Navigating Life with Our Soul Flower Compass

 I am delighted by compasses. The fact that an unseen magnetic force from the earth can turn that little needle and keep it pointed toward North fascinates me! I recall first learning to use a compass from my father while hiking in the White Mountains of Arizona. He also taught me to use a map to figure out where we were and to pair that with the compass to orient ourselves and figure out which direction to go to get where we wanted to be.

This same process rings true for life in a symbolic way. We can get a reading on a compass, but it is so much more helpful when we pair it with a map with a compass rose. I used the wisdom of AI to explain what exactly a compass rose is.

"A compass rose is a diagram on maps, charts, and other navigational tools that indicates cardinal and intercardinal directions, such as north, south, east, west, and the intermediate points. Its primary purpose is to provide orientation, helping users understand their position and navigate by aligning the true north on the map or compass with the magnetic or true north of their surroundings....Despite advancements in digital navigation, compass roses remain essential for navigation and are found on nautical charts, aeronautical charts, and are still a vital part of modern navigation systems like GPS and VOR. They continue to provide clarity and a critical reference for orientation and direction."

Aligning. Clarity. A reference for orientation and direction. Those words are yummy to me as I reflect on navigating my life with greater peace and joy.

One of the tools I teach my coaching clients is connecting with and aligning their own "soul flower." Just like a compass rose is defined by four cardinal directions, the soul flower is defined by four petals that represent the four different aspects of the soul--body spirit, heart, and mind. Some wisdom approaches call these the four centers of knowing. They each contribute in unique ways to the data we collect and how we process and prioritize information to make the decisions that guide our actions.

For example, I may use my sense of sight to see storm clouds and feel on my skin that the temperature is much cooler than I expected. This information from my body may lead me to run back inside and get a jacket. Or, my mind may add the information that I will be in covered parking and be inside all day, and besides, I'm going to be late and the additional time it will take to find my jacket is not worth it.

While this may seem like a trivial example, tuning into our different centers of knowing, validating the different voices, and valuing the unique perspective each brings can be critical in using our inner compass wisely.

The body draws on our physical senses to supply data and uses physical actions to express our needs and desires.

The spirit leads with intuition and connection to our higher power and adds discernment and moral teachings and beliefs to guide our choices and actions.

The heart uses emotions, relationship factors, music, and the energy of interpersonal connection to guide our responses to the world.

The mind uses thoughts, logistical information, data from past experiences, and rational processing to direct our choices. If we are not careful, this part of us can get bossy and run the show. The brain has the specific job to keep us alive and safe and to conserve energy, which usually means maintaining familiar patterns in our comfort zone.

Each of these ways of knowing, or aspects of our soul flower, are helpful and offer a unique perspective. When they work as a team, just like all the directions on a compass rose, they can help us align, find clarity, and orient ourselves in the way we really want to go.

I find it helpful sometimes to personify each aspect of my soul as a member of my internal council. When faced with a challenge I don't know how to handle, I ask each part for perspective and insight, then bring all the information together to make a final decision.

For example, I recently had some significant sleep issues. My mind and body jumped in with some physical changes, including cooler nighttime temperature in my home, supplements, and behaviors to promote a better sleep routine. What they were doing was very useful, but didn't solve the problem. I consulted the other aspects of my soul. Heart brought to my awareness an emotional issue that I was avoiding that was likely contributing, and my higher sense of spirit prompted me with a specific question to ask my doctor that opened the door to some very helpful information about hormone changes and what I could do to help. In the end, all of the aspects of my soul worked together to navigate back to restorative sleep.

Answers don't come overnight, but opening ourselves to all of our ways of knowing helps us see more perspectives and access more power and direction. Our inner compass is a critical tool to help us navigate the paths of our lives, and using all four aspects of our soul–body, spirit, heart, and mind–can enhance the journey.

Try it out! Focus on growing your awareness of your different centers of knowing by asking your body, spirit, heart, and mind to share their unique input on a challenge you may be facing. See where that compass leads you!