Qualities of the Soul

The soul is described as a divine, eternal, and evolving aspect of human consciousness, with several core qualities and attributes.

Cayce’s teachings draw heavily from Christian mysticism, reincarnation, and metaphysical principles.

Here are the key qualities of the soul according to Cayce:

1. Eternal and Divine Origin

The soul originates from God and is eternal.

It was created not as a robot or a perfected being, but with free will, to learn and grow through experience.

Cayce described the soul as a “spark of the Divine.”

2. Free Will and Creative Power

One of the soul's defining qualities is free will, which allows it to choose its path.

With this freedom comes responsibility—how the soul uses its creative powers shapes its destiny.

3. Purpose: To Fully Manifest God’s Love

The soul's ultimate purpose is to become a fully conscious co-creator with God.

This involves aligning with divine laws, practicing love, patience, forgiveness, and service, and returning to oneness with the Creator.

4. Experiential Growth Through Reincarnation

Cayce emphasized that souls reincarnate to learn spiritual lessons.

Life on Earth and in other realms is a school for the soul’s development.

5. Memory and Karma

Souls carry spiritual memory across lifetimes (even if not consciously remembered).

The soul is subject to karma—the spiritual law of cause and effect—which guides growth and healing.

6. Individuality and Unity

Each soul is unique but also part of the universal soul group—a concept reflecting oneness with all life.

There’s a paradox in Cayce’s view: we are individual souls, yet we are not separate from God or each other.

7. Higher Faculties: Intuition, Idealism, and Spiritual Perception

The soul expresses itself through higher human faculties such as:

Intuition (inner knowing)

Conscience (moral compass)

Imagination (creative divine spark)

Ideals (like the Christ ideal—living by love and service)

8. Vehicle for the Spirit

In Cayce’s view, the soul is the mediator between the physical body and the spirit, which is the pure essence of God within.

The soul acts as a kind of filter or clothing for the spirit.

9. The Soul’s Journey is Toward Wholeness

The journey of the soul is a gradual return to its original state of harmony with God.

This journey involves healing inner divisions, transcending ego, and manifesting divine love in action.

THE SOUL AS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN SPIRIT AND THE PHYSICAL BODY

In the Edgar Cayce readings, the soul is described as the mediator or bridge between the physical body and the spirit.

To understand this, it helps to look at Cayce's three-part model of human nature:

1. Body – The Physical Vehicle

This is the earthly, temporary part of us: the physical form, brain, senses, and material experiences. It’s where we live out lessons in time and space.

2. Soul – The Individualized Self

The soul is the eternal, evolving self that travels through lifetimes, accumulating experience, memory, and lessons.

It remembers all incarnations (even if the conscious mind does not).

It chooses situations for growth, based on karma and ideals.

It’s deeply influenced by both material desires and spiritual aspirations.

The soul navigates between the earthly and the divine, making choices that move it toward or away from spiritual truth.

3. Spirit – The Divine Spark of God Within

The spirit is the pure essence of God, unchanging and perfect.

Cayce called it the “image of God” within each person.

Unlike the soul, the spirit doesn’t evolve—it’s already whole.

It’s the part of us that knows oneness, truth, and unconditional love.

The Soul as Mediator

Here's how the soul functions as a bridge:

Spirit (Pure God Essence) → Soul (Consciousness, Choices, Growth) → Body (Material Experience)

The spirit is like a light or source of divine energy.

The soul is the lens through which that light shines.

The body is the screen where the image is projected—where spiritual ideals are acted out in real life.

But the soul can distort or purify that light, depending on its choices. If it aligns with truth, love, and service, the divine nature (spirit) shines more clearly through the physical life.

Example:

Spirit always wants to love unconditionally.

The soul might wrestle with fear, resentment, or pride.

The body acts out those inner dynamics—leading to either harmony or suffering.

So, the soul must learn to surrender to the spirit, letting divine will guide its decisions, rather than ego or worldly desires.

Metaphor: The Light, the Lens, and the Shadow

Here's a metaphor Edgar Cayce might appreciate, based on his teachings:

Spirit = The Light Source

Imagine a brilliant, pure light—like the sun or a divine flame.

This light represents the spirit: constant, perfect, unchanging, always radiating truth, love, and unity.

It never flickers or dims—it's the essence of God within you.

Soul = The Lens

Now imagine a lens through which that light must pass.

This lens is your soul—eternal and unique, but shaped by experiences, choices, desires, and ideals.

If the lens is clear and aligned, the light passes through undistorted—bringing warmth, clarity, and healing to the world.

If the lens is clouded (by fear, ego, karma), the light gets distorted or scattered—creating confusion, inner conflict, or suffering.

The soul isn’t the source of light, but it decides how the light is used.

Body = The Projection Screen

The light that passes through the lens is cast onto a screen: your physical body and life.

Your actions, speech, habits, and relationships are the shadows and images made visible by the soul’s choices.

The body shows how much of the divine spirit is being expressed or blocked.

Summary in the Metaphor

Element Meaning

Light Spirit: the pure essence of God within

Lens Soul: the eternal self making choices

Screen Body: the physical life expressing the soul’s current state

Metaphor: The Mirror of the Soul

Spirit = The Divine Light

Imagine an eternal, radiant light shining from within you.

This is the spirit — the pure, perfect essence of God, untouched by time, ego, or fear.

It always shines — it never stops.

Soul = The Mirror

Now imagine a mirror positioned to reflect that divine light outward.

This mirror is your soul — eternal, conscious, and given free will.

When the mirror is clean, polished with truth, love, and selflessness, it reflects the light clearly.

When the mirror is clouded by pride, fear, hatred, or material attachment, the reflection becomes distorted or dim.

The soul doesn't generate the light — it reflects it.

It chooses how clearly God’s presence is revealed through your life.

Body = The World That Sees the Reflection

The physical body and life are where that light — or its absence — becomes visible.

Your words, actions, health, relationships — all reveal what kind of reflection is coming through the soul.

Others see God through you, depending on how clean your soul-mirror is.

Spiritual Journey = Polishing the Mirror

Each life, each challenge, each relationship is an opportunity to:

Remove dust (past karma, ego),

Wipe away fog (fear, ignorance),

Realign the mirror to the light (choose love over selfishness).

As you do, your soul reflects more of the divine light — healing yourself and helping others see God more clearly.

Summary

Part - Metaphor - Meaning

Spirit - The Light - God’s perfect essence within

Soul - The Mirror - Eternal self that reflects the divine light

Body/Life - The Reflection - What others see, shaped by the soul’s clarity

Spiritual Path - Polishing the Mirror - Growing through love, truth, and service