Soul Impressions

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Tonight I was pondering a line from one of Jack Johnson's songs, Angel, off of his Sleep Through the Static album. While telling us about the love of his life, he sings: "We share the same soul, Oooh oh oh oh....we share the same soul..." While I have heard this song dozens of times, I don't think I ever really paid attention to that line. But it spoke to my heart tonight, as I pondered the different ways there are to be connected to someone.

We all know how we can share DNA with someone and not feel any kind of bond at all. Then we can meet a perfect stranger and feel as if we are twins, separated at birth. It makes me wonder about soul mates. Those who have been lucky enough to experience this connectedness, believe it exists. To everyone else it is simply a fantasy, folklore, pie in the sky. Soul mates come in many different packages. Could be a lover, could be a best friend, could be a relative even. But when you have that connection, you know it. There is no doubt in your mind that the 2 of you were cut from the same piece of cloth.

I do believe it is even possible to share a soul with someone in ways that you don't want to. Following in someones footsteps if you will, down the wrong path. Making the same mistakes that they did, even though you vowed that you wouldn't. The thing is, when it comes to the soul, we have very little control. When we follow our heart, we don't have the ability to think or act logically as we do when we use our head. But in the end, where is our happiness? Something to ponder.

I also spend time wondering about bonds we may share with people we have never met. When I look at a piece of art I sometimes feel that I know the artist, even though he or she may have lived long before I was born. When I chose the tattoo that I proudly wear on the inside of my right ankle, I feel as if it actually chose me. It was a personal struggle to choose the perfect image that would be a permanent declaration of my inner artist self. When it found me, it spoke to me in a language without words. I feel a bond with the cave artist who lived in what is today Lascaux, France, 15,000 years ago. I feel his or her presence every day and know that someday our creative souls will meet.

So whether we follow the footsteps of an Angel or an Artist or an Aunt...may we always try to be true to ourselves, listen to our heart and protect those who will someday follow our footsteps.
~Susan