“Soul Journey.” An interesting phrase but what does it actually mean? For us it highlights the distinction between our physical journey and our spiritual journey.
The physical journey involves the flights and bus routes, traveling, losing luggage, back to school on the TEFL course, exploring Koh Samui island, falling off scooters, swimming in the night ocean, seeing new countries, towns and landmarks, leaving Thailand for Cambodia, scary night-time border crossings, making a home wherever we find ourselves, wonderful sights, incredible tastes, experiencing new and different things with our five senses.
We have realised that what we are looking for spiritually will not be found externally. The spiritual journey is an inner journey of self. To be more mindful and aware of our thoughts and actions. To be aware of our part in the universe and the part of the universe which is within us. To be the best that we can be.
While this soul journey is a quieter partner to the physical journey it is no less incredible and wondrous. Filled with calm meditative moments of enlightenment, experiences of intense emotion, healing, inspiring thoughts, questions, seeking answers, lessons to be learned.
Lets not forget deprogramming. Freeing oneself from years of ingrained patterns of thought and priorities is a greater task than imagined. Routine and social expectations, prescribed reactions to life, living out lives according to scripts not written by us. Believing that our material wealth and our social status creates our identity and defines who we are. When we are told what will make us happy even though striving for and even achieving this leaves us empty and cold.
Living in South East Asia has rekindled the warmth of living a simpler life where we find that what really brings happiness and joy to our lives is a sense of being. Being who we are meant to be and being accepted for who we are. Being loving and giving, being compassionate and caring, being grateful and appreciative, being joyful and happy, being free.
Our overall spiritual journey has now evolved into including mini journeys of awareness and growth. We are getting to know our Chakras, we are learning how to meditate, we are practicing Yoga (more on that later when our knees are creaking less), we are reading inspiring writings, listening to inspiring mindful people and sharing what we are learning and applying to our lives. We are sharing our journey because we are all on a journey and because to love is to share. And love is the most powerful energy in the universe.
This beautiful quote from the movie “Eat, Pray, Love” puts everyone’s life-journeys into perspective wonderfully.
In the end, I’ve come to believe in something I call “The Physics of the Quest.” A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this: If you’re brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you.