9. THE MIND, BODY, SOUL

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

For you to really understand why you can astral project and have an OBE, you need to have some basic knowledge on the three concepts that make up a human being. That is the mind, body and soul. Wholesomeness, healing and purpose can only be found when the mind, soul and body are balanced. To benefit from the impact of the highest octaves of positivity you must create and protect that balance. Despite having different functions, the three are connected. Imbalance of one affects the others adversely and undoubtedly, the strength of one spills into the others.

The levels of growth are instinct, intellect and intuition in chronological order. The body controls instinct and it is the most basic form of understanding. The mind is intellect and works with what the brain can comprehend. The soul is the intuition that is difficult to attain at basic vibration.

To understand the differences, similarities and connections between the mind, body and soul, you must be able to distinguish among the three. Various philosophies were established to explain the connection between these aspects. For instance, Aristotle believed that the body and soul must exist together at the same time whereas Descartes believed that the mind was distinct from the body but influences the body.

At this juncture, I'd also like you to note that understanding these three concepts can be a bit technical. I don't mean to scare you though: We will look at each of them separately in the simplest manner possible, complete with the various schools of thought around them so I'm certain you will come across a concept that you resonate with. Let's dive in, shall we?

The Soul

The soul has not always been understood. This is mainly because of its nonphysical form. Scientific theories have failed to prove its existence because it cannot be experimented on, seen, felt or touched. However, being in a nonphysical form does not mean it does not exist. Air cannot be seen but it is believed to exist because we feel it. The soul is believed to hold a person’s personality and purpose. It creates awareness and enables perception. Highest intuition is achieved by the positive aspects to the soul. Many scientists, philosophers, spiritual, and religious groups have tried to explain the soul as briefly explained below.

The soul has not always been understood. This is mainly because of its nonphysical form. Scientific theories have failed to prove its existence because it cannot be experimented on, seen, felt or touched. However, being in a nonphysical form does not mean it does not exist. Air cannot be seen but it is believed to exist because we feel it. The soul is believed to hold a person’s personality and purpose. It creates awareness and enables perception. Highest intuition is achieved by the positive aspects to the soul. Many scientists, philosophers, spiritual, and religious groups have tried to explain the soul as briefly explained below.

Greek Philosophies

According to Aristotle, the soul is what makes things live. A body without a soul is a corpse. His explanations on the soul indicate that the body needs the soul to work. He subscribes to the idea that the soul belongs to the body, but it is not the body. Therefore, it is inseparable and not independently existing. The natural body exists simultaneously with the soul. None can precede the other.

Components include nutritive souls in plants, the sensitive soul in animals and the rational soul in human beings. The nutritive soul is found in all life forms and governs certain physiological activities. The sensitive soul rules pain, pleasure and what is perceived by the five senses.

He subscribes to the idea that there is no specific purpose of a single soul and that all souls are the same. The soul is one and each body shares a single soul. There exists no subdivisions of self and single purpose but a collective one. Bodies might be different, but the kind of soul is equal. A collective purpose and goal come into shape. It is a non- discriminatory view of the soul regardless of gender, age, race, tribe, or belief.

The soul in this case is not separable and therefore lacks personality. Since it is a collective soul then none can experience privacy of purpose. Just like the concept of Ubuntu, it makes us all equal.

Socrates tied the idea of a soul to justice. The state of the soul in Socratic theories nourishes or withers depending on wicked or just deeds; it is under the influence of the acts of the body. The virtuous deeds bring good health and long life to the soul. Here, the relationship between the soul and body is symbiotic. The health of the soul is influenced by the acts of the body.

Plato believed that even after death, the soul continues to think. However, the Platonic soul is tripartite. Therefore, it is not located in one place but from different regions of the body.

Religious Views

For some religious groups, the soul is separate from the mind, body and spirit. Others believe that the soul is eternal and influences the state of the body. The body, for some, is mortal and undergoes torture and decay while the soul is forever but is subject to the deeds of the body.

Hinduism is pegged upon the belief that the soul is eternal. It has the power to experience multiple life forms and lifetimes. It is based on practice rather than belief.

The doctrine of karma holds the soul indebted. No soul can cross over unless they have paid up their karmic debts. It passes through a cycle of successive lives. The soul here is given power and autonomy to control the lifeforms. The worse karma one has, the more misfortunes they encounter. Everyone therefore strives to live in a way that their next reincarnation is better than their present life.

The soul can be experienced in human bodies, animal bodies and plant bodies. The Pythagorean theory of the soul and Hinduism accept that a soul can occupy another form. One can reincarnate as a dog or as a human depending on their debts and purpose. The soul here is given freedom and choice. It is not limited to the human form like in most beliefs. The current life form depends on how the previous lives were lived. Just like Christianity, the soul has a goal to become one with the source. Therefore, one shall repeatedly reincarnate and clear their karma until they achieve ultimate self-realization. The realization of the truth and being one with Brahman is the purpose of the soul.

Just like in Hinduism, in Christianity the soul is eternal. Belief is based on immortality of the soul. The virtuous souls ascend into heaven while the unrighteous ones experience eternal torment.

What is moral and immoral or just and wicked or good and bad is founded upon a belief in salvation. The souls that accept salvation and turn from wickedness ascend into heaven whereas eternal torment awaits the unrepentant. In some instances, the soul is believed to roam the ends of the earth seeking for someone to devour or deceive. The concept of soul here is limited in that it belongs to the source of all life who has the power to take or give according to his will.

The soul is a resident of the body, which is a temple. It is believed that one should guard the deeds of their body and mind because the soul bears the penalties. Here, the mind, body, soul and spirit are intertwined. Therefore, if one allows unrighteous thoughts or unjust deeds to control them then their soul is condemned to face eternal torture. The concept of saving the soul gives the believers time to make up for their wicked deeds and, as a resultant, enjoy a life of eternal bliss.

The soul returns to the source, the creator. It does not belong to the body for the body is only a container that enables the soul to fulfill its purpose. The soul knows the purpose and therefore prompts the mind to think on that purpose. The result is that the conscious and subconscious mind lead the body to follow the purpose of the soul. Without the body then the soul cannot fulfill its purpose on earth.

Soul Astrology

There are zodiac signs and each sign has a soul whose development and purpose is different from the other. The journey of the soul is tracked through the zodiac signs from the sign of Aries to Pisces. The energy dynamics in your birth chart symbolize where you are in soul development.

Your soul sign is your rising or ascendant. It shows the potential of your highest expression in the current lifetime. It means that the different lifetimes you get to experience show how your soul is growing. Soul astrology implies that the soul can grow and develop. Compared to Aristotle’s theory of a collective soul and the spiritual theory of the soul belonging to the source, astrology provides a growth. The sign on your birth chart shows the level of development.

The key to living out the purpose of the soul is to seek the highest octave of your sun, moon and ascendant sign. The highest octave is love while the lower octave is fear.

The soul sign shows spiritual essence plus the energy your soul came with on earth. Whatever accompanies that zodiac indicates what that individual will contribute to this lifetime. The personality signs serve as a distraction to the purpose of the soul. The personality signs represent the skills you developed in previous lifetimes. The behaviors, talents and skills are what the current lifetime may identify you with, but it is viewed as a distraction from who you truly are. Consequently, once you release your personality attachments and identify with your ascendant (soul), then you encounter the greatest expression of self in the current lifetime.

Soul astrology presents the dynamic and changing nature of the soul. All twelve zodiac signs come in different personalities. The sun sign is the first half of your personality. It is the one you are aware of and it exists in the conscious. The moon presents the other half of your personality which is an unconscious version. It is a hidden part of you, but it is who you become in relationships and partnerships. Your relationship and experience with others are your moon sign. The ascendant is your soul sign. It represents your ultimate self-expression in the current lifetime.

Soul planets are Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, while personal planets are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo. A soul at Aries and Taurus is an infant soul. A soul at Gemini and Cancer is at its teenage stage. One at Leo is at the prime of its youth and Virgo begins the path to the early 30s. Old souls are Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn. Most people do not understand these souls. They might be mistaken and misplaced because they are developed at higher consciousness levels.

For instance, Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. The soul at the stage of Aries is believed to be young and inexperienced. An ascendant in Aries shows that the individual is young at soul and their soul needs a lot of experience and growth. The sign of Aries is the ‘mind of god.’ Its soul purpose is to activate the divine mind because it rules reason. It rules the self, and the soul purpose is to look beyond individuality. At the level of the soul, Aries bridges the higher and lower mind. The Aries soul view does not separate the soul from the mind. Aries is blunt, direct, insensitive, and self-absorbed. The soul purpose of Aries lies within the weakness and shortcomings of people belonging to this zodiac.

The last sign is Pisces. It is believed to be the highest achievement and sacrifice. Attaining the stage of Pisces gives completion of purpose and returning to the soul. When the stage of Pisces is attained one goes back to the source/mind of god which is Aries and continues with the cycle to seal the areas that require polishing or perhaps repaying debts from their past lives.

In soul astrology, the soul gets the chance to move from one zodiac sign to the other as it accomplishes its purpose in that lifetime. Therefore, the purpose of the soul in the next lifetime will be different from the one in the previous lifetime.

The conclusion in this case therefore is that the soul is matter. It cannot be destroyed but only changes form from one state to another.

The Scientific Theory

To describe and explain certain events and objects, a scientist subjects them to tests.

The first is careful observation. The scientific theory seeks observation for truth. Therefore, whatever cannot be observed cannot be subjected to the theory. The soul is invisible. No one can see their soul or another person’s soul. As a result, since it cannot be seen or experimented on, it cannot be proved or disproved.

In the early 20th Century, physicists like Duncan Massachusetts tried to prove the existence of the soul. He took patients and weighed each of them before and after death. They lost 3⁄4 of an ounce and he concluded that as the weight of the soul. He later weighed dogs and they did not lose weight. He concluded that the soul exists but only in human beings. Critics, however, found this view to be flawed.

The Mind

The human mind is an enigma that has nothing but itself to understand itself. It is among the greatest mysteries. It can function at various levels and controls our physical body systems. The need to comprehend led to the gradual development of various theories and experiments by scientists, philosophers, scholars and spiritualists.

Autonomy of the Mind

The mind is responsible for thought. To lose your mental autonomy would be a loss of dignity. Mental autonomy is the ability to control your thinking, attention, decision making and all mental functions.

In discussing mental autonomy, you cannot fail to mention Socrates. He was like a midwife who awakened the power of the mind in his students. He believed that truth only comes from examining the mind. According to Socrates, the mind is a powerful tool that enables one to “know thyself.” The introspection theory implies that without the mind then truth and knowledge would be unknown. It reflects the autonomy of the mind. Moreover, the mind is seen as a tool which creates and grasps from within. He believed that knowledge does not come from without but from within.

Plato was Socrates' student. He, like Socrates, believed that the human mind is composed of a different form of matter and substance from the body. He argued that the mind is rational. Therefore, it can be examined by rational introspection. Unlike Socrates, who believed that by introspection truths are revealed to the human mind, Plato believed that truths of the mind are only revealed to the ‘selected few.’ Socrates believed in freedom and autonomy of the human mind but Plato was discriminative and believed that the autonomy of the mind belonged to the ones held in high esteem in the society.

A mind that has been awakened and carved into a new form cannot go back to its old dimensions. Allowing the mind to explore, seek, discover and create gives power to the soul and body.

Conscious and Subconscious Mind

The mind is believed to have conscious and subconscious aspects. This was birthed from the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's tripartite view of consciousness.

Freud believed that the mind has three different levels of awareness and that they have great influence on thought, character, behavior and attitude.

• The Conscious Mind

• The Preconscious Mind

• The Subconscious Mind

The Conscious Mind

Freud describes this part of the mind as a correlation to awareness. It includes senses, memories, fantasies, feelings, urges, emotions and perceptions that we are aware of. It has a short-term storage of limited capacity that can only hold a thought at a time. It focuses on the most pronounced elements, therefore, whatever you choose to repress and become unaware of leaves the conscious mind. Here, you can easily access data. For instance, if you are feeling thirsty, feeling sad or seeing a rainbow, then the conscious part is prompted.

The conscious mind is objective and selective. It needs constant training and exercise just like the body. It makes you aware of your present surrounding and thus survival skills. Thomas Hobbes’ theory of the mind and state of nature espouses that it is nasty, brutal and harsh whereas Darwin calls it ‘survival for the fittest.’ The conscious mind makes you aware of immediate danger then prompts you on what action to take. In order to improve your solid thinking, set goals, analyze, weigh choices and be in the moment then the power of the conscious mind should be enhanced.

The Preconscious Mind

This is the part of the brain that stores readily accessible information by the conscious mind. You may not be thinking it or feeling it at the moment but will when asked or prompted then the information pops up. For instance, you may not be thinking of your elementary school teacher's name at the moment but reading this part will make you remember. It forms a part of the mind that stores long term memory. When you go for therapy, a good therapist asks questions that prompt your preconscious mind about memories relevant to your problem. Consequently, they are able to provide the appropriate psychotherapy.

It is believed that dreams are a product of preconscious thinking. Constantly developing healthy habits and practicing them unlocks the preconscious mind.

The Unconscious Mind

The Unconscious stores thoughts, feelings and perceptions way beyond your reach. Something to ponder about this level of awareness is that it is the primary source of human behavior and it also influences judgements. Unlike the conscious mind which connotes full awareness, there is no idea of what information is stored in the unconscious mind. Sigmund Freud argues that the unconscious mind contains all sorts of significant and disturbing material which we need to keep out of awareness because it is too threatening to acknowledge fully. Several defense mechanisms are deployed to lock away painful and frightening events and desires of this level of the mind including repression. The impact of the unconscious mind can be manifested in our daily lives. The dreams that most people experience when sleeping and the slip of the tongue that is common among many people in the world today exemplify the influences of the unconscious mind.

Thought and Character

The mind is seen to influence the character of an individual. The power of the mind to control the life of an individual was greatly influenced in the literary essay As a Man Thinketh by James Allen. He describes the mind as “the master power that molds and makes.” To him, “thought in the mind hath made us what we are,” illustrates that if a man has evil thoughts, pain comes to him simultaneously but if he endures purity in thoughts, joy follows him ultimately. Therefore, in a nutshell, the mind influences the character of persons significantly.

The thoughts of a person here are deemed to control the individual’s life. A shift in the thinking of a person greatly changes their mind. An inclination towards the positive aspects of life and constantly pondering over such makes one live a positive life. The mind here is given power and autonomy plus control of the aspects within and the aspects without. It is a tool of change and progress that is used to influence the life of the person and others around this individual.

Something relevant and provocative about Allen is that he posits that a man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul, and that he is the maker of his character, the molder of his life, and the builder of his destiny. He may unerringly prove this if he will watch, control and alter his thoughts, tracing their efforts upon himself, upon others and upon his life and circumstances. This can be done by linking cause and effect through patient practice and investigation in addition to utilizing his every experience, even the most trivial, everyday occurrence as a means of obtaining knowledge of himself which is understanding, wisdom and power.

Albert Bandura, in his social cognitive theory, argues that the past experiences influence reinforcements, expectations and expectancies, all of which shape whether a person will engage in a specific behavior and the reasons why he/she engages in that behavior. It is significant to note that past experiences can be brought to awareness courtesy of the preconscious mind. This clearly mirrors the central role that the mind plays in shaping character and behavior. Mahatma Gandhi equally seconds the imperative of thoughts in defining the character of man.

Intelligence

This is the intellect of the mind. Some view the intellectual mind as an advanced model of reason. Daniel Goleman is one scholar who has contributed enormously to matters of intelligence through his book Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. He argues in the book that emotional intelligence is as relevant as intelligent quotient for success; emotional intelligence pervades professional, academic, interpersonal and social aspects of human life. Goleman argues that the human mind is composed of the rational mind and the emotional mind. The rational mind is operational in thinking through something before asserting an opinion - it’s solely guided by the principle of reason. Therefore, it is empirical and justifiable to say that most rational decisions are influenced by the rational mind.

On the other hand, the emotional mind connotes a state of mind which is usually characterized by emotions whereby emotions guide thoughts and how someone feels or behaves. The physical mind intertwines with the emotional mind. Some good examples include: if a man is walking on a lonely path in the night and suddenly hears the roar of a lion behind him, his response to that situation exemplifies the practicality of either the emotional mind or the rational mind. If he takes off due to anxiety without thinking through the best course of action, probably the emotional mind would be in action triggered by the fight or flight response. If the man manages his anxiety and thinks of the best strategy to deploy before taking any action, probably the rational mind would be in action. Some scientists and philosophers argue that a balance between the emotional mind and the rational mind is a viable alternative to human endeavors.

Spirituality and the Mind

The mind is the center of the soul and the core of the spiritual body. Jay N. Forrest defines spirituality as knowing and connecting with reality, a reality of nature and human beings. Elizabeth Scott adds that spirituality is a broad concept of a belief beyond the self. Spirituality and the mind have an indispensable nexus. Forms of spirituality includes Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, humanism and interalia. Spirituality influences the mind and vice versa. Many people turn to spirituality because of many reasons including restoring hope and optimism, coping with stress, depression and anxiety. Key to note is that mindfulness is a manifestation of spirituality. When we first notice something there is a fleeting moment of pure awareness before the thinking mind jumps in. It’s usually a moment of nonverbal and pre-verbal which ultimately affects how we perceive the world. Joseph Murphy in his book The Power of Your Subconscious Mind for Wealth and Spirituality, highlights the significance of the subconscious mind in influencing human endeavors, experience and spirituality. Albert Einstein, a spiritual scientist, said, “Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit manifests in the laws of the universe, one in the face of which we humans with our modest powers must feel humble.”

Hypnosis of the Mind

Altered state theories see hypnosis as an altered state of mind or trance, marked by a level of awareness different from an ordinary state of consciousness. Hypnosis generally means a human condition that connotes reduced peripheral awareness, focused attention and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.

Hypnosis of the mind has been used for both positive and negative gains. A positive aspect uses hypnosis to help people lose weight and lead healthier lives. Some stress reduction mental exercises are also conducted using hypnosis.

The Body

The body exists in the physical form. It is the house of the senses. The body helps you to experience both the mind and the soul in the physical world. Most people understand the body because what is beyond the physical is revealed to only those willing to understand the various levels of human consciousness.

Physiological activities and the control systems are found in the body of an individual. The body moves to where the mind can in the physical but is only limited to the physical.

Understanding the body is the most basic level of consciousness. When a child is born they are first taught to understand their body. The child learns to feed and digest material. They cry when sad and laugh when happy. The body controls movement, say, when they can move they crawl and begin to walk. It is quite easy to understand the instinct level because it is what is basic.

Animal instincts are at this basic level. We understand the plants and animals. We comprehend matter because we can see. Moreover, human beings first understand the body and the most basic conclusions of a person rest upon the encounter with the body.

The body is in the physical and can therefore be bound, hurt and subjected to any oppression. The soul and mind are only within the control of an individual. They can only be affected when one allows external factors to act upon them. Systems of government, ancient slavery and civilization focused on body and mind control. The body was tied, moved and directed towards the goals of the master. The mind would only be controlled insofar as the slave allows. The soul is beyond the control of external physical forms.

These theories can make one believe that the body is inferior to the mind and soul. Is this really the case? The mind and soul lead the body. The body can choose to go only where the mind and soul lead it. However, only those that have developed intellect and intuition can be able to lead the body to the direction of the soul and mind. Contrary to that, the body remains at its basic level and can be subject to change and control by external factors.

To take control of your life with the physical body you must first ensure the mind and soul are in the highest vibration. The view of such a belief means that the body is slave to the mind and soul. It can only take part in the activities that the mind and soul have allowed it. Such a theory contradicts the views that the body is superior because only the body can be seen and experience the impacts of things on earth. One’s appearance in the physical form is what people use to judge and create the first impression. The body makes one have basic conclusions about a person. However, to understand the soul and mind of a person one needs to get deeper.

Egyptian Doctrine

Egyptians believed in the resurrection of the physical body.

They rooted it upon the observations they made on the body. Observation of the plants sprouting from the ground, the sun rising, the moon phases and rain falling made them believe that the body resurrected. The sun sets and rises each day. The moon is seen in the sky at night and the rain might not fall today but may fall tomorrow. At the view of these happenings, they established that the body could as well resurrect after death.

As long as this order remained constant then the body was believed to resurrect. For this reason, they practiced mummification. When a person dies, they would be preserved. Before mummification the person would be buried in a fetal position with personal items. The body would afterwards be buried with sand and the burial pits lined with mud and bricks. The body would be covered in animal skins and decay was hastened. The internal organs of the body were removed so that the corpse would not rot and drying agents were used to mummify the body. The heart was left in the body because they believed it was the center of intelligence.

The body was kept intact and carefully preserved so that it could be transported to a spiritual afterlife.

Dualism

The Platonists believed that the human was made of the body and mind. The soul was intertwined with the mind.

The body was viewed as a prison of the soul. It bound the soul and could not allow it to be set free until it died. The soul was a tenant of the body. The human being was the soul and the body just but a shell. This view of the body put it at a low level of respect. A person was respected by their soul rather than the body. Would the soul function on earth without the body? The body would only let the soul free once the tenant or ‘prisoner’ soul had paid its dues.

The body was a slave of the soul and the soul a tenant of the body. It only went and did what the soul wanted it to. The soul was the master of the body and it controlled each aspect of the body. The body was believed to lose its function once the soul leaves. With such a perspective, of the soul as tenant of the body then the body is the landlord of the soul. In a regular scenario the tenant pays rent to the landlord and the landlord can evict the tenant. The tenancy is sealed by a lease agreement, probably the birth certificate. When the rent is due the tenant must pay their fee.

If so, then does that make the body master of the soul?

Science and Evolution of the Body

Charles Darwin formulated the theory of evolution of the body by natural selection. In this theory, the body is believed

to change overtime. These physical changes allow the body to adapt to its environment. The theory is supported by scientific theories, paleontology, geology and genetics. The bodies and other physical earth forms are believed to be connected to one another. The survival of the body depends on the ability of the body to reproduce and survive adversity.

The body here changes color and size with response to the environment and survival. It evolves into a different form after a while to adapt. This theory gives the lenses that the body is not constant in generations. It can change form from generation to generation. The features that fail to be used with time are either lost or keep existing but are of no use. This theory just like the theory of growth and change of the soul in astrology puts the body in a dynamic perspective. It is not a constant and neither are its features.

Unlike the Egyptian model of the body, this model provides that not only is the body mortal but also, the physical form is subject to changes constantly. Bodies from different parts of the world have specific distinct features considered to others. The sizes, color and characteristics have varied depending on the environment of the body. The theory gives the body an adaptation mechanism. It is seen to change based on the conditions it is found in. However, the survival bit only favors bodies that fully adapt to the environment. Those that do not wither and die.

Such a perspective of the body in mind means it yields to the environment. The environment is mastered over the body while the body responds to the environment. However, the environment can be influenced by the body and this makes the body also master of itself.

Different but Equal

The body gives birth to a paradox. We all have a body in physical form as long as we are recorded to exist on earth. However, each body is different. Some are tall while some are short. Others exhibit certain distinct features in their bodies. There are certain groups of people that have the same body features distinct from another group.

First of all, it creates individuality. We do not know the face of the soul or mind but the face of the body gives an individual their physical appearance that is different from another person. The personality and individuality enables one to own and have a right to their body. It identifies a specific person and the body is given a name to identify that very body. Each body is different. The marks, ways of action and a certain disposition to individuality is distinct to specific bodies.

Secondly, it forms a group model. The body form of a certain group identifies them and separates them from a certain group. One group might be of a different color than another one, one might have specific features limited to only that particular group. Some systems of oppression based upon this fact and made certain differences seem inferior while others superior.

The common nature of the body breeds positivity and understanding. It enables us to embrace the bodily differences but acknowledge our equality by having a common physical form.

Sexist Model

This is a model that sees the body in a gender model. The reproductive organs of the body distinguish and give power to the body. The female reproductive organs are seen as weaker while the masculine reproductive organs are viewed as stronger. It confines the power of the body to the sex functions. This is a basic and instinctual view of the body. What of other bodily functions? Can they also be in the picture?

Such a view of the body was considered limiting to the power of the body. With time, some people that owned the ‘weaker’ organs were found to exhibit physical strength and superior minds while the vice versa happened to the later. It led to the rise of feminism where the ‘weaker’ gender found this theory of the body to be fallacious. The power of the mind was considered to be stronger than the body and such thwarted this establishment.

Feminism and the Body

Feminist theories about the body were based on a dualist view of the mind and body. The mind is considered superior to the body because it has no gender. However, the body has a gender and correlates to societal roles and limitations. Women were forced to attend to their bodies because it took them to the basic form and made them focus on their limitations and restrictions.

The Wollstonecraft views in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman show that the female body was restricted and disciplined to fit into the system of discipline. In Chinese practices, the beauty of the body was preserved by cramping the limbs with bands and therefore condemning the body to a sedentary lifestyle. It is seen as a source of vulnerability and weakness.

The perspective here gives the body a characteristic of being able to be controlled and yielded. A rebellious mind and soul here is silenced by exerting control upon the body. The systems of the world are seen to oppress certain bodies that are considered weak bodies while rewards bodies that are strong.

Religious Views of the Body

Religions like Christianity view the body as weak. The body is seen as a torment and the highest achievement of perfection is seen when the body and its desires are crucified. The body is seen to cause one to sin and do acts that are against their fate. One has to surrender their bodily disorders to achieve certain expectations.

The crucifixion of the body and carrying the cross is seen in biblical texts. The biblical Christ had to crucify the physical form to show the believers that surrender and sacrifice of physical desire needs to be done in order to go back to heaven Some believers take it literally and carry a physical cross, subjecting their bodies to metaphorical crucifixion to subdue the body.

The Body and Astrology

In astrology, different zodiac signs exhibit distinct physical features compared to other signs. You can see a Leo zodiac sign has a lot of hair on them, this resonates with the mane of the lion. A Pisces is seen to have distinct eyes that depict the window of their soul. An Aries may have an athletic robust body. These physical forms are believed to enable that zodiac sign to achieve the purposes they came to on earth.

Epiphenomenal Views

The epiphenomenal view suggests that the body acts upon the mind to produce thoughts and feelings. It is regarded here as the master over the mind and intellect. The theory argues that mental states cannot be the source of bodily functions but bodily functions control mental functions. It believes that the body is supreme and total of both material and immaterial parts. The theory is such that if one is performing a physical act then the mind is the initiator and the soul is the conceiver.

The mind, soul and body are viewed differently depending on your belief system. These three are believed to coexist and work together. For a healthy person, the mind, body and soul must work together in harmony. A healthy body needs proper nutrition, regular exercise that is only made comprehensive by the mind. When the mind understands nutrition then it can use that knowledge to keep the body of an individual healthy and functioning. The soul gives the mind and body drive plus purpose. A soul with a purpose and direction towards the positive octave bestows the body and mind good health. The mind rules over reasoning. A developed intellect may be able to identify certain things that protect the body from incoming danger. To some, the soul might be more important than the body since it carries the real essence of your being in the afterlife. Although this is true, I also believe that one has the responsibility to take care of their body and mind since they are the parts that help one to be here in this reality at this time.

It is my hope that this basic knowledge about the intricacies of the mind, the soul and the body puts you in a better position to figure out how to engage all of them in your quest to astral project.

Chapter Summary

• The mind, body and soul are the three components that make up a human being. Hence, they are connected.

• The soul holds personality, purpose and is responsible for creating perception and awareness.

• The mind controls the physical body.

• The body harbours the mind and soul in the physical state.