Soul loss

To further exemplify the importance of cultural diversity and minority concerns, Leon and Dziegielewski (1999) identify two culture-bound syndromes that are of particular importance when working with Hispanics. These two conditions are ataque de nervios (nerve attacks) (p. 847) and susto (fright or soul loss) (p. 848) and are listed as culture-bound syndromes in the DSM-IV. These conditions often exist within the culture and can resemble certain mental disorders but they may be interpreted as dysfunctional in mainstream society by the professional who is unaware (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Yet these syndromes are not considered mental disorders (although they may resemble the signs and symptoms of certain mental disorders) and are commonly accepted among many Hispanic cultures. 

Speculations as to the cause of this phenomenon are Various and numerous in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Thus Cardanus (1553) notices the increase in the weight of lead on calcinatiou and attributes it to the loss of celestial fire. By the departure of this life giving principle or soul the metal becomes heavier, and the notion seems to be that the metal is buoyed up by the fire... 

Radioactivity was a sensation in the first decade of this century. The very concept of rays that could go right through you without you feeling a thing caused shivers of schadenfreud and for some the exposure of ones skeleton to outside view was uneasily akin to the exposure of ones soul. Conversely, the hair-loss associated with exposure to X-rays or radioactivity led to at least one clinic being set up, to which women flocked, using uranium salts as depilatory treatment. 

As with the onset of sleep, a totally new world opens up (namely the picture-world of dreams, the kingdom of the personal subconsciousness) That is how it opens up to the Soul, which is segregated from the Spirit, with the onset of death an even much deeper world, namely the chaotic kingdom of the demons, the sphere of the collective subconsciousness, the underworld of antiquity, where the Soul has only a vague consciousness and a clear perception of the things and occurrences which surround her The fear of death, which every normal Human Being has, relates in most instances less than the loss of the empirical I, otherwise, there would also be fear before going to sleep. 

This so-called second death, or the total loss of the Animal-Soul and its Astral-Body, is of course relatively seldom, because in most instances it is possible, even for the departed Souls in Hades, to change their ways and to purify (Purgatory). 

It was a true shock to Astrid and myself when we learned last Snnday night that Hitoshi has passed away. This is a tremendous loss for our whole community. As you correctly state, we had seen him in Tokyo twice, namely at October 12 and 13, when he attended both of my lectnres. He was in good mood and spirit and we had in fact intense scientific discnssions about the chelate effect and this continned nntil November 3, when he sent me his last mail. We all definitely lost a very dear friend. Of course, Astrid and 1 have immediately written to his wife Ei... and as yon say, at this time we can only pray for his soul. 

Section 13. That the Human Soul is not Affected by the Loss ofthe... 

And though he promise to his loss, he makes his promise good. Whose soul in usury disdains his treasure to employ. 

But look here now. That weus honey. It may have taken you a whole year, maybe, to gather it with care, trouble and toil you had to travel about, to catch the bees, to feed them for a whole winter in your cellar, but dead souls are. not of this world. They required no effort from you, it was by the will of God only that they forsook this world, thus bringing loss to your household. For all your effort and toil you realized twelve roubles for three stones of honey, but in this case you are getting for nothing, as a gift, not twelve but fifteen roubles, and you are getting them not in silver but in blue currency notes. ... 

But that is very strange, said the lady agreeable in aU respects. What can be the meaning of these dead souls I confess I am quite at a loss. This is the second time I... 

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