Excerpt from ‘The Nomadic Soul’ By Seline Shenoy
The desert nomads’ impulse to roam the open desert, under the luminous sun and starry, moonlit sky, was perhaps the earliest and purest expression of the Nomadic Soul—a deeper, ethereal aspect of our identity that dwells within us all and holds the key to everything from life’s biggest question to the minutiae of everyday existence.
Nomads, by definition, are people who do not stay long in the same place. They’re known to roam from one place to the next without the real intent to transform into a better version of themselves. At first glance, they appear as lost and restless souls devoid of an anchor or stability. This is not the way of the Nomadic Soul modeled by ancient desert nomads.
Rather, a person who embodies the Nomadic Soul is someone who journeys with purpose. They do it to transform, gain wisdom, and benefit those around them. They embark on a sacred quest in search of meaning, truth, and purpose. The journey of the Nomadic Soul is an investigation of a different plane where they traverse deeper dimensions of existence.
Movement is the central theme of some of the most beloved novels and literary works. Books like The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse speak to a primal part of us, a longing to unearth our hidden layers. Even our greatest religious stories, from Confucius to Moses, talk about the journey of discovery being a vital rite of passage in our spiritual evolution.
Going on sacred trips to attain enlightenment is a practice that dates back to prehistoric times, when shamans and holy men left their clans to embark on their own journey. They went on perilous journeys to destinations of great cultural and spiritual importance. These rigorous acts of sacrifice were about much more than just reaching a specific destination.
They offered travelers a chance to reflect, focus inward, and discover new destinations within themselves. On some level, our entire lives are a holy quest—a journey in search of self, which may or may not involve physical movement. During pivotal moments in our lives, we’ll feel the urge to move from a knowingness—an old identity that we used to feel at home with—toward new territory. This is because the soul has a particular trajectory of evolution.
It wants to transition to another place because we’re no longer satisfied with the old. It’s up to us to heed the call to transform. We feel it instinctually when we’re stuck in a situation that does not feel right for us anymore or when we know we can accomplish so much more. Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz captured this angst when he said, “There is no greater burden than great potential.”
As travelers, what’s important is that we stay with ourselves in the process and go as far inward as we can. That’s where we’ll find the answers we seek and hear the whispers of our hearts. We can’t find those on the surface of life. We have to drill down to our core foundation. If we want to find water in our backyard, we don’t dig up small holes all over the yard. Instead, we find one spot and dig as deep as we can. Eventually, water will spring forth from that opening.
The plentitude a Nomadic Soul seeks is found with the same attention, care, and willingness to travel inward to the substratum of our being.
ABOUT THE BOOK
In ‘The Nomadic Soul‘, The Dream Catcher community founder Seline Shenoy draws from realms of philosophy, history, and spirituality to reveal a revolutionary framework for discovering your true self and manifesting a life that’s exclusively your own.
Inspired by visionary thinkers and doers such as Maya Angelou, Walt Disney and Jane Goodall, the Six Core Needs of the Nomadic Soul present a powerful new way to think about the relationship between our two most deeply felt desires: Freedom (of identity, exploration, and expression) and Connection (with our inner world, with other living beings, and with a force greater than ourselves).
Transcending one-size-fits-all belief systems and speculative or mystical theories, the actionable advice in ‘The Nomadic Soul’ is more than just a guide. It’s a trusted and wise companion in your journey to self-realization, deeper understanding, and a more meaningful life. Follow Selene on Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to her Youtube Channel.
