I think some souls are slightly more evolved than others.

I think some souls are slightly more evolved than others.

Yes I believe so too. Not that it is about hierarchy but that we are all at various stages of unfolding.

Sorry to hear about your problems.
I've researched into the whole illness thing and it does seem like certain things happen. I've researched into peoples past lives and there seems to be links with past life deaths and illnesses suffered in the next lifetime. This could all be untrue of course.

I never take the physical body for granted ever. I don't think you ever possibly could. It's our vehicle down here.

I have also heard that there are energetic imprints when a soul is incarnating onto this planet in whatever way that they do - be it a difficult birth or possibly physical problems. (I may be wrong)

I like your being in the flow rather than going against the grain.

I don't regard my physical (genetic) condition as a 'problem' per se. By calling it a physical constriction it is just stating a fact (rather than making it into a complaint), i.e. I literally do not have normal breathing! That said, I don't know what it is like to breathe normally so don't have that experience to compare it to.

More importantly, my physical body does not define me at all. I regard myself as essentially a spiritual being, temporarily housed in this body. I tend to distance myself a lot from my body since I find the detachment is more conducive to a more positive mindset.

Exactly. The physical is just a shell with our reincarnated, evolved souls inside. Our souls are immortal - they think, feel, experience & remember ......

I'm loving talking to you guys about all this. Thanks.
So many people would find it weird or even scary.

I think some souls are slightly more evolved than others.

What exactly does this mean?

Exactly. The physical is just a shell with our reincarnated, evolved souls inside. Our souls are immortal - they think, feel, experience & remember ......

Everything has a spirit - including our bodies.
And again - in what way is a soul 'evolved'?

Well yeah we just ascertained that our souls are inside our physical bodies

Evolved I mean people who are deep, spiritual, intelligent (not necessarily PHD intelligent but intelligent)
People that understand how this world is and see through the illusions.
People that have lived here many times before and are aware that they have.
Some people don't give any of this stuff I've written here a thought, therefore maybe slightly less evolved?
Not sure I may be totally wrong.

I find it relatively easy to perceive where a soul is older/more mature/advanced than one that is not. Much can be determined by someone's energy, way of being and interacting in the world. For example those that nurture good feeling, harmony, inspiration, love and joy can easily be distinguished from those with varying degrees of more troubled (even 'darker') energies; i.e. people whose interactions tend to cause pain and suffering (whether intentional or not). It is not a clear black and white situation but the shades of grey can be discerned and have their imbued quality.

This is indeed where the lessons come in. Of course not everyone is interested in this .... and it shows! I have vastly improved on the person I once was and continue to be mindful of further 'tweaking' that is both beneficial to myself and those that I interact with....more flow, more harmony, more serenity.

Well yeah we just ascertained that our souls are inside our physical bodies

Evolved I mean people who are deep, spiritual, intelligent (not necessarily PHD intelligent but intelligent)
People that understand how this world is and see through the illusions.
People that have lived here many times before and are aware that they have.
Some people don't give any of this stuff I've written here a thought, therefore maybe slightly less evolved?
Not sure I may be totally wrong.

Soul is not something I have personally encountered, consciousness on the other hand is something I have, now although consciousness permeates our body, the bulk of our consciousness that we utilise to function here surrounds our bodies, yet the consciousness that is always us and does not change (higher self) resides outside of our matrix of consciousness that is often called our aura.

To my understanding we are all one within the oneness of consciousness, yet we are all capable of creating different life experiences by choosing to believe in different things and perceive things in alliance with those chosen beliefs, we might choose to believe we are different, but the reality is that we are all one.

Well yeah we just ascertained that our souls are inside our physical bodies

Evolved I mean people who are deep, spiritual, intelligent (not necessarily PHD intelligent but intelligent)
People that understand how this world is and see through the illusions.
People that have lived here many times before and are aware that they have.
Some people don't give any of this stuff I've written here a thought, therefore maybe slightly less evolved?
Not sure I may be totally wrong.

And maybe a 'very advanced' soul has decided to have a blinkered existence in one life in order to understand this. How would you tell?

I find it relatively easy to perceive where a soul is older/more mature/advanced than one that is not. Much can be determined by someone's energy, way of being and interacting in the world. For example those that nurture good feeling, harmony, inspiration, love and joy can easily be distinguished from those with varying degrees of more troubled (even 'darker') energies; i.e. people whose interactions tend to cause pain and suffering (whether intentional or not). It is not a clear black and white situation but the shades of grey can be discerned and have their imbued quality.

This is indeed where the lessons come in. Of course not everyone is interested in this .... and it shows! I have vastly improved on the person I once was and continue to be mindful of further 'tweaking' that is both beneficial to myself and those that I interact with....more flow, more harmony, more serenity.

It simply isn't that easy. Souls - including 'advanced' souls may be dreadfully damaged. How would you tell a damaged soul from one 'less mature'?

It simply isn't that easy. Souls - including 'advanced' souls may be dreadfully damaged. How would you tell a damaged soul from one 'less mature'?

Advanced and damaged are contradictory/conflicting terms so I do not understand what you are saying here.

A damaged soul is suffering, i.e. limited in its potential and hence would not be seen to be advanced.

It is relatively self evident to see when someone has achieved their potential since there is a sense of fulfillment, a feeling of being at ease with the world. A tortured soul, by contrast, is still caught up in life's struggles and has much to overcome. The distinction can be quite marked!

But is it possible though ??
I think you would always know on a deeper intuitive level.

Advanced and damaged are contradictory/conflicting terms so I do not understand what you are saying here.

A damaged soul is suffering, i.e. limited in its potential and hence would not be seen to be advanced.

It is relatively self evident to see when someone has achieved their potential since there is a sense of fulfillment, a feeling of being at ease with the world. A tortured soul, by contrast, is still caught up in life's struggles and has much to overcome. The distinction can be quite marked!

'Damaged' means that something - a traumatic death, for example - has hurt them. It is possible to have got to where someone who uses these terms might consider it 'advanced' and then have an accident and get knocked back. And if someone rescues or heals this soul, then it is 'advanced' again.

But is it possible though ??
I think you would always know on a deeper intuitive level.

Is what possible? Sorry. I'm not sure which bit you're referring to.

'Damaged' means that something - a traumatic death, for example - has hurt them. It is possible to have got to where someone who uses these terms might consider it 'advanced' and then have an accident and get knocked back. And if someone rescues or heals this soul, then it is 'advanced' again.

Well this is your area of expertise. I have no knowledge/experience of this.

Perhaps the use of the word 'damaged' is misleading here (you use the term 'soul loss' more frequently), since what you describe is more of a temporary setback, i.e. a glitch along their advanced path.

Well this is your area of expertise. I have no knowledge/experience of this.

Perhaps the use of the word 'damaged' is misleading here (you use the term 'soul loss' more frequently), since what you describe is more of a temporary setback, i.e. a glitch along their advanced path.

This can be true. But if they are then born again in that state they are embarking on a life with a damaged soul, during which they are likely to become more damaged and, possibly, damage others. 'Soul loss' tends to refer to a part of the soul breaking off within a life-time.
It's not really a 'glitch' since the effect can last lifetimes.

A damaged soul is suffering, i.e. limited in its potential and hence would not be seen to be advanced.

It is relatively self evident to see when someone has achieved their potential since there is a sense of fulfillment, a feeling of being at ease with the world. A tortured soul, by contrast, is still caught up in life's struggles and has much to overcome. The distinction can be quite marked!

Are you saying here that anyone who is suffering cannot be 'advanced'? I don't really understand this.

Are you saying here that anyone who is suffering cannot be 'advanced'? I don't really understand this.

Learning from suffering engenders progress/development. Of course life can throw us curveballs of various unexpected intensities but the more spiritually advanced we become, the less we are phased by them. They are dealt with/assimilated more easily than is the norm. That is why I mentioned the word 'glitch' - a temporary setback rather than an upheaval.

How would you describe the spiritual state of someone who has experienced 'soul loss' over many lifetimes? I doubt that they would be seen as advanced. So I think we are not talking of the same thing.

Learning from suffering engenders progress/development. Of course life can throw us curveballs of various unexpected intensities but the more spiritually advanced we become, the less we are phased by them. They are dealt with/assimilated more easily than is the norm. That is why I mentioned the word 'glitch' - a temporary setback rather than an upheaval.

How would you describe the spiritual state of someone who has experienced 'soul loss' over many lifetimes? I doubt that they would be seen as advanced. So I think we are not talking of the same thing.

It's hard to say, since I would not use the word 'advanced'. The state of someone who has experienced soul loss over many lifetimes is damaged - just as people in one lifetime can be damaged by abuse or other trauma. Eventually we might get someone like Fred West. Or someone equally damaged but in other ways.
I don't think I am seeing 'advancement' in this - as you clearly do. I see learning and I guess you could call souls with more learning 'advanced', in the way that university students can be called more advanced than primary school pupils - in some subjects.

When I look at (for example) the lying and vitriol from both sides in the EU 'debate' and now in the Labour Party, I see many damaged souls. Are you seeing less advanced ones? If so, where have the advanced ones who have been learning over all the past history of humanity gone?

Such advancement should make the world 'better' - more peaceful, fairer. Whereas souls being damaged will increasingly make the world angrier and more violent. Unless there's a lot of healing going on, which there isn't.

It's hard to say, since I would not use the word 'advanced'. The state of someone who has experienced soul loss over many lifetimes is damaged - just as people in one lifetime can be damaged by abuse or other trauma. Eventually we might get someone like Fred West. Or someone equally damaged but in other ways.
I don't think I am seeing 'advancement' in this - as you clearly do. I see learning and I guess you could call souls with more learning 'advanced', in the way that university students can be called more advanced than primary school pupils - in some subjects.

When I look at (for example) the lying and vitriol from both sides in the EU 'debate' and now in the Labour Party, I see many damaged souls. Are you seeing less advanced ones? If so, where have the advanced ones who have been learning over all the past history of humanity gone?

Such advancement should make the world 'better' - more peaceful, fairer. Whereas souls being damaged will increasingly make the world angrier and more violent. Unless there's a lot of healing going on, which there isn't.

I think I am beginning to understand where we get our wires crossed.

I am not using the term spiritually advanced to apply to the public at large since most people are not spiritually focused in the first place! They are not on that path. It may be a sweeping generalisation, but I feel it to be true that most people have materialistic values and assess themselves on their job status, possessions etc. Their definition of 'advanced' is to be understood in that consumerist world.

The spiritual path, which focuses on our soul/spiritual development, is what I have been addressing.

I think I am beginning to understand where we get our wires crossed.

I am not using the term spiritually advanced to apply to the public at large since most people are not spiritually focused in the first place! They are not on that path. It may be a sweeping generalisation, but I feel it to be true that most people have materialistic values and assess themselves on their job status, possessions etc. Their definition of 'advanced' is to be understood in that consumerist world.

The spiritual path, which focuses on our soul/spiritual development, is what I have been addressing.

And, I guess, that is what I have been talking about, too. Many souls are on a 'learning path'. Many are not. It comes down to individual choice. But most souls who, at the moment, are in human form have chosen such a path.
It is possible for some (in your terms) 'advanced' souls to be learning from having a materialistic life. It's not common, but it happens. But most are (in my terms) 'damaged'. Basically, they get stuck between here and the land of the dead. They are not able to access healing and they are not able to access the wisdom that their souls have been accruing over many lifetimes.

By the way - "Mental and Emotional" seems an odd forum for this entire thread!

By the way - "Mental and Emotional" seems an odd forum for this entire thread!

Yes I had that thought recently too.

Strikes me that, the way the thread has developed, it might be better accessed/placed under Spirituality...yes?

But do you not think that creating a spiritual belief does not have a direct impact upon our mental and emotional state, as well as our general state of health and wellbeing?

But do you not think that creating a spiritual belief does not have a direct impact upon our mental and emotional state, as well as our general state of health and wellbeing?

Of course our beliefs help form our mindset which, in turn, impacts on our health.

I see the implication in your question though i.e. that you assume our spirituality is a created belief and, hence, might not be real. I wonder if you have ever gone outside the ego, e.g. via meditation? It is one way that reveals our true essence/soul/spirit. This experience is widespread and common now.

But do you not think that creating a spiritual belief does not have a direct impact upon our mental and emotional state, as well as our general state of health and wellbeing?

That's true. But the forum titles are like school subjects - false separations in order to help us to navigate.

Just the way someone talks you can tell if they're more spiritually advanced.
I see the world through astrological eyes so a lot of the time I can't help but notice things with people and I drop out random little comments. Most of the time I can tell that people are not registering what I'm saying and they just carry on as normal. That's because their mind doesn't think the way mine does. This is how I experience the world, doesn't mean that other people do too. I also have a long, long way to go yet.

I consider myself a slightly damaged soul with a bit of karma but I also thought I was kind of spiritually evolved - not sure how much though
Damn was I totally wrong ??

This is interesting that you say the more spiritually advanced you are, the more prepared you will be for setbacks and deal with them more calmly.

Hahaha sorry !!!
But these titles are just a way of classifying things like science does with the human body and all other things that exist on this planet.