I am part of a lovely writing group led by a creative, wise woman and each week we meet for an hour together to write. She gives us the most delicious prompts and last week it was a photograph. In the picture stood a girl beside a pond and she was alone. However, in the pond’s reflection she was not alone and the person standing beside her was holding her hand.
I have been thinking about my soul a lot lately and how she often remains so hidden in spite of her real-ness. It was no great surprise then, that as I stared at this image, I imagined the girl alone on the shore to be my embodied self and the additional girl in the water’s reflection to be my soul. To my delight, a conversation between them began to emerge.
Embodied self: I love you. My soul. My secret place. My foreverness.
Soul: I love you, too — oh, body that is matter. Oh, mind that is finite. Oh, emotions, ever-changing.
Embodied self: For many years I was mostly unaware of you and even now I often forget you even though you are all around me, in me, and through me.
Soul: I never forget you and even though I am much more spacious than the dimensions of your body, I’m with you always.
Embodied Self: When I look around, I can’t see you. But I am learning to look deeper — to feel you, to sense you, to hear you, and to see your shadow.
Soul: It’s true — I am not matter like you but I’m just as real — if not more so. I leave evidence of my presence everywhere.
Embodied self: Why do you often stay hidden? You are so beautiful that it seems as if it would be good if you unveiled yourself.
Soul: I am always unveiled for those who have eyes to see. Sight is available to all who ask and keep asking.
Embodied self: I want to see.
Soul: It is done. You must only be patient and little by little the desires of your heart will come true. Recognition will continue dawning. Trust the process.
Embodied self: Is there anything I can do to prepare my heart to see?
Soul: Don’t run from beauty. Don’t be afraid of it — in yourself, in others, or creation. I am beauty and if your embodied self cannot bear beauty, you will struggle to see me. Don’t run either from receiving. I have much to give to you and am always giving, but if you cannot receive you will probably tend to avoid me. And trust in the cycles and rhythms of your journey. Respect both life and death, light and dark, broken and beautiful. All lead to Love for the one who has eyes to see.
Embodied self: How do I not run when my primal instincts are shouting at me in a panic? How do I still the voices that have become the dirty garments covering my glory?
Soul: Awareness and self-compassion. Your glory cannot be touched. Nothing spoken over you or nothing you do can ever change who you are. Pay attention to your body’s reactions and actions, notice them, and offer them safety and blessing. Learn how to soothe and comfort your fears and you will see that they are no different than a crying babe comforted at his mother’s breast.
Embodied self: Thank you, dear soul, for your wisdom, generosity, and care.
Soul: I have much, much more to offer. This is only the beginning. You will see. By and by, all will come full circle. By and by, all shall be well.