I don’t actually »know what a ‘soul’ »is. But I have a variety of perspectives that I use to try to explore with. At the same time, I can sense when something like ‘my soul’ is ‘awake’ and when it’s absent.

When I ask people what they think the source of illumniation »in dreaming is… I am completely curious and have no predispositions… but the question is crucial for a simple reason.

It is possible to have dreams without light in them. No color. No forms. Just darkness.

And it seems to me that, much of what happens if our waking experience becomes ‘dead inside’ resembles this problem in dreaming.

It’s as if, while we are awake, the ‘light’ that is our soul… or that which illumines it… is »missing. And we have no language about this, or at least… the clinical language is wildly insufficient.

My soul has to be able to make or reflect… something resembling light…to sense not only the world of ensouled beings… to sense at all, to »be my soul, alive, requires this. If this light should dim… or become »eclipsed… a crisis ensues.

And when the inner light is dim, whether for one or many… the experience of being alive… collapses… into despair. Because the illumination we crave that brings us to life… is crucial to the senses that arise in its wake. Connection, wonder, ecstasy, awe, memory… play… humor.

In a dark time, we rely upon each other to bring us back to life, to celebrate our nature and brightness, and encourage us to reach beyond the appearances… and remember, we are one family. Forever.