Have You Been Called An Old Soul? Here’s What That Really Means

Are you a curious, wise, or all-around calm person? You might just be an old soul. Whether you’ve been called it before or always had a feeling you were, what does being an old soul really mean? Here, we dive into the true meaning, plus, the signs to look out for that you could be an old soul.

What does “old soul” really mean?

It’s likely you know an old soul when you meet one. They probably seem wise beyond their years, mature, grounded, and aren’t interested in superficial things. According to intuitive counselor Randi Merzon, the concept of the old soul is inspired by the idea that our bodies are containers for spirit, and an old soul “is someone who continues to reincarnate in order to heal or complete karmic agreements.”

Of course, depending on what you believe and how you relate to spirituality, another way of thinking about old souls is the idea that we’re all perhaps different incarnations of universal life force, and those old souls are simply tapped into that wisdom on a deeper level (and from an earlier age) during that lifetime.

Is it a good thing to be an old soul?

It’s usually a compliment to be referred to as an old soul, as it implies grace and wisdom. But there can be downsides to being mature beyond your years. As Merzon explains, “No one enjoys being a newbie, but in fact, the benefit of being a new soul is that they carry around a lot less karma.”

Old souls come into this life with an agenda to experience and complete karma, while new souls “want to make form out of light,” and “experience what it’s like to be a being in a body.” As such, the new souls’ experience is a bit more lighthearted, where being an old soul can feel heavy. But in addition to that, because the old soul comes to this life with more experience and understanding, they’re able to handle obstacles and challenges with greater clarity.

It comes down to what the new versus old soul is experiencing in this life. A new soul “wants to be fresh and new and maybe have a more hedonistic lifestyle,” while an old soul “wants to go into the depths and learn.” Old souls may also feel somewhat isolated, as they can see through much of the illusion and separation in modern culture.

11 characteristics of old souls:

1. You have an inquisitive, curious mind.

Old souls very much prioritize truth and wisdom. As such, they often have curious minds about what’s happening in the world and internally “but not in a superficial way. Whether it’s world events or your relationship with a family member or friend, it’s the idea of being curious about what’s emerging and what one might learn or cultivate through the experience.

2. You can see the big picture.

If you’re an old soul, you’re likely able to see beyond appearances. You’re probably able to let things roll off your back easier, and you’re less likely to be triggered by certain things.

3. You may feel like a bit of an outsider.

Being an old soul can make it difficult to form meaningful connections, at least when you’re young.

4.  …but you know your fellow old souls when you meet them.

While it can be difficult to get along with everyone when you’re an old soul, old souls are actually good at finding their fellow kindred spirits. A true old soul realizes they can’t be the only one. Old souls are looking out for one another, they’re trying to find one another, so they’re trying to make that connection because they realize there’s a connection to be had. This is where you see those instantaneous soul connections that run very deep.

5. You feel deeply connected to everything.

Not only do old souls feel deeply connected to God, spirit, the universe—whatever it is they may call it—but they also feel that with nature, the people in their lives, and even strangers. An old soul has a sense of connection to the universe and therefore to other souls.

6. You go against the status quo.

Old souls can see the big picture and beyond many of the basic structures that govern our reality, they like to do things their own way. Old souls are quite rebellious in nature meaning they don’t just think outside of the box—they intuit that the boxes doesn’t even exist.There’s a skepticism, a sense of understanding that everything they’ve been shown isn’t necessarily the case, and they’re going to seek to find their own truth.

7. You’re wise beyond your years.

From an early age, you may have been told you’re wise beyond your years. Perhaps you’ve always felt you were more mature or understanding than your peers, especially when you were young. As Merzon explains it, “There is a knowing that they have been around the block before. You may recognize an ‘old soul’ even in a newborn. Their spirit’s wisdom is written over their entire body.”

8. You’re not materialistic.

One of those basic structures that we touched on previously would be materialism. Simply put, old souls are not concerned with it. They have a sense that “we’re living in this material world but there’s something more important, and perhaps the things we’ve been taught in school, or by our parents, or society, aren’t necessarily true.”

9. Your inner world is more important than the outer.

Not to say you don’t care about the outer world, but for old souls, their inner growth, journey, and relationship to themselves and spirit are often of utmost importance. The soul is inside, and it’s about going within. You probably spend good amounts of time in reflection, deeply pondering your experiences and life lessons.

10. You have a particular gift from the past.

Were you always inclined to the violin for seemingly no reason? Or maybe you have a proclivity for baking, even though you never baked with anyone in your family. Having a particular gift, in a particular field out of the blue, whether it’s an instrument or career or even place is somewhat a sign of an old soul.

11.  You often need to recharge.

And lastly, these deeply contemplative folks often need to “reset their batteries,” so to speak. They’re probably drawn to meditation and solitude. It’s not that they don’t enjoy people’s company, but they know there are certain times they have to go within. They’re not living just an external life.

The bottom line.

There are so many ways we can think about souls, old and new. Whether we’re all varied incarnations of the same soul, or there really are souls that are younger versus newer, the bottom line is, most of us can imagine what kind of person an “old soul” is and what traits those people embody. From deep intuition to a certain stillness in their presence, these folks have clearly learned a thing or two early on, making them wise and deeply spiritual people.

6 Ways To Invite A Spiritual Awakening To Transform Your Life

The spiritual journey—and the subsequent “spiritual awakening” we pursue—always seems to take place in some exotic place or after a dramatic event.

Perhaps you think you need to try ayahuasca in Peru or leave your spouse to experience the spiritual awakening you crave?

(Hint: It doesn’t have to be so hard.)

You can connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you—over and over again throughout your life—from the comfort of your own home.

Here are six simple ways to set yourself up for a spiritual awakening:

1. Declutter!

Start by making room! Clear your space of the stuff that you no longer need, the stuff that merely serves as a distraction from your life. And while, yes, decluttering your physical space is important, it’s also important to declutter your mind. Take time every day to sit in silence and solitude.

Allow your thoughts to pass without judgment, and slowly watch your mind clear of mental clutter. Meditation allows you to relax into what is presently true—and what is always present for all of us is that there is only love, no fear—and offers you a greater connection to your intuition (another form of spiritual guidance).

2. Examine your beliefs.

Be conscious of and intentional about what you believe. Understand the energy that you’re putting not only into your world but into the world at large. And be honest—are your beliefs supporting your spiritual growth? Very often, a spiritual awakening requires letting go of beliefs we’ve held for our entire lives. But that’s the thing about awakening: You have to realize first that you have been sleeping.

3. Expand your mind.

Explore new ideas and differing beliefs. Read books and attend lectures and have conversations with people who have lived different lives. An awakening occurs when you have learned something new—when you have, quite literally, “woken” your mind and your spirit from a slumber you perhaps didn’t even know you were in. When you expand your mind to allow in new ideas, beliefs, and possibilities, you increase the opportunity to wake up to a life experience you never knew was possible.

4. Go outside.

There is energy and spirit and magic in the outdoors. So many of us spend our time cooped up inside, sitting behind computer screens, not truly connected to the world (or to ourselves). Take time to reconnect with nature—even in the big cities, you can find trees to touch, gardens to admire, fresh air to breathe. Try not to distract yourself with your phone or even another person’s company. Give yourself the quiet and the solitude and the presence that comes with being outside. You may be surprised by what comes alive within you.

5. Take care of yourself.

Eating healthy and staying active is a great way to stay connected to yourself and your higher power, whether that’s God, the Universe, or simply your own internal guidance system. When we allow our internal systems (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) to become clogged and bogged down by lethargy and unnatural substances, we block the opportunity for spiritual growth and eventual awakening. Keep your body clean and clear by feeding it well and moving it often, and prepare to receive the messages you seek.

6. Learn to let go.

The reality is you can’t force a spiritual awakening. Anyone can have one—and following tips like the ones in this article—will help you in that effort, but there’s no prescription for enlightenment. Do what you can, then let it go. If you’re attached to the idea of having a spiritual awakening (and attached to your idea of what a spiritual awakening looks like), you’re far less likely to experience one. Know that you are on the perfect path for you.

Keep in mind that a spiritual awakening is not necessarily a one-time thing. The spiritual path is a lifelong journey of growth. Continue to follow the steps above and you will undoubtedly find yourself “waking up” to new awareness and deeper consciousness over and over again.

21 signs and symptoms of a spiritual awakening.

Here are some signs that you’re going through a spiritual awakening or are about to embark on one:

  1. You feel disconnected or detached.

At first, the spiritual awakening process can feel overwhelming and confusing. It can feel like everything you thought to be true about your life was a lie, and as such, you may feel disconnected and detached from the things and people you used to enjoy.

2. You’ve reevaluated your beliefs.

A spiritual awakening will likely cause you to revise your spiritual beliefs or adopt significant new ones. Whether that means connecting deeply with a new religion or belief or quitting your job to pursue your real passion, your priorities are likely different now.

3.  Your dreams are more vivid.

Not only is your waking life more vivid as a result of a spiritual awakening, but your dream life may become more vivid too. The meanings of your dreams and how they connect to your journey may become more apparent as well.

4. You experience more synchronicities and déjà vu.

If you’re frequently experiencing mind-blowing synchronicities, like thinking about someone and randomly running into them the next day, or seeing angel numbers all the time, that’s a sign you’re on your spiritual path. Similarly, feelings of déjà vu aren’t uncommon either.

5. Your relationships may begin to shift.

There can be no doubt: Spiritual awakenings are transformative, and the people in your life won’t always be able to appreciate that. You may feel like your loved ones don’t understand you anymore because you are changing.

6. You feel spirituality becoming an important part of your life.

It will be hard to ignore the call from your spiritual side as you go through this process. The desire to find meaning and fulfillment within your spirituality will likely become one of your biggest priorities.

7. You’re more intuitive.

Another sign is having newly heightened intuition or new intuitive abilities showing up. They were always there, buried beneath the layers of your ego, and now that you’ve awakened, you feel much more in tune with yourself.

8. You can sense in-authenticity and manipulation.

In addition to that heightened intuition, you’ll be able to sense any inauthentic or manipulative behavior when someone is deceiving you, as well.

9. You realize everyone is on their own path.

As you figure out your own spiritual path, you also become more accepting of the idea that everyone else is on their own unique path, too. Things like winning arguments or convincing people of your views don’t matter as much anymore.

10. You want to be of service.

As you begin “realizing that every living thing is inherently worthy and equal,” you will feel called to be of service, whether to people, to animals, or to the environment. It’s important to you that you have a cause you can get behind to make your life feel purposeful. It may not be about changing your current roles or jobs, but just approaching what you’re already doing with a deeper sense of service.

11. Your teachers find you.

During an awakening, your spiritual teachers may “appear everywhere with perfect timing to help you.” These don’t have to be literal teachers: They might be a kind stranger in the store, a new friend you met by chance, or a literal spiritual or religious figure.

12. You feel alone.

Spiritual awakenings are no easy undertaking, and while there’s hope for enlightenment on the other side, it can feel very lonely. It’s isolating to have your whole life flipped upside down, especially if the other people in your life aren’t quite on the same wave.

13. You feel more connected to the natural world.

While you may feel less connected to friends and family at first, you will feel more connected to nature. From plants to animals to the world as a whole, you will sense your interconnectedness to it all, and it may be quite moving.

14. Your senses are heightened.

Senses will often become heightened during spiritual awakenings, as you become more tuned in to the present moment. This includes sensitivity to physical, emotional, and/or energetic stimuli.

15. You may have more bodily sensations.

Along with heightened awareness and senses, you may have other bodily sensations too. Sleep disturbances are not uncommon.

16. You may have physical symptoms.

A number of physical symptoms can accompany spiritual awakenings too like fatigue and brain fog. (Though of course, these symptoms could also be a sign of a medical condition, so don’t necessarily write them off as nothing.)

17. There’s a sudden change in your habits and routine.

As your spiritual life begins to transform, so will your day-to-day life, including habits and routines. Perhaps now you make it a priority to spend time in nature or meditate, or you’ve ditched old habits that were no longer serving you.

18. Your outlook on the world feels different.

Again, spiritual awakenings aren’t easy, and the alienation and ego-shattering realizations that occur can make anyone feel like they are living in a new reality.

19. Increased empathy.

As you begin feeling more connected to the world around you, you’ll also have increased empathy regarding the suffering of others. The prevalence of suffering may feel impossible to ignore, hence why you now feel more called to be of service.

20. You display more compassion.

On top of feeling more empathetic, those going through spiritual awakenings likely can feel more compassionate toward others—while still wanting to hold them accountable.

21. You have a newfound curiosity.

And lastly, now that you’ve “awakened” to your life, you probably have a childlike wonder and curiosity for the world around you, even when things get tough. Being able to stay curious about your life and the people in it, even when you’re feeling emotional, is a sign of a spiritual awakening.

The process and stages of awakening:

You could say the actual “spiritual awakening” is just the first step on the long path to enlightenment. Indeed, the initial awakening may happen in just a moment, but the process has many stages, which are as follows:

  1. The spiritual awakening.

This is the beginning of your spiritual journey, as you start to question everything you once knew. You begin to clear certain things out of your life (habits, relationships, old belief systems) and invite new, more enriching things in. You may feel like something is missing, but you haven’t quite figured it out yet. During this phase, it’s common to feel lost, confused, and down.

2. The dark night of the soul.

The second stage of a spiritual awakening is kind of what it sounds like: a very rough patch—the lowest patch, in fact. In many ways, this is when your soul is re-calibrating, stripping away all aspects of the ego. It’s very challenging, but once you hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up—forcing you to make a real change.

3. The sponge.

Once you’ve made it through your dark night of the soul, you’re ready to begin creating your new and improved, “awake” life. In the third phase, it’s all about trying things on for size and exploring. You begin branching out, trying different hobbies, religions, relationships, etc., as you figure out what meshes with your spirit.

4. The satoru self.

Satori is a Japanese Buddhist term for awakening or “comprehension,” derived from the Japanese verb satoru. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, it refers to kenshō, or “seeing into one’s true nature.” In this phase, you begin to not only recognize, but honor and embody, your true nature through your gifts, skills, and talents.

5. The soul sessions.

Think you’ve reached enlightenment yet? Not quite. The fifth stage, is referred to as the “soul sessions,” can take some time. You’re building the actual structure in your life through which your true spirit can thrive. This can take some trial and error and lots of different strategies. During this time (which can take years—even decades—BTW), your soul is growing and healing as you discover the routines and rituals that work for you.

6. The surrender.

The second-to-last step in the awakening process, surrendering is all about releasing any remaining structures, beliefs, or facets of the ego that are keeping you from your truth. By this point, you’ve gotten to know your soul, you’ve figured out a lifestyle that works for you, but there may still be people or habits that hold you back. This is where you will release them so you can fully step into your power.

7. Awareness and service.

And finally, we have awareness and service. This is full awareness of your own divinity in every moment, as you flow through life with grace and clarity. You live in service to others, which brings you great happiness and contentment.

How to make space for a spiritual awakening.

While it may not be easy, many would attest that spiritual awakenings are well worth the effort. So, if you want to make space in your life to start your spiritual journey, we need to slowly develop daily, weekly, or monthly spiritual practices (like meditation, mindfulness, and gratitude, for example).

In addition to that, find people you resonate with spiritually that you can talk to. You can look for books or podcasts about spirituality that resonate with you, as well.

“Practice self-love and compassion. Be gentle with yourself and trust the unfolding; all spiritual awakenings occur to guide us back into balance with our true self. Pay attention to your inner guide and intuitive nudges, as “they’re helping you harmonize and remove what no longer is authentic in your life.”

The bottom line.

Spiritual awakenings are complicated, profound, and nothing short of life-changing—in the best way. While they may not be easy, they will improve your life for the better with patience, trial and error, and a bit of time. If you find yourself in one, all there is to do is trust the process, hang on tight, and prepare for a newly awakened life.