Appreciating the concept of soul ages is based on understanding and accepting the concept of reincarnation, that we incarnate over and over because we have lessons to learn that can only be learned on the physical plane with a physical human body. Ironically, however, it takes a certain level of soul development to appreciate the concept of reincarnation and soul ages; it cannot be forced upon a soul before that soul is ready for it. As a master once said: the snake sheds its skin at the rate the snake sheds its skin; you cannot rip the skin off the snake.
Soul Ages
The following description of young souls and old souls uses the structure developed by Ainslie MacLeod in his book The Instruction. MacLeod uses ten (10) levels, one through five for young souls and six through 10 for old souls. I have copied parts of the text, and paraphrased other parts, from his book in describing these ten levels of souls.
[ I should note that there are other systems of describing soul levels or soul ages. One source is the Michael Teachings. Another is Danny Searle. ]
Synopsis: Immature Young Souls (Soul Levels One through Three)
Immature young souls are just beginning to experience life in the material world. For them, the complexities of a technology-driven urban society are overwhelming, and they prefer the quiet simplicity of a low-tech, rural life where animal husbandry, farming, mining, fishing, timber harvesting, oil and gas extraction and other natural resource oriented work predominates.
Immature young souls gravitate to simple, easy-to-understand religious dogma. They need strong boundaries to reassure themselves that they are on the right path. For these young souls, religion gives their lives meaning.
Immature young souls thrive in a two-class society because of their need for structure and clear lines of command and control. Knowing they are ruled by divine-right kings and pharaohs gives them comfort and security. These souls are likely to be fascinated with royalty, particularly the outward physical trappings of political power.
Synopsis: Mature Young Souls (Soul Levels Four and Five)
Mature young souls have totally acclimatized themselves to the material world. They’ve developed a method of operating that allows them to maximize their power, control, wealth and influence in the world, to use the existing institutions and structures, whether governmental, financial, legal, military, political or religious, their best advantage.
Mature young souls naturally gravitate to positions of power and influence. If they exhibit anti-social behavioral traits they are in a position to be especially damaging: narcissists, demagogues and psychopaths (aka sociopaths) are examples of these traits.
Mature young souls are accomplished material world builders, and the narcissists among them want to put their name (their ‘brand’) on everything they touch. Whether their name is Astor, Carnegie, DuPont, Ford, Mellon, Rockefeller or Trump, they create and name phallic symbols of themselves and their power in steel, glass and concrete towers, monuments and other edifices, as a way to insure their own immortality, because, like all young souls, they fear death. In mature young souls, this manifests as narcissism, defined as a delusion of grandeur which masks a deep-seated inferiority complex. Buried deep within them is the nagging fear that they are imposters and will eventually be found out.
Mature young souls have become adept at manipulating the hopes and fears of their base, immature young souls. Whether they do this by creating rules of behavior for their employees (as Ford did), or using the emotional appeal of demagoguery (as Hitler and Mussolini did and as Donald Trump does) the objective is always command and control.
Level One
In their first few lifetimes, Level One souls purposefully avoid having to deal with the modern world. They feel apprehensive about being on a planet where everyone seems to know the roles except them.
They usually choose to live in small communities where they can avoid complexity and technology, since they are usually overwhelmed by it. In simple cultures, they learn to take their first steps, often learning skills or trades that can support them.
Level One souls create rules and rituals that give them a sense of order and security. They are in the process of learning to see themselves as individuals while understanding the importance of belonging to a culture. Shared beliefs, values and codes of conduct are an essential part of their education. The problem for these young souls is apprehension and fear of being on the physical plane, which can cause them to withdraw from the world.
Level One souls are generally poor at using language because it's so new to them. Their literature and art, as well as their understanding of the world around them, tends to be extremely limited.
Level Two
Level Two souls are less afraid of the world than in their first incarnations. Nevertheless they prefer not to take any chances. They protect themselves with firearms, draconian laws and vengeful gods. They see the world in terms of white vs. black, us vs. them, good vs. evil, Christian vs. heathen. Their fundamentalism and obedience to authority allows them to avoid dealing with uncomfortable questions.
By deliberately disconnecting themselves from the mainstream, these young souls can become accustomed to living on the physical plane without fear of encountering the opposing views that might threaten their belief system. For this reason they tend to live in rural communities or small towns where they can learn the importance of cooperation with others.
They create strict laws, usually couched in religious language, to help keep them on the straight and narrow path. Their God is the only God; all others will perish in Hell or be refused entrance to the Afterlife.
Since they lack the experience to understand other souls, Level Two souls assume that those who don't subscribe to the same rigid code of behavior lack a moral foundation. And because others don't see the world as they do, the others must be bad, and if they're bad, they must be punished. This is why Level Two souls use the legal system to legislate morality, and why the prisons are full of those who have committed victimless crimes (prostitutes, drug users, homosexuals, etc.) but who offend Level Two soul sensibilities. And when Level Two souls don't use the legal system, they use the church pulpit to ban what they fear or don't understand, such as music, clothes, drugs, pornography, etc.
The mistrust of others reaches a peak in Level Two souls, which makes it hard to achieve genuine intimacy and leads to a discomfort with sex. It's the belief that human sexual desire is dirty and shameful, not something to be enjoyed.
Level Two souls lack life experience, so they are unable to understand those unlike themselves. They perceive huge differences between themselves and other genders, religions and races. Males, for example, regard themselves as better than females, whom they genuinely believe should be kept barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, a belief that understandably gave rise to polygamous, rural Mormon communities in Utah. The result of these beliefs are misogynistic social structures in which females are denied an education, the means of contraception or the opportunity to terminate a pregnancy.
Level Three
Level Three souls tend to act emotionally rather than rationally. They will buy a pickup truck because it's marketed as the Heartbeat of America, regardless of the fact that it was manufactured in Canada or Mexico.
These souls have the urge to belong, whether it's to a family, group or a nation. They create strong families which they bind together with strong religious beliefs, morals, ethics and codes of conduct.
Their real need is to fit into their community, and they relish conformity. They are typically joiners and are attracted to large organizations such as mega-churches where they can blend in and feel like part of the majority. While more urban than souls at earlier stages, Level Three Souls still have a need for safety and security so they develop well-functioning though insular societies where everyone who belongs can enjoy the benefits of the community.
Like those at previous levels, these souls are still a little uncomfortable with intimacy. Their focus is very much outward and because they don't look within for answers, they place the blame for society's ills on others - non-conformists who don't fit in, such as unwed mothers, welfare recipients, immigrants, gays and lesbians.
Level Three souls are especially drawn to nationalism, which they typically confuse with patriotism. Their country is the greatest country on earth, and since they identify with it, it becomes a reflection of themselves and its strength becomes their strength. They identify with their national symbols, for instance their national anthem or song, flag, salute, animal, bird and other symbols. They proudly fly their national flag and regard with contempt anyone who would desecrate it.
Political and military leaders, who are usually Level Five souls, have always exploited this trait of nationalism to gain support for their military and/or imperialistic adventures. Level Three souls have traditionally marched off to war singing patriotic songs, convinced that being awarded medals for valor and even dying for their country is an honor.
One might think that, given their willingness to march into battle, that Level Three souls have no fear of death. Actually the opposite is true. They have a great fear of death and they control that fear through a belief in a glorious afterlife where they'll be rewarded for their bravery.
Level Three souls believe that certain individuals are naturally superior to others. They revere monarchs, presidents, chancellors, prime ministers and religious figures as long as they feel their values are being respected. These souls typically confuse being ruled with being governed, so they willingly accept a president-for-life or a Fascist dictator.
Thanks to a belief in their own inferiority, and their need to belong, Level Three souls who are disadvantaged economically, racially, ethnically, physically or otherwise, gain strength by being around other souls who are equally disadvantaged. For them, the two-class society comprising a small, wealthy, landed class and a large, poor, landless class of serfs is the natural order of things.
One more observation about Level Three souls: Because they act emotionally rather than rationally, are nationalistic, revere their leaders and are willing to sacrifice their lives, the emotional appeal of a demagogue (aka fire-brand or rabble-rouser) is particularly effective with them.
Level Four
Level Four souls have lost much of the awkwardness and discomfort they felt earlier. Feeling much more comfortable on the physical plane, they want to run things, and so they emulate Level Five souls who they see as being much more sophisticated.
Because of their own desire to achieve, Level Four souls make committed parents. They want their children to do well, in part because their success reflects well on them as parents, but also because at this level they've begun to recognize that their children are unique individuals, not simply extensions of themselves. Whether it's academics, sports or the fine arts, Level Four soul parents want their children to succeed, and they are willing to provide whatever support they can to insure it.
This is a difficult soul level, bridging the gap between the morality of Level Three and the unabashed materialism of Level Five. In attempting to do so, Level Four souls will often fall victim to hypocrisy, denying they have a moral failing, or blaming some external factor such as the media, for shedding light on their own shortcomings.
As they strive to make their mark in the world, Level Four souls build strong, vibrant communities and take a greater interest in their education and career development as they seek out opportunities and lessons that will help them be successful in the competitive world of Level Five souls.
Level Five
Level Five souls are exciting, dynamic and always striving to push things forward. They are comfortable in their own skins, and understand the rules of the game. They fully embrace the world. In fact, they believe it's theirs for the taking. The uncertainty of younger soul ages is replaced by a feeling of self-assurance. They roam the world with confidence, determined to make their mark and their fortune in equal measure as they explore.
The grip of Cosmic Illusion (maya) is at its strongest at this level. Genuine spiritual awakening may be possible but it will take great effort to achieve. For many, the Spiritual Plane is about as real as Neverland.
For those wrapped up in Cosmic Illusion, the downside is the appeal of the exploitation of others. Their tendency is to take whatever they want, regardless of the long-term consequences.
The courage of their convictions inspires their belief in the civilizing effects of imperialism. Throughout history, they've conquered other civilizations to bring them the benefits of a more sophisticated, more technologically advanced civilization.
Level Five souls love the excitement of politics with its opportunities for self-aggrandizement and intrigue. And those who are most in thrall to Cosmic Illusion don't want to govern so much as rule. Even if their country is at war, the real enemy is always the opposition political party - if one is even permitted.
When it comes to war, Level Five souls find it a great way to express their power. They raise mighty armies to battle the mighty armies of opposing Level Five soul leaders in the belief that the answer to violence is overwhelming violence. They equate belligerence with power, which they don't distinguish from strength. Because the opposite of strength is weakness, and they fear being seen as weak, they think it's important to act tough.
Although aggressors have a poor chance of actually winning a war, they'll invade another country in the belief that the war will be over in a short period of time, or that they'll be greeted with open arms as a liberating hero. The lessons of history are lost on them.
Level Five souls build great cities that buzz with activity. And because they're always pushing forward technology advances at breathtaking speed. Their thirst for novelty guarantees that a market will always be there for new products.
Wall Street is a Level Five invention, as are massive corporations. They appeal to the desire of Level Five souls to make an impact on the world.
From Alexander the Great to most U.S. presidents, virtually all world leaders has been Level Five souls. All of them have created change, both good and bad, welcome and unwelcome. They're the reason political boundaries are continually changing.
These souls have little time for introspection, and they still have the young-soul tendency to isolate themselves. They do it by building gated communities and restricted access structures.
On the physical level, plastic surgery (face lifts, breast enhancement, botox injections) are the way Level Five souls prolong youth, based on the belief that old age equates to death. Young souls have a fear of their own mortality that won't diminish until they are well into the next Level.
Synopsis: Old Souls (Soul Levels Six through Ten)
Having gone as deeply into the outer physical, material world as they can, and having realized that nothing physical ever lasts forever, the old soul realizes that the material world is ultimately an illusion (maya) because it is impermanent.
Having realized that nothing physical is permanent, the old soul will be less interested in accumulating physical stuff, or having transitory physical experiences, and will eventually turn inward in search of spiritual truth and experience.
Level Six
At this point, souls begin the evolution from young to old, and they experience a 180-degree change as their focus shifts from exploring their outer, objective world to exploring their subjective, inner world. This search for the meaning of Life is called the Quest, and it will occupy them from their first lifetimes on Earth as Level Six souls until their last ones as Level Ten souls. The Quest is the pursuit of wisdom and it culminates with the desire to understand the purpose of our own lives.
Rather than accept conventional wisdom, Level Six souls question everything. Due to their shift in perspective, the innocence and guilelessness of young souls is replaced with skepticism. They begin to understand that the world is not quite as those in authority tell them it is.
When they were younger souls, they would accept injustice in the belief that they would be rewarded in the afterlife. Now they are not so accepting. They want fairness for themselves and those around them, and they want it in this lifetime. This is the reason they form labor unions, trade unions, cooperatives and other organizations that offer mutual support.
Level Six souls begin to find materialism shallow, yet they're not sure where true happiness may be found. They sense a need for deeper meaning in their lives and may even describe themselves as spiritual rather than religious.
They broaden themselves through the fine arts and are creative, though rarely innovative. They also become interested in other people, and understanding others helps them to understand themselves.
The fear that once made them wary and suspicious of those who appear different begins to lessen its grip. Having reincarnated many times in different races and cultures has allowed them to accept differences, and also to begin to shed the fear of death.
Thanks to their newly-found introspection as part of their Quest, Level Six souls perform introspective analysis of themselves and often create mountains out of their own personal molehills. And through self-doubt, they'll suffer deep inner conflicts over issues such as their spiritual beliefs or sexual orientation.
As Cosmic Illusion (maya) becomes less important in their lives, they gravitate toward pacifism and an abhorrence of armed conflict. There are two reasons for this. The first is that multiple lifetimes on the battlefield teach old souls the futility of war. The second is that the introspection that begins at this level creates a growing awareness that, as humans, we are all connected at some level, so the us vs. them is an illusion.
As this awareness grows, Level Six souls lose the desire to rule and dominate. They begin to understand that cooperation and diplomacy are actually the better way to have their needs met.
Level Seven
The ambition of young souls and the introspection of old souls come together in Level Seven souls, resulting in impressive achievements. New discoveries are made, masterpieces are created and inventions are designed as Level Seven souls tap into the inner Soul World. Innovation is the hallmark of Level Seven souls and, in fact, neither before nor after this level will souls be quite so curious, creative and inventive. As they go inward more deeply, their outer material-world drive will diminish.
Having fully embraced the Spiritual Quest, they can be self-absorbed to the point of being neurotic. Angst-ridden artists, sculptors, composers, writers, dramatists emerge, all looking for meaning in their art, as in life itself. As they turn inward for inspiration, their focus becomes the inner world of the mind and heart, rather than the outer world of Cosmic Illusion (maya). They may develop complex philosophies in their attempt to explain their rich inner life.
Their need to understand the world, coupled with their desire to help each other results in the creation of organizations and societies dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, particularly inner spiritual knowledge.
For Level Seven souls the world is more fascinating than ever due to the added dimension of inner complexity, as they discover unplumbed depths within themselves and then use the medium of their art to express with passion all that they are discovering about themselves and their world. Never satisfied with their work, they continually push themselves and their compatriots to break new ground, seeking ever deeper introspection and more profound revelation.
The consequences of all this passionate expression can be a kind of nervous exhaustion, that ultimately prevents them from achieving all that they set out to do.
Level Eight
Level Eight souls are fully engaged in their intellectual and emotional lives. They maintain emotionally intense relationships that allow them to explore their inner lives. They admire artistic creativity, but at this level are more likely to be patrons of the arts rather than artists themselves.
Their growing appreciation that we are all one results in much greater compassion for others. Their need to understand the mutual benefits of relationships drives them to create a better world. They become involved in progressive political parties and in socially-conscious charities and seek out groups of people who, like themselves, want to create a better world. While all soul levels, from Level Five onward, are involved in these organizations, Level Eight souls tend to participate the most.
Level Eight souls tend to be environmentally conscious, because they want to leave the Earth a better place than the way they found it.
Lifetimes of human experience have taught Level Eight souls that there is really no difference between people of different races, ethnicity and gender. As the Cosmic Illusion wears thin, even those who are fully immersed in it cannot avoid becoming more deeply connected to the Soul World. They begin to seek out peaceful solutions to conflict, whether personal or global. With many dramatic incarnations behind them, Level Eight souls want to be left alone to live their lives in their own way. Their major concern is that their placid lives will be interrupted by some event over which they have no control - government intrusion, war, earthquake, flood, volcanic eruption or other natural disaster.
Level Nine
Level Nine souls are working on personal growth issues - confronting fears and phobias, conquering addictions and correcting flaws. Whether they appreciate it or not, these souls are all working on issues from past lives. Having experienced their share of grief and heartache, many will spend a lifetime practicing one or more spiritual disciplines or in psychotherapy, as they seek deeper understanding of themselves.
As Cosmic Illusion loses its grip, spirituality gains immense importance. As they approach Level Ten and their last few incarnations on the physical plane, Level Nine souls develop a greater consciousness that we are all connected. They seek out spiritual traditions that give them greater understanding than the one into which they were born. The focus is spiritual self-improvement, however the risk for Level Nine souls is that they may become so preoccupied with their own issues that they ignore their worldly responsibilities such as family and career.
There are karmic debts from previous lives that must be balanced, and Level Nine souls want to accomplish this without creating any new karma in the process.
Despite their advanced soul age, Level Nine souls occasionally end up in the corporate world where they do their best to create socially and environmentally responsible products, services and experiences, and where they'll support worthwhile charities and find ways to leave the world a better place.
Level Ten
Level Ten souls are ready for retirement. Conventional ideas of success become meaningless. Materialism becomes less important than ever. Who cares about making money if you have to be part of the rat race to do it.
There is a slightly lower level of self-absorption now that the intense healing work of Level Nine is behind them. Most live quiet lives, doing work they love, in the hope it will contribute to society.
They can be highly talented but lack in drive or ambition. Those around them may feel that they never quite reach their potential. The risk at this level is passivity. These easygoing souls have many lifetimes of achievement behind them, and they often develop a sense of having been there and done it all before.
Sometimes Level Ten souls will abandon successful careers to focus on something that interests them, such as social work, a humanitarian project or a spiritual quest, even if it means a drop in income or social status.
Level Ten souls usually do not stand out as being unusual. More than any other souls they're likely to ignore prevailing fashion and go their own way. They might shop in used clothing stores even if they can afford designer labels. Many Level Ten souls would be characterized as genuinely eccentric.
Souls of a particular age may be drawn to certain cities, regions or countries to take advantage of the lessons available there. Norway, for example, is a predominately Level Ten country with a strong social infrastructure and a decided disinclination to go to war with its neighbors.
The focus of Level Ten souls is on expressing compassion, and learning to be both physical and spiritual. Having compassion requires Level Ten souls to be present in the physical world so that others may receive their love, and they may receive love in return. As long as they can do this, Level Ten souls can be happy just about anywhere, although they prefer tranquility over noise.
Altruism is at its peak at Level Ten. With lifetimes of experience behind them, these souls see another person suffering and remember when they, too, were in that situation. The connection to others makes killing unacceptable, and they oppose war, the death penalty and torture.
As each lifetime takes them closer to returning to Universal Consciousness, Cosmic Illusion (maya) becomes increasingly easy to see for what it is. They have, to some degree, the awareness that all of humanity is connected and deserving of respect. They understand the folly of war, the shallowness of rampant materialism and the dangers of unregulated power.
An Old Soul World
What would it look like of we lived in an old-soul world? There is a short description here.
Religiosity and the Soul Age of a Nation
Religiosity, as contrasted with spirituality, may be viewed as a measure of the soul age of a society or country. In 2014, a Princeton University study determined that 28% of Americans believe the Bible is the actual word of God and should be taken literally. An additional 47% believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, not to be taken literally, meaning a combined 75% believe the Bible is in some way connected to God. Only 21% of Americans view the Bible in purely secular terms, as ancient fables, legends, history and precepts written by man. These statistics show how young souls dominate America and why a man like Donald Trump could have been elected president.
Old Soul Nations
Where are the old soul countries, and where in America do old souls live? Here is the link.
