Care of the SoulBy: Thomas Moore

What does it mean to Care for the Soul?“To care for the soul, we must observe the

full range of all its colorings, and resist the temptation to approve only of white, red, and orange- the brilliant colors” (p. 137).

To care for the soul one must seek to understand and accept all emotions that make us who we are

To care for the soul is challenging, takes work, and can be uncomfortable

What’s Love Got to Do with it??It is okay to be selfish: to love yourself so that

you can love another person. Narcissism is not loving yourself.

Active participation in caring for ourselves can actually help care for the soul

When we are able to love another person we see the good or “angelic” qualities of that person

We must not dismiss our feelings…We must recognize and accept them

Soul Power, Gifts, and EconomicsThe soul is powerful and has its own wants,

needs, and its own way of needing recognitionSometimes we try to ignore the needs of the

soul and it can cause grief and despairThroughout the book, Moore talks about the

need to accept and understand the needs of the soul

In work, we must also care for our soul by finding work that provides soul values

Failure to meet these needs can lead to dysfunction

The Soul needs SpiritualityThe soul “thrives only when life is taken in in

a long, slow process of digestion and absorption” (p. 206)

We need to have time for reflection, thoughtfulness, retreat, and meditation

We loose sight of the real meaning of wisdom and confuse it with what we learn through technology

Formal religious practice is good for the soul. It helps to teach how to find “the sacred dimension in everyday life” (p. 214)

Faith“Faith is a gift of spirit that allows the soul to

remain attached to its own unfolding. When faith is soulful, it is always planted in the soil of wonder and questioning. It is not a defensive and anxious holding on to certain objects of belief, because doubt, as its shadow, can be brought into a faith that is fully mature” (p. 253).

We must trust ourselves, accept ourselves, and have faith in ourselves

Care for your soul everyday, accept yourself and the person you are. Life is a journey.

Thomas MooreThomas Moore is a psychotherapist and

writer.Published many articles and books on

archetypal and Jungian psychology, mythology, and the arts

He lived as a monk in a Catholic religious order for twelve years

Has a Ph.D. in religious studies, a M.A. in theology, a M.A. in musicology, and a B.A. in music and philosophy

He is a lecturer and writer in North America and Europe

ReferencesMoore, T. (1992). Care of the soul: a guide for

cultivating depth and sacredness in everyday life. New York; HarperCollins Publishers.