Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life by Thomas Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Art teaches us to respect imagination as something far beyond human creation and intention. To live our ordinary life artfully is to have this sensibility about the things of daily life, to live more intuitively and to be willing to surrender a measure of our rationality and control in return for the gifts of soul” (p.300).
“The brain is depressed to find itself described as a computer and the heart surely doesn’t enjoy being treated as a pump. There isn’t much opportunity to exercise the spleen these days, and the liver is no longer the seat of passion. All these noble, richly poetic organs, teeming with meaning and power, have been made into functions” (p.165).
In Care of the Soul, Thomas Moore draws from mythology, religion, spirituality, psychology and art to provide a guide to living a daily life that is concerned about the soul and allowing that soul to be. In today’s fast-paced world, people tend to forget about how to care for their souls. As Moore puts it, “The soul has no room in which to present itself if we continually fill all the gaps with bogus activities” (p.122). People also tend to forget the beauty and art of daily life. Living today and caring today is very important to understanding life and spirit. “Soul doesn’t pour into life automatically. It requires our skill and attention” (p.xvii). We should provide that attention daily.
An understanding of Greek and Roman mythology will come in handy as Moore uses myth to explain ideas and concepts. He does a good job of describing the myth so that you understand the connection, but if you’ve read the classics , it will be a plus. There are amazing ideas throughout the book that if cultivated would certainly care for your soul.