Modern academic psychology studies “personality,” not the soul. While it may be helpful to some, Zukav argues that it cannot heal at the “soul level.” To heal, people must first acknowledge the soul’s existence. He perceives mental health crises as arising from causes beyond personality. While pain is always negative, suffering can be beneficial if it prompts real growth. The author explains that people should not martyr themselves or relish suffering but use it to develop their soul’s healing. Being kind and compassionate to themselves will help them become kinder to others, too. While trauma and suffering are not necessary for growth, humanity has chosen this method of learning through its choices.

Throughout people’s lifetimes, they may have instincts and desires that reflect the personalities of their past lives. Their souls will be most affected by those of their parents, even if they don’t know them personally. Psychology doesn’t recognize the validity of intuition, but Zukav believes that intuition is essential to integrating spirituality into one’s personality since it’s how souls and Teachers try to aid in personal development. People who deny their souls have personality crises since they have cut themselves off from their teachers.

Spiritual psychology studies the health of the soul. It teaches that the soul can’t handle brutality, deceit, jealousy, and other negativity. When people engage in these behaviors, it’s like they’re poisoning themselves. Spiritual psychology is one way to support the healing of the soul.

Zukav’s suspicion of traditional psychology owes something to the antipsychiatry movement that first gained traction in the 1950s and 1960s. Informed by texts like Thomas Szaz’s The Myth of Mental Illness and Michel Foucault’s Madness and Civilization, critiques of psychology/psychiatry often centered on the perceived subjectivity of diagnoses and the use of such diagnoses to pathologize nonconformity. While Zukav doesn’t entirely dismiss psychology as a field, he hints that its attempts to alleviate mental distress may do more harm than good by stymieing the soul’s evolution.

Chapter Lessons

• Institutional psychology lacks the depth of spiritual psychology.
• Intuition is a key part of guidance and spiritual growth.
• Consider suffering and challenges as catalysts for positive change.

Reflection Questions

• What do you feel are the strengths and limitations of modern psychology? Does Zukav appropriately characterize it? Why or why not?
• According to Zukav, what is the difference between pain and suffering? Do you agree with his opinion on suffering’s potential?
• Consider how you have responded to suffering in your life. Did these events make you grow as a person? Why or why not?