Spiritual Care as Soul Work: From Virtual Invitations to Invisible Vocations

Based in a perspective informed by contemporary depth psychology’s recognition of the need for soul and steeped in contemporary philosophical theology, this article explores potential issues with emphasizing spiritual care as a practice. Using a blend of philosophical hermeneutics and existential phenomenology to examine the contemporary crisis symptomized by virtual realities, this article unfolds in three movements that argue for the importance of soul-oriented leadership development. The first section identifies our contemporary problem as an absence of soul. It builds on Glen Slater’s recent Jung vs. Borg and explores the problems that arise when emphasizing spirit, emphasizing the difficulties with virtual reality and the onset of disconnection that results. The second section contributes one potential for resolving the problem—through an emphasis on soul-oriented leadership development. It explores Jungian psychoanalytic work with an emphasis on sound instead of sight, outlining its potential as a resource for helping leaders individuate in ways that enhance personal virtue. The resulting sense of vocation—a calling gained through listening—provides an essential framework for leadership development as a form of soul work. The third section outlines the potential for leaders to embody a sense of a radical, believing hope based in their resulting access to creative soul work. The article concludes with a statement of hope concerning how those familiar with depth psychology or spiritual care might reflect on the potential meaning of their work.