Soulcraft Musings

Today, January 20, 2017, we inaugurate Soulcraft Musings, a new offering from Animas Valley Institute (see below). This is the same day America inaugurates a new president, a cultural upheaval currently mobilizing thousands of response teams worldwide. On this day we commence our humble project of Soulcraft Musings in support of the deepening, diversification, and flourishing of all life. At this time in the world, may we all inaugurate actions and projects that collectively give birth to a life-enhancing society.

The journey of descent to soul has largely been forgotten in mainstream culture, but there is nothing more essential in the world today. The experiential encounter with soul is the key element in the initiatory journey that culminates in true adulthood. And true adults — visionary artisans — are the generators of the most creative and effective actions in defense of all life and in the renaissance and evolution of generative human cultures.

The encounter with soul is not a weekend workshop but an unfolding journey over many months or years. Harvesting its fruit and feeding the world with its bounty plays out over the rest of one’s life. Every day holds opportunities for each of us to prepare for the journey to the underworld of soul, or, once we have embarked upon the journey, to take our next steps, or to gather its mystical treasures and hone them into practical shapes, or to fashion never-before-seen delivery systems for carrying these gifts to the Earth community.

We, at Animas Valley Institute, would like to gift you with this weekly email of trail markers (cairns) on the journey to soul. These Soulcraft Musings, although each only a couple minutes of reading, will be, we trust, valuable guidelines and support on your journey. Each includes references for further reading, study, and practice. And each features a resonant image and poem.

The central theme that ties together all the Musings is, of course, soul and the human encounter with soul. But even the original depth meaning of the word soul has been lost to the modern mind. What we at Animas mean when we speak or write about soul is not what you’ll find in contemporary religious, spiritual, philosophical, or psychological traditions or in everyday conversation. We’ll explore these and many other fundamentals and principles in Soulcraft Musings.

If you’re already on our list, you’ll receive an email with a Soulcraft Musing once a week. If you’re not on our list and would like to subscribe, please click here.

And please feel free to share Soulcraft Musings widely with friends, family, and colleagues.

In wildness and wonder,

Bill Plotkin

Founder

Animas Valley Institute

View Previous Musings

Friday, March 21, 2025

Grief:

That moment when you know you are kneeling at the feet of a force that will annihilate you.

A powerful force that has no mercy or reckoning you can rest in .. it’s

very purpose is

“ full on transformation”.

Shhh quiet and steady now .. It doesn’t care about your needs or wants. It doesn’t listen to your begging or plea for relief, it’s very core essence seems cruel to the one who doesn’t understand its impersonal nature ..

and yes ..

how can you possibly accept something that is entirely rearranging the life you once loved and cherished.

It has its own searing indescribable beauty but not one you can count on or know when it will show itself.

First you have to decide if you will survive its merciless grip!

It doesn’t want you to feel healing or relief until you have stared it straight in the eyes and surrendered your will.

You just have to throw yourself fully at its feet and wait.

Days can turn to months maybe years before you get to allow anything else such as “grace” to live along side of this derangement.

The only relief when in the grip of this mighty energy is to have a full yes to it. You don’t get to choose when it comes and you don’t choose when it goes.

It’s mascerating effect will just grind through all of life’s pains one at a time until you are liquidated and stripped of what it came to do.

All identities and dreams ash on the floor.

Wings clipped, face gray, eyes sunken. Unrecognizable.

Although this force is actually a friend, a true ally .. you will hate it. Trust me you will beg it to go.

It will not listen until it’s great work has been completed and the god of your life says “ok enough” she’s ready. Bring her back up and clear her vision. Let her see her new self .. transformed

— Victoria Markham, March 2013

To read previous musings click here.