How to Experience Your Soul

To experience your divine nature, start making it a habit to place your attention on your Soul during the day. Your attention has probably been elsewhere so initially you may feel quite flatfooted and not sure how to feel your divine nature. One of the easiest ways to begin is to simply ask, “What is my Soul experiencing right now?” This question moves your attention away from typical thoughts, emotions and reactions that you are familiar with to the spiritual dimension of your being. It is a question to make you aware of your essence rather than a question necessarily to be answered.

The question also implies there is no “seeking,” “working on,” or “attaining” a “state of consciousness.” Divinity is within, whole and completely intact. You are just making space to notice what was forgotten and overlooked by the ego's investment in a self-image. Rather than engage with the world in the same old ways to maintain a certain ego identity, the question provides an opportunity to know more about your essence.

However, this kind of re-focusing needs to be done with a sense of devotion rather than with a motive to “feel better,” to be spiritually enlightened, or as a new strategy for more effective living. To live from Soul is to expect nothing from it- not to save yourself or the world. All ego-based spirituality is revealed by the presence of expectation. It is a form of assault upon divinity with preset assumptions and goals that usurp the ways of Soul which are often subtle. Soul is just for being. Experiencing your divinity requires this simple, open curiosity.

When asking “What is my Soul experiencing?” what often follows is an observing eye watching to see if anything is happening as a result. If the question is asked with a motive in mind, then the tendency is to look for a result based on assumptions and expectations about what you want to happen. You want to know if you are getting back what you thought you would from asking the question. You are after achieving your ideal state and you want to see if anything special is happening. These wants are very understandable and besides indicating the ego's involvement, they also speak to your deep longing to know Spirit. However, expectations will only lead to mistaken conclusions, disappointment and eventually giving up.

Instead, ask the question as a reflection of your devotion. Now you are coming from your heart to know your true nature. You are held in a love that softens everything, holds you in your center and allows you to be gracious with whatever happens or doesn't happen. Your love is foundational to the process. It is what will get you through your challenges. Many times along the way you will feel like you are failing. Feeling a sense of failure is inevitable and is always an indication that the ego has entered the process. Since no one is completely free of ego, it will be a part of your path. The ego will make itself known in the spiritual process by having a goal or ideal image in mind that you haven't met. Falling short of this goal can feel like one of the worst kind of failures because it seems to represent a separation from love, connection, peace and joy. In other words, separation from what means the most to your heart. However, it is the very love that you seek which embraces apparent failure when the question originates from devotion. Love is there with you when a noticeable shift in consciousness doesn't occur and there is no overt spiritual stimulation to make you feel like you are getting somewhere. Instead of thinking it doesn't work and/or something is wrong with you, spaciousness arises from a deep sense of knowing that everything is OK just as it is. You aren't concerned with the result of the question. You are innocent, curious and open to remembering how Soul works free from any agenda.
There is a divine seed within you that grows into your awareness on it's own. When you ask, “What is my Soul experiencing right now?”, the divine seed of awareness is stirred. The Parable of the mustard seed and the yeast [Matthew 13:31, 33] speaks beautifully to this in comparing our unfolding to something as natural as “seed” and “yeast.”

The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in the field. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Asking, “What is my Soul experiencing right now?”, is a way of spirituality that once begun or given intent, works on it's own- like a seed and without human effort like yeast works to leaven bread. Soul spreads its life force outwards. It is subtle work from the inside out. More typical is approaching spirituality from the outside in by using a “practice” or method for self-realization. This may be an indication of separation from Soul. The divine seed is not recognized. The Soul informed mind does not have a plan for enlightenment. Plans are often a reflection of distrust and therefore a defense against Soul. The “seed” is simply something to be received.

To realign with your true nature, think of yourself only as a gardener of your Soul. There is a seed within that is growing and inevitably shows itself. It happens on its own or through Grace. You are to cultivate It's growth. How? Primarily by making room, making space for It to grow into your consciousness. Asking, “What is my Soul experiencing?” is making space. Add to the soil of your being trust and faith. Trust in your self and that the deepest part of you knows the way. Have faith that it will come on it's own.

Soul is not remembered as a result of “doing” anything. Asking the question is a shift from “doing” to “receiving” what is already there. What you are is effortless. Effort takes away while cessation opens and reveals. “Doing" is often the ego. “Be still and know that I am God” is the letting go of “doing” something to become more spiritual. “Knowing” means being. When asking, “What is my Soul experiencing this moment?”, allow yourself to feel the stillness and the joy that arises without the question tethered to the need for something to happen. This is the “garden” from which you grow.