Soul Focus
by Carmela Cattuti
© 2004

Chapter One: What Is Soul Focus?


Soul Focus connects us with the movement of the universe. It is the way to fluid and transpersonal living. It is the merging of earth and sky. This way of being balances what we can see and touch with the world that is unseen. Soul Focus acknowledges this unseen universe and works with it. When we commit to a soul focus in our lives we open ourselves up to small and great revelations and opportunity. We also open up to great clarity, making our decisions from a wider perception. We become a seer into our own personality and lives.

Soul Focus is a personal and individual process. It returns power to the individual that may have been lost long ago. The individual can go as fast or as slow as he or she chooses. Sometimes there are no concrete landmarks of achievement but the Soul Focus practitioner knows that progress has occurred by feeling connected to his internal energy. No one has to tell the Soul Focus practitioner this. There doesn’t need to be external confirmation that they are moving forward. It is known in the body, mind and spirit.

This integration is an unmistakable feeling. It is a harmonizing of one’s internal landscape with the outer workings of life. On the Soul Focus path the practitioner realizes that the inner world is but a reflection of the outer. If one on the Soul Focus path doesn’t like what is manifesting in an aspect of his or her life they know that change needs to occur on the inside. Soul Focus is an internally based process that consistently supports soul growth.

Soul Focus practice encourages the individual to be his or her own authority. That is not to say we don’t obey our national or international laws. We do. Instead, the Soul Focus practitioner knows that he creates his own reality on such a profound level that it is unshakable. A consistent Soul Focus practice shatters the concept of victim-hood returning power to the individual to create his own life.

Soul Focus supports us to lean heavily on the unseen world. This practice rests on something intangible. This impalpable world is the underlying structure for Soul Focus. We live in a world that places tremendous value on the seen aspect of life while placing little value or outright negating the incorporeal. Unfortunately, it is the unseen element that creates our outer world and, in the bigger picture, our planet.

What is the unseen world? It is our internal landscape that is comprised of energy. Sometimes it swirls or moves quickly in a linear pattern or moves subtly like puffs of smoke or clouds. One thing is for certain; it is always moving. There is no such thing as stagnant energy in the unseen world. When we feel stuck in our lives we can always access this unseen energy and move whatever it is that keeps us stuck. If the stuck energy is a deeply ingrained pattern it generally takes longer to move (there are exceptions to every rule). It is important that we feel the energy of our internal landscape and articulate what it means to us. We must accept where we are in the unseen world in the moment. Then we can begin to work. Committing to this focus instead of looking outside ourselves for answers is the key to Soul Focus.

This doesn’t mean we don’t get help when we need it. On the contrary, we develop such awareness with Soul Focus that when we feel the need for a therapist or body worker we go and get it without question. We realize it is the next step and that each step builds on the other. A Soul Focus practitioner develops a support system that works. When we seek assistance we are aware if a therapist is or isn’t right for us. It is all a part of the process that a Soul Focus practitioner takes on. This might be a challenging time for the practitioner but he knows that whatever difficult energy he encounters he can move it. He knows that it is not forever. Soul Focus connects us to the ebb and flow of life. We allow life to carry us instead of trying to control it.

The internal landscape shows us the way. It is the doorway to other realms and realities. It adds a multi layer of color to our every day life so that we no longer make choices from our mind. For the mind cuts off energy and tries to control it. We start to expand into our lives in a way that relieves contraction and stiffness. Results become less and less important as different parts of ourselves are revealed to us. In Soul Focus the process becomes a joy and a privilege to witness. We begin to recognize the mind and what it does and we learn to appreciate it as we work with our thoughts. The practitioner sees the schism between the unseen world and the mind and commits to a process of integration.

Our thoughts create material reality. A steady practice of Soul Focus will illuminate negative thought patterns so the practitioner can change them. It is not enough to simply observe a thought that creates a situation that we don’t want. We need the tools to change our thoughts and they need to be designed specifically for the individual. As these thought patterns change through a regular practice of Soul Focus outer events and circumstances change. We are all held hostages by our thoughts if we don’t know what they are. Sometimes it is useful to know where they came from but not necessary. That ‘s the beauty of Soul Focus. It doesn’t matter how and when a thought formed. All that matters is that you have the tools and power to change it. We can change thoughts around disease, relationships, prosperity and move on.

Soul Focus practice develops true confidence. We become so rooted in our own energy that the body develops a confidence that is completely independent of outside approval. It will no longer be necessary that family and friends feel ok about our lives. Soul Focus grounds the practitioner in such a way that we are not thrown off balance by another’s criticism or scattered energy. We become more and more of who we truly are through Soul Focus practice. The more we connect with the unseen universe the more we are grounded in the present and the physical world.

We start to observe our lives without judgement. We become the witnesses to out lives and our soul’s caretaker. Our soul will lead us in the right direction. It will reveal secrets and mysteries about our lives and the universe but we must trust pay attention when our soul speaks. It is an energy that can be observed by our inner eye (third eye, between the brows) which houses our intuition. From this heightened perspective we can observe with interest and wonder our physical reality. When we are grounded in the present it is easier to follow our soul focus because we can hear our intuitive voice which is always in touch with our soul and higher purpose. When we lead our lives from this elevated perspective everything flows. It may not make sense to the thinking mind but the soul focus practitioner knows their on the right path.

Soul Focus is a magical process that leads to joy. When the practitioner moves through the exercises connection with the self then becomes a way of life. We begin to see and recognize who we are. We see the gifts we were born to bring into this life and once we acknowledge them there is no turning back from the Soul Focus path. We become more and more determined and committed to manifesting our full energy in our lives. Aliveness increases in body, mind and spirit once we become committed. The magic is in the process itself. Results become less and less important. The less important results become the quicker what we want manifests in our physical reality. Then we get to experience how fluid physical reality actually is.

Soul Focus is maintaining a balance between the inner and outer worlds. At first the practitioner goes inside to observe what his internal experience is at the moment, then he proceeds through his day. As the soul focus practitioner commits to this practice then the veil between the inner and outer worlds begins to lift and we experience both simultaneously. We begin to see (with the inner eye) the energy behind people and circumstances. Our life takes on a vibrant energy directed from the inside. This energy will be organic and spontaneous by -passing the thinking mind.

A great benefit of the Soul Focus path is the centering of the thinking mind. As you proceed on this path you see clearly how desperate the thinking mind really is. It wants your constant attention. It seeks to take you off your path. It would prefer that you not focus and it has an investment in keeping the status quo. It does this not to make you miserable (but that’s what happens) but out of fear. Fear of being less important and not being heard. In the Soul Focus program we learn to talk to the thinking mind in a healing way paying close attention to the language we use. It’s more than positive self-talk. It’s restructuring our internal landscape so that the energy flowing from the mind supports your visions and what you truly want manifests. The thinking mind is there to measure and calculate, no more and no less. Once we integrate mind energy and it works with us instead of against us then potholes on the path become glitches. The Soul Focus practitioner develops tremendous compassion for the self by working with the mind in this way. This compassion flows into the practitioner’s outer life and extends to others.

We fill in the glitches by a consistent observation of thoughts. Noticing the quality of the thoughts and the energy behind them. Observing if the mind is attempting to control a situation or is it supporting us to respond powerfully in a situation that is challenging. Like recurring dreams the universe will always bring up situations again and again until we resolve them or until our response heals something inside us. The less the thinking mind is involved the more likely we are to come from a powerfully loving place. Our thoughts can be toxic and it requires a practice like Soul Focus to loosen them up. Most of the thoughts we think have been around for years so it takes great diligence to recognize the negative ones and work with them. Working with our thoughts becomes a detox program for our life.

While we comb our thoughts for negative programming we also come across thoughts that have supported us. For example, a positive thought encouraged you to buy this book. To begin the Soul Focus program you might have a thought like "I’m worth it," or "I deserve to have what I want in my life." Once you find these you want to amplify and nurture these thoughts even if you come up against big monsters in your mind. There’s still that tiny voice that says, "I’m worth it." In fact you may have worked with affirmations like these but have not seen anything change. Well, that is obviously not true or you wouldn’t have bothered to buy this book and read it up to this point. You’re now ready for a more in-depth practice that merges physical reality with the unseen world.

As the veil thins and becomes transparent we peer into the outer world with greater vision through our inner eye. Our experience of life becomes richer as the mysteries of life reveal themselves to us. Everything has a deeper meaning and we begin to see that there are no accidents. We see how our thoughts create our physical reality. We are always told that our thinking creates our reality. We know this intellectually but that is not enough. We are still at the mercy of our mind that turns out random thoughts by the millions every day. Most of these thoughts are repetitious. Like a broken record we repeat thoughts and behaviors that not longer serve us. They are obsolete but because we feel at a loss to turn our situations around nothing changes. Soul Focus supports us to persevere through the support of our inner landscape.

We also need to know that we are more than our mind. Yes, thoughts create our reality but the tendency is to analyze every thought or criticize ourselves for the thoughts we have. Soul Focus reminds us we have other parts of ourselves that can heal, support and encourage us to persist on our path. The intuition plays a great role in centering and grounding us. It is the voice of the soul. Everyone has followed a hunch they’ve had or a feeling. That’s how the intuition speaks to us. We can redirect our lives through listening to the feelings in our body and acting on them. Paying attention to the body and intuition by passes the thinking mind. The more we connect with our inner landscape we move deeper into our intuition and like a blossoming flower our life is a clear reflection of our Soul Focus.

In Soul Focus there is a developing lateral awareness. Our focus is no longer only on linear thought. The mind begins to find its place again and no longer has to feel alone. For centuries we expected the thinking mind to deliver what it couldn’t possibly give us; a multidimensional life. Soul Focus opens the door to a multidimensional life. This frees us in a way that money and status could never do. Through this increased awareness of ourselves it is no longer urgent that we have a particular house or car. We know that all good things will come to us and if they don’t then we have some work to do. We know that physical reality is created from the inside out. When we tighten the lens on the camera and can see only one aspect of ourselves it is difficult to attract the life we want. The journey becomes the reward as we feel the energy of our inner world expand before us. There is no limit to this internal energy.

Soul Focus integrates body, mind and spirit. The meditation exercises work with the mind to allow spirit to speak. As we do this we also need to bring the body into the process. Soul Focus includes the body. The journey can be a rocky one so we need to care for our vehicle. Our body needs to move in order to release stress and integrate the work we do with the mind and soul. If we neglect the body and its needs then we are doing half the job.

Any kind of movement with awareness contributes to our goals. Movement is a celebration of the body. It is an expression of joy that supports change. Yoga and pilates are two practices that support expansion and awareness. Both are abdominal based practices that fan the power center and bring vitality into our lives. Yoga brings awareness into the cells of the body. Through this consciousness information about where we are in the moment is accessed. Yoga insists that we listen to the deepest messages of our cells. All of our history is recorded in the body; every thought, every emotion is embedded in our cells.

Through a practice of yoga and pranayam(yogic breathing techniques) we are able to loosen behavioral and emotional patterns we want to change. When we stretch and expand our skin, internal organs and skeletal structure we are able to renew our energy and create space for change. As we grow older our bodies become condensed and our patterns become rigidly embedded in our cells. We need to open up the body as well as the mind. Life changing information can be accessed from the body if we listen and not judge what we excavate. The light of yoga can act as an excavation tool in the realm of the body; shining a light on areas that need attention. Yoga has become popular as a stress relief technique but it much more than that. It is a self-awareness practice; therefore it is a spiritual practice. Any practice that supports self-knowledge deepens the practitioner’s Soul Focus.

When we integrate the mental, emotional and physical we are traversing uncharted territory. We really don’t know what we’ll find. It is an exotic and alien land to most of us but we have to embrace the fear and honor enormity of who we are. This takes courage. We live in a time when physical courage is valued and honored in the physical world. The emotional warrior(the realm of the true magician) is rarely signaled out for bravery when he sheds light on his shadow side. The Soul Focus practitioner realizes this and rewords himself appropriately. The practitioners own words of encouragement is enough.

The inner world(mental, emotional, intuition) consists of sound, stories, colors, and images. We may find monsters and angels coexisting inside us. We may even feel that the monsters have taken over and it is dark. But once we shed light on this shadow side then they it longer has the power it once did. The side of us that shrinks from awareness hides in the recesses of our inner landscape. When the practitioner lovingly brings the light of awareness with detachment then that energy is transformed. This is true romance. When we look inside and decide to see what’s there and change it then we have chose the warrior’s path.

We become enchanted with our own process we fall in love with ourselves and can then share it with others. Soul Focus is about this transformation.

In Soul Focus we cultivate an adventurous approach to unearthing beliefs. This attitude is necessary to a successful Soul Focus practice. Through an adventurous inquisitive stance the practitioner develops detachment. When we develop an internal witness consciousness we respond to the outer world with a sense of mystery. Our response the outside world is no longer fear based. The Soul Focus practitioner embraces the unknown. On the journey of Soul Focus anything can develop; we don’t always have the answers, the unexpected happens, we feel alien in our bodies, and we face enormous challenges. When on the Soul Focus path the uncertainty of life no longer throws us into a frenzy.

Soul Focus teaches the practitioner about containment. When we master containment of our energy we may appear less emotional to those closest to us. We may even disclose less and less about our lives to others. This is an important lesson in containment. Sometimes after social encounters many of us feel drained of our energy. We most likely have talked off the top of heads and said any thing that comes to mind or tried to please another person by agreeing with them when it is quite apparent (energetically) that we don’t. This is an indication that we have lost our center. This means that we have lost contact with our inner world and we believe that the outer world is all there is. We are unaware that we allowed the situation to control us. We need to choose our words more carefully when we are focused on the outer world. When we check in with our inner landscape and focus on the material world simultaneously then our words energize others and us. As the practitioner combs his mind for self- defeating thoughts and language then this part of the process gets easier. As the practitioner contains his energy more and more then the thinking mind becomes more relaxed and serves the intuition.

Through Soul Focus we accept the unpredictability of life and, at the same time, know that we are safe on the planet. Working with these oppositions and being comfortable with them both is part of the practice. Loss is an unpredictable occurrence that we all experience. When we have a consistent Soul Focus practice we are better able to deal with uncertainty. We may lose a wife, husband or a job but we know in our inner landscape that we will be fine. We know we are a source of unending energy that can always be tapped when we need it. We learn to deal creatively to life’s twists and turns.

In a Soul Focus practice visualization is used for relaxation and to bring into physical reality something that is desired. The discipline of sitting for at least five minutes a day is cumulative. In Soul Focus practitioner starts slowly and builds on daily visualizations. The more visualizations the practitioner does the clearer the image becomes. The purpose is for the practitioner to be able to close his eyes during the day and visualize. The image is used as an anchor to reconnect the practitioner to his focus.

The Soul Focus practitioner is an artist who creates from the inside. This inner vision is then expressed in the world in form. We draw upon the artist within to navigate the outer world. It can be in a form of relationship, work or artist medium. Collage is an accessible technique that can be used to fuel creative thought and bring the arts into the practitioner’s life in a more grounded way.

Collage is an excellent medium to use for connecting with our inner world. We can give a visual voice to our inner landscape and freeze sound and feeling for examination and contemplation. There is a joy to collecting magazines, photographs and investing in magic markers, crayons and color paper. All you need is glue and scissors. The practitioner gives a simple and direct message to the thinking mind that he is going to create without censorship. To some Soul Focus practitioners this is revolutionary. Stepping into a realm that is foreign to the thinking mind is, for many, like being pulled into the depths of a bottomless ocean. There is no lifeboat except for an inner practice of Soul Focus.

There are many qualities that are developed when the Soul Focus practitioner commits to the path. Fear becomes less prevalent as the qualities of courage, compassion, patience, humility and creativity come to the for-front. Patience is vitally important when first starting to work with transformation. We come from a culture of perfection and judgement. It’s a mortal sin to fail or not make the grade in this culture. So judgement and a sense of failure, when transformation doesn’t happen quickly, will come up strongly as we bring in a Soul Focus. It is slow and laborious work at first, not because it has to be but because of our belief systems.

The pursuit of Soul Focus is sometimes the experience of the netherworld. There are many dormant aspects of the self that need awakening before we can manifest the life we want. Sometimes these aspects seem to have died long ago and are decaying. We may peer into our inner landscape and find fragments of what once was. But through Soul Focus we are able to reawaken the aspects of ourselves that have been forced into the recesses of our inner world and breathe new life into them. The people closest to us might not approve of or be comfortable with out quest. When transformation starts to happen sometimes we lose relationships. We need to respect those who don’t want to go on the journey with us.

Soul Focus is about choice and realizing that we all have it. The inner landscape is there for all of us. It is a dynamic world that demands our attention whether we want to give it or not. If we leave our inner landscape without attention it will reek havoc in our lives. Our lives will be created from a world that is in need of excavation and renovation. When you feel life is spinning out of control it is because there is no inward focus or inner practice. Life takes on a dark feel motivated by fear. If we can’t look at our own netherworld we will attempt to hide it from others but the shadow side will always come out.

The Soul Focus practitioner is a warrior who is willing to dive into the netherworld without reservation. He knows that when he swims like a fish into this strange realm that the rewards are immeasurable. Soul Focus is a balanced program for the twenty first century. It is an alternative to fear, hopelessness and helplessness. It requires true courage and commitment to enjoy its benefits. The Soul Focus practitioner becomes a magician of the highest order as he develops respect for his inner world his outer world changes and he is set free.

I suggest that the reader approach this book as an experiment. There are no rules. Read it out of sequence if you’re drawn to do so or start from the beginning. You just want to get started and commit to whatever you’ve begun. If Chapter two doesn’t interest you, read it last. Start with whatever gives you the greatest pleasure and have fun.