Many cultures around the world have long had practices and beliefs related to soul healing or spiritual healing. In Chinese culture, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qigong are often considered not only for physical health but also for the well-being of the spirit or soul. Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old natural healing system from India, teaches that the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected with the natural world. Hinduism and Buddhism incorporate practices such as meditation and yoga for spiritual development through consciousness’ journey.
In ancient Greece, the practice of psychology was the practice of soul sickness. They believed if we heal our soul, our body and mind would follow. The basic meaning of the Greek word “psyche” is "life." Some have claimed more accurate translations include "spirit," "soul," and ultimately "self" in the sense of "conscious personality" or "psyche."
In today’s modern world, the health of our spirits, or souls, is not traditionally an area of focus in the health care system in the U.S. However, in a recent article in Psychology Today, Dr. Wayne Jonas, M.D., said, “Healing and a feeling of personal wholeness only occur when the mind, body, and spirit are in balance. Balancing them all is necessary for a happy and fulfilled life.” It begs the question, “What is the soul?”
The soul houses our deepest emotions, our thoughts, and feelings–in essence the totality of our energy–that includes but transcends both our consciousness and subconscious. We can think of our “soul” connected to the body through the nervous system which conduits this energy. Many times, we are not aware of these emotions (energy manifesting through the body), but they affect our everyday life – either positively or negatively.
Our soul holds our collection of knowledge and experiences to form our deep wisdom. Our intuition – that gut instinct that guides us when our logical thinking doesn’t have a clear answer – I believe is the infinite wisdom of our soul.
The soul is the mind, is the body. I believe our soul is the true essence of ourselves. The body - the vessel - is simply a projection of our soul. The 13th century British poet William Blake said, “Man has no body distinct from his soul…” I like to say, “Nobody has a body distinct from their soul,” to de-genderize it. Incorporating all three – mind-body-soul – into our health practices is so important.
In fact, it may be a missing factor when it comes to our mental health. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults (20%) in the U.S. are experiencing mental illness and one in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 are experiencing a mental health disorder. Soul sickness can contribute to wide-ranging symptoms, from feeling lethargic, empty, angry, exhausted, and depressed, to experiencing sleep issues, vertigo, aches and pain, and more.
What if we paid more attention to soul healing?
How do we heal the soul so our mind and body can follow?
Just as you brush your teeth and wash your face with soap and water, it’s important to cleanse your soul. There are countless ways to uplift our soul, and it’s important to find what nourishes yours. Here are some ways that have proved useful for me as well others I know:
Connecting to forces larger than self – Whether that’s God, the Universe, nature or some other energy force, it’s important to connect with forces larger than yourself. Spiritual practices like mediation, yoga, prayer, or attending religious services nourish our spiritual being. Activities like jogging, hiking or experiencing nature can be healing as well.
Laugh: Research has long shown the health benefits of laughter. Many of the streaming services have stand up comedy, or better yet, attend a live comedy event at your local theater. Watch your favorite, funny movie. Your mood can shift in wonderfully positive ways.
Spend time with others. Loneliness and social isolation can do serious harm to our health. As human beings, we are part of the broader ecosystem and are connected to others in complex ways. Make a conscious effort to spend time with all types of people in your life –whether that’s friends, family, co-workers, or even strangers. Those positive, healthy connections feed the soul.
Read about soul healing: Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, the German novelist and poet, is the story of the early life of Buddha. It made a significant impact on my life. I read it in high school when I was curious about Taoism and different religions and philosophies. Hesse was one of the first to talk about “oneness” — the concept that we are all one. I also highly recommend Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey.
Make time for your passions: Many of us have replaced what brings us true joy with job responsibilities, family obligations, and other duties. Carve out time to do something you are passionate about or brings you pleasure.
What resonates with you? Whatever that is – first and foremost, take time out of your busy day – even if just for a few minutes – to listen to the quiet and tune into your deepest sense of knowing – the infinite wisdom of your soul – to guide you in whatever is weighing on your mind.
Sometimes, we all need help. At The Psyched Group, we have therapists who support those through a soul healing journey. Our holistic counseling style addresses the complexities of human beings so we journey beyond the illness paradigm and become PSYCHED about life, relationships, yourself, and your world.
To find a therapist, go HERE