Blogger underlines quotes in Care of the Soul

Joanna DeVoe, self-described witch, shares some personal favourite quotes from Thomas Moore's classic book, "Care Of The Soul, for example, is practically built on one kickass quote after another, so it was quite the challenge choosing a smallish selection to share with you here today."

DeVoe writes, "Thomas Moore's thing is archetypal psychology with a side of mythology, so he is expert at both navigating and explaining the psycho-spiritual terrain we witches long to explore" at the beginning of her post, "Book Nerd : Kickass Quotes from Care Of The Soul".

Be sensitive to moments when soul is present

Leadership coach Dan Oestreich writes the blog post, "Unfolding Leadership" about soul experiences in our lives: "As someone whose life work is devoted to helping others in leadership roles, the very idea that there are such moments of awakening insight is an indelible part of my coaching and consulting practice. Without such moments when our soul comes forward, not just in our work, but in our lives, too, we lose personal meaning. . . . But this concept also raises questions, 'What is my soul?' after all and, indeed, 'When have I felt it come forward?'" Oestreich continues:

"Only you can answer these questions, of course. And if you are really intrigued with them, I’d say find a copy of Thomas Moore’s powerful book, Care of the Soul. Moore, a therapist, gracefully tracks the notion that our lives are filled with sacred moments when the soul is especially present, even when we might not notice — or might not want to notice — what is going on. Soul doesn’t show up only in peak moments of release and positive inspiration, but also in moments of conflict, even despair. The soul isn’t only an optimist, helping us charge ahead with our unique passions. It can also bring us up short, teach us something about compassion, humility, tolerance and the other deeper virtues. "

Oestreich then describes a client's concern about abruptness and impatience in his technical role and looks at the soul perspective.

Religion to nourish engagement with daily life

Yesterday Erin Smith, associate professor of American Studies at the University of Texas, Dallas writes "What would Jesus read?" for the Houston Chronicle. In this piece about religious bestsellers in America, she slams Thomas Moore's book, Care of the Soul, yet in this survey of historical offerings, Smith uncovers the current weaknesses of traditional religions that Moore discusses in his latest book, A Religion of One's Own. Smith suggests:

"But what these books really show us about America is more complicated. Their practicality has been so popular in part because they fill spiritual vacuums that organized religions in America fail to address. Religions are divided by doctrinal differences, whereas popular books are mostly "untheological." Most churches are male-dominated, whereas many popular books focus on women and their concerns.

After all these years, I finally get what was up with my friend and Care of the Soul. She was raised Catholic. She hadn't attended mass in years, and dismissed the Vatican as irrelevant, but there was still a Catholic ritual-sized hole in her daily life that Moore (a former Catholic monk) filled with secular practices — music, poetry, art, myths, and sacred stories from across the world." 

Smith concludes, "Moore just wasn't a good fit for me, I guess. My ancestors were Puritans. If I was going to have an encounter with the Divine, I was going to do it in an empty room, sitting on a hard bench in silence."

Following the Gospels could transform our world

The Explore Beyond the Usual site shares Kathryn Samuelson's post "Metanoia or the Radical Transformation of Heart and Mind" from December 2012 in which Samuelson recommends Thomas Moore's book Writing in the Sand: Jesus and the Soul of the Gospels. She considers the limitations of translating metanoia as repentance in theological discussions and champions Moore's expansive description of the term. She also suggests:

"One of the lessons, according to Moore, is to say yes to life all along the journey and to not reject the simple pleasures of life for yourself and others out of some idea that to be a true follower of Jesus, your life must be one of austerity and denial only. It seems to me that he is saying that having an open heart, being welcoming of your life and of others, coming from a place of love, compassion and wisdom is the path of Jesus. If all of us followed these steps (whether an actual follower of Jesus) this shift would radically transform each of us through reinventing our egos and thus reinventing the world." 

Samuelson finds this book worth reading and rereading.