 BOOK
TALK
Soul Lessons
by Gayl Woityra
Each year Book
Talk presents a variety of book discussions on
phenomeNEWS’ themes of body-mind-spirit. We try
as well to cover books appropriate for
newcomers, the general reading populace and
advanced readers in these subjects. It is
unusual in this regard to find a book that is
perfect for everyone, but that is exactly the
book we shall discuss this month: Soul Lessons
and Soul Purpose: A Channeled Guide to Why You
Are Here by Sonia Choquette (Hay House, 2007).
Sonia Choquette
was educated at the University of Denver and the
Sorbonne in Paris, is an author and vibrational
healer. Choquette works with a group of light
beings who call themselves “Emissaries of the
Third Ray.” While this may sound strange to some
readers, many current spiritual teachers have
connections to spiritual guides. What seems most
important, however, is the quality of the
results of such connections or channeling. This
book by Choquette is exceptional in many ways,
both in its unique organization and its
inspiring content.
First, let’s
examine the organization which is well-planned,
concise and easy to read. Twenty-two chapters
are each organized in identical fashion. Regular
print portions, dictated to Choquette by her
guides, present the Soul Lesson for that
chapter. Portions interspersing the channel
lesson are in italics. Here Choquette
contributes her own life experiences and stories
from her clients that illustrate that soul
lesson. What follows next is that which is
unique about this work. The guides present
succinct descriptions of four levels of soul
development, allowing readers to determine if
they are “students,” “apprentices,” “journeymen”
or “masters” in relation to that soul lesson.
Moreover, the guides provide practical steps,
activities and techniques for improvement and
creative means to work on that lesson, each
appropriate for the four named levels. Readers
may discover themselves in one category or may
find they are in a range between two or more. In
each chapter then, readers are encouraged to
personally relate to the given lesson, followed
by guidance for growth at their own particular
level. I have never seen a book do this so well
until this one.
Before we get to
some of the actual substance in this work, it is
interesting to explore the book’s purpose. In
her “Preface,” the author explains how, although
she had already written eight books, she came to
write her first channeled book. Her guides, she
says, “have made it very clear that the time for
us to learn these soul lessons... is now.” Now
is the time “to grow, awaken our souls and open
our hearts.”
Choquette was
“instructed that this book is to be a simple,
direct manual,” organized in the way we just
described. The lessons number 22 because “22 is
a sacred number that reflects how the physical
world is manipulated.” In the Kabbalah, “this
number is considered the foundation of all
things.” Experienced students of teachings on
the spiritual path of all ranges of difficulty,
will recognize the lessons’ themes. Sylvia
Browne, Gregg Braden, Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle,
Caroline Myss, Deepak Chopra and many others
have dealt with these lessons and issues, but
none have presented the lessons in such an
easily grasped and personally applicable way as
in Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose.
In the
“Introduction” by The Emissaries of the Third
Ray, the guides tell readers: “Your purpose on
Earth... is to evolve from an ego-based, mortal,
limited being to a spirit-embodied, immortal,
Divine, unlimited being. Earth is your
classroom. It is the only place in the Universe
where you can physically experience your
creations directly.” The 22 lessons are
presented as a guide to spiritual development or
evolution, “offering ways to measure your
progress and know that you are advancing.” The
guides also emphasize that “All humans are in
this classroom together, serving one another as
both teachers and students.” We can all be
encouraged by their assertion that “No one is
dispensable... every soul matters.”
The content should
interest all readers in that it touches issues
in all our lives. The 22 soul lessons are
divided into two levels. The first 11 are
“oriented mainly toward dismantling false ideals
and breaking free from the ego.” The second 11
“focus on elevating your awareness and vibration
to fully unite with your Higher Self and Divine
expression on Earth.” The guides explain the
four levels of learning: student, apprentice,
journeyman and master so that readers are clear
about where they may be in relation to the
lessons. It’s important to note that “people are
all at different stages in the various lessons.
You may be a master at one and a student in
another.” The important point, as well, is that
each of these soul lessons, when mastered,
brings both freedom (liberation) and peace.
Now we can explore
some of the lessons in this work. In Part One,
the first eleven lessons are summarized as
“Learning to Use Your Creative Power.” In order
to cover the content most completely, I’ll
present the lessons’ topics in sentence format
with numerals in parentheses to indicate chapter
numbers. You are a Divine immortal being (1) and
a co-creator with the Divine (2). Creation
begins with thought (3), driven by engaging your
feelings (4) and creating in pictures (5). It is
important to Live in the Present (6) and to
recognize that Divine Energy flows Through you,
not From you (7). You need to Refine your Reason
(8), Follow your Inner Voice (9), Open your
Heart (10) and Detach from dependence on the
physical world (11).
Obviously there
are many spiritual lessons here for us to learn.
As I read this book and pondered its message, I
thought of several ways readers could put this
book to work for themselves. One would be a
personal, individual approach, probably
involving journaling. The reader might choose to
work with one lesson for a week or two, noting
results in the journal. This book would also
serve as a source for dialogue between friends
or in a discussion group, where each person
could help the others by sharing experiences and
insights.
Within each of the
lesson chapters noted in Part One, readers will
find infinite wisdom clearly and simply
expressed. Let’s examine just one lesson to see
how this works. Detachment is a difficult lesson
for everyone; let’s look at Soul Lesson #11.
Most of us who have approached this lesson have
had to work hard to understand it. It is not
coldness of heart or resignation. The Emissaries
say detachment means to “be part of the daily
activity of life, but not enslaved by it.” Life
being what it is, we do need to accept that we
cannot make the Universe behave the way we want
it to act. “Detachment is an attitude that
chooses peace of mind over struggling against
the world.” I am always reminded of the Serenity
Prayer when I read words like these.
Within the
discussion of detachment are some thoughts
especially pertinent to current world
situations. The Emissaries call it “foolish to
become overly attached to ideas or belief.” In
current times we see this occurring on both
personal and global levels wherein individuals
or groups harden their opinions politically,
religiously or philosophically. The Emissaries
point out: “Some of the greatest suffering on
the Earth plane at this time is centered on
people’s adherence to opposing beliefs and their
attempts to impose their credos on others.” They
gently remind us: “Part of your soul lesson on
Earth is to find your personal truth, yet know
that it is evolving and changing, not fixed,
rigid, shared or unquestionable.” To detach,
they say, “simply let go.”
Part Two of Soul
Lessons and Soul Purpose involves “Working with
the Law.” This begins with an acceptance that
All is in Divine Order (12). To get this message
you need to Reverse Your Perceptions (13). Then
there are a number of things to do: Accept Death
(14), Embrace Life’s Tests (15), Temper your Ego
(16), Address Your Mistakes (17), Actively
Meditate (18) and Love Your Body (19). Do you
notice that this list involves many difficult
lessons for most of us? Don’t we tend to do the
opposite? For example, we complain about or
totally resist life’s lessons; we feed our ego
or let it drive our lives; we find it next to
impossible to admit our errors (that’s ego,
too); and even if we find meditation helpful, we
tend to put it off until tomorrow (or next
week).
The book’s final
three chapters urge us to Regenerate Your Soul
(20), Shatter Negative Patterns (21) and
finally, Waste No Time (22). In other words, get
to it! Why do we postpone working on soul
lessons, those very reasons we are here on Earth
at this time? Have you noticed the growing
number of journal articles focused on the very
subject of the multiple distractions in our
current lives? How much time do we spend at our
computers doing e-mail, wading through dozens of
“forwards” or stuck to cell phones or I-Pods or
glued to the ever more demanding television
cable news? Or are we rushing from here to
there, overworked, overbooked and under rested?
This book by
Choquette will gently bring readers face to face
with themselves. It’s all about making choices.
But making those choices can be extremely
difficult unless we become aware first that
those choices exist and then to realize truly
that we each have the power to make those
choices.
As the Emissaries
said at the beginning of this book: “Earth is
your classroom.” We are all here to learn and
evolve. That is our true purpose. Our time on
Earth is one of great opportunity. Each day
brings new lessons and new opportunities to
grow. It starts with an awareness of this basic
truth. It evolves as we start to see each day,
each problem, each issue, each challenge in a
positive light: What can I learn today?
Soul Lessons and
Soul Purpose by Sonia Choquette is an exemplary
guide for each person’s evolutionary journey. As
the Emissaries say, “Your personal assignment is
to live in peace and joy.” And just as
important: “With every advance you make, you
help heal this planet.” The overall message is
that as we each evolve and heal, we help the
world to heal as well.
Sonia Choquette’s
website is:
www.soniachoquette.com.
 |
