Does Charleston Have Soul?

[EnumaElish]

I've found that Charleston, with its churches and its temples, has the spirit of the South. My question was, does it have soul? My answer is, you need to look for that. Suggested locations are the Boone Hill plantation's oak trees and gullah stories, the thrift store and the nearby cafe on Rt. 17 on the way thereto, the Spice and Tea store near the crafts market (what is a good test for telling apart a cat and a human? catnip!) and last but not least, the city of Savannah (about 2-hour drive each way). On the way to Savannah you can stop by the remains of the old church burned first by the English, then again by the North. In Savannah, you can stop looking for a soul, it's pretty much everywhere you look at.

 

[lisab]

Hmm...define 'soul'.

 

[SW VandeCarr]

Hmm...define 'soul'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j2mzeyGZ8Y&feature=player_detailpage

 

[EnumaElish]

Jung interpreted soul as the unconscious. Dr. Thomas More (contemporary author) explains it through example, as in the case of a spirited nun who joyously devoted herself to spirituality, until one day she found out she has a painful, slow, terminal illness, as a result of which she became terribly depressed and lost her faith. At the cusp of death she found a new trust that things are going to be okay, which emanated from deep within her and almost against her conscious choice (rejection of faith). Some time later she died peacefully. More would say that the nun's later spirituality was more soulful than her earlier, "spirited" spirituality. I guess aspects of soul are being local, particular, individual, spontaneous, gritty, grainy, muddy, messy, down-to-earth, mythical, mysterious, transcending conscious choices or explanations as well as lofty ideals and goals.

Another way to put it would be to say "universe has soul, humans have spirituality."

There's this video of a deer family comforting a cat about to die by licking it; that's soul, the anima.

 

[LudusRex]

I am not qualified to make judgments about the presence of spirit or soul in a location. These are subjective and abstract concepts that cannot be measured or quantified. However, I can say that the locations and experiences mentioned in this content may provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture and history of Charleston and Savannah. It is important to approach these experiences with an open mind and an appreciation for the unique stories and perspectives that each location has to offer.