lost souls dwell.

In this limbo, a dance between the old dissolving and the new not-yet-coming-into-being is deeply felt.

It’s at this point that we tend to feel stuck, lost, empty, alone, and scared. There is the temptation to go back to old ways of being, but at the same time, there’s a profound sense of dissatisfaction with everything.

If you’re stuck in this limbo, you might experience the following symptoms:

• You feel constantly lethargic and fatigued
• You have no motivation and feel restless
• You feel alone
• You feel unhappy with your life
• You crave something ‘more’
• You’ve become the outsider or the black sheep of the family
• You’re frequently irritable and moody
• You’re undergoing a mid-life or quarter-life crisis
• You’re more prone to addictions
• You struggle with self-loathing
• You keep trying to numb the pain, but nothing works
• You feel fundamentally ‘broken’
• You struggle with existential depression and anxiety
• You feel like something is missing inside of you
• You’re bored and dissatisfied with others and life
• You feel stuck and stranded
• You struggle with feeling empty inside
• You don’t know who you are anymore
• You want to know what the point of everything is

Can you relate?

If so, you’re certainly not alone.

Welcome to the Lost Souls Club . Motto: I can’t get no satisfaction. 

Read more: 21 Signs You’re Experiencing “Soul Loss” »

It’s because we feel separate from oneness that we begin to search, the search for completion, the search to come home. – Jeff Foster

It’s easy to soul search in the modern secularized sense of the term. All we need to do is introspect a little and ask ourselves some pointed questions. Traveling is often touted as a great way to soul search for young, bright-eyed seekers.

But soul searching, in the spiritual sense of the term, goes much deeper than just hopping on a plane to Bali. Nevertheless, to my knowledge, it is the most worthy and important pursuit in existence.

What could be more vital than connecting with your innate, fundamental, spiritual Essence?

If you’re seeking to answer questions about mundane issues (like what job will I suit, should I get married, etc.) then perhaps the below recommendations won’t satisfy you.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to dive deep, learn how to find yourself , how to be true to yourself , and open a door to your True Nature, keep reading:

1. Make friends with solitude

Solitude will be your greatest ally when it comes to soul searching.

You need to be a lone wolf . How else can you listen to the whispers of your soul in a chaotic, noisy world? It’s extremely difficult to go within unless you have undergone years of rigorous meditation training (which, mind you, most people haven’t).

So make regular time and space to spend time in solitude by yourself away from others – no technology interruptions either (digital people are still people)!

Think about dedicating ten minutes to half an hour (or more) each day to a solitary activity of your choice. You might choose something passive, such as meditation, or active, such as taking a stroll through the woods. Honor your level of energy and go with it.

2. Explore the nature of your ego

If your soul is your true individuated essence, your ego is your false self: it’s the mask you present to the world. 

Your ego is much like a cloud. It appears to have form, but it changes and morphs constantly.

Question: have you ever noticed that you put on different roles with different people? Yep. That’s your ego in action – it’s not solid, and essentially, it’s a misrepresentation of who you really are.

Unfortunately, our ego genuinely believes it is who we really are. Because it’s so convinced that it’s real, it will reject any attempt to dismantle it because it perceives that as a death threat. And so, growth of any kind is extremely difficult because the ego is always trying to protect itself.

As we can see, exploring the nature of your ego (and learning to see through it gently) is a crucial step in your soul searching journey. In fact, it’s the single biggest block to embodying who you really are.

To explore the nature of the ego, we need a combination of inner work and soul work . Inner work deals with the dissolving of blockages in our psyches, while soul work is the practice of surrendering to the Divine.

Some ways to explore your ego that combine inner work and soul work include:

• Journaling – writing down your thoughts, self-beliefs, habits, likes, dislikes, and so on
• Self-inquiry – looking within and asking “Who am I?” and seeing what changes, fades, or dies (these are your ego elements); paradoxically, we discover who we are by seeing who we are not.
• Various forms of spiritual meditation – there are so many ways to learn how to witness your thoughts and the stories constructed by the mind – one of the most common types is vipassana meditation

These three simple practices can have a tremendous impact on your ability to see clearly and experience the truth of who you really are.

3. Reconnect with your child self

As author and psychotherapist Dr. Neal Marshall Goldsmith writes :

The soul … is this part of us that is the earliest, deepest, and the most authentic part of us.

Your inner child carries the original qualities of your soul that you were born with. And thankfully, it’s not that difficult to reconnect with your inner child.

I’ve written a lot about inner child work on this website in the past, but to summarize, here are a few ways to tap into your childhood self:

• Write a letter to your inner child
• Do an inner child visualization or meditation (here are some free inner child healing affirmations we’ve created and shared on YouTube)
• Look at pictures of your inner child
• Do something your inner child loved to do when you were little
• Start each morning with an inner child journaling practice (see our highly rated Inner Child Journal for in-depth guidance!)

Approach these activities gently. Make observations about your younger self and what they want or need from you. Also, reflect on the you now and the you then. What qualities from your inner child can you integrate more into your life?

4. Reflect, introspect, and visualize

Soul searching is an inner adventure. Therefore, the practices and steps you take toward finding your inner Center will often require reflection and introspection.

Additionally, visualization enhances these two qualities and helps you to retrieve knowledge and guidance through the power of imagination.

Poet and philosopher Mark Nepo shares a beautiful visualization in his book The Book of Awakening :

Close your eyes and breathe your way beneath your troubles, the way a diver slips to that depth of stillness that is always waiting beneath the churning of the waves. Now, consider two things you love doing, such as running, drawing, singing, bird-watching, gardening, or reading. Meditate on what it is in each of these that makes you feel alive. Hold what they have in common before you, and breathing slowly, feel the spot of grace these dear things mirror within you.

This example of reflection, introspection, and visualization is perfect for soul searching as it gets you in touch with your basic aliveness: the essence of your soul.

You can listen to or create any visualization that appeals to you; just make sure it’s soul-directed.

5. Connect with nature and the wildness within you

Nature is tremendously healing and revivifying to the human soul.

We often think of ourselves as separate from nature. We’re human and “above” nature, after all, right? Wrong. We’re an inseparable part of nature. Our blood, bones, hair, skin, and entrails are all stuff of the earth: animalistic, carnal, and corporeal.

Despite centuries of domestication, the human soul still retains its innate, fundamentally wild nature.

We are not wild in the sense of ‘uncontrollable’ or ‘feral,’ but wild in the sense that the Center of our being can’t fully be tamed: it is essentially free. We are, at our core, all free spirits . We see this in moments of heroism, in the primal screams of childbirth, in the grunts of lovemaking, and in the belly-deep laughs of mirth.

To get in touch with our basic wildness, our inner wolf , is to unite with a fundamental quality of the soul – and that can easily be rediscovered in the domain of nature. 

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It’s not difficult or taxing to reconnect with nature. All it requires is just a couple of minutes a day outside , mindfully observing the trees, the animals, the clouds, and the sun rays beaming through the clouds. If you’re lucky enough to live close to a natural reserve, you might like to practice the Japanese art of Forest Bathing or take a blanket and have a picnic.

If you’re in the city, there’s still the opportunity to connect with nature. Go to the local park, listen to sounds of nature on your phone, or buy a potted plant. When your heart is open, there are endless ways for nature to creep, dig, weave, and sprout its way into your life.

6. Ask some soul searching questions

Questions are simple and direct ways of finding your personal truth. And living truthfully is living authentically : it is respecting the nature of your own soul.

Some questions you might like to ask during your soul searching journey might include the following:

• What do I want in life?
• What is the meaning of life ?
• What is my true purpose?
• What is authentic within me?
• What is inauthentic within me?
• What does happiness mean to me?
• What would truly fulfill me?
• Where is my ego an obstacle?
• What is a soul quality of mine?
• What legacy do I want to leave?

These are only a few examples of soul searching questions, so feel free to create and ask your own.

If you need more guidance on journaling as a beginner, see my free guide on how to journal (there are 19 essential tips, so be sure to check them out!).

7. Find your soul space and place

Sound confusing? I’ll explain.

A soul place is a physical location that deeply calls to you: it speaks to your soul. You might feel a sense of nostalgic longing for this place or a sense of deep resonance and almost mystical significance .

Soul places can be mundane areas (such as your backyard), untouched areas (such as a place in the wilderness), or holy sites (such as Stonehenge, Uluru, Notre Dame Cathedral, etc.). 

You will feel a sense of expansion in these places, deep peace, and like you have finally ‘found home.’ What happens when you feel this way is that you’ve found an external representation of the inner heaven within you. That’s why soul places touch us so deeply.

Your soul space (as opposed to a soul place ), on the other hand, is an inner experience of your True Nature. We often inhabit our soul spaces in moments of prayer , contemplation, altered states of consciousness , and deep meditation. 

As Mark Nepo writes,

Each person is born with an unencumbered spot—free of expectation and regret, free of ambition and embarrassment, free of fear and worry—an umbilical spot of grace where we were each first touched by God. It is this spot of grace that issues peace. Psychologists call this spot the Psyche, theologians call it the Soul, Jung calls it the Seat of the Unconscious, Hindu masters call it Atman, Buddhists call it Dharma, Rilke calls it Inwardness, Sufis call it Qalb, and Jesus calls it the Center of our Love. To know this spot of Inwardness is to know who we are, not by surface markers of identity, not by where we work or what we wear or how we like to be addressed, but by feeling our place in relation to the Infinite and by inhabiting it.

To inhabit this soul space, we need to break through the barriers of the ego through various methods of inner work – that is the doing side of things. The other side is being : we need a practice that helps us to cultivate inner stillness and silence (found through the practice of soul work ). And the best method I know of for experiencing this state is meditation .

Therefore, I recommend practicing meditation (or dwelling in your soul place ) regularly as you discover your soul space in this world – one enhances the other in an electric sort of way.

A few deep meditations you can experiment with include using a mantra such as “I Am,” using the self-inquiry method of “Who am I?” or practicing open awareness where you allow all sounds, sensations, and thoughts to rise and fall like waves in the ocean.

I am the drop that contains the sea. How beautiful to be an ocean hidden within an infinite drop. – Yunus Emre

To soul search is to be fully human and to embark on the greatest journey that life offers us: the spiritual quest.

I hope this article and the guidance I’ve offered have inspired you to dive deeper and reunite with the Essence of your deeper Self.

In conclusion, I’ll leave you with a beautiful soul searching quote by poet and novelist Herman Hesse :

All births mean separation from the All, the confinement within limitation, the separation from God, the pangs of being born ever anew. The return into the All, the dissolution of painful individuation, the reunion with God means the expansion of the soul until it is able once more to embrace the All. 

Tell me: what difficulties have you faced on your soul searching journey? What triumphs? I’d love to hear from you below.

To go deeper into your soul searching path, see our essential guide on the Spiritual Journey »

Whenever you feel the call, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. The Spiritual Wanderer Course: Need "big picture" direction, clarity, and focus? Our Spiritual Wanderer course is a crystallization of 10+ years of inner work, and it can help you find your deepest path and purpose in life as a spiritual wanderer. You get 3+ hours of audio-visual content, workbooks, meditations, a premium test, and more!.

2. Shadow & Light Membership: Want weekly intuitive guidance to support you on your awakening path? This affordable membership can help you to befriend your dark side, rediscover more self-love, and reclaim inner wholeness.

3. Spiritual Awakening Bundle: Looking for a collection of all our essential transformative resources? You get five enlightening ebooks, seven in-depth journals, plus two empowering bonuses to help you soul search, heal, and awaken.

More Spiritual Calling

About Aletheia

Aletheia is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and intuitive guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. As a survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. [Read More]

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The hardest part of my journey so far has been the depression. I’ve come close to taking my own life more times than I can count in the past year or so. Today, though, I think I finally reached a turning point. I’m feeling… different. Better, yes, and also strange. It’s hard to put my finger on it. I feel like something came back online that’s been dormant for a long time. Not sure what it is, though.

There’s this article and a few more that brings me here today. Ever since I was introduced to this website, I have no doubt that it truly is a journey. Four years and still going. And I’m loving it every step. I haven’t been in a lot of contact with you. So you could say I’m checking in. I discovered that what seemed to be a distraction actually turned out to be a part of the journey. I still have work to do. I’m ok with that because I think I will be always learning. I was always afraid of going outside of what I was taught was right so I was sceptical about stepping outside of learning in church. I basically took a dare and I don’t regret it. I never wanted to learn about God in the “religious way” anyway. But that is all I knew for many years. Even so I can see that I am and always have been a lone wolf. Even when I went to church regularly I was able to see that some things were off. My prayers were about wanting to know God personally and in a real way. I believe those …  Read more »

Reading this week’s soul searching article really brought me a lot of emotions and reflections. I can’t even imagine where I would be if I wasn’t on this path you described. The best thing is it never ends, always evolving and growing. Thank you for this beautiful discussion for the most important issue of my life.

What Happens on a Spiritual Journey? 5 Stages You Will Experience

Going on a spiritual journey can be exciting, but it can also be an overwhelming experience. Many unexpected things can happen on a spiritual journey, and it can be a completely different experience from person to person. So, what happens on a spiritual journey?

Things to Know:

• A spiritual journey is a deeply personal and individual experience. ✓
• There are five stages: Soul Searching, Awakening, Facing Your Fears, Rebirth, and Applying Your Wisdom. However, not everyone will experience all these stages. ✓
• When embarking on a spiritual journey, it’s important to be cautious of ‘greedy gurus’ who may try to take advantage of your vulnerability. ✓

Table of Contents

What Is a Spiritual Journey?

A spiritual journey is a personal exploration of self and life. It’s embarked upon for personal growth, inner peace, and self-understanding . This journey can lead to self-discovery or answers to life’s profound questions. It often culminates in a deeper self-awareness or a spiritual awakening, recognizing the interconnectedness of all life.

5 Stages You’ll Experience on a Spiritual Journey

Stage 1 – soul searching.

The first stage of a spiritual journey is soul searching, which is when you decide whether to embark on this journey or not. This stage is often met with a lot of confusion and consideration. You begin your inward search and ask questions like:

• “Who am I?”
• “What am I here on Earth to do?”
• “What is the purpose of Life?”

As you start to seek answers to your questions, your thoughts and actions will likely change too.

Beneficial Practices for Stage 1: Trust me, journaling is a game-changer during the soul-searching stage. Pouring your thoughts, feelings, and questions onto paper can bring so much clarity. And don’t underestimate the power of nature and quiet reflection – they’re your allies in this journey. I can’t stress enough how much daily reflection has cleared my mind during my own soul-searching stage.

Stage 2 – Awakening

The second stage of a spiritual journey is the awakening stage. Now is the time when you’ll begin to see the world differently, and many once confusing things will now make sense to you. You’ll become more self-aware and start to see things through a spiritual lens.

This stage is often compared to waking up from a dream and seeing the world around you more clearly. You can now break down your life experiences into different levels of understanding and interpretation.

At this point, you may find yourself drifting away from friends , hobbies, and other interests that don’t fit into your new spiritual beliefs. If this happens, don’t worry because you will find new like-minded people and interests on your new journey.

Beneficial Practices for Stage 2: This is where mindfulness practices really shine. Meditation, yoga, breathwork – they’re all going to help you cultivate a deeper awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Meditation, in part

Stage 3 – Facing your fears

The third stage of a spiritual journey is all about facing your fears and seeing the good, bad, dark, and light. During this stage, you will find that you can let go of things that were holding you back.

You need to be strong and have faith in yourself because you will go through a lot at this stage, but it will all be worth it when you reach the end of your transformation.

Beneficial Practices for Stage 3: Brace yourself – this stage is all about confronting and releasing old fears and limiting beliefs. Therapeutic practices, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or trauma-informed yoga, can be a lifeline. And don’t forget about journaling – it’s been a crucial tool for me to understand and face my fears.

Stage 4 – Rebirth

The fourth stage of a spiritual journey is rebirth, and this is when you will start to become who you were destined to be. You will find that you are more confident, positive, and ready to take on the world. You’ll want to start living your life with a newfound purpose and direction.

The rebirth stage can also bring new, like-minded people into your life. I think this is one of the most positive stages of the spiritual journey because it brings happiness and contentment into your life.

Beneficial Practices for Stage 4: This is your time to shine! Engage in practices that nurture your sense of self and your connection with the world. Spend time in nature, get creative, practice self-care. Nurturing my body through healthy eating and regular exercise has been a game-changer in my own rebirth stage.

Stage 5 – Applying your wisdom

The final stage of a spiritual journey is applying the new wisdom you have gained to your everyday life. This stage is when everything falls into place, and you realize that everything in life happens for a reason and things never stay the same forever.

You will find that you can see the bigger picture and know that each experience is helping you become who you were always meant to be.

Beneficial Practices for Stage 5: This is the grand finale of your spiritual journey – applying your newfound wisdom to your everyday life. Mindful living, conscious decision-making, teaching, and guiding others – it’s all part of the journey. Sharing my experiences and insights with others has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my journey.

Final thoughts

Starting on a spiritual journey is exciting and new, and you will learn a lot from it. Having a clear understanding of what you hope to get out of it and what your spiritual journey means to you will help keep you on the right path. Integrate what you have learned into your day-to-day life to make changes that will move your life forward. Remember, spirituality is a life-long journey, so make sure you enjoy it.

• https://www.wikihow.com/Go-on-a-Spiritual-Journey
• https://lonerwolf.com/spiritual-journey/
• https://chopra.com/articles/the-7-stages-of-spiritual-development

Don’t Worry, Your Soul Has a Plan

Nestled within your physical body is your soul, and this energy that animates your body and puts a twinkle in your eye didn’t come here without a plan.

Your soul mapped out a journey and programmed it into the vessel that is your human body.

You are not alone. You didn’t come here empty-handed, and this is your reminder that buried within, you always know the way.

Why Souls Come to Earth

Earth is our school. We come here to learn. We come here to teach . We come here to help others. We come here to grow.

I have spent many days and nights pondering why our soul would want to grow and learn things, but the answer I get back is always the same:

Growth is what expands our consciousness and keeps the Universe alive. As we grow, as our consciousness grows, so too does the Universe.

We have all heard that the Universe is constantly expanding, and this I believe, is only because we keep expanding too. Without this growth, without the pursuit of raising our consciousness, the Universe would die.

It is likely that this is only part of the story, but it’s the simplest way to put into words the feelings and emotions that are stirred when I ask this question.

While it is often hard enough for our human body to get out of bed to start the day, our soul is supercharged with energy and is motivated to do the work and make this journey to Earth school.

There are many dimensions in the spirit world, but I have also heard from communication with my guides that coming to Earth is one of the rare experiences that our soul gets to experience individuality.

On a soul level, we are connected to everything and everyone, but in human form, we are able to experience our own unique footprint a little more. We get to feel our separateness from the Universe.

As Eckhart Tolle says, “ we are the Universe expressing itself as human for a little while ” and that is exactly what our soul essence, the Universe within, gets a kick out of when it comes to Earth.

Our soul also knows that whatever tragedies and struggles that are waiting for us on Earth are simply temporary, as when we return to our pure form, and merge back into the Universe, everything will be ok and we will be whole again.

All of these factors combined, make Earth School and exciting prospect for many soul !

Lessons Our Soul Came to Learn

To expand our consciousness, to grow, and to realize our individuality and who we truly are, we have to experience duality.

We have to experience the opposite of what we know in order to reach a state of balance and wholeness.

We are pure love, and experiencing the opposite of this is the only way for us to strengthen, grow, and expand this love. Finding love in the hardest of situations is part of what we are here to do.

While love is the ultimate lesson, there are other lessons that our soul longs to learn too.

Our soul comes to Earth knowing exactly what it wants to achieve and what lessons it wishes to master. It makes plans with other souls and even chooses the country it wishes to live. Our soul also chooses the family it wishes to be born into. All of these decisions set the stage for the soul’s life on Earth.

We also have to keep in mind that our soul is full of energy and so, it often makes ambitious plans!

Our soul knows we can handle it, but sometimes I wonder if our soul forgets just how draining life on Earth can be at times!

While your soul has a plan before coming to Earth, there is also free will and choices to be made along the way. While nothing is set in stone, there are certain destinies that will need to be played out in some way or another.

The details of these destinies are not yet formed, but the energy imprint is there, and within that imprint holds the possibilities of what your life can bring.

While the possibilities are many, we each have our own mountain to climb and our own special view that we are climbing towards. While there are millions of pathways and opportunities on this mountain, the destination is the same.

For our soul, it is not so much the events of life that are important but what these events stir and bring up for us. It is what we make of the events that happen that matters the most.

We are continually learning how to return to a state of love, but this journey is different depending on what our soul wants to learn.

Perhaps our journey to love is one that requires patience, or boldness, or teaching, or truth, or strength, or poverty, or trauma, or loss, or anxiety, and the list goes on.

These pathways however , are not ones that we can judge from a human level. From a human point of view, it feels almost cruel to say that our soul chose to be abused in order to grow, or chose to experience tradgey and loss to help keep expanding the consciousness of the Universe.

But, if we look at these events from the level of the soul, we see that there is no judgment. There is no “bad” or “good” there just Is. What we perceive as being terrible and awful, may actually be part of something that is bigger than just ourselves.

This terrible thing that happens to us may feel excruciatingly painful and be a hard burden to bear, but if we zoom out, we will always see that the ripples the event creates always leads back to love.

What may be a terrible, painful experience for our soul may be a blessing that we are actually giving to others and to the rest of the world.

This line of thinking started becoming more clear to me when I heard the near-death experience story of Dr. Mary C. Neal .

When she crossed over, she was told by her messenger on the other side that her son was going to die. Of course, no parent ever wants to hear this, but she was shown that his death, the pain it would cause and all the rest of it, would create a ripple effect that led back to love.

During her experience, she realized that love comes from all things , even things that we would label with our human mind as being bad or terrible.

Of course, while we are in these human bodies with our ego, and society and everything else, it can sometimes be very hard to see the ripple of love that come from tragedy, abuse, and pain, but it is always there when we are ready to look for it.

Remembering Your Soul Plan

If we trust that our soul plan is always about returning to love, it becomes unnecessary to really know the ins and outs of the plan, but of course, our curious minds are always looking for more information!

Our soul plan is one that cannot always be revealed to us in full, but we can definitely catch glimmers of it through signs , our intuition, and through getting aligned with both the inner and outer Universe.

Here are a few tips to help you gain insights into your soul plan:

• Look at the family you chose to be born to. What feelings and emotions do you have about your childhood? What was your birth order ? All of these will give you clues as to the set up of your soul plan, as remember, your soul chose your family as it knew it was the right start for your journey in this life.
• What is something you have always felt called to do? Is there a place you feel you want to visit or a culture you feel drawn to? This may also give you clues as to what path your soul is looking to take in this life.
• What natural talents were you born with? Your natural talents and passions also provide insights into your soul path and what strengthens the energy of your soul.
• Look over the major turning points or events of your life. These often give you a clue as to when your soul path was pivoting and you were leveling up. If you look at what themes were stirred around these times, you may start to see more of the pattern unfold.
• What themes keep repeating in your life? This is a huge indicator of what your soul has come to master in this life.
• What diseases or illnesses have you battled with? What have they shown or taught you? Chronic diseases and disabilities are often part of our soul plan.
• What type of people are you drawn to? The people you choose to surround yourself with and the people you resonate with the most may also give you clues as to what your soul is here to achieve.
• What type of people do you struggle to get along with? Often the most challenging people in our lives are our greatest teachers!
• Do you feel drawn to learning a particular instrument, language, skill or trade? This may also give you clues as to what your soul wants to learn in this life.

Often when we look for patterns or themes in our life, we start to see the pieces unfold and the journey unravel a little bit more for us.

We can also gain further insights into our soul plan through psychic readings, astrology, channeling , tarot, and accessing our Akashic records .

While knowing aspects of our soul path can be helpful, trying to figure out every detail is not really what we are here to do. We are here to live it out and experience it moment to moment, as that is the only way we can truly learn and share our soul gifts with others.

We also have to remember that part of us already knows our soul plan; we just have to trust and surrender to that part of ourselves.

Surrender to Your Soul

We are always on the right path, as every path will eventually lead us to the top of our mountain.

As we move through life, we just need to remember that our soul knows the way! And the more we surrender, let go, trust, and allow our soul to take the lead, the more we can align with whatever it is that our soul wants to achieve in this life.

If you want to bring more of this surrender into your life, start by saying a prayer or mantra such as:

“Dear Soul/Universe/God/Goddess, please show me the way! Please allow me to surrender to the path of my soul and to trust the wisdom I hold. Please allow me to access this essence within so I may feel guided every step of the way. Allow me to surrender to you, allow me to serve you. Allow me to be guided to the right actions at the right time.”

You may also find my book The Power of Positive Energy, helpful on this journey too.

When we allow our soul to guide us, when we allow our soul essence to shine through, there is a natural rhythm and flow that emerges.

This flow puts us in the groove of our soul path, it helps us to feel less attached to the life events that happen, and allows us to see with greater ease that everything is here to teach us how to strengthen the energy of love.

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Sent every Sunday (pacific time)

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About the author.

Tanaaz is the creator of Forever Conscious. She is an intuitive astrologer and aims to use her writing to heal and inspire. She is also the author of several books including the Power of Positive Energy, Messages for the Soul, and My Pocket Mantras. She also runs online courses and in-person retreats.

Knowing Your Soul's Purpose

Do you ever wonder what you’re doing here and what your soul’s purpose is.

Posted July 31, 2019 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

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“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there the whole while, waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living."

— Joseph Campbell

Your soul’s purpose is why you’re here on this earth at this time. What you’re looking for or seeking is probably connected to your soul’s purpose. It is an aspect of your life that drives you and moves you forward.

When you know your soul’s purpose, you’re content with your life. When your life theme is right for you, you feel a sense of flow, as if you’re headed in the correct direction. Everything feels right. In his book Flow (2008), Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi says that when you tap into your soul’s purpose, you feel a sense of harmony.

Rather than following the path suggested by someone else, those “in the flow” appear to be living their chosen, authentic dreams . When your theme is connected to your purpose, you will feel motivated and intrinsically happy.

Some people know their soul’s purpose early in life, while others discover it later on. Sometimes a soul’s purpose emerges in response to a childhood experience, which could have been joyful or possibly related to trauma .

There are things, though, that don’t nurture or feed our soul’s purpose. We need to let go of what no longer serves us, whether they’re thoughts, activities, or behaviors. For example, If you’re feeling uncomfortable with someone, consider letting that person go. Your soul is giving you a message. Maybe this individual is taking all the joy out of your life.

In his book The Art of Healing (2013), Bernie Siegel, M.D., says that he believes our soul’s purpose is to achieve the true balance we need to use our bodies and light to become soulful in our actions. He suggests that we think of ourselves as candles, with the flames reaching for the heavens in the hope that it connects with the Divine.

He suggests thinking of the wax and wick as our bodies, which help connect and ground us. While the candle burns, the flame consumes the wax, and its quality is determined by how pure the flame is. This candle, in fact, can illuminate our world by sharing its love and light.

If you’re at a crossroads in your life, perhaps it’s time to ask yourself some sacred or awakening questions that inspire transformation. Here are a few you might ask yourself, as they might be clues to your soul’s purpose:

• What am I good at?
• What part of my day is joyful?
• What brought me joy as a child?
• What in my life no longer serves me—emotionally, physically, and spiritually?
• Are there any synchronistic events that could be a clue to my soul’s purpose?
• Have I had any accidents that served as wake-up calls for me?
• Who are my role models and icons?
• What do I often teach others?
• What are my dreams and desires?
• How do I help others transform?
• If I had one year to live, what would I do?

Finding your soul’s purpose could be viewed as an investigative journey or a scavenger hunt. If you’re a spiritual seeker, then you’re already on this path. It’s important to be self-aware and alert to all possibilities. It’s about asking questions that bring you home to the place you were meant to be. Some people know early on what their soul’s purpose is, but for others, it takes time and experimentation.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow. New York, NY: Harper.

Siegel, B. (2013). The Art of Healing. Boston, MA: New World Library.

Diana Raab, Ph.D., is an expert in helping others transform and become empowered through creativity, especially writing.

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Writing novels that renew the soul...

Angela (angie) hoke, author, a good book entertains the mind, but a great book renews the soul..

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• Sep 28, 2022

Spiritual Journey vs. Soul Journey and Why You Should Consider Both!

How many of you have been feeling

stuck, unsettled, or anxious,

waiting for the day when you feel peace without regret for the past

and worry for the future?

How many of you have felt like

you must have some purpose,

but you don't feel aligned with it?

And you're not even sure what it is?

Maybe you have a religious faith that you practice, and you believe in the core of it, but you suspect you may not be doing it correctly. Because deep down, you were expecting to feel more peace by now. Maybe you even justified the lack of peace in your mind by convincing yourself that you will only get it in the afterlife.

Or maybe you aren't religious at all, but you suspect there's something bigger out there, and that it may hold some key for you and what you should do with your life. Except, it feels elusive, and you have no idea how to find it.

All of these feelings are questions are indications

that you are disconnected from your soul journey,

and that you may be in need of a spiritual journey.

But what exactly is a Soul Journey? And how does that differ from a Spiritual Journey?

What is a Soul Journey?

A Soul Journey is the reason that I am on this Earth, what I came here to experience, learn, and share with the world.

It is the customized path that either I laid out for myself in the spiritual realm before incarnating on this earth (more on that concept later) or, if you'd rather, that God laid out for your life on this earth. Because we have free will, we can deviate from our Soul Journey,, which causes us to feel Soul Dissonance -- that uneasy feeling that something is not quite right, that you are not living the life you are supposed to, that you are meant to change something or do something else. That doesn't necessarily mean you should quit your job and leave your relationship, but it could mean that you need to course correct.

In the spiritual realm,

pain is purposeful.

If you are feeling pain (including persistent discomfort), there is something you need to address/change.

Conversely if you can align with your Soul Journey, then all of the things in your life, both the good and the bad (and yes there will still be bad stuff) are in service to that journey -- experiences for you to learn and grow from, for the higher good. It is where peace lives. And to access it, you need to be in tune with yourself and your divine guidance, which is really hard to do when you've spent years suppressing/ignoring it, and your ego gets in the way, and your mind is noisy all the time.

But it can be done!

What is a Spiritual Journey?

A spiritual journey is a journey designed to increase your spiritual understanding/ facilitate your spiritual growth.

It is a journey that can help you quiet your mind and reconnect with your higher self and the Divine all around you, so that you can learn to hear the guidance again. And also so you can learn to live in the NOW, and experience the peace of divine gratitude and purpose and the joy that can be found everywhere.

It is a journey that can help you discover and follow your Soul Journey, but also can help you to optimize your Soul Journey -- to begin to recognize the Divine Connectedness and how you can contribute to the higher good of all in an ever-expanding way. It is the path to Enlightenment, toward experiencing Christ Consciousness (the highly ascended, God-connection that Jesus came to Earth to demonstrate for us), to remembering and reigniting the Divine within ourselves (because, as Jesus said, the Kingdom of Heaven is within us). It can be any or all of that -- it is up to you.

If this piques your interest...

I'd like to share a little about what led to my spiritual journey and how I came to understand the importance of both journeys and their interrelation:

Let me start off by saying that this is not a religious thing.

For most of my life, and quite independent of church, I have intuitively believed in the existence of the Divine, in terms of there being a beautiful intelligence to the universe, there being magic and systems and natural laws that we don’t fully understand, and about us having a purpose in being on Earth. I felt that every time I was deep in the autumn woods, or sitting in a grove of aspens on a mountainside gazing out over a river valley. I felt it when synchronicities happened just in the moment I needed them, followed by chills cascading down my body. Maybe some of you can relate!

I certainly felt it when I was given inspiration to write certain stories that spilled out of me as though the characters existed in another dimension (maybe they do!), and I was merely their scribe, like what happened when I wrote A Whisper of Smoke and also Missing Pictures .

But I also experienced dissonance with my particular religious upbringing. And I was frustrated. It felt like the years were tumbling past while I kept waiting to feel more at peace, living in this kind of stressful limbo. And that peace never came. I needed a major change. I felt strongly that I needed to seek answers, and that I needed to be open-minded in my search for answers in order to try and understand more about my purpose on Earth, and how to actively engage in that.

I wanted to know what my Soul Journey was

(even before I clearly understood the concept of a soul journey),

so that I could have some kind of chance to follow it.

And that’s when I realized – in order to understand my soul journey, I needed to go on a spiritual journey. The problem is, going on a spiritual journey can be scary, because it can stir up feelings of fear, guilt, or shame. So that was one of the first things I tackled on my own spiritual journey by asking this question:

Is it okay and safe for me to question my spiritual beliefs and purpose?

Because I am also a very logical accountant and not just a right-brain novelist, I approached this evaluation from a spiritual perspective but also from a science (quantum physics), and from a logical perspective as well. And guess what?

The answer is, YES, it absolutely is okay and safe!

I have a separate blog post on the topic for members of the Novel Connections Spiritual Journey Group. The link is below:

Contemplating the Spiritual Journey: Is it okay/safe to

challenge our long-held spiritual beliefs?

Since then, I have been on a heck of a ride! I've been learning more and more every day, and as I do, my anxiety lessens, my mind stills, and I experience increasing moments of peace and grace.

These are some of the unexpected benefits I've been experiencing:

Feeling more connected to the Divine and to the Earth, including all its creatures,

Clearing old wounds and limiting beliefs;

Opening my heart more to love and joy;

Quieting my mind through meditation practices;

Expanding my understanding of energy and the power of vibrational thought and intention;

Developing communication with my Divine Team (my guides, guardian angels, etc. who are in the spiritual realm just waiting to help me on my Soul Journey!);

RELEASING MY FEAR AND DOUBT; and

FINDING PEACE AND GRATITUDE EVERY DAY

There are so many interesting discussions about spiritual journeys that can be had, and I'll confess that I'm feeling that Divine Spark compelling me to write about them! However, because it is not directly related to my novels, I’ve decided (for now, at least) to save those more in-depth discussions for those of you that are interested in contemplating and maybe even embarking on your own spiritual journey along with me, and will keep it mostly separate from the book blog and newsletter discussions (except for when it crosses over from time-to-time).

So here's an Invitation:

If you are interested in exploring a spiritual journey alongside me, I invite you to join my separate group, Novel Connections: A Spiritual Journey. I am not totally sure how it will manifest just yet, but I know it will include some divinely inspired blog posts on spiritual journey topics as we build a forum for respectful, light-inspired discussions, questions, and connections.

You can sign up at the web-page link below:

www.angelahokeauthor.com/novelconnections

It is my hope that in sharing what we learn on our spiritual journeys, we will each discover our individual soul journey and unlock the secrets to following it! How great would that be?

I would love to hear your feedback and reactions to these thoughts and concepts in the comments below! And if you enjoyed this post, please like and share!

If you are interested in or are on a spiritual journey and are interested in the books and other resources (so far) that have most helped me, click on the link below:

A Spiritual Journey With My Higher Self: A Resource Guide

Note: Some of the links above may be Amazon affiliate links. If you use them to purchase products from Amazon, I will receive a small commission from Amazon with no incremental cost to you.

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What soul searching really means & 9 ways to do it, from experts.

Whether you're feeling lost, stuck, or simply uninspired, it can be hard to ignore when soul searching needs to take place. But how do you actually get started? To find out, we asked experts about their tips for soul searching, plus what it really means.

What "soul searching" really means.

Soul searching is the process of figuring out your purpose, your motivations, and what may need to change in your life in order to live in greater alignment with your true self. It often occurs as a result of feeling out of touch with yourself, or like something is missing.

As psychiatrist and author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life Anna Yusim, M.D., tells mbg, the soul is the deepest part of yourself that connects you to spirit, the universe, and divinity.

"By connecting to your soul, you get answers to questions in your life, and you get insights that neither your mind nor your heart can give you," she explains, adding, "It's really about your destiny path—and the voice of the soul is your intuition."

The purpose of soul searching.

As Thérèse Cator , embodiment practitioner and founder of  Embodied Black Girl tells mbg, soul searching often arises from an inquiry, whether it's a broad question around your overall purpose or something more focused, such as a difficult decision you're facing.

"I see soul searching as a threshold in our lives," Cator says. "It's a crossroad and we're trying to figure out what the right next path is, what the right next decision is, or who are we in the greater scheme of things."

And as Yusim adds, people who are soul searching typically seek to become more authentic, live in alignment with what they truly want on the deepest level, and own their truth.

Why someone may feel the need for soul searching.

There are a number of reasons someone may feel inclined to do some soul searching, and it can happen numerous times throughout their life. As Yusim explains, people soul search when they need answers, a new direction, or are seeking to understand themselves and their purpose .

As with any kind of search that has to do with psychological and spiritual advancement and development, Yusim says it's often because there's something that feels missing , or people are in some form of emotional pain. "So, soul searching is their way of regaining equilibrium or bringing back what's been missing or has not been aligned," she notes.

It's also important to factor in societal expectations around purpose and worth , Cator adds. "We're so disconnected from the rhythms of life and not taught to ask ourselves the deeper questions of ' Who am I ?' and 'What's my purpose?'"

How to actually soul search:

Strengthen your intuition..

According to Yusim, one of the most important things to do when soul searching is to get in touch with your intuition . To do this, she says, you must learn to quiet the "otherwise very loud voices that often speak—the voice of your mind, the voice of your heart—to hear the deeper voice of your intuition."

Embrace stillness.

Oftentimes we lose touch with our inner voice, intuition, higher self—whatever you want to call it—because we don't give ourselves enough time for stillness. As such, Cator says it's very important to embrace rest and build in moments of silence and stillness within your day—and ditch habits (like compulsive scrolling , for example) that keep you from being present.

Get out into nature.

Cator is also a big fan of nature for offering both inner stillness and quiet, as well as opportunities for insight. "You can go on a nature walk , but go on the walk with an inquiry," she explains.

Whatever it is you're looking to have answered, "go out and allow nature to speak to you through symbols," she adds, whether it be a certain animal that means something specific to you or even a snippet of an overheard conversation that's somehow relevant to your situation.

Cator and Yusim both recommend meditation for soul searching, as it's an excellent way to both quiet the mind and ask for insight. Just like you can go on a nature walk with an inquiry in mind, Cator notes you can meditate on that same question .

And as Yusim adds, you need to be able to differentiate your soul from the voice of the mind and the voice of your heart—so from your emotions and your reason—and meditation is a great way to start to do so.

Writing out all of your thoughts and questions on your soul-searching journey is another good way to tap your intuition for insights. Cator recommends free-journaling without censorship, simply allowing yourself to write. Yusim is a fan of journaling too and recommends writing and reflecting on questions like:

• What do I most deeply desire?
• Do I desire something even more deeply than that?
• If I allowed myself to fully live my truth, how would my life be different than it is now?
• What stops me from living my truth?
• What are the resistances that keep me from my best self and living the life I want?
• If I wanted to actualize my deepest desire, what would my first step be?
• What am I really afraid of? When does my logic most often disagree with my instinctive reaction?

Be receptive to insights and messages.

As Cator explains, it's always a good idea to be open to messages you receive throughout your day, such as angel numbers , intuitive downloads , and other synchronicities . Keeping your eyes, ears, and mind open to messages can help you strengthen your intuition and receive answers when you least expect them.

Seek the help of like-minded friends.

It's important to remember that only you truly know what's best for you; however, if you have a group of friends that you trust and admire, and feel they can hold space for you, Cator says you can do a group meditation on your soul-searching inquiries. "You can all go into meditation together," she explains, and then share what came up for each of you.

Seek the help of a mentor.

Similarly, Yusim notes it's not a bad idea to seek the help of a mentor when soul searching. Maybe you speak with an actual mentor or teacher, a mental health professional, or a respected member of your community. You want to look for someone who has deep insight into matters of the soul and can offer you an objective perspective, she says.

Take a sabbatical.

If you're able to, Cator notes that taking a sabbatical can be a great way to step away from things for a time and reflect. While not everyone can do this on a whim, everyone deserves a vacation once in a while, as they offer us the stillness and quiet we need for our intuition to come through.

Important things to keep in mind:

Know that it's normal to soul search..

In a world that pressures us to have it all together, it can be discouraging to feel like you're "not on track." But according to Cator, we ought to normalize, and even encourage, soul searching. "It's actually really good to reexamine things every now and then, and ask, 'Is this working for me?'" she explains.

She adds that it's a natural part of the cycle of life to go through periods of rebirth, with some of us are bound to soul search multiple times in our lives. "We get to reinvent different parts of ourselves," she says, adding, "If we're doing that in the hopes of individual and collective liberation, we know we're on the right path."

Don't ignore your shadow.

According to Yusim, you can't truly soul search without acknowledging your shadow self . "It's so important to embrace your shadow side ," she explains, "because we have this conception of who we are—but there are also parts of us that we disavow, aren't in touch with, and haven't owned," she explains. And if you want to have wholeness in your life, she says, you'll have to embrace those parts.

Be patient.

And last but certainly not least, try to be patient as you move through this transformation. Soul searching is certainly not a one-and-done process, and it takes time. The initial steps of your soul searching journey are only beginning to prime your subconscious for change, Yusim says, and then you have to "give it time to actually unfold."

The bottom line.

If you're going through a period of soul searching , keep going. Something deep within you is pushing you to go after the life you want—and that's a beautiful thing. While it may not happen overnight, your search will eventually bring you back to yourself, and your soul.

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The Spiritual Journey and Seven Stages of Spiritual Development

The spiritual journey is a transformational process that takes us through seven stages of our spiritual development. The path we take is built into us, in our expanding minds, hearts, and energy system. It’s an integral aspect of our desire to be alive – to live fully and grow, to expand in fulfilling ways and make a positive difference in the world.

The spiritual journey reveals the fullness of our human potential.

Essentially, the spiritual journey takes us from fear, separation, and limitation to love, connectedness, and expansion. For life coaches, understanding these stages and developing the ability to help clients to move through them with ease has tremendous value. When you understand where the people you serve are on the journey, you can relate precisely to their needs and desires, which may be very different from yours.

Interest in the Spiritual Journey and Stages of Development

We’ve had a deep interest in the spiritual journey for more than three decades. Over time, we recognized seven stages of spiritual development we all pass through along the way. This map of the path to wholeness is the result of extensive research and understanding of the human energy system, along with a wide range of experience with ourselves, our clients, and students. The seven steps or stages roughly correspond to seven spiritual activations that transform our perspectives on who we are, why we are here, and what is possible.

As we evolve, our perspectives evolve, so we can think and process information about our reality more expansively and inclusively. We now understand the focus of these stages as a shift in our experience of reality we call the “Ultimate Paradigm Shift.”

The Nature of the Spiritual Journey

We begin the first two stages of the journey with our feet firmly planted on the physical plane, viewing ourselves primarily as limited physical beings. Our consciousness is ruled largely by fear, which makes us easy targets for being controlled by others. Many people in these early stages view themselves as victims of circumstances that are beyond their control.

As we evolve, our “world” expands, and we glimpse beyond the material world into the realms of the human soul. Fear recedes and love blooms.

Spiritually, each of us is challenged to open to the Infinite, along with more joy and aliveness.

The transformation, then, is a redefinition of ourselves from limited physical beings who are victims of external forces to magnificent spiritual beings who are creators of the lives we were born to live.

Holistic Life Coaching and the Spiritual Journey

Coaching clients to progress with greater ease on the spiritual journey is powerful. If you are a life coach, imagine the tremendous benefits you can offer to clients. When you understand precisely where clients are on the journey, you can pinpoint the challenges and opportunities that are inevitably playing out in their daily lives. This helps them to progress more quickly and receive exponentially better results.

Knowledge of the seven stages of spiritual development and their impact on your life may be your most practical tool on the spiritual path. Once you understand the sequence, you can track your development step-by-step and bring deeper meaning to the events of your life, along with those you serve. You can also avoid the pitfalls that prevent people from evolving , and manifest the life you deeply desire.

The Seven Stages of Spiritual Development

As we evolve, our minds develop and our souls become more and more present in our lives. In the first two stages of spiritual development, people function largely on auto pilot, based on programming in the unconscious mind. This state is characterized by a lack of self-awareness , along with a high degree of fear and a narrow range of thinking. The result is a tendency to follow the crowd and play it safe.

An Overview of the Seven Stages

1. Recognition: From a place of lack of self awareness, something wakes up and we recognize that we have some choices. We are going with the crowd, but we are starting to awaken. The mind is becoming more active and new possibilities are emerging.

2. Breaking Loose (Renunciation): Now we recognize the opportunity to free ourselves from the herd and jump over the fence to freedom. This takes courage. We have to sacrifice the perceived safety of the crowd to open to more individual opportunities. As we prepare to take charge, fear starts to lose its hold.

3. Claiming Our Power: This is where it starts to get interesting. Now we get our first taste of freedom as we claim our right to live the lives we were born to live. The mind is expanding further now as we explore new possibilities. At this point, we enjoy the benefits of independence. Free from the herd, people often do uncharacteristically different things at this stage. They may start to dress differently, travel, change jobs, develop new interests, and change behaviors.

4. Embracing Our Greatness: Exploring freedom leads to a deeper exploration of who we are. This is when people begin to experience soul searching and recognition that the truth lies within, in the power of our hearts and souls . It’s the time when we bridge the gap between the restrictions of the physical plane and expansiveness of the spiritual plane. We are preparing to make the ultimate paradigm shift into a new way of being in the world, but don’t know where we are going.

5. Expressing Our Uniqueness (Sovereignty): As we embrace ourselves as spiritual beings, we rise a new level now, onto the spiritual plane. Now we are guided by the truth in our hearts. This stimulates a desire to express our deeper purpose and share our greatness with the world.

6. Integrating Our Roles as Creators: Our integration of this creative reality includes mastering our thinking and ways of being on the spiritual plane. Becoming more aware of the big picture now, we recognize how our actions can have a positive impact on larger numbers of people.

Love blossoms and fear recedes with the recognition that everyone has infinite possibilities and the supply of the good we seek knows no limit.

7. Transcendence: Now we complete the process of becoming fully functional as creators of the lives we were born to live. We are highly aware now that we create from the inside out with our minds and our hearts. We know how manifestation works and how our thoughts and feelings are responsible for the results we are getting in our lives. We are learning to live in harmony with the laws of the universe and reaping the rewards of our efforts on the journey.

More Notes on the Stages of our Spiritual Development

The first two stages of our spiritual development (Recognition and Breaking Loose) could be viewed as preliminary. Our personal transformation really begins when we free of the hold of the herd with the completion of the second activation. At this stage, we recognize the need to think for ourselves and release the grips of those who seek to control our lives. Having the courage to free ourselves from these ties provides us with the momentum we need to make the ultimate paradigm shift. Then we can move forward and become creators of the lives we were born to live.

Awakenings Institute’s unique Holistic Coaching and Healing Certification Program includes in-depth teaching of the stages of development. To learn more about how you can participate, CLICK HERE .

More articles that relate to the spiritual journey and stages of spiritual development:

Seven Essential Tools for Personal and Spiritual Transformation

The Ultimate Paradigm Shift

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Soul Path, The Journey

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Editorial Reviews

Presenting the enchanting voice of Julie Roberts, the music and lyrics of Steve Mitchell and Mike Stone known collectively as Soul Path. Soul Path's debut opus, "The Journey" is an empowering album of meditation and manifestation speaking directly from the divine, the voice of the universe itself. Based in London, Soul Path are the pre-eminent Spiritual/Ambient artist on Reality Entertainment, a world renown label, whose hit artists include Marcy Playground and KC and the Sunshine Band. The illustrious and compelling music of Soul Path has graced the films of best selling author Philip Gardiner and is making its way into the ears of listeners around the globe. Those who have heard them know of the evocative power and lure that beckons from the group's haunting yet soothing, mysterious yet re-assuring compositions, each being a journey in itself, taking the listener to far away places in the past present and future. Soul Path is a remedy for those who seek to fill a spiritual void. The Journey includes the songs Celtic Myst, The Journey, Silver and Gold and many more.

Product details

• Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 4.87 x 0.37 inches; 2.5 ounces
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Soul Path, The Journey
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 17, 2007
• Label ‏ : ‎ Soul Path, The Journey
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000MM1JMO

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Is Astrology the Key to Understanding Yourself? | With Danielle Paige The Path: A Personal Development Podcast for Entrepreneurs

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In this episode of the Path podcast, I sit down with Danielle Paige, an international spiritual teacher, soul astrologer, and founder of Purposely Divine.Danielle shares her transformative journey from a successful career in interior architecture to becoming a leading astrologer and spiritual healer.In This Episode We Talk About:Overcoming Childhood Loneliness and Finding PurposeThe Power of Astrology and Spiritual AwakeningNavigating Personal and Professional ChallengesThe Role of Astrology ...

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• © 2024 The Path: A Personal Development Podcast for Entrepreneurs