SOUL SICKNESS AND SOUL LOSS # 7

TREATMENT

If you would dispel the darkness, seek the sacred.

Be careful of what you taste and in what you immerse.

Severe suffering, shame and humiliation often make recovery difficult but there can be healing. In turning the crap into manure the Phoenix can rise out of the ashes. We can then take the suffering and make something useful out of it, especially by helping others. 

“The soul has no rainbow if the eyes have no tears.” 

Native American saying

 Anyone that climbs out from the bottom of the barrel of suffering, grief and sorrow has the potential to be more spiritually powerful than those who have been fortunate enough to not have been there. When we are knocked down and get up – if it did not kill us – it will make us stronger. 

It not what happens to us that counts - its what we do with it.

We should not be ashamed that we have been at the bottom of a pit. If we have managed to climb out of it we can be empowered. We can start anew with the unbounded potential and strength of having had that experience. 

The healing can also be part of the Hero/ine’s journey where after a dark night of the soul we attain the “grail” and come back to give it away and do service. Many folks in recovery have done exactly that.  

The causes of soul sickness and loss are related to 

and aggravate their consequences, 

such as; misery, isolation, fatigue, depression, resignation, detachment, hopelessness, anxiety, divorce. family disintegration, addictions, violence, abuse of others, self harm and even suicide.

Numbers count through Coherence. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole. It takes a village. The magic of coherence is easily found in the rituals of indigenous societies. Healing is done in community. Although its not easy for Westerners we need to try and find or create community.

Helping Others

"We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea and we owe each other a terrible loyalty."  G.K. Chesterton

Take your suffering and make something useful out of it. 

By helping others, we help ourselves.

"I dont know what your destiny will be but one thing I know is that the only ones who will be happy will have found and sought how to help others" A. Schweitzer

The more we perseverate and focus on ourselves the more miserable we become. This is not a judgment but a fact of life built as a default into the soul. 

The more we give the more we get.

"We are here to help others, what on earth others are here for I do not know." W.H. Auden

"We Inter-are."  Thich Nhat Hanh

We are all one though not the same.

"The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose I am here and you are out there."  Yatsutani Roshi

Practice random acts of kindness. 

"You are only a person through other persons." The Zulu Ubuntu principle

If all else fails.

 This too will pass.

If you dont want to see the shadow turn your face to the sun." Aboriginal saying

"No matter how long the night, the dawn is sure to come." 

African proverb

There are Spiritual Diseases unrecognized by Western medicine or psychiatry that are real. 

Most indigenous societies can diagnose and treat them.

These include

Intrusive Spirits

Earth Bound, those seeking forgiveness and stray spirits from the lower Astral.

Energetic Pollution or Ritual Impurity

The lasting imprint of some negative spiritual encounter or malady unless its reversed.

Witchcraft and Sorcery

which some might believe are restricted only to indigenous societies but are alive and potent everywhere. Disbelief in them does not neutralise their power. 

This is an entire blog on its own and can be found in previous blogs and in dvd's on my website davidcumes.com

 SOUL SICKNESS AND SOUL LOSS #6

PATHOGENESIS OF SOUL SICKNESS AND SOUL LOSS

The sages teach that without the sacred there is no mundane and without the mundane there is no sacred.
They are different sides of the same reality.
They are unique but not separate from the whole.

Many of us are suffering from an element of soul sickness. According to the Ancestors, the breath and soul are pure. The soul clings to a body that is pure but starts to separate if its vehicle is polluted. Depending on the level of contamination it will separate more or less. With most of us on the path its not so much.

The mind must mind what the mind minds best.

That mind can either be Monkey (survival or primitive mind) Mind supported by Ego and Shadow or Big Mind supported by the Field and your guides coupled with one's spiritual life and higher aspirations.

Indigenous societies recognize soul sickness and even loss arising from intrusive spirits, energetic spiritual pollution (or ritual impurity) as well as witchcraft and sorcery These are usually discounted by Western thinking but are nevertheless real. If one is in denial of this truth it goes uncorrected. This form of sickness requires shamanic or spiritual help.

Soul sickness can be roughly classified into; 

Minor, Moderate, Severe or Critical. 

Soul loss would fall into the Severe or Critical group. Soul sickness mostly to the others.

Minor 

may be the challenges of living in a modern society with all its negative complexities including TV, violent movies, social media and technological complications requiring constant maintenance etc... This form is easily rectified by some type of relaxation technique. Since it affects the body and the body affects the soul it is best corrected somatically. Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gong are ideal for this. Without any active correction it can become Moderate.

Moderate

 may occur due to loss of a loved one, one's health or livelihood. Severe anxiety, depression, OCD. are other causes. Concerning our armed forces who have been in battle, PTSD. would fall into this group and in many instances into the Severe or Critical category. It also seems that since Covid and important other negative planetary events many "normal" people have experience a form of PTSD. or soul sickness This is projected onto others as anger. Interactions with them often seem negative or toxic for no good reason. The perpetrators seemed to have no ability or desire to self-regulate. They project their soul sickness onto others who suffer as a result.

Severe and Critical

is caused by severe self-abuse, addiction, "sex, drugs, rock and roll" and abuse by others early on or later in life. Critical also occurs in dictators themselves who because of power lose any sense of right or wrong. Also in radical cults, religious or otherwise and in drug cartels or gangs where murder is a prerequisite for membership. One can often see the effects in their facial expressions and especially their eyes (the eyes are the seat of the soul.) A person's true nature, emotions and inner self can be revealed in their eyes.

TREATMENT - GENERAL MEASURES

 PREVENTION 

IS BETTER THAN CURE

“... What counts is to restrain the blaze in the hours of desire and let it flow into the hours of prayer and service.”  Talmud

Prevention is about having a spiritual life and practice and not submitting to the wiles of a sensory body hypnotized by the temptations of excess and greed. 

Free will is the cosmic law and is a huge responsibility. We are perfectly entitled to screw up our karma. The forces outside of us are always more tempting than doing those requiring soul work. 

The Buddhists teach that the most powerful meditation of all is that on death probably because they fully understand the spiritual implications of karma. I doubt soul sickness is an issue in any devout Buddhist or advanced spiritual practitioner. S/He would look at the challenges of samsara mostly as a test of their spiritual practice. 

PTSD. could be another word for soul sickness and even soul loss causing suicide in many of our veterans. There is a certain amount of PTSD. in many or all of us these days because of the crazy events happening on the planet which I believe are unique to our times. This is amplified by technology which has given us the possibility of totally destroying ourselves and autocrats who threaten to make it happen if they are opposed. All of this is made evident and aggravated by television and social media.

If you would dispel the darkness, seek the sacred.

What you sanctify, sanctifies you.

The only way to dispel darkness is with light.

 

Be careful of what you taste and where you immerse.

 

And as for your power, what are you doing in the wrong circle.

The work to realize Self or Soul requires we have the skills to subordinate ego, monkey mind and shadow. 

“To confront a person with his own shadow is to show him his own light.” C. G. Jung

"I am guarding my light and my treasure, convinced that nobody would gain and I myself would be badly, even hopelessly injured, if I should lose it. It is most precious not only to me, but above all to the darkness of the Creator, who needs humans to illuminate his Creation.” C. G. Jung

 

Suffering and grief can get in the way of our Soul work unless its transformed into something positive. 

Grieving is essential when confronted with severe trauma and this means fully acknowledging the truth and expressing it to those who can hear and support. Being vulnerable is not weak. It takes strength and courage. Only by becoming vulnerable and admitting to the truth can the pain can be released. Denial or hiding it away will not work.

 

”I was never asked, (by her elders.) “Aren’t you finished grieving yet?” Rather, they would say – “have you grieved enough? Have you cried enough?” 

Blame, guilt and shame, come from being unable to express our grief properly…” Sobonfu Some' 

 

Grief may require special rituals and communal help – sometimes it take a village as in a recovery program. Indigenous societies have their own rituals that have to do with letting go that are effective.

“May you have the commitment to know what has hurt you, to allow it to come close to you and in the end become one with you.” Payer of Finton

It is possible to take grief and turn it into something positive.

"Take you suffering and make something useful out of it by helping others." Buddhist wisdom

Its not what happens to us but what we do with it that counts.

 

“I saw grief drinking from cup and called out, ‘it tastes good does it not?’ ‘You've caught me Grief answered and you've ruined my business. How can I sell sorrow when you know it's a blessing?”  Rumi

Every challenge could also be considered a karmic test.

 

We are continually being tested – not about how much we know or how well we perform but that our trust, our love and our faith are being always tested at unexpected times in often unrecognized guises…

Spiritual knowledge and practice can help us overcome the trials and tribulations of life and mitigate or prevent pain, suffering and the possibility of soul sickness.

Love, laughter and song chase away the dark forces and all that is dreaded from your nights and days.

 

"If you don't want to see the shadow, turn your face to the sun."

Aboriginal proverb

“Never yield to weariness of spirit. Sometimes the world’s cares and distractions will intrude and the spirit will become weak. At times like this carry on and soon the spirit will become strong again. God’s spirit is always with you to replenish and renew… When you are overcome by temporary conditions which you cannot control, keep quiet and wait for the power of spirit to flow back.” 
Twenty Four Hours a day. 

“No matter how long the night, the day will surely come.” 
African Proverb

 

This too will pass but it requires strong intention, self-care and self-awareness.

There are many remedies. I will highlight a few key ones in the next blogs.

 PERPETRATORS OF SOUL SICKNESS OR LOSS #5 

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Ten Commandments

Social media can be a powerful tool for inducing malicious propaganda which can "spread" like a virus and cause soul sickness. This is especially true because of the situation on the planet today due to fear induced from - threats of war, autocracy, fascism, nuclear annihilation, climate change, epidemics ... etc.

In a sense we are all manifesting some degree of P.T.S.D. which can be regarded as a form of soul sickness.

The Nazis and Soul Loss

The Nazis used music to torture their victims and rob their souls, especially the Jews. Musicologist Ruth Hacohen has called it the "music libel against the Jews."  The SS robbed the Jews and Jewish musicians of the only vital resource that they had for their survival by forcing them to sing German patriotic songs while being tortured or and while being forced to do heavy labor. Moreover, Jewish musicians were forced to play classical music as their fellow Jews were marched to the gas chambers.

The Nazis took the demonic in music way beyond the level of the Satanic tritone in Heavy Metal music to further aggravate their genocide. 

This brings us on to other fiendish schemes not only used by the Nazis but now by other leaders on the planet..

 

“It’s an easy thing. It’s nothing to do with Nazism, it has to do with human nature. You can do this in a Nazi regime, you can do it in democracy ... (and in any regime) The only thing a government needs to make people into slaves is fear… then you can get them to do anything that you want.” Hermann Goring

Hatred arising from fear causes the pure soul to separate from a body polluted by; fear, anger, malice, hatred, envy and a desire for causing harm or wreaking vengeance.

"We enter parliament in order to supply ourselves, in the arsenal of democracy, with its own weapons. If democracy is so stupid as to give us free tickets and salaries for this bear's work, that is its affair. We do not come as friends, nor even as neutrals. We come as enemies. As the wolf bursts into the flock, so we come." Joseph Goebbels

 

Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s demonic propaganda genius, knew dark truths that are being used effectively by despots throughout the world today (including the U.S.A.) These can induce soul sickness and even loss in both the perpetrators as well as their subjects.

The bible teaches that Satan works not only with tribulation and temptation but also deception and lies. There is no moral equivalence for what the Nazis did nor what modern day Satanic-like, hate cults are doing today. Radical Islam and others are diabolically clever in spreading lies using modern technology.

 

"f you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself.

A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.

The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.

 

This is the secret of propaganda: Those who are to be persuaded by it should be completely immersed in the ideas of the propaganda, without ever noticing that they are being immersed in it.

 

Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred.

 

Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated 
are confident they are acting on their own free will.

 

Whoever can conquer the street will one day conquer the state, for every form of power politics and any dictatorship-run state has its roots in the street.

... the rank and file are usually much more primitive than we imagine. Propaganda must therefore always be essentially simple and repetitious.

 

The masses need something that will give them a thrill of horror."

 With Goebble's help Hitler nearly conquered the world with only the power of radio and rallies. Think what the dark side of the web,  social media and A.I. can do today.

 

It is debatable whether someone like Hitler, Goebbels, Goring, the Nazis, the SS, Gestapo and others began as socio or psychopaths or became them since power corrupts and complete power corrupts completely... Sadly they were able to create an element of soul sickness in a multitudeand and soul loss in many. Most, when facing justice at the Nurenberg trials were happy with what they had done. They had absolutely no regrets and would have done it again.

 

Its all about intention. The perpetrators ask for, or are given  permission. Their consent allows them to go to the dark side. 

This wisdom  was related to me by a Tsonga tracker (the Tsonga, a tribe in the north of South Africa). Two of us were walking in the bush with him and he was teaching us the use of medicinal plants for healing. He was a devout Christian and his mother was a sangoma and had taught him the plants. Sangomas and others in South Africa are well aware of the fact that sorcerers and witches also used certain plants for wicked outcomes. 

Anyone can become a witch. All that you have to do is go to powerful witch and buy a poisonous snake (an evil spirit.) This snake will then bring you anything that you want; power, sex, money… anything! But you have to feed your snake all the time. If you do not, the snake will eat anything and everything that you like or love - your children, your wife - your soul. 

 

"Do not covet..."  Another commandment

Envy which arises out of "coveting" is basic to witchcraft and sorcery. Soul loss is a consequence for those who invoke negative powers for self-gain. In addition they are well payed for helping others get what they desire but do not deserve.

Success for this ungodly work is also predicated on selling one's soul to the forces of evil. 

However, there are consequences to this behavior not only karmically, emotionally and mentally but also physically. These malevolent individuals are frequently subject to sickness and even premature death.

 

What you resist will persist. What you destroy, destroys you. What you defeat, defeats you. 

Goebbels paradoxically stated that with time things might turn ... we can only hope.

 

There will come a day, when all the lies will collapse under their own weight, and truth will again triumph.

 

Sadly, it may take a long time and much pain and soul suffering on behalf of others in the interim. Eventually, hopefully, the light will prevail. With the power of the dark side and of an open internet many of us wonder if truth can prevail if something is not done to stop the lies.

 

SOUL SICKNESS AND LOSS #4

 

Music, Musicians and Soul Loss

Music, until approximately a hundred years ago, was always meant to be spiritual, by the Greeks, indigenous peoples and various religions. However, there have always been demonic cults who welcomed dark, occult spirit forces through discordant sound. 

The Greeks exploited music for good and understood that just as musical discord could distort the spirit, musical concord could enable it.  

When we sin, we are without music or harmony. Rather control the modes of music in a city than its laws.

Many spoke of music as enabling humans to return to the Divine regions, a place once lost to them. The right music especially; kirtans, bhajans, Chassidic melodies can sooth the souls. Musical instruments used consciously can do the same especially sounds from Tibetan or crystal bowls, the didgeridoo, the mbira, the harp, jaws harp, the harmonica etc.

The Greeks and others felt that sound should follow a certain "objective moral order." 

This is the reason classical music had and has such appeal. The great classical composers followed this idea and were supported by the church. 

Pre-modernistic music kept these principles up until the last century when skilled musical advocates arose that attempted to defile the sacredness by introducing discord and musical narcissism. 

 

“I am conscious of having removed all traces of a past esthetic. I am cured of the delusion that the artist’s aim is to create beauty.” Schoenberg 

“Once the past has been gotten out of the way, one need think only of oneself.” Boulez

“Purposeful purposelessness,” to have absolutely no organization.” Cage

 

Other iconoclasts arose that supported this idea with the likes of Heavy Metal Music and similar genres. Foul words in their lyrics aggravated their toxic effects. This music was said to be able to wake up the dead and call up the Devil. Many musicians in these genres aligned themselves with Satan for impact or in truth. 

 

"The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day that you were created.” Ezekiel

Lucifer who became Satan, fell from heaven together with the other "fallen angels" Prior to that he was the chief musician in heaven and God's most beautiful angel. The Devil's Triad was said to exist in a particular musical tone. This "Trill" was said to enable one to become possessed by Satan which in turn opened the door to the Black Arts. For centuries, it was called the Devil's interval or the tritone because it is made of three whole steps. One can also hear the tritone in terrifying movie soundtracks, the sounds of Halloween, such as creaky floorboards and howling winds. It was designed to be chilling, unsettling, and threatening.

The tritone was also used by some famous composers but sparingly and for effect only.

Robert Johnson, previously a mediocre guitarist, was said to have met the Devil on the road at midnight. The Devil promised that he would make him one of the most famous guitarists of all time if he relinquished his soul to him. He indeed became that famous.

Many rock musicians seemed to become possessed on stage like Jimi Hendriks and some aligned themselves with the Devil implicitly or explicitly.

Tartini was visited by the Devil in a dream who dazzled  him by playing a piece of music which he knew would have been impossible for him to replicate. The dream inspired him to compose but he also said;

 

“… The music which I at this time composed is indeed the best that I ever wrote, and and I still call it the “Devil’s Trill”, but the difference between it and that which so moved me, is so great that I would have destroyed my instrument and have said farewell to music forever if it had been possible for me to live without the enjoyment it affords me.” Tartini

 

There were many others who flirted with dark forces including; Giuseppe, John Lennon, Bon Jovi , Snoop Dogg, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jagger, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and especially Heavy Metals; Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Warriors from the Gates of Hell and Black Sabbath.

Sex, drugs, alcohol, addiction and even dark spirit possession seemed to be the order of the day with some.

David Bowie affirmed that there has never been anything innocent or pure about rock and roll. From its inception it had two great themes: licentiousness, rebellion and seeking power through the dark arts.  Although rock and roll and similar genres can be melodious and gratifying, David Bowie was concerned that the wrong music could welcome dark forces. 

Hendrix became an international rock superstar. He abused even the worst drugs, alcohol and women. He destroyed his guitars and amplifiers during concerts and set his guitar on fire. This would send the young concert-goers into a frenzy. It was said that his band had to be stoned to play properly. He was using music to 'take people on trips.' Not the light and right trip' but a dark trip. Many of the sounds, invoked were demonic and could affect the mind of the listener. 

Many of Hendrik’s friends died under strange circumstances after his death. Hendrik's himself died at a young age as have many musicians and others who turned to the dark side. There are not only karmic but also physical consequences to sensate indulgence, power and possession.

Christian rock has been an attempt to counter this genre.

 

 

SOUL SICKNESS AND LOSS #3

 

Can occur when fame and power override higher consciousness in “Gurus,” dysfunctional priests and religious leaders.

There are others categories which will be discussed in the next blogs including;

demented and malevolent politicians such as Hitler, certain musicians, violent and radical cults of any sort - some seemingly religious (radical Islam) - and gangs, notably those peddling drugs. The latter often have altars and pray to Satan and other demonic powers to enable them. 

Any of these with their own soul sickness or loss will create a measure of the same in their followers.

 

SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS

To whom much is given, much is required. 

(in terms of integrity and the laws of karma. )

Spiritual and religious leaders, gurus and priests can be subjected to soul loss. These perpetrators also cause 'dis'-ease in their followers. Gurus that came from the East 'fell' on account of easy money, devoted followers and the facility with which they could exploit their women and men devotees. Their followers became subject to abuse; materially, physically, sexually, emotionally, psychologically and above all spiritually. There are many and the list below goes on. Because of their spiritual status and knowledge, it is even more reprehensible since these people should be held to the highest standards. 

To mention only a few of the worst.

Osho 

Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram Yoga. 

Dr. Kausthub Desikachar.

Da Free John.

Amrit Desai. 

Sathya Sai Baba. 

Chögyam Trungpa, and Ösel Tendzin. (his student.) 

John of God. 

Their methods of manipulation and behavior were often quite diabolical.

Osho – Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was probably the most infamous and notorious of these and invoked most of the methods below.

Sexual promiscuity, group sex (even pimping on behalf of the guru.) The latter was exploited as a remedy for releasing the students’ attachments and fears around sex. Hypocrisy ran rampant. The guru engaged 'purely altruistically' and although sex was involved he remained officially 'celibate.' These acts were said to be done out of selfless service for the sake of the devotee only. Those selected felt special and competition for the selection arose resulting in corruption and power-play. 

Abuse with drugs was acceptable because the guru was beyond the material. The vehicle or body was only temporary and would be released when he exited to the causal, enlightened realm.

The guru was totally unattached to all the wealth and extravagance that accumulated – it meant nothing to him but yet there were hidden bank accounts, private planes, boats and exotic cars. 

The intimidation and even weaponization practiced was essential to protect the cult from jealous and uninformed locals outside the ashram. Devotees were told not to communicate with anyone   because they would not be able to understand their sophisticated level of enlightenment. Military training was essential, as were weapons, to keep the ashram safe. 

This environment created a group/cult 'hypnosis'  and a sense of community - they were are all in it together for the sake of a higher purpose. Even for the skeptical it was better to be there than to leave since there was a sense of belonging, community and security.  Those that tried to leave would be threatened with material and spiritual bankruptcy, doom and gloom if they left the fold.

Complete surrender and trust were essential for the instruction to work. To Self-realize one had to release all that one knew (as well as material possessions) and accept certain things that seemed abhorrent. This was essential and necessary for the mission. Abuse and dogma were accepted as a part of the lesson. Only the guru had the power to lead the devotee to enlightenment.

The guru had the ability to channel privileged information from a higher source. It required tremendous sacrifice to do this.

Dreaming him was a good sign that one was on the path. In reality the guru may have had the spiritual power to script and manipulate the devotee through the dream time as well as in real time.

The warning signs were obvious but easily subordinated to intimidation and the guru’s charisma and knowledge. The hypocrisy included:

Not talking truth to power – do as I say not as I do. There was no other way to Self-realization. Any semblance of love, compassion and humor both essential for the spiritual path were in short supply. 

The tenets should have been:

Subordination of ego to the Higher Self. Compassion instead of judgement. Leading with humility, love and laughter. Talking truth to power. Maintaining trust. Assuring safety. Pursuing spiritual excellence for all rather than power for oneself and the inner circle. Celebrating the myriad of differences and talents in all devotees and not playing favorites. Strengthening bonds. Encouraging asking for help. Not demeaning those less capable and even giving them more, rather than less attention. Assuring equanimity wholeness, health and balance. Seeing the divinity in all the spiritual seekers. 

Those in the inner circle who road or his coattails developed their own soul sickness or loss.

The soul sickness and loss portrayed by the guru and his inner circle had the effect of causing some of the same sickness in the devotees. 

When looking for a teacher one should beware and be aware of those with a big ego especially if they say their's is the only way. Moreover, if they charge a lot of money and their wisdom is not aligned with compassion, humility and love. If the so called 'tough' love is about shaming and humiliating others and there is hypocrisy then its time to run for the hills. There is no doubt that these leaders have wisdom to teach but rather than be polluted read their books (also with a pinch of salt.)

Krishnamurti taught that the concept of the Guru archetype was a fallacy and that we all need to find our own way. 

Rather  always;

“A guide from the side and not sage on a stage."