What if you had made an agreement with your soul before you were born? What if you had agreed to accomplish a specific task or explore a particular path in this lifetime? Only when your soul entered your body at birth, you forgot it. Would you try to uncover this agreement again?
If you believe that our souls are reincarnated and we each have a purpose in this life, pay close attention to the teachings of Michael Meade. In Awakening the Soul: A Deep Response to a Troubled World, the author and mythologist says that each of us made an “original agreement” with our soul. And while we may have forgotten it, finding it is “the primary obligation and deepest responsibility of our lives.”
Out first task: moving on from the first arc of life.
Meade explains that are two arcs of life. The first or outer arc is heavily influenced by our society and culture. It encapsulates the things we do as we make our way in the world. Then, there’s the second or inner arc. It’s the domain of the soul and for many of us, it’s not until later in life that we begin to sense and recognize it.
The first arc comes with challenges for the “individual ego, or little self, as we seek to find ways to fit in and establish ourselves in daily life.” This arc takes precedence during our early adult years through middle age, and involves things like getting married, raising a family, and building a career.
But something changes as we grow older. The second arc “tries to surface more and lead away from the pressures and distractions of the daily world.” During this period, our ego grows quieter. We become less interested in our jobs. Our careers and social events seem to have less meaning. Meade says that:
When our energy drains from life’s outer projects, our attention is being drawn inward, downward and back towards the original spark of our lives and the genuine project of our soul.
We’re still an active participant in life, but things that were once of great importance, from material possessions to our social standing, now hold less value. As the soul awakens, the second arc becomes more important and meaningful. (Similar to the second mountain concept of David Brooks.) Meade writes:
While there is some overlap in the two arcs, for most of us, the first arc slowly begins to fade. Instead of seeking greater wealth or higher social status, we turn to the work of growing the soul and seeking spiritual fulfillment.
Not aware of the inner arc? Few are.
In modern Western society, “the inner arc is often undervalued, less understood, and at times even ignored.” We tend to focus on acquiring bigger, better stuff, and climbing the social and economic ladders. It’s the primary goal of what Meade refers to as “the little self,” or ego. Meade explains:
The little self seeks a harmless world that can be measured and kept under control. Yet, the deeper murmurs of the heart and soul ever long for something wildly other from our expected selves.
If we listen only to the little self, “instead of slowing down and growing inward, we may remain focused upon outer issues, material attainments, and the opinions of others.” But “with its hidden longings and expectations for genuine transformation,” we ignore the soul at our own peril. When we employ only an outer focus to life, and ignore the stirrings of the soul, Meade warns:
Who we are supposed to be in the world is solved in too narrow a way. We limit ourselves to common expectations and attainable goals. Many people simply ‘grow old’ and die without awakening to the nature of the divine seed hidden within them.
When we engage the second arc, we grow deeper.
When the ego and habits developed in the first arc dominate our awareness, life can feel empty. But when we fully engage with the second arc and focus on pursuing our deeper desires, life can have renewed meaning. Meade writes:
The second arc of life turns inward to illuminate the path of awakening and the work of growing more soul from the original seed within us. It concerns the inner life of self-reflection and the hidden spark of spiritual growth. In following this inner arc, we grow deeper within ourselves and learn the shape and aim of our true nature.
This inward arc depends upon reflection and remembering the inner agreement. By becoming aware of your soul’s core focus, you can recognize the inherent purpose of your life. It may require slowing down instead of rushing along with the mainstream, as we seek “the specific spark of life which was given to us to begin with.” In time, we find that our true path in life was ingrained within us all along.
What does your soul yearn for?
The idea that we have a deeper purpose awaiting our discovery, offers a compelling way to look at and understand our lives. It suggests that true fulfillment isn’t found in outward achievements. It’s all about the inward journey of finding and embracing the agreement our soul made before we were born.
What if you started listening to the murmurs from deep within, allowing your inner arc to guide you toward the transformation your soul longs for?
Your soul may yearn for travel to new or exotic places, exposure to art or history, to be immersed in nature, to reunite with the joys and activities you loved as a child, more intimate relationships with loved ones, a deeper connection with God, or simply to slow down and reflect. Each soul is different. So, the question to ask yourself is: What does my soul want in this lifetime?
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