Soul is Individuated Mind

By Linda Mihalic

  The materialist views soul as nothing more than “the animating and vital principle in human beings, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion.”–Oxford English Dictionary. This definition needs no God, no Supreme Being, no Creator, just a souless material universe. It ignores the metaphysics of being, casting soul into the role of a mere physical candle, which having been lighted, will be snuffed out at some point. We assert that the soul is individuated Mind, your ground of being in God, formed within the Creation. Each soul is a unique individuated portion of the divine Mind, which directs and controls Power to condense Substance as life sparks of Light and animates them by breathing them into a physical form as a vehicle of expression, what we call an embodied soul.
  For functioning at all levels of reality, the living soul (Genesis 2:7) is apportioned into three facets, corresponding to facets of mind encased in soul substance (as an embodied soul): the Oversoul (super-conscious mind) is half of a living soul, the portion that has never been embodied in physical form, which remains in the Presence of God as your fullness of being and the voice of conscience. The other half of the living soul expresses through the conscious and subconscious facets of mind. The rational soul (conscious mind) is the embodied consciousness that we call an individual soul. The impulsive appetitive soul (subconscious mind), encased in the life sparks of physical form, is the soul’s functional supervisor of the body metabolism.
  Plato divided the soul into three parts: the appetitive (epithymetikon = ἐπιθυμητικόν), as in desire or craving; the spirited (thymoeides = θυμοειδές), as in impulsive; and the reasoning or rational soul (logistikon = λογιστικόν). Jewish mysticism also recognizes three essential parts of the soul: the animal soul (nephesch), which is the appetitive soul. Spirit as mind (ruach) is the conscious rational soul embodied. The intuitive aspect of soul, (neschamah) is the Oversoul, the individuated (and therefore relative) I AM THAT I AM which is constantly in contact with THE ONE I AM THAT I AM.
  The field of psychology is literally the “study of the soul,” but is not so in practice. Psychiatrist Sigmund Freud adapted his concepts of the id, ego and superego directly from Plato, doing violence to the true meaning of Plato’s nomenclature of the soul, reducing psychology to the study of man’s sexual behavior and animal nature. The work of Wilhelm Wundt, and the many who followed his path of “experimental psychology,” reduced psychology from the study of the soul to nothing more than the animal study called behavioralism.
  The modern definition of Mind is just as materialistic: “the human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination;…the faculty of thinking, reasoning, and applying knowledge; individual consciousness, memory, or recollection.”–The Oxford English Dictionary. The possibility of God is given a nod with the clause that defines mind as “the principle of intelligence, the spirit of consciousness regarded as an aspect of reality.”
  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 2:5. “We have the mind of Christ.”–1 Corinthians 2:16. You must become God-conscious and let this happen. God’s Mind is One with the requisite Substance and Power that forms the molds of law that hold the purpose and plan that becomes the material universe with its relative phenomena. Your direct personal connection with the Mind of God is the mind that was in Christ Jesus.









Edna Lister on Soul as Individuated Mind


The impulsive appetitive soul of the self retains a memory impression of every experience it has had in every form it has inhabited.–Edna Lister, February 1, 1933


Mind is the interpretive medium between the life of God and its manifestation.–Edna Lister, Eternal Youth versus Old Age, November 28, 1933


The soul is a composite of the worldly subconscious mind, conscious, and super-conscious facets of mind. Your consciousness is an overlapping of all these aspects of mind, from which you cannot extract soul and still have psychological completeness.–Edna Lister, Psychology’s Relation to Metaphysics, September 24, 1934


As the hand symbolizes the working principle of the body, faith symbolizes the working principle of Mind. Imagination works as the forming principle of Mind. The finished work of imagination is judgment, which is the restraining principle of man’s life. Faith controls the portals of Mind.–Edna Lister, Faith, October 3, 1934


You cannot weigh, taste or see mind, which is one with the soul, save in consequences of actions under law. The aspects of mind as soul remain potential capacities until you validate them through development of the material body.
  You must exercise your physical body to be alive, alert, and gloriously free in movement. Without exercise in the physical world, spirit as soul within you cannot be free. The exercise of your mind is the second step. Your brain cells are the soul's receiving set by which you can physically hear, mentally listen and spiritually know.–Edna Lister, God as Government, January 6, 1935


Soul uses the faculties of apperception, emotion and the pictures of imagination. The body uses the five senses, seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling, which are senses, not purveyors of facts.–Edna Lister, Paradise, January 11, 1935


If you leave the heights, and fall back in consciousness, you must arise and march to the heights again. Looking forward, you are mindful (Mind-full). Looking back, you are mindless (Mind-less).–Edna Lister, Understanding, January 23, 1935


Knowledge is Light; ignorance is darkness. Knowledge leads to development or growth of the soul. To learn is the necessity of every noble soul. To teach is also the impulse of every noble soul, which is a form of giving.–Edna Lister, The Fourth Degree, April 6, 1935


A temple is a holy place dedicated to the living God. Every soul is a temple of the living God. You cannot mar or hurt your temple of the soul. It is perfect. You can abuse your own life, but may not abuse soul or you lose mind, identity, and vitality, whicih is life. Your soul is God’s own; you are His. Your life is an outer expression of this truth. Soul is eternal, immortal.–Edna Lister, The Temple of the Soul, June 19, 1935


The theory of being, which treats final conceptions, reached by thought concerning real existence, man, nature and fundamental reality, is called metaphysics. Meta is a Greek prefix meaning between, with, beside, or after. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the theoretical philosophy of being and knowing, thus it is the philosophy or science of Mind, based on abstract general reasoning. Metaphysics deals with that which is supernatural, visionary, or that which can’t be seen, felt, or measured.–Edna Lister, Philosophy, September 3, 1935


Mind, in its first activities, deals with the objective facts of experience. Later it takes up the subjective facts of experience, which are classed as facts of being (God). Still later we start on the theories of knowing and being (soul). We are seeking the reality back of these experiences, and to find some working theory of their significance. Mind is the instrument for this attainment.
  First we study the natural laws, using conscious, normal everyday thinking, then we study concepts. For instance, man’s conscious, human mind did not produce the heavenly bodies nor their laws and relationships. Man had discovered them as existent before his use of mind reached the place where he could formulate the proper questions about their origins. We formulate the sciences of the objective universe, such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, which deal with things that do not in any way depend upon human consciousness.
  Phenomenalism is a spurious philosophy that postulates that we see things, and we produce them. Yet atoms with their particles were in existence before we were here to formulate them into a science of chemistry or physics. Phenomenalism claims that we create things by becoming aware of them, and that they have no existence except as forms thrown off by Mind.
  Plato first called the objects of opinion phenomena, or appearances, and referred to the objects of knowledge as noumena (objects of the intelligence) or quite simply as realities. A phenomenon is that of which the mind and senses and directly takes note, a thing that appears or is perceived. A noumenon is an object of intellectual intuition, devoid of all phenomenal attributes, Kant’s thing-in-itself.
  Idealism reduces these things to ideals, known through our contacts with them, and having no reality in themselves. Being creations of our own thoughts, they have no existence except in our own minds. Solipsism is the theory that the self is the only thing that can be known and verified, the theory or view that the self is the only reality and only knowledge of the self is feasible. This centers the origin, continuation or end of all reality in the self, which is untrue.
  In Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, noumenalism seeks the rational interpretation of the noumenon, a thing-in-itself, independent of human thinking for its origin, continuation or end. This theory excludes the idea of the universe being a mechanical scheme without any apparent cause. It views the universe as an organism with external and internal relations, with inherent force, intelligence, and purpose, the cause and reason for existence.–Edna Lister, Philosophy, September 9, 1935


You must choose between self expression and soul expression.–Edna Lister, October 10, 1935


The soul is eternal.–Edna Lister, Eternal Youth, December 15, 1935


Being takes three forms: as God, as the many souls and as things, which are objects in form. These include all the possible relationships among Spirit, substance and the material world.–Edna Lister, Philosophy, January 27, 1936


Soul-satisfaction always leaves burning desire in its place, self-satisfaction only leaves more “wants.”–Edna Lister, February 8, 1936


The soul has been gathering sensations since it came into existence. You retain the energy of these sensations, which you call memory when you bring them into objective consciousness.–Edna Lister, Reason and Intuition, October 3, 1938


You see and hear with your mind. You listen to the Voice of God or the Master with your brain cells, and see with the mystic eye of mind within the nerve ganglia immediately above the midbrain. Your physical equipment is the instrument upon which Mind itself plays, on which the soul registers thought, which is a vibration of Mind. Just as you can see with eyes open or closed, so, also, can you hear with ears open or closed. You must close your physical eyes and ears to earth objects and noises to see and hear spiritually.–Edna Lister, March 28, 1939


“Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.”–Matthew 5:25-26. This verse covers all problems with the self. The appetitive soul of self is the adversary, rational soul is the judge, and Oversoul is the officer. Self casts you into prison. Soul lifts you into Light.–Edna Lister, Vows, January 7, 1940


Relative personality is the outer personalized expression of the indwelling living soul, the individualized expression of God. God speaks as personality, through personality, to personality. Personality is what the world sees of soul, the complete synthesis of emotional experience and intellectual development.
  The living soul is Mind as Substance condensed into physical form as a vehicle of expression. God created every living soul to become the servant of all Power. God did not create living souls to use Power.
  God endows each living soul with all divine capacities. You may use cosmic universal Mind infinitely for thinking and planning, directing and controlling. You may call on inherent, potential Power and active, kinetic energy. You may draw on an open account of perfect and complete Substance, accessible at any moment for all needs.
  Half the living soul forms the Oversoul, which is called the super-conscious mind. Half the living soul descends for the long pilgrimage through matter and is further divided into portions. These soul portions are not separate souls, but different functions of the one living soul that dwells within the physical sheath called the body. The descended living soul’s portions take care of all phases of your life on earth: One portion consists of the life sparks thrown off to ascend through evolution, which you use to build the physical body. Another soul-portion forms the mind encased within these life sparks. Psychology calls this the subconscious mind. Another portion becomes the embodied soul, called the conscious mind in psychology.
  Mastery is full soul expression, letting your Light so shine that you glorify your Father.
  All living souls must travel upward on the pathway of sacrifice and responsibility while conquering the little self.–Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941


Omniscience operates through the law of degree and kind: We know that everything is now good after its own degree and kind.
  Let nothing pass through your mind’s sieve until you have made it pay you some kind of dividend.–Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941


You must choose to allow Mind, Substance and Power free access to your affairs, or clog all your channels of life.–Edna Lister, March 4, 1941


God is the One God, the One Mind, the One Heart of Love, the One Soul of the One Substance, the One Power, and there is none else besides.
  From the very moment when you think to God that you can’t do or can’t accept something, which would require letting go of the little self, you close out your share of this marvelous Mind, which thinks through you and as you.–Edna Lister, October 29, 1941


All Mind, Substance and Power are yours to draw upon.–Edna Lister, The Great Challenge, March 8, 1942


Your soul’s Holy of Holies is the Christ Mind of Oversoul.–Edna Lister, Gates of Gold, March 22, 1942


When your soul is determined to become supreme, you will not make mistakes, but will make the most of every hour.–Edna Lister, July 9, 1945


The great soul is the one who can stand and be used by all Power and Light. The greater the use, the greater the soul.–Edna Lister, July 21, 1945


A selfish soul is an unhealthy soul.–Edna Lister, September 19, 1945


God’s Mind is the balance of Wisdom’s unfailing principles with Love’s sustaining and enfolding life. Law is the orderly procedure of God’s Mind unfolding to man.–Edna Lister, December 14, 1945


The Holy Ghost is the Father and Mother expressing as the personality of the Son, and through the Holy Ghost as principle. Principle is Mind, Power and Substance equal and balanced in operation as One.–Edna Lister, The Glory of the Holy Ghost, July 7, 1946


The Logos concept in God’s Mind becomes the idea in your mind. Thought becomes logic, judgment and discrimination, which are expressions of the Father God principle. Pondering, thinking, dreaming about and visualizing the idea expresses the Mother God principle that sustains and nourishes.–Edna Lister, Eternal Youth: The Seven Breaths, November 6, 1946


The soul is the essence of Light stepped down in degrees.–Edna Lister, May 26, 1947


Live by soul above the body, yet controlling it, and the soul is the servant of God not self.–Edna Lister, October 30, 1947


You can easily determine whether self or soul is the motive of your activity. Self is always on the getting, taking, hating side, while soul gives and loves, which is letting.–Edna Lister, Getting or Letting, Self or Soul, June 27, 1948.


The soul is perfect as the individualized manifestation in the image and likeness of God.–Edna Lister, How to Relate Mind and Power, June 22, 1952.


When you find your soul identity with God, you comprehend the necessity of applying law to your life and you begin to become law.–Edna Lister, Success Through Prayer, July 7, 1953


The body is a tool of the soul, a “temple of the living God.” Edna Lister, Eternal Youth, 1956


God endows each soul with all qualities and attributes of the Godhead, with every glory and beauty. The ancients told a story, a fantasy to express the nearly inexpressible. In the beginning, each soul traveled down a long corridor to a room of Light filled with tapers. Some took just one, others a handful, and some were too eager to leave or too lazy to take one at all. A few took the time to weave many tapers into a torch and became “torch bearers.” Some souls come into the world with no consciousness of the Light or of God, yet limitless potential Power exists for us to learn about and draw upon.–Edna Lister, The Greater You, February 5, 1956


Your soul is already a part of God. Your job is to ascend the “self” that you have fused with your soul at this point. You must exchange self-confidence for soul-confidence, and grow from “seeing to believe” through ascension into “believing to see.”–Edna Lister, I Ascend, April 8, 1956


The coronation of a soul is called the Christing.–Edna Lister, Our Royal Birthright, April 29 1956.


An undernourished soul is always “tired” and “aches all over.”–Edna Lister, Resting UP, August 19, 1956


Mind condensed the one Light, endowed it with a conscious identity and brought it forth with all the faculties of the living soul. Soul is a secondary rate of vibration due to its condensation from primary Light. Identity is the individual manifestation of soul which becomes you. Spirit is like unto the whole or a part of God, a part of original substance. Spirit is a primary rate of vibration, universal substance with only one power, and all qualities are uncondensed. So soul is given a conscious rate of control over universal Spirit. Thus miracles are formed, not of that Spirit which dwells in man, but of spiritual substance. Declare and say, "Let," and spiritual substance becomes that which soul or mind decrees. Oversoul is that part of you that remains on the inner when you descend into form.–Edna Lister, The Bond of Spirit, October 6, 1957


The personal aura is not soul or Spirit, but the rate of vibration of soul fills the aura.–Edna Lister, The Bond of Spirit, October 6, 1957


Soul is the bondsman of spirit. But spirit is not bonded to your creations. Spiritual substance is in the bond to soul to pay the soul’s debts. When you misuse the Holy Breath, you create dark clouds. You are responsible for redeeming the Holy Breath you misuse. You are in bond to God, and someone must pay the debt when you abscond with His Mind, Power and Substance. Spirit pays the bond. Soul pays the debt.–Edna Lister, The Bond of Spirit, October 6, 1957


Spirit is universal principle and substance, which individuated soul appropriates. Soul is the term used to denote the individual identity of a descended creator god.–Edna Lister, December 18, 1957


Light comes from above. You draw the answers or needed information overhead, like a cloud, make your mind a mirror to contact divine Mind, and see it with the mind’s eye.–Edna Lister, June 7, 1950


Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.–Matthew 4:5-7
  The temptation on the misuse of Mind involves using the knowledge gained of divine Mind for selfish reasons. For instance, you may know another’s main point of weakness, yet if you prey on any weakness, use it or manipulate it for your gain, you misuse divine Mind. The world is full of such manipulation for greed and power. You must reach the point of obedience to all known laws, and to attend every detail, unwaveringly, with eyes ahead.–Edna Lister, Unconquerable Faith, November 5, 1950


Wisdom is absolute Mind expressing as cosmic omniscience which becomes limited relative consciousness. The abyss between God’s infinite Mind and the finite mind of humanity is an immutable principle, but God as personality (Father, Mother and Son) bridges this abyss. Therefore, the Psalmist said, Be still, and know that I am God.–Edna Lister, August 2, 1951


God has given us three phases of Mind to use, subconscious, conscious and superconscious. Subconscious mind is the source of all our delays and troubles, yet is supposed to run the body as the servant of the superconscious, for it must have a pattern to follow. If you are body-conscious, you are living by subconscious dictation, which is robotic and works out every habit pattern you set for it. If you allow others’ emotional advice to recondition you away from principle, your mental patterns will be confused.
  The soul is perfect as the individualized manifestation in the image and likeness of God. That which is unconscious becomes conscious as you change the pattern of your life, and you can only broaden into full consciousness. The subconscious mind is the memory storehouse of past actions and experiences, which creates what we call the fate line. It is the seat of gut feelings and hunches, which are its only plausible forms of deduction, and condition our life from past experiences.
  The conscious mind can use reasoning, comparison, deduction, induction and synthesis, called thinking, which can change, make new patterns and combine others’ experiences with its own to make new patterns. You must consciously recondition your life, a slow process. The conscious mind is that of individualized soul that breathes itself into the body at birth to awaken the whole body for its earth use. The superconscious mind changes the life from the fate line to the pattern of destiny, giving up habits for a destined plan, which is like pulling teeth.–Edna Lister, How to Relate Mind and Power, June 22, 1952


Superconscious mind provides your direct contact with God’s broadcasting station. All you need to do is to put up your antennae, and know. Conscious mind is the tuner dial. The instant you forget, you have tuned in the subconscious dregs, a mental slum, the source of delays, laziness, and limitations. Its plausible reasoning is only specious, and its hunches may be wrong.–Edna Lister, Three Phases of Creative Mind, June 29, 1952


You use Mind as thinking, and when your thinking is negative, we separate Mind from Power and Substance. Never mentally knock down another or against anything.–Edna Lister, August 31, 1952


The only way to pay for the misuse of Mind, Power and Substance is for someone to cover it with almighty love. You can’t wipe out the debt by simply saying, I forgive you, but must cover it with love. That is the law.–Edna Lister, From Surrender to Ascension, January 15, 1954


Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.–Philippians 2:5. That mind still touches the brain cells of all who arise in consciousness.–Edna Lister, I Arise!, June 20, 1954


Psychology is a study of universal Mind of God in its operation through man. Jesus knew how the Mind of God operated in man, and acted on that basis.–Edna Lister, Jesus, the Psychologist, October 17, 1954


When you use the law of assuming blame and say, Let it be wiped out, to bring Mind, Substance and Power together again—that is integration.–Edna Lister, November 8, 1954


Mind doesn’t direct and control itself, but must have personality to direct and control it.–Edna Lister, Jesus, the Son of God, November 21, 1954


Success will pursue you everywhere when you move up to Christed consciousness to draw on the ideas in divine Mind.–Edna Lister, Manna From Heaven, August 21, 1955


Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.–Romans 12:2. You share that mind that was in Christ Jesus.–Edna Lister, Spiritual Inventory, January 22, 1956


God as the One Mind uses us as its vehicles to express itself.–Edna Lister, No Shadow of Turning, July 15, 1956


Light is modified for creation and you personalize it as expression. You are personalized Mind as subconscious, conscious and superconscious. The subconscious mind resonates to the world mind, while conscious mind stands between it and the superconscious mind. The conflict is between subconscious and superconscious.–Edna Lister, The Light, Your Expression, November 4, 1956


Every idea in every book originated in divine Mind, the source of all ideas. You get nothing for nothing under God’s invariable laws, but you can step up, according to your growth.–Edna Lister, Your Devotion to God, December 16, 1956


Every cell in the universe has some degree of intelligence. Clean out the subconscious doubts, the mental tinkering with what if, and let the superconscious mind work it out with divine Mind.–Edna Lister, August 22, 1957


Your threefold extension of divine Mind is designed to operate from the golden silence where superconscious mind (as Oversoul) kneels in prayer forever before high thrones. Subconscious mind handles all automatic needs in the physical world as you let your conscious mind emerge from the silence of illumination to choose, speak and act in the world.–Edna Lister, The Point of No Return, December 15, 1957


We are not of the world, as the world thinks. We are of heaven, and may think as as does the divine Mind.–Edna Lister, December 19, 1957


Read when you have reached illuminated, ascended consciousness. No matter how unoriginal or ordinary a statement may be, it can open the door to the original concept in divine Mind. You receive not the shadowy projection of what was in the author’s mind, but from the pure source concept that exists in Divine Mind.–Edna Lister, January 9, 1958


You cannot possess divine Mind, but you can access it — you must use your access or your brain cells atrophy. Thus, physical and mental crystallization is no more than closing out divine Mind.
  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.–Philippians 2:5. We all use the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, though the world did not usually express it before he used it. You can breathe more of what Jesus used, if you believe.
  Your mental antennae take from divine Mind just that portion of illumination on what you think about in prayer—health, wealth, homes, or land—and the rest flows over your head. You can use it as it passes, without subtracting from or adding to it, and it remains in divine Mind for the next fellow to use. You just express it.–Edna Lister, February 17, 1958


If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.–1 Corinthians 13:2. "All knowledge" is the ever-ready answer that results from observation, the ability to stand and apply logic, reason, discernment, discrimination and discretion in your life. This is how to tune in and get the answer you need from divine Mind. You cannot look to yesterday to find tomorrow’s answer. You receive today’s answer when you declare, This is good! Pray for the right answer at the right time and declare that whatever comes is good. All knowledge is knowing how to do the right thing.–Edna Lister, As the World Sees Me, June 22, 1958


The Promised Land represents the physical stomach (assimilation and acceptance), heart (love) and lungs (expansion, inspiration and aspiration). Soul vision opens as you occupy the Promised Land of perfect Mind. Worldly education has nothing to do with this Mind for it is your soul’s mental link to God.–Edna Lister, Constancy in Obedience, October 26, 1958


Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.–Philippians 2:5. We have only the one Mind that was in Christ, but it is marvelous in its expression through us. We function by using three phases of Mind on earth: subconscious, conscious, and super-conscious. The world uses these terms, and in our study of hidden wisdom we also use these terms: appetitive soul, rational soul and Oversoul.–Edna Lister, Being Without Self, November 2, 1958


If you have not consecrated your heart in service to God, you cannot register or draw on the Mind that was in Christ Jesus.–Edna Lister, Love Unquenchable, December 7, 1958


All the vastness of space with its galaxies exists within the Mind of God. When you think your mind is full, and close it to the vision of the Almighty, you are frozen.–Edna Lister, Realization, May 3, 1959


Integration of the soul is the most important work we do. The subconscious must point out what you are missing out here. It callsyour words back to you, warns you, tells you what to do, and registers what your actions are doing to others. Those who love you register projections from your subconscious mind.–Edna Lister, May 7, 1959


To think in a negative way misuses the divine Mind. I’ll take a chance on this is tempting God and misusing Power.–Edna Lister, March 3, 1960


Whether the formula is a food recipe or a scientific experiment, it originated in divine Mind. Your best ideas spring from divine Mind. You must get your ideas from above, but with a closed mind, you cannot.–Edna Lister, Consider the Lilies, May 29, 1960


You must develop wisdom to contact divine Mind through the pineal body in the brain. When you have opened only the love faculty, you live by emotions, dreams, and illusions unbalanced by wisdom.–Edna Lister, October 3, 1960


When you surrender your mind to become the mind that was in Christ Jesus, then the Mind of God registers on your brain cells.–Edna Lister, The Key to Integration of Soul and Spirit, June 6, 1961


“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.”–1 John 5:5-8. Spirit is Light. Water is energy. Blood is part of the physical mass. Oversoul is pure spirit. Rational soul occupies the body’s water through the lymph system. Appetitive soul occupies the blood. The appetitive soul suffers the tortures of giving up control. When you keep His commandments in joy, they are not grievances and you no longer suffer.–Edna Lister, Your Contact With Cosmic Power, October 8, 1961


To comprehend Mind, Substance and Power, you must look up, reach up and discover that as you contact the concept in Mind, and it fills your brain cells, an explosion of illumination occurs. Whenever you think with Mind through your faculties, your faith expands.–Edna Lister, God as Personality and Principle, May 20, 1962


When an idea comes through, an explosion takes place in that division of Mind that illumines your mind, giving the interpretation and substance to do it. If you don’t do it on spiritual Power, it oozes away. Checking that it is accurate then acting on it without rationalization is therefore wise.–Edna Lister, January 10, 1963


The soul is forever seeking to lift that which you have buried in the little self, to bring it back home.–Edna Lister, April 13, 1964


Mind is the thinking, perceiving and feeling mechanism of man's mind, and contains the total conscious and unconscious experiences. Mind is the intelligence associated with the emotional life reaching upward through wisdom and worship to the spiritual level. It takes in both personality and principle, showing us how the Source is involved in all of us. Mind is impersonal until it reaches down and touches us as personality.–Edna Lister, Personality, Energy and Pattern, October 27, 1964


The appetitive soul is meant to take care of the physical body and automatic actions. The conscious rational soul takes over faculties and oversees the appetitive soul. Oversoul remains above to o’ershadow.–Edna Lister, June 7, 1965


There is no distance in Mind.–Edna Lister, July 20, 1965


Keep your mind stayed on perfection—in other words, close to the Source.–Edna Lister, October 21, 1966


You can live by spiritual illumination if you awaken all your brain cells to receive law from divine Mind.–Edna Lister, Comprehension and Nonresistance, June 25, 1967


Conscience is divine Mind reminding you of truth.–Edna Lister, Awareness and Becoming Law, May 26, 1968


The original sin is to separate Mind, Substance, and Power which is the Three-as-One Trinity.–Edna Lister, Conversion and Mysticism, June 9, 1968


If you feed your subconscious mind garbage, you will awaken with a heavy mind.–Edna Lister, From Earthbound Slavery to Winged Glory, June 23, 1968


An inner compulsion within the soul drives it to seek a Source greater than itself.–Edna Lister, Secrets of the Soul, November 10, 1968


God created us in His image and likeness. The subconscious, conscious, superconscious phases of mind are all parts of the One Mind operating on three levels. Soul uses mind: appetitive soul uses subconscious mind, rational soul uses conscious mind, and Oversoul uses the superconscious mind. This describes our individual extension of the One Mind that God has given us for our contacts with the world.
  Subconscious mind is crammed with detrimental memories, but is forever seeking to ascend. Those who live good Christian lives are ruled by Oversoul using egoic or conscious mind to take in from above. Oversoul has never descended, but can be enticed and tempted by world to please the self and enjoy the kingdom of earth. The subconscious seeks to pull you down and control because impulsive appetitive soul is in conflict. But the subconscious soul is meant to control the body functions in perfection.
  When you cleanse your mental trash, the subconscious tells you what to eat, what to do for your good so that the body will function in the divine image of God. This three-way conflict goes on within you constantly.–Edna Lister, Three States of Consciousness, November 17, 1968


The soul can be satisfied only by being in contact with its source.–Edna Lister, July 9, 1969


Soul substance is also in each inanimate thing.–Edna Lister, November 17, 1969


Light is divine Mind in action as faith.–Edna Lister, All Form Is the Result of Divine Action, December 9, 1969


Soul is Spirit and Light as overall Substance, impregnated with divine Mind. It contains the full Magna Carta of God, active and ready to be brought forth and used. Thus, the soul has been impregnated with the Mind of God.–Edna Lister, November 24, 1970


Your Guardian Angels "think" to you. When your heavenly Father speaks, it is as Mind to mind.–Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1933-1971

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The Soul Powers, Virtues


  The laws of the soul include this primary set, designed to clarify the right use of imagination, thinking and desires. God gives each soul enough substance of Light, stored in his Oversoul Star, to fill all his molds of desire and to bring to pass all his needs promised him of God. Each soul must release his soul substance by transforming it from invisible Light to a lower form of substance which can be seen, from storage in Oversoul Star to earth mold.
  Your obedience to the fullness of God’s great Love is your true safeguard, success and dream fulfillment. Love is the only true fulfillment of law. To you is given the power of right love. Use it.
  To you is given power of right thinking. Use it. You have the power of right seeing. Use it. You have the full power of right hearing. Use it. You have the power of right discrimination. Use it. You have the power of right reason. Use it.
  You have the power of right use of Light. So use. You have all power over darkness. Use it. You have the full power of all discretion. So use. You have the power of right faith. Use it. The right use of Power is letting. To “let” means to become unconquerable, fully invincible Law.–Edna Lister, 1945.

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A Treatment for Mind

Watch your words and thoughts. I am alive and alert with the Mind of God, and my brain cells blaze with Light and Power.–Edna Lister, January 24, 1963

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New Testament on the Soul

Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.–Matthew 10:28

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.–Matthew 11:29-30 [Take the Christos yoke upon you.]

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.–Matthew 22:37-38

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye {change your mind}, and believe the gospel.–Mark 1:15

God decides each soul’s reward: To sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.–Mark 10:40

Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.–Mark 12:29-31

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.–Luke 10:27-28

In your patience possess ye your souls.–Luke 21:19

The true Light … lighteth every soul coming into the world.–John 1:9

They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.–Romans 8:5-7

Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.–Romans 12:2-3

The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.–1 Corinthians 2:10-16

Even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.–2 Corinthians 3:16. [When you turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away from your soul vision.]

If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.–2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Though though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.–2 Corinthians 4:16

Walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.–Ephesians 4:17-24

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.–Philippians 2:5

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded [Christ minded]: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.–Philippians 3:15

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.–Philippians 4:6-8

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.–Colossians 3:2

To shepherd the flock, you must be blameless, monogamous, temperate, sober‑minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules your own house well, whose children are well mannered (for if you do not know how to rule your own house, how will you take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride—you fall into condemnation.–1 Timothy 3:2‑6

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.–2 Timothy 1:7

The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.–Hebrews 4:12

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.–Hebrews 8:10-12

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.–James 1:6-8

Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.–James 1:21

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.–James 4:8

He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.–James 5:20.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.–1 Peter 1:7-9 [The end of your faith is the salvation of your soul.]

Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober; and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.–1 Peter 1:13

Be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing. knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.–1 Peter 3:8‑9

Since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.–1 Peter 4:1‑2

Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.–1 Peter 4:19.

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Old Testament on the Soul

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.–Genesis 2:7

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.–Exodus 30:11-16

If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth; and her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the Lord shall forgive her. But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. And if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the Lord shall forgive her. Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. These are the statutes, which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house.–Numbers 30:2-16

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.–Job 12:9-10

God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]: so that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones [that] were not seen stick out. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: he shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. He looketh upon men, and [if any] say, I have sinned, and perverted [that which was] right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Lo, all these [things] worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.–Job 33:14-30

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.–Psalm 19:7-9

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.–Psalm 24:3-4

The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.–Psalm 34:22

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.–Psalm 107:8-9

The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.–Psalm 121:7

When wisdom enters into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee–Proverbs 2:9-11

Keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.–Proverbs 3:21-22

Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.–Proverbs 6:32.

He that sins against me wrongs his own soul.–Proverbs 8:36.

The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.–Proverbs 11:17

There is that scatters, and yet increases; and there is that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself.–Proverbs 11:24-25

The soul of the sluggard desires, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.–Proverbs 13:4

A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.–Proverbs 18:7

He that gets wisdom loves his own soul: he that keeps understanding shall find good.–Proverbs 19:8

He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall die.–Proverbs 19:16

Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.–Proverbs 22:22-23

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.–Proverbs 22:24-25

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.–Proverbs 23:13-14

The full soul loathes an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.–Proverbs 27:7

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.–Psalm 33:6

All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied.–Ecclesiastes 6:7

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…[before] the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken.–Ecclesiastes 12:1,6 [The silver cord binds soul to body; the golden bowl is the head, which holds the higher creative center, the seat of soul.]

The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.–1 Samuel 18:1

The Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.–Ezekiel 11:5

The Babylonians…defiled [Jerusalem]…and she was polluted…and her mind was alienated…then My mind was alienated from her, like as My mind was alienated from her sister [Samaria].–Ezekiel 23:17-18

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.–Isaiah 17:10-11

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.–Isaiah 26:3

Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.–Jeremiah 51:50

Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee.–1 Chronicles 51:50

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Soul and Mind in Other Sacred Writings

Wisdom shall not enter into a malicious soul; nor dwell in the body that is subject to sin.–Wisdom of Solomon 1:4

Beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain from backbiting: for no word is so secret that it shall go for nought: and the mouth that lies slays the soul.–Wisdom of Solomon 1:11

Insight on dying young: He pleased God, and was beloved of him, so that he was translated; speedily he was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. For the glamor of immorality obscures things that are honest; and the wandering of selfish desires undermines the simple mind. He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hastened He to take him away.–Wisdom of Solomon 4:10-14

Wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passes and goes through all things by reason of her pureness, for she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore no defiled thing can fall into her. She is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of His goodness. Being but One, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she makes all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she makes them friends of God, and prophets.–Wisdom of Solomon 7:24-27.

If you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for temptation.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 2:1

Whatever is brought upon you, take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed to a low estate; for gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable souls in the furnace of adversity.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 2:4-5

At first, wisdom will walk with you by crooked ways, bring fear and dread upon you, and torment you with her discipline, until she may trust your soul, and try you by her laws. Then will she return you to the straight way, and comfort you, and shew you her secrets; if you go wrong, she will forsake you, and give you over to your own ruin.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 4:17-19

Observe opportunity, and beware of evil; be not ashamed when it concerns your soul, for there is a shame that brings sin, and a shame which is glory and grace.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 4:20-21.

Nothing is more wicked than a covetous man: for he puts his own soul on sale.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 10:9

When the ungodly curses Satan, he curses his own soul.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 21:27

A whisperer defiles his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwells.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 21:28

In every good work trust your own soul; for this is the keeping of the commandments.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 32:23

He who has been filled, in turn attains due perfection. Therefore, you must be in want while it is possible to fill you, and be full while it is possible for you to be in want, so that you may be able to fill yourselves the more. Hence, become full of the Spirit, but be in want of reason, for reason belongs to the soul; in turn, it is (of the nature of) soul.–The Apocryphon of James, Codex I, 2

Without the soul, the body does not sin, just as the soul is not saved without the spirit. But if the soul without evil is saved, and the spirit is also saved, then the body becomes free from sin. For it is the spirit that raises the soul, but the body that kills it; that is, it is the soul which kills itself.–The Apocryphon of James, Codex I, 2

It is about themselves that souls receive instruction, receiving it from the Father, turning again to Him.–The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

When Christ speaks, we receive a taste from our soul, and receive nourishment, receive growth. And our own resting-place is our soul.–The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

The Father assigned all souls their destinies. Each, then, is manifest, in order that through their own thought they might reach Him. For the place to which they send their thought, that place, their root, is what takes them up in all the heights, to the Father.–The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

While the words were still depths of His thought, the Word, which was first to come forth, revealed them, along with a Mind that speaks the one Word in silent grace. He was called ‘thought’, since they were in it before being revealed. It came about that he was first to come forth, at the time when the will of Him who willed desired it. And the will is what the Father rests in, and is pleased with.–The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2

The thought of those who are saved shall not perish. The mind of those who have known him shall not perish.–Treatise on the Resurrection, Codex I, 4

Love your brother like your soul, guard him like the pupil of your eye.–Gospel of Thomas, Codex II, 2

Wretched is the body that is dependent upon a body, and wretched is the soul that is dependent on these two.–Gospel of Thomas, Codex II, 2

Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh.–Gospel of Thomas, Codex II, 2

Glass decanters [souls] and earthenware jugs [bodies] are both made by means of fire. But if glass decanters break, they are done over, for they came into being through a breath. If earthenware jugs break, however, they are destroyed, for they came into being without breath.–Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

The soul and the spirit came into being from water and fire. The son of the bridal chamber came into being from water and fire and Light. The fire is the chrism, the Light is the fire. I am not referring to that fire which has no form, but to the other fire whose form is white, which is bright and beautiful, and which gives beauty.–Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

Adam’s soul came into being by means of a breath. The partner of his soul is the spirit. His mother is the thing that was given to him. His soul was taken from him and replaced by a spirit. When he was united to the spirit, he spoke incomprehensible words.–Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

If the disciple of God is sensible, he understands what discipleship is all about. The bodily forms will not deceive him, but he will look at the condition of the soul of each one and speak with him. There are many animals in the world which are in a human form. When he identifies them, to the swine he will throw acorns, to the cattle he will throw barley and chaff and grass, to the dogs he will throw bones. To the slaves he will give only the elementary lessons, to the children he will give the complete instruction.–Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3

If you set your hope upon the world, and your god is this life; you are corrupting your soul.–Thomas the Contender, Codex II, 7

If someone sets his soul up high, then he will be exalted.–The Dialogue of the Savior, Codex III, 5

The physicians of this world heal what belongs to the world. The physicians of souls, however, heal the heart.–Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles, Codex VI, 1

As the soul learns about her Light, as she goes about stripping off this world, while her true garment clothes her within; her bridal clothing is placed upon her in beauty of mind, not in pride of flesh.–Authoritative Teaching, Codex VI, 3.

The rational soul learns about God.–Authoritative Teaching, Codex VI, 3

The rational soul labors with inquiring, enduring distress in the body, learning about the Inscrutable One.–Authoritative Teaching, Codex VI, 3

If there is ignorance, and learning does not exist in the soul of man, (then) the incurable passions persist in it (the soul). And additional evil comes with them (the passions), in the form of an incurable sore. And the sore constantly gnaws at the soul, and through it the soul produces worms from the evil, and stinks. But God is not the cause of these things, since he sent to men knowledge and learning.–Asclepius 21-29, Codex VI, 8

Where the mind is there is the treasure.–Gospel of Mary 5:9

We do not see through the soul nor through the spirit, but the mind that is between the two.–Gospel of Mary 5:11

The Son of the Most High appeared in the perfection of His Father; and light dawned from the Word that was beforetime in Him; the Messiah is truly one; and He was known before the foundation of the world, that He might save souls for ever by the truth of His name: a new song arises from those who love Him.–Odes of Solomon 41:14-17

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884–1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


Etymology of soul: Old English sawol, “spiritual and emotional part of a person, animate existence.”


Soul is an abstract principle.
Soul is a law of being.


Quote

Man is his own star and the soul that can render an honest and perfect man commands all light, all influence, all fate.–John Fletcher, a playwright who co-authored with William Shakespeare


References

Fletcher, John. “An Honest Man’s Fortune,” Parnassus: An Anthology of Poetry. R. W. Emerson, ed. Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Co., 1880.

Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, 2024.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).

The Nag Hammadi Library. James M. Robinson, editor. San Francisco, Harper and Row, 1981.

The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Ed. 2 volumes. Oxford University Press, 1971.

Webster, Noah. “Soul,” Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language. New York: S. Converse, 1828.


Related Topics

Oversoul

Soul Guidance versus Self Will

Virtue