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Word Gems
exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
Reincarnation On Trial
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Can the soul be individuated more than once?
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In the previous article we considered Swedenborg's comment that one's essential gender identity is rooted in the soul not in biological anatomy.
Can the soul be individuated more than once?
If this were true, if the soul is like silly-putty easily recast, then, case in point, if one were to be reconstituted with opposing gender, one's essential self in the previous incarnation would have been totally lost forever.
In the channeled book, "A Wanderer In The Spirit Lands," Franchezzo's friend and guide on the other side asserts that the soul can be individuated only once:
To originate a thought or to impress your thoughts upon another requires the possession of an intelligent soul germ or spark of the divine essence, and once this has been given the being becomes possessed of an independent individuality it can never again lose… once endowed with soul life it can never cease to exist, and, in existing, must retain the individuality of its nature and the responsibility of its actions.
This is alike true of the human soul and the intelligent soul principle as manifested in the animals or lower types of soul existence. Wherever you see the power to reason and to act upon such reasoning manifested either in man, the highest type, or in animals, the lower type, you may know that a soul exists, and it is only a question of degree of purity of soul essence.
We see in man and in the brute creation alike a power of reasoning intelligence differing only in degree, and from this fact the [philosophical] school of thought to which I belong draws the inference that both alike have a conscious individual immortality, differing, however, in the type and degree of soul essence, animals as well as men having an immortal future for development before them.
What are the limits of the action of this law we cannot pretend to say but we draw our conclusions from the existence in the spirit world of animals as well as men who have alike lived on earth, and both of whom are found in a more advanced state of development [in Summerland] than they were in their earth existences.
Editor's note: See extensive excerpts from Franchezzo's book on the "Dark Realms" page.
Swedenborg tells us that the soul can be individualized only once, can enter enlightenment only once.
Elsewhere, we discussed how Swedenborg denied the existence of reincarnation and past lives, and now he does the same for another aspect of the pernicious doctrine.
The following is channeled information by Swedenborg (1853) through the mediumship of Mrs. Elizabeth Sweet, as reported in the book “The Future Life.”
Swedenborg's metaphor of a 'second birth,' from material to spiritual orientation - but, no, reincarnation is not a spiritual orientation
“The human soul, when first awakened from the slumber of its material nature to a consciousness of its spiritual being, presents a strange medley of conflicts and changes in its transition state. Where the material consciousness of the individual has so long retained the ascendency, it has become vested with a strong authority, as it were, and a mighty struggle oftentimes ensues between the two opposites...
“The soul that has entered upon this path [of enlightenment, of individualization], has indeed undergone a mighty change —a change for the future which has not to be repeated in the future, for this change is a passing from death unto life, it is the birth of the spirit while yet in its earthly temple ; and as it expands in strength and wisdom, it has indeed passed through the bitterness of death, which is not to be experienced ever again...
notice in the following paragraphs, many allusions to soaring, flying like a bird, moving far away, from anything that's of the Earth
"Man's soul, after having become thus quickened, feels a consciousness within himself of his hold upon eternal life. He feels his spirit going out into the vast regions of infinite space, and endeavors to grasp an atom of knowledge wherever he may find it. He is no longer willing to grovel on earth, and taste of earthly pleasures and earthly hopes, and to be led by the teachings of those whose inspirations have become dim in the awakening glory of this new era.
the psychologically-balanced soul, the spiritually-oriented mind, would never dream of ever ‘groveling on the earth’ again in reincarnation, but is compelled to seek for higher and better worlds in which to expand its powers
"But his soul pants for something more—something higher—something better—more heartfelt—more tangible than he has yet become acquainted with, and he is now ever yearning—ever soaring upward...
Editor’s note: Swedenborg speaks with formal, high-level prose, but allow me to translate his message into street language: “If you think you want to come back to this hell-hole and war-zone, our little primary school, called the Earth; if you think there's something important here that you can't get elsewhere in the universe; then there’s something wrong with you.”
the soul ever craves to soar upward, never to retrace a step, because now it's aware of its bond with Source, the ultimate progressive element in the universe
"for there has been established an affinity between the soul of that individual and the principle from which he emanated. The connection between the life-giving principle and the germ has become more apparent; and now he is ever drawn upward in his aspirations after truth and purity; and as that soul becomes identified with its spirit-affinities, the material [orientation of the past] loses much of its authority to act upon its spirit-being.
"He now regards it as a covering for material use, to be thrown aside when no longer needed to contain his spirit when on its earthly mission; and truth, virtue, and love become a daily inspiration of his soul. This spirit becomes so saturated and bathed in the light of wisdom, that he indeed feels the immortal part of his nature has become so quickened and vitalized, that he needs but to look within to find an answer to his inner-most cravings after the knowledge which places him upon a firm and imperishable basis, as regards his eternal and ultimate destiny.
"The external elements [during mortal life] may be in confusion and dissension, and the surface of all other circumstances may become ruffled and chaotic in their dark dismay; but the soul that has thus been able to take hold upon his high prerogatives and claim his inheritance, by building it up and beautifying it while here for his future residence...
the enlightened and individualized soul looks 'away and beyond the Earth' never, ever to return to its kindergarten and playpen
"may indeed look away and beyond the scenes of earth, and feel that while he has lived upon its surface as an obedient servant to his better intuitions, inasmuch as he could plainly perceive them, is like the bird on wing, who, when the first note of welcome from his mate salutes his ear, is ever ready to soar away and meet with joy his waiting companion; for there is a beautiful reunion which takes place between the freed spirit of man and his affinities who have long guided his footsteps on earth, and whom he now may behold face to face, and with them travel onward to behold the eternal mysteries of the glorious unfolding of the wisdom of God."
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