by Kaye Cooper
Show me where you sense the difference between right and wrong.
Now where do you feel love?
Most often people when asked these questions will tend to indicate the center of their chest. We often refer to the chest when we speak of an action being “wholehearted,” or a statement being “from my heart.” We are not really talking about our physical hearts, but something else that we feel vaguely in the area of our physical hearts. I think this is a sensing of our souls.
It is our soul that “feels values.” Our language serves us poorly here, because we have no unique word to describe the sensing of values. We speak of feeling emotions, but the feeling of values is not an emotional feeling similar to anger, loneliness, sadness, relief, or even happiness. Alternatively, we say that we know a particular decision is the right one for us. But this is not primarily a logical choice; we often just know it is right – we feel it right here (in our chest). What is your experience when you know something is important, when you feel that one alternative is the right one? What do you experience at those times? [sharing]
THE URANTIA BOOK says, “every morally conscious mortal knows of the existence of his soul as a real and actual personal experience.” [1479:0/133:6.7] You can experience moral consciousness without being aware that you are experiencing your soul. I think we have established one of the ways we are aware of our souls – the experience of feeling values in the center of our chests. So let’s build on this awareness. Let’s experiment to help us increase our awareness of our souls.
Let’s start with a little exercise in breathing. First, tense and pull the muscles of your abdomen in toward your backbone. Hold them tight and breathe with the top of your chest. OK, a couple of breaths will do. That’s not a very comfortable way to breathe, is it? It is very shallow breathing. Now let’s contrast deep breathing from your abdomen. Relax the muscles of your abdomen and breathe from there. Breathe deeply, but comfortably, allowing your abdomen to pull air into your lungs. Be sure not to strain, breathe deeply, but comfortably. Put your hand on your abdomen. As you breathe, you should see your hand rise and fall a bit. Breathe slowly and evenly; feel your body relax as you focus on your breathing.
OK, so that is the way I want you to continue to breath – deeply and comfortably. Now focus your attention on your brain. This is where we sense our thoughts and reasoning. Our mind uses the material brain to connect with us and function. I want you to leave your thoughts there in your brain and move your attention down your body through you neck area to the center of your chest, the place where you sense values. Keep your attention there in the area where you perceive your soul. Allow a sense of spiritual depth to build in the center of your chest. Feel the presence of all your wisdom and all your desires for God.
This area is the gateway to your soul, the place where your Adjuster has recreated every good decision you have ever made, every good thought you have had, every truth you have recognized, every beautiful image you have seen, all the love you have given and all the love you have received. It is all there in your soul. Your soul is beautiful and filled with spirit. If you feel like smiling, let that smile bloom naturally on your face and in your soul.
Take a few minutes to enjoy your beautiful soul and feel thankful for its presence. I will stop the music when our time is up.
[Use Land of Merlin by Jon Mark]
Qualities (See the list of Jesus’ qualities.)
Choose one of these qualities to meditate on in your soul. Once again put your attention on the thoughts in your head. Then gently leave those thoughts and move your attention down to the center of your chest. Slip into your soul and feel the quality you have chosen. Allow this quality to fill your soul. And then to fill your whole body. Become the personification of the beautiful quality you have chosen. Spend a few minutes with this quality. I will stop the music when our time is up.
[Use Land of Merlin by Jon Mark]
Ask your soul for wisdom. Engage it at a conscious level.
Take a moment now to make a commitment to yourself that when conflicts arise in your daily life, you will remember to ask your soul to give you a higher way to respond. Take the next few minutes to make that promise with sincerity and devotion. I will stop the music when the time is up.
[Use Land of Merlin by Jon Mark]