Marcus West describes the trauma complex as a deeply ingrained, unconscious psychological structure formed in response to early relational trauma. When the natural multiplicity of self-states becomes fragmented, the psyche splits, creating a dissociated part of the self that remains frozen in the emotional and physiological state of the trauma, while other aspects are exiled to avoid overwhelming distress.
Soul is the organizing principle of life, the ‘connective tissue’ of the world and the source of creativity, vitality, joy and profound meaning. Michael Meade states: “Soul is the glue of the world and the connecting principle of life . . . [it] connects us to things that are deep and abiding in the world and in our own lives. The depths of soul contain the vitality of life, the core powers of imagination, and the ancient inheritance of humanity.” If we have a deep connection to our souls, we can live in a kind of spontaneous freedom manifesting as an honest expression of our authentic selves in harmony with Nature and Spirit.
A psychologically absent mother “cannot recognize or support the child’s psychic aliveness and this denies permission for the child to exist or be separate.” Whether outright or subtle, maternal rejection, emotional neglect or a lack of secure attachment arrests the healthy development of the child.