The Soul is Shy

The name of my site and much of how I think about the relationship with the deepest, most essential parts of myself are inspired by Parker J. Palmer, who wrote:

  

"The soul is like a wild animal…tough, resilient, resourceful, savvy, and self-sufficient:  it knows how to survive in hard places. Yet despite its toughness, the soul is also shy.  Just like a wild animal, it seeks safety in the dense underbrush, especially when other people are around.  If we want to see a wild animal, we know that the last thing we should do is go crashing through the woods yelling for it to come out.  But if we will walk quietly into the woods, sit patiently at the base of a tree...the wild creature we seek might put in an appearance."  ~ From the book A Hidden Wholeness

I am also inspired by the work of Larry Ackerman, who said that "Identity is the expression of your soul on earth." For most of my life, I felt my soul had something to say and work it wanted to do in the world, and yet, I could not find the words. While the soul may not be the stuff of words, with words comes clarity and with clarity, action. 

Between the work of these two men and the friendship of one, Larry Ackerman, I found the words my soul had been wanting to say and indeed, the clarity to find and create my soul's work. There are practices we can do to find the words and live the work of the soul. My soul's work is to live these practices AND to teach them to others.  Together then, we practice a life of living according to who we really are - at our core.