Spiritual evolution is a process through which the soul of man, his unconscious is realized by the spirit, his conscious.

The spirit is evolved. The soul is unevolved, instinctual and animalistic.  It is the soul that evolves to realize the brilliance of the divine spirit.  The soul is known and often described as the mirror world, the world that the inner traveler must enter to realize his true evolution.  In effect, man is synthesized through his soul where he establishes contact with the divine or heavenly spirit.  The divine spirit is present in each of us; it is the self, the genius, the “I”.  Therefore, in a way it is “on earth as it is in heaven.”  It is also, “as below, so above” and “as above, so below.”

The soul is connected with the unconscious, the instincts and the animal nature that serves the earthman.  The soul represents the feminine, passive, negative nature and desires satisfaction.  In the unevolved soul, satisfaction is a result of the fulfillment of the sensual desires that are those of his earthly body.  Our lower nature is experienced through the unevolved soul, the senses.

In the evolving human being, there is a struggle for higher values.  The soul is awakened through the activity and communication with the divine spirit, the self. It is through this action that man expands consciousness and becomes an adept at constructively directing his instinctual nature.  We struggle with our soul, our unconscious to find balance between the spiritual and material worlds.  We know that the goal of the physical body, the satisfaction of the senses and the goal of the spirit, higher values, must be neutralized through the soul.  So, it is not exactly “on earth as it is in heaven” as man on earth faces conflict with the environment.

The spirit of man is connected with the will, the masculine, active nature.  The spirit is the higher octave of the ego. It is our conscious, our self, and the light.  The spirit moves us. The process of evolution is based on the spirit realizing the soul.  It is based on the conscious shining light on the unconscious . 

When the spirit is not directing the unconscious, it is perceived as the personal ego.  The soul needs to be realized by the spirit so that they do not harm each other and so that they may work together for the mutual benefit of each of us. The spirit, soul and physical body are separate entities manifesting a common effect. 

The spirit may be visualized as the king, the soul as the queen, and the physical body as the servant.           

As the human being evolves his soul becomes transparent, enlightened, and purified.  A cleansing of the soul occurs and the light of consciousness beams forth.  The strength of the spirit is manifested in the will, and this will guides and fortifies the soul.

The soul is inorganic and the spirit is organic.  The soul is uplifted and given life when the heavenly spirit realizes it.  It is magic that gives life to the inorganic and there are no words that can begin to impart it.  It is metamorphosis.  The soul is the cocoon of the spirit.