In alignment with my philosophical interpretation of the interconnection of the material to the spiritual, the relationship between material and spiritual come into play right at the Human level.
Humans consist of matter and it is matter that gives us expanse and the ability to influence other matter. The essence of each human, i.e. the soul is that which distinguishes us from other entities consisting of matter. The relationship between the soul and the body emerges as a dynamic and reciprocal interplay. In contrast to the simplistic notion of the soul as a separate entity leaving the body at death, a my perspective aligns with the ancient Egyptian understanding. Here, the soul is considered an integral part of the body, comprising various equally significant components or soul bodies.
Importantly, the soul is not confined solely to an individual's physical boundaries; rather, it extends beyond, encompassing elements like the name, images and statues of individuals, etc. In this intricate interconnection, the soul becomes materialized through the thoughts and expressions of others. Indeed, the Ancients believed that as long as your name is spoken, part of you shall life on. In that way, part of our soul exists within the consciousness of those who speak our name or actively think about us. This underscores the profound and mutual influence between the body and the soul, emphasizing their equal importance in shaping the holistic essence of an individual.
Furthermore, our spiritual essence extends onto non-living entities as well, such as images, statues, engravings, and contemporary audiovisual media. Through these representations, our soul transcends the boundaries of our physical form, leaving imprints that persist in time and space. While it's true that upon death, our consciousness ceases to exist, the absence of post-mortem evidence doesn't necessarily disprove the existence of the soul. Drawing parallels, during sleep or in a coma, our consciousness is temporarily dormant, yet we don't equate these states with non-existence. Similarly, when individuals remember us after our passing, the thoughts and memories are not invalidated by the absence of our physical presence. This dynamic interplay suggests that part of our existence genuinely extends beyond the confines of our body, even beyond our conscious brain, leaving an enduring impact on the world and the consciousness of those who remember us.
So to clarify and exemplify my philosophical stance on the soul, here are the different aspects of our soul, which, in my opinion, are best reflected by the Egyptian interpretation are as follows:
The Ka, or the life force, given from the Creator (or the Source of all existence) onto non-living matter to create living matter. All living beings have a Ka and it (whatever its true nature might be) is that which distinguishes them from non-living matter. The Ba, akin to the soul's personality, is that part of the Soul which distinguishes living beings from each other. It manifests in the thoughts and memories of others, perpetuating our existence beyond death. It is like the unique fingerprint of every living being. The Khet, or the human body, is the material 'expanse' of our soul (essence). It has substance, mass, it fills space and time. It helps us interact with this material world and moves within the 4 dimensions of space. Furthermore, there is the Ib, or heart. Egyptians used to believe it is the source of our thoughts and personality, which is not entirely factually correct. However, the main idea was to identify the body part that makes our body 'work' and that makes us make decisions, formulate thoughts etc. In my scientifically informed interpretation, the Ib extends onto the inner workings of the body - including the brain. It is that which is weighed in the judgement of the dead. These are the soul-bodies that extend from our immediate person.
In contrast, there are soul-bodies that extend beyond our person, such as the Ren, our name, which transcends our immediate physical boundaries, existing in the minds of those who utter it. The Shaut, our shadow, but also our reflection in images and representations, extends our presence onto non-living matter It represents us and awakens the thought of us within the minds of others. A select few, who wield worldly and religious power carry a soul part called the Sekhem, or 'power'. It is the aspect of our soul that extends onto our people and makes them subservient to our will.
In addition, there are soul-bodies that transcend our physical life and make us still physically present even beyond death. The first of these bodies is the Sah, or the departed soul. It has a physical manifestation, the mummy of the deceased - perfect and unchanging body meant for eternity. Finally there is the Akh, representing our immortal and transfigured self, finds resonance in the enduring impact we leave through memories and the legacy we create.
Embracing these different soul-bodies illuminates the multifaceted nature of our spiritual presence, highlighting its tangible extension onto various aspects of existence.
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