What is this soul thing, anyway?

To give you a taste of what I mean by soul, here are four of my favourite quotes that capture a little of this soul thing.We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are the shining parts, is the soul.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer, philosopher and poet, 1803–1882

The soul doesn’t have to know what is going on in life. It doesn’t need interpretations, explanations or conclusions, but it does require musing, reverie,

consideration, wonder and exploration.

Thomas Moore, Soul Mates

Living is being born slowly. It would be a little too easy if we could borrow ready-made souls.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras, 1942

Dear Sir, I can’t give you any advice but this: to go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which your life flows.

Rainer Maria Rilke, poet and art critic, 1875–1926

From Parenting with Soul by Sally Collings (HarperCollins Australia, an April 2011 release)