Profound Memories and their Stories Part 7
July 26, 2025
Profound Memories and their Stories Part 7
Retrieving our soul child’s memories of love is one of the most healing and empowering things we can do. Remembering the people and experiences that first brought us into being and filled our souls with love makes us more confident, grounded, empowered, and directed.
Sometimes, life wears us down, and some days, it is challenging even to put one foot in front of the other. So many things are pushing against us that we lose confidence. Sometimes, shame rears its ugly head, and we want to hide away. For whatever reason, we may feel small, defeated, fearful, ineffective, or unwanted.
The following lines from Max Ehrmann’s poem Desiderata speak to this circumstance:
“Nurture the strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.”
For me, the lines “You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here” are the most profound in this work. I liken “a child of the universe” to the soul child who was intentionally placed here. But in adulthood, we can not only forget our birth rights, but soul rights, and we can think we are not worthy. We belittle ourselves sometimes to the point of feeling we have no right to be here.
When this happens, it is time to regain our soul rights. Yes, our soul rights are even more essential than our birth rights. Our soul rights claim our place as members of the human family, and as souls with a specific purpose who come from and are connected to the divine. Our soul rights are not solely given by the family we were born into; instead, our soul knows who it is, feels the connection to the Divine, and is empowered to be.
If you look at a picture of yourself taken during your soul child years, it may evoke a memory that connects you with your soul once again. You have a right to be here, but more than that, you have a right to BE. Remembering this nurtures strength of spirit.
Spiritual practice: Look up that soul child photo of you. Can you see the soul right in their face? Who in their life helped bestow that soul right? Do you feel your soul right more intensely when remembering these dear souls?
Self-inquiry: What gives you the right to be?
Dear God,
Reflected on that little fellow’s face is his perfect right to be. I see it, and I am so thankful that it comes from you and the people who brought me into being. Amen
