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How can you tell if you are an old soul? Are there differences in traits or behaviors? What signs can I look for that can help me differentiate the difference?
Generally speaking, we are all old
souls, but some of us have been here longer than others.
For example, according to Cannon, we all
had to be an air molecule and a drop of water to learn what it’s
like to work together as ONE.
There are many lessons we have learned throughout our lifetimes, all of which has culminated into this particular incarnation.
All of your previous life incarnations
are embedded into your
cellular memory and can be recalled through
past life regressions. Most of the people on this planet are old
souls, yet many remain unawakened and still have a lot more to learn
and will need several more incarnations to a 3rd dimensional planet.
Enjoy every millisecond in this incarnation because this may be the last time you’ll ever experience a 3rd dimensional reality!
Video
The Old Soul Age
Much that can be said about an Old soul is what would be said about an old person. Usually old people have traveled to many places and done many things. They are a storehouse of wisdom and understanding because of this range of experience.
But in spite of their competence they do not usually accomplish very much. Because of the age of the body, there is often a tiredness about them that prevents much expenditure of effort. They are quieter than younger people, have a more relaxed lifestyle, and are more subdued in their manner of expression. They have mellowed out considerably compared to their younger days.
The energy and excitement of youth is mostly gone. It is very similar with Old souls.
They have access through the subconscious to a great wealth of experience. Often they become teachers to pass this knowledge and wisdom on, but to a limited number of students - there is little desire or effort to release their understanding into the world in general. In fact, in the last Levels, some Old souls can be so world-weary that they are ready to just lay down and die.
Like a person in the last decade of
life, the Old soul is "winding down" so to speak, or "in
retirement", preparing for death, settling the estate, and tying up
loose ends. In terms of the theory of reincarnation, the Old soul is
clearing the way for the final break with the physical plane.
Material things just decay anyway, so why invest in that?
The other problem is that they are advanced in their perceptions to such an extent that the genius of their contributions would go unappreciated by the great majority of people, the Establishment.
Old souls know this and do not even try to get them to see it. Younger souls, who largely control the course of society, cannot understand Old souls, and regard them and their notions as eccentric. Old souls are perceived to be "far out", or "cranks", if they do make themselves noticed. Younger souls are often too busy to stop and really listen to the wisdom of Old souls anyway.
For these reasons, Old souls are rarely the movers and shakers of culture. As it is with many young people and old people, the situation is that the younger are out doing their thing and do not have time to listen to the old folks anyway. So the old folks do not even try to communicate.
Old souls often have difficulty with
self-esteem because their perceptions and values are not shared by
the rest of society.
The Old Soul Is Often A Loner
In their social lives, Old souls are often loners.
They go their own way, caring little for societal norms. They are a rare breed, comprising about eleven percent of the population. On the fringes of society, they obey the rules of their culture only as required to get by without causing trouble. They have very little attachment to encounters of a casual nature, such as coworkers and neighbors.
Even their sense of connection to blood relatives is not very strong.
They generally shun heavy entanglements with other people. When they do get involved, it is because there is a strong spiritual bond. By this is meant that either there is a karmic attachment (past-life association), or what Michael calls an "agreement" - a contract made between lifetimes to conduct a relationship.
A specific case mentioned by Michael is that Old souls seek to be united with the other fragments of their Entity.
When Old souls do seek companionship, they often do so in metaphysical groups - astrology and tarot classes, psychic endeavors, and so on. Here they will be most likely to meet those with whom they have spiritual connections.
They seek out the few others who are like themselves, and form networks of people with similar interests. This is not usually for the purpose of business advancements like Young souls, or for psychological comfort like Mature souls, but just to share being with other Old souls. When Old souls "party", they usually sit around and just talk. In dating situations, they do not need to go anywhere (like to a movie) or do anything (like play games) as a means to developing social intimacy.
If the basis for psychological intimacy
is not quickly apparent to the Old soul, he will not put himself
through much trouble to develop it. It is difficult for Old souls to
weld unions with people that they have not been together with in
numerous past lifetimes.
The motto of the Old soul is,
They rarely campaign for anything.
They do not want to change the world - they just let it be. You might say they have the ultimate "laissez faire" (leave it alone) attitude - let nature take its course and don't interfere with the system.
They rarely organize into social clubs
which have a hierarchical structure of leaders and followers, or
join organizations which promote some cause. Rather, they form loose
networks of friends and associates having common interests.
This puts them in a class by themselves since the Transcendental and Infinite souls, also in Aspects of Positive Processes, only rarely manifest on the physical plane according to Michael (explained in the following section).
And indeed, the Old soul is likely to
sense his differentness. He may even think perhaps he does not
belong on this planet. Old souls make up from 10 to 15 percent of
the population.
The Old soul is in the process of removing himself from entanglement with the usual affairs of life.
He does not have a strong sense of
attachment or kinship with the world such as is possessed by younger
souls. He wants to purge and purify himself of materialistic
connections. His primary motivation becomes the pursuit of some
specific life task, or perhaps spiritual refinement.
This leaves him with enough spare energy
to pursue his real purposes, such as resolving karmic entanglements,
and pursuing truth and wisdom.
But Old souls do have one significant problem, and that is that they are subject to psychological depression. All the soul ages can be, to some extent, but especially the Old soul.
The reason for this is that, to them, life seems heavy and boring - "life is a drag".
They perceive that it is all a game, a contrived situation, and they no longer want to play the game. They feel like they have seen it all, so what is there left to live for? The material pursuits of Young souls seem quite futile to them, so what is there to get interested in?
Even the Mature soul's excitement about newfound truth seems passé to Old souls.
This ennui can severely limit an Old
soul's happiness and well-being, and be a source of misunderstanding
for younger souls who are enjoying life. Whether he understands it
consciously or not in terms of reincarnation, the Old soul simply
wants to graduate from the physical plane, and go on to new and
better things in the higher planes.
This is one of the perceptions that is
inherent by reason of the depth of contact with the subconscious
present in the Old soul.
The Old Soul Is Easy To Be Around
Old souls are typically easy for other people to get along with.
They are usually agreeable associates because they know how to be gracious. The worst that can be said about Old souls is that they are often detached and aloof, perhaps even uninvolved. Younger souls do not understand this, although they may admire the fact that an Old soul can remain so cool in situations that younger souls find upsetting.
There is not much in an Old soul that can offend a younger soul, though there is much that can be misunderstood by him. To some it may seem that Old souls do not care. It is more accurate to say that they are nonattached.
They do not make much investment in what is going on around them, and do not have strong expectations for any particular outcome.
Whatever will be will be, so why fight reality? Old souls inherently perceive the broader perspective. They see that the world rolls on, day after day, year after year, millennium after millennium, with the same basic stories being told time after time with minor variations. Old souls know the big lesson of the whole Maturation cycle, and that is nonjudgmental acceptance of anything and everything.
What little they cannot abide, Old souls simply avoid.
Rarely do they seek to change things. Old souls tend to follow the course of greatest efficiency.
They seem to glide effortlessly through life.
Younger souls regard this as sheer laziness - lack of drive and willpower.
This trait has its advantages and disadvantages. The good thing is that they are graceful and gracious when it comes to dealing with other people.
The disadvantage is that they may lack
the initiative to do what could be done. They often come up with
great and innovative ideas because of their advanced and efficient
perceptions, but they lack the energy to bring them to completion.
Once an Old soul realizes the cause of his condition, he can then take steps to mitigate it or direct it wisely. He need not pursue the goals of younger souls or share their value systems, but he can take his legitimate place as a valuable member of society if he wants to.
As with senior citizens, just because
the Old soul is "retired" does not mean he is worthless and
powerless. Indeed, an Old soul can bring considerable wisdom and
competence to bear in fulfilling a significant life task.
Old Souls Are Inherently Ethical
Because of their advanced perceptions, Old souls are inherently ethical in behavior, feeling, and thought.
Old souls try to maintain neutrality in time of war. It is part of their nonattachment.
There are certain nations listed by Michael as being primarily populated by Old souls, such as Switzerland, Holland, and Iceland, who value their independence and neutrality in political issues.
Switzerland plays host to the Young soul nations at the Geneva peace talks, but does not get involved in their Young soul do-it-my-way games. If Old souls care anything for politics, it is that they are pacifists.
Most often they are simply apolitical -
they do not get involved with it at all.
Old Souls See The Cosmic Picture
Old souls have a universal perspective.
They are not so much involved in,
Old souls see the cosmic picture. Old souls see themselves and others as parts of a larger system - another Synthesis Process perception.
Their attention is on the workings of this system. They see how all parts of the system relate to each other rather than getting lost in the petty details. The depth of wisdom of Old souls shows in their eyes. They have a direct, penetrating stare - it looks right through you, seeming to know.
Profound issues are their concern, not
the trivial. In their efficiency, they want to get right to the
heart of the matter and skip all the superficialities.
Almost never are they outrageous or
outlandish. They are rarely concerned with outward appearances -
external image or formal trappings. In extreme cases they can even
appear sloppy in clothes or habitat. Rarely are they overly
concerned with what other people think.
Old souls tend to cut out the material pursuits that occupy so much of the time and energy of younger souls, and concentrate what little energy they have on spiritual integrity.
By this is meant the need to understand the truth, and the reason for things. Old souls rarely participate in organized religion. They are often drawn rather to metaphysics, mysticism, philosophy, and the occult in their quest for understanding. It is difficult for them to synthesize their physical with their spiritual selves.
They often seek unorthodox and holistic
medicine rather than going to the medical establishment.
Old Souls Are Not Mainstream
In some ways, it can be said that Old souls are in the most difficult age. In the first place, they do not fit in with the culture so they are often thought bizarre.
They are definitely out of the mainstream of society and care little for its formal institutions. In the second place, they are often too world-weary to do what needs to be done to solve their own problems, let along anyone else's.
Since they tend to follow the path of least resistance, unless they feel internal and external forces pushing them, they don't go anywhere or do anything. No matter how much they might need it for building Character, they will only tolerate just a certain amount of stress in any given situation. Then they will get depressed and just chuck it all and move on.
In the third place, there is a certain arrogance in Old souls in that they often feel they cannot learn from younger souls.
They are aware of their maturity, even if only subliminally, and regard younger souls as foolish. This is not truly wise. There is always much to learn, even from one's juniors. In the fourth place, there is very little left that Old souls want to experience in life.
They feel like they have done it all - so why bother to do more?
Even sex is not highly prized by the Old soul.
He is usually competent therein, but his lack of interest for it, and the lack of passion in it, can be disconcerting to younger souls who still prize sex highly. Old souls are often hedonistic and sensual, however, and can have a bawdy sense of humor.
Old souls are often androgynous (having balanced masculine and feminine characteristics), and occasionally bisexuality is a part of their lifestyle. Gender identification is often weak in this Age because of subconscious contact with the whole psyche, which includes both masculine and feminine characteristics.
What the Old soul seeks in romantic relationships is a "soul mate" - someone to whom he relates on a soul level.
This might be someone else with whom he has spent many
lifetimes, or another soul in his own Entity. The drive for this is
so strong that it could be described as a compulsion.
The Old soul just is. He simply experiences life as it passes through his consciousness. He is not unlike an Infant soul in that he often leads a simple life. He does not want to complicate it with intense relationship entanglements and severe challenges.
In a reincarnational sense, Old souls
are paying off final
karma, and they do not want to incur any more,
so they play it safe by remaining apart from the heavy drama that
entertains younger souls
Much of what can be said about Mature souls is what would be said about people in middle age. They are at the peak of their lives: beyond the folly of youth, yet before the decay of old age. Like people in the fifth and sixth decades of life, much of their experience is behind them. That is, they have subconscious access to depths of experience not present in younger souls.
Consequently, their perceptions are fairly advanced. Rather than look forward and outward like younger souls, they look backward and inward.
They constantly evaluate whether their life goals are being achieved, and what they would do differently if they could start again. They have a strong tendency to be introspective. This incessant self-evaluation can lead to psychological difficulties.
Mature souls are in the "mid-life
crisis", so to speak, of the Maturation scale. Mature souls make a
lot of adjustments along the way in their lives.
Whereas Young souls get educated to further their careers, most Mature souls seek knowledge for its own sake. They truly want to understand. It may not always be in a formal or institutional setting, since this can seem too structured and limiting (too Young-soulish) to them. They often pursue knowledge on their own, reading widely or taking night-school classes on whatever subject is of interest to them.
This they often do rather than seeking a formal degree.
The courses that Mature souls take are
less likely to involve occupation, and more likely to be for
personal improvement, than what you will see Young souls taking.
Mature souls care more about what they are learning than about the
grades they make in learning it.
The Mature soul age is the most
challenging of the Ages. Mature souls are agitated, sensitive, and
touchy.
The Mature soul's Monad's (necessary experiential units) largely concern feelings. They are working through emotional blocks. They are the most likely of the ages to need and seek psychological counseling for their emotional difficulties. The majority of people who go to psychologists for counseling are Mature souls, and the majority of psychologists are themselves Mature souls - and they probably have a lot of psychological churning that they themselves are working through.
Many psychological challenges come to the surface in the Mature soul Age which have to be dealt with on a conscious level.
If it cannot be dealt with, the person
may turn to alcoholism as an escape. This method of anesthesia is
more prevalent in this Age than any other. Mature souls will not
often let themselves do actual physical harm to other people, like
younger souls might, so they turn their frustrations concerning
others upon themselves.
But the Mature soul looks for a larger meaning in life. He wants to understand the significance of everything, and the motivations for why people do things. More than a person of any other Age, the Mature soul cares - cares about the problems of the planet and wants to correct them, cares about other people and wants to help them, cares about his own well-being and wants to improve it.
Mature souls are open to all
experiences, and are prone to try pragmatic solutions to their
difficulties, rather than using canned Establishment (Young soul)
imperatives.
There is not the willingness to put everything into a career and rise to the top. When a Mature soul does become an employer, he tends to regard the well-being of the individual to be more important than the well-being of the company.
He may have policies and programs within
the company to foster the good of the employee, beyond the normal
benefits.
Mature souls want to perceive themselves as informed individuals, and they revel in each newly acquired understanding. In the later Levels of the Mature Age, the person almost always seeks answers to the big questions of life in a way that few people in more primitive cycles do. This often means involvement in metaphysical endeavor, practice, or knowledge.
By metaphysical is meant everything from psychology to religion to the psychic.
Mature souls are psychologically attuned to other people enough that they empathetically experience other people as they experience themselves.
This is not true of people in the younger Ages. As a result of this intuitive perception, Mature souls are touchy about who they deal with. They are easily upset by the "vibrations" of people that they are not in harmony with.
If there are uncomfortable feelings with
another, they will likely leave if they do not feel some obligation
to stay. Mature souls need a sanctuary wherein to shield themselves
in times of psychological stress. It might be a place that they
withdraw to, or to the companionship and comfort of an intimate
friend.
They build their lives around social contacts and friends who have similar interests.
Family members, in the sense of blood relatives, which are very important to the three younger soul Ages, are not as important to Mature souls as good companions are. Mature souls seek mates not for status as Young souls often do, but for love. It is unusual for a person younger than Mature to experience true love for the mate.
Mature souls want someone to whom they can relate meaningfully, rather than just someone to fulfill the stereotypical role of a mate ordained by Young-soul society. A good place for Mature souls to meet others for companionship or mating is in school or at the library.
Second choice would be informal and
loosely organized singles groups where they can get to know others
as friends before they become lovers. The bar scene does not appeal
to them. Mature souls want to mate for life.
The type of humor they prefer is
"situation comedy" involving social relationships. They like to
tease and joke with their friends. Their teasing is rarely hostile
or denigrating like it can be with Young souls. The type of movies
they prefer are the award-winners with depth, meaning, and
originality, usually produced by Mature souls - not the shallow,
action or adventure type produced by Young souls.
They like to have a cabin in the woods
or at the lake where they can take a vacation from the rat race.
They do not seek material things or have a second home for status
like a Young soul, but for an escape, a sanctuary. Mature souls seek
less tangible things than material possessions.
In their quest for truth, at the extreme, the Mature soul may experiment with more unorthodox and offbeat brands or New Age sects.
Mature souls have a strong sense of
morality and ethics, but it is of the situational ethics and moral
relativism variety. This disgusts younger souls, particularly
Juvenile souls.
For this reason they also tend to be pacifistic - and not in a militant way like a Young soul might be.
Even though they love freedom, they
usually prefer to submit to domination rather than fight for that
freedom. A clear example of this is that in Russia today, the Mature
souls who form the majority of the populace submit to the
domineering Young souls who control the government.
Mature souls often campaign for reforms in society.
They form the core of the environmentalist movement, the antinuclear energy movement, the ban-the-bomb movement, and other such improve-the-world endeavors.
They are beyond the Young soul in perception of the value of the spiritual aspects of life, but they are nevertheless entangled with the affairs of the world to such an extent that they think the planet is worth the trouble of making it a better place.
Old souls, on the other hand, have pretty much given up on the world in a material sense, as we have seen above.
Chart to reference the different soul age levels from MichaelTeachings Website
excerpt from "The Michael Handbook" by Jose Stevens and Simon Warwick-Smith
from MichaelTeachings Website
SOURCES: Joya Pope and Yarbro
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