They say life is a “journey”, a “school” and is here to teach us “important lessons”. But why?
Have you ever considered the possibility that the lessons we learn and wisdom we accumulate in this life, extends into other lives? Is it perhaps possible that our life is not the only journey of experience, advancement and maturing – but the whole of conscious existence is?
Is it possible that reincarnation, also known as metempsychosis, is responsible for the tremendous range of world views, instinctual drives and essential life decisions we make?
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What makes us so different from one another? What makes one person wise beyond their years, another driven by power, and another childlike, despite their age?
Regardless of whether you believe in, or entertain the possibility of reincarnation or not, you will find that the following Soul Ages theory applies to the vast variety of people in your life.
Table of contents
What Exactly is a “Soul Age”?
According to the Soul Age theory, man doesn’t have simply one shot at living and learning. He has multiple lifetimes in which to grow, learn and mature.
Soul Ages are based on the different levels of advancement a soul obtains throughout its reincarnational journey (inspired by the Michael’s teachings framework). As a person progresses through the hierarchy, paying off karma as he or she advances, it is said that he or she is free to return to universal and infinite consciousness at the end, achieving final liberation.
Some call this the state of “nirvana”, others “heaven” and others “paradise”.
The 5 Soul Ages
Understanding the different levels people exist on is a useful way of developing empathy, understanding and insight. Also, these are all essential keys to enhancing the connection we have with our souls through inner work.
Below are the 5 Soul Ages in order from ‘beginner’, to ‘intermediate’, and then to ‘advanced’. You’ll also discover the sixth Soul Age which transcends all others: the Elder Soul.
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1. Infant Souls
Primary Focus: Being alive.
Lessons To Learn: Basic life skills, survival, mortality, physicality.
Age Comparison: 0 – 4
Key Characteristics: Raw, untamed, playful, excitable, unsophisticated, tribal, cautious, childlike, group-reliant, hunter-gatherers.
Also known as Newborn Souls, these people are often perceived by others as being ignorant, childish and innocent to the complexities of life. Possessing a very simplistic understanding of life, and a genuinely guileless approach to the world, Newborn Souls find it hard to adapt to ‘civilized society’. Instead, they prefer familiar clans, tribes and groups of people in wild, untamed environments. If this sounds like you, take the Infant Soul Test.
2. Baby Souls
Primary Focus: Belonging.
Lessons To Learn: Social structure, rules, roles, human relations.
Age Comparison: 4 – 13
Key Characteristics: Compliant, regimented, dutiful, role-defined, absolutist, disciplined, traditional, strong values.
Also known as Child Souls, these people seek to make meaning, order and stability out of the chaotic and uncertain nature of life. Perceived by other people as being clean, modest and rigid, Child Souls tend to be very conservative, religious and rule-bound. The Child Soul’s beliefs and senses of self are defined by their culture and traditional moral or religious system. If this sounds like you, take the Baby Soul Test.
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3. Young Souls
Primary Focus: Independence.
Lessons To Learn: Personal-advancement, free will, personal-achievement.
Age Comparison: 13 – 29
Key Characteristics: Ambitious, competitive, innovative, material gain, enterprise, freedom, individualism, self-centered, self-expression.
Also called Teenage Souls, these people often live by the maxim “my way or the highway”. The Teenage Soul, similar to an adolescent, seeks independence, social status and material gain. Essentially, these people are agents of change and are responsible for many of the greatest advancements in the world. Driven and externally focused, Teenage Souls tend to be “workaholics”. If this sounds like you, take the Young Soul Test.
4. Mature Souls
Primary Focus: Interpersonal harmony.
Lessons To Learn: Empathy, psychological stability, interdependence, self-awareness, relationships.
Age Comparison: 29 – 55
Key Characteristics: Sensitive, inquisitive, neurotic, diplomatic, introspective, egalitarian, cooperative.
Also known as Adult Souls, these people enter life seeking interpersonal and psychological harmony. Adult Souls are often perceived as being neurotic but caring. Focusing on the inner world, these people often struggle with the complexities and subtleties of life. The mature soul is liberal, relationship-orientated and visionary. Life is no longer about survival, role-filling or material gain for the Adult Soul, but about understanding, empathy and camaraderie. If this sounds like you, take the Mature Soul Test.
5. Old Souls
Primary Focus: Spiritual fulfillment.
Lessons To Learn: Non-attachment, autonomy, wise counsel, spiritual awareness.
Age Comparison: 56+
Key Characteristics: Solitary, spiritual, detached, philosophical, humanitarian, tired, unmotivated, empathetic.
Right at the end of the reincarnational cycle comes the Old Soul. Having already experienced the previous 4 stages of existence, the Old Soul has a well-rounded knowledge of society, relationships and the world at large. At this point, the Old Soul finds day to day life very uninteresting, and little can surprise or compromise their self-assurance. Relaxed and philosophical about life, Old Souls radiate depth, calmness and wisdom. The Old Souls focus is on self-actualization and self-fulfillment. To the Old Soul, life is an interconnected tapestry – one of which they strive to become One with. If this sounds like you, take the Old Soul Test.
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6. Elder Souls
Elder Souls are the completion of the Soul Age cycle. An Elder Soul is an Awakened Being who has gone through a spiritual awakening and reunited with and embodied his or her True Divine Nature. In our society, we often refer to Elder Souls as “enlightened” or “spiritual Masters.” Read more about Elder Souls.
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Although most people don’t fit strictly within each category, often overlapping others, many people tend to inhabit one Soul Age more than the other.
Which Soul Age are you? I’d love to know below!
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I’m a “baby soul”, at 72%, according to your quizzes. I guess I have not developed much in this “plane of existence”. I have a post-grad degree and do not attend a church or formal religion. I was fairly liberal when younger, but didn’t think much about politics, and am now fairly conservative.
I don’t believe in this stuff, but am not judgemental about people who do. I find these sites interesting and entertaining, because they tell me something about my personality and how others may perceive me. A coworker, who is a “mature soul”, told me about it and suggested I take the quiz…She desperately wants me to go clothes shopping with her. I draw the line at getting anything pierced except my earlobes, max 2x each. Reading about my “inner child” makes me fall asleep.
I think my psyche is simply somewhat immature and naive, improving as I get older, and my husband sometimes (not that often,okay?) wonders if he has two 11 year old kids instead of one. So I got jam on the mouse yet again, but at least I cleaned it off this time! ;-)
Hey Lee, and thank you for visiting LonerWolf!
Most of our readers are Mature Souls, so it’s nice to hear from a person with another perspective on life. It’s unusual for Baby Souls to develop deep levels of self-awareness in their lifetimes, but it seems as though you are certainly making a start – congratulations! The better you know and understand yourself, the better more you will be able to improve the quality of your life in the long run.
All the best, Luna
My scores are from infant to old respectively, 51, 46, 53, 71, 73.
Personally I thought I’d be somewhere between the young and mature, but also connect with many aspects of the old soul. People have called me an old soul on a myriad of occasions, yet I feel young and vivacious. I’d like an expert opinion. What do you say?
On the quizzes I scored an 81 Old and a 71 in Mature but connect more to the Mature description. I’ve always been told I have an Old Soul so it really didn’t surprise me to get that score. What did surprise me is that my husband got an Infant Soul in the quiz. We have been happily married for 10 years. I didn’t see a section anywhere about soul ages and relationship compatibility, and would be very interested to learn more about that. Thanks for any information!
Hello Amber, thank you for sharing your score here!
Sounds to me as though you too are in the transitional stage from Mature Soul to Old Soul.
Has your husband taken all the Soul Age tests on this site, or just the Infant Soul quiz?
Soul Ages are not the same as personality types, thus the level of compatibility between two people of different Soul wavelengths is very much dependent on pre-established levels of trust, communication, respect and compassion. Without these four factors it can be guaranteed that there is a very low level of compatibility within the relationship. As a general rule, the more another person is on the same wavelength as us, the easier we find it to get along with them.
I’ll definitely be interested in exploring this topic further in the future! Many thanks for reading and showing your support.
-L
Thank you Luna! Yours is the most pragmatic site I’ve come across about this topic. Your tests really helped confirm my hunches. I was vacillating between the mature soul and old soul. I did both tests and had almost 100% on mature soul and then 87 or so % on old soul. In essence, I believe I must be experiencing something like the sixth level development because I’ve been having to work out all of my unwanted crap so to speak from previous lives. It’s tough! I guess that’s why I’m experiencing so many mature soul inner turmoil- an important but god-forsaken lengthy process!
Thank you Chaya :). Now you know that the inner turmoil you are going through is necessary for your inner growth, and as with anything, you are not alone in these struggles! Many thanks for the complement as well!
-L
Before reading this, I always wonder why am I so comfortable being alone, not make friends with gossipy people, and only keep the ones who I prefer to be with. There are times where I feel like I want to do whatever I want and keep it that way, but when I’m alone, I spend time thinking, “Do I really want to do it?”
I always feel slow, or some say ” in a moderate pace”, and always hiding in my room with articles, trying to figure out who I really am or just laying on my bed and think. Sometimes I stare at the window and ask a lot of questions I wish are to be answered by someone.
I enjoy the scenery of nature very much. It leaves me breathless and at night, I enjoy the company of stars.
I’m always having someone trying to talk to me about problems they can’t overcome.
I’m a very sensitive person, trying to figure out the meaning of life, how are we still living in a world we live, called “Earth,” and why are we human here for, why do people waste time on these complexities of life and money issues when we should live calmly with joy?
When I read this, I found out I’m not just an old soul, but a mature soul as well. I took every quiz to see where I fit and I seem to know where I am at, not by what the internet says, but what my heart says.
My parents, especially my mom, always wants one of us (my three siblings and I) to compete with my cousins and nieces/nephews in school, earning a good degree, get the best career out of them all and have a better reputation.
It just breaks my heart that I can not fulfill what she wants because I’m not that kind of person to do what she wants us to do.
Yes, she doesn’t understand where I truly sit and I’m okay with it. When she talked to me about competing against my cousins and nieces/nephews, I just tell her I’ll do my best and if I’m not where she wants me to be at, at least I tried.
Cindy, thank you for sharing such a vivid picture of yourself and your current life. One of the difficulties we must face in life is living and interacting with people who share different soul ages and thus different perspectives.
I’m happy that this article could help clarify this. The more aware we are, the less we suffer in this circumstance. Thank you for reading. -L
I’ve been told time and time again that I held the mentality of someone decades older than myself, and this test helped convince me. The description fit my personality almost to a T. I always find myself hidden away in my bedroom,curled up with a good book and blocking out the rest of the world. People tend to agitate me, but I cannot always be alone, I just seldom enjoy another persons company. People are too loud and ignorant to the most obvious of things. I’m only in high school, and I already see just cause for fear of the future. I’m glad this website had articles I could read to get a better understanding on what having an old soul really means. Thank you.
Hi Colleen. When I was reading your comment, I pictured a middle aged woman in my mind’s eye. I was surprised to read that you are still in high school! I’m pleased to hear that you have discovered something new and telling about yourself, thanks to this website. Many thanks for sharing these thoughts, Luna
Throughout my life I have always had a hard time building relationships with those around me, even my own family. I spend a lot of time pondering on possible reasons for why exactly we are here im this world. Many people habe told me that I’m an old man stuck in a youmg mans body. I have always been more of a loner, not because I am shy but because I am uninterested in the people that Ive grown up with. Most, if not all of the few people I consider to truly be friends are of an older age group than I am. I find it hard to enjoy most things in life. I mostly enjoy nature, the beautiful aspects of scenary, and studying the reasonsing and drive behind why a person is the way they are. Is it possible that I am just an old soul?
Hello Caleb, thank you for sharing. Judging from your comment, I would say that yes, you do sound like an Old Soul. I recommend taking the quiz on this site if you have the time, as well as reading the subsequent article.
I discovered your site this morning and have been enjoying reading the various articles. As my own spiritual views most closely align with Theravaden Buddhism I’ve been nodding in agreement to many of the writings and comments.
I’m not sure I trust myself enough to say what ‘age’ my soul is. And I suppose I am not overly concerned about it. I took one of the tests, and the questions seemed broad enough, like an astrology or tarot reading, to encompass a multitude of individuals. It was thought provoking though.
I have enough self-awareness to know I am a deeply flawed individual. I am motivated to be better. I try. I hope the lessons I learn in this life will make me a better person in my next incarnation, but I am no where close to Enlightenment. And I am totally ok with that :). I’ll just keep polishing that silver cord till it shines so brightly it can’t help but break away and move on to whatever awaits us after this reality has taught us all it can.
Peace to you and thank you for the sources of introspection.
Hello Mike, I like your relaxed perspective towards yourself and towards life. Not everyone feels the need to label themselves as one Soul Age or another, as they already have sufficient understanding and acceptance of themselves. I guess this is the essence of the Soul Ages theory: each person is on a different level of self-growth and self-discovery. While some benefit from labelling themselves and identifying with one group of people so they don’t feel isolated and alone, other people don’t need this at all, and thus will find these types of articles less useful. Also, thank you for taking the test! I’m happy to hear that this site has been a source of introspection to you! Warmly, A.L
When I was in elementary school I felt like a stranger on this planet.I remember one day at recess I was in my usual spot, sitting against the building watching a deer behind the wire fence while all the others played. The deer was grazing peacefully until a kid spotted her and screamed “there’s a deer”! The kids charged the fence at the deer, which became terrified and bolted into the barbed wire, twisting in fear and children were poking her with sticks and screaming. I was very shaken about this and wondered what what wrong with me that I wasn’t like everyone else. I am 63 years old now and I am the one who feels more normal than all the others. This is a great site. Thank you for creating it for us loners to feel like we might belong somewhere.
Irene, thank you for your comment. I’m happy to read the comment of another who seems to be more sensitive to nature and wildlife than others. I remember when I was little I used to save snails and butterflies, and would scream at my father for pouring salt onto the slugs that climbed the trees outside. Everyone thought that there was something wrong with me, haha I’m happy to hear that this blog has benefited you in some way! I hope to hear your thoughts in future articles! -L
I’m 46, INFP; I like to write; I write small posts every day usually with an inspirational or empowering tone. I’m a deep thinker and have been very observant, sensitive and thoughtful about deep subject matter every since I was about 2 or 3. I feel old. I struggle with bipolar depression. I would say I’m somewhat of an Empath and at times have had telepathic experiences. I always feel like I’m living on two planes of experience. The mindful (present moment) and then my own world that is making sense and learning from every experience wondering how to put it to use for the betterment of myself and society. I’m very wary or overwhelmed in crowds and about the future, so I’m always trying to help everyone around be stronger and myself. I have trouble with focusing and motivation. I just get so mental drained and tired. My head will flood with information and I will be tired then. People, especially women like my post. They say I help them. I’m very simplistic. I own my clothes and toiletries. Somehow I have everything I need. I’ve had very profound spiritual experiences. I’m very much a Christian, but I don’t discredit knowledge from other religions. I use whatever my soul says is useful from a variety of sources, but mostly from my internal well of spirit. I never know enough. It’s like Sir Issac Newton’s famous quote basically saying every time you find the answer to a question, there is a million more. I flip back and forth between being an idealist or thinker. I’m not competitive. I just won’t deal with that. I nothing to prove to anyone. Everyone has to find their own way up the mountain.
I forgot to say I scored 92 as an OLD Soul. and 69 as a Mature Soul.
Hello Deb, thank you for sharing information about your character and your life. From the two scores you received on the Old and Mature Soul tests, it sounds as though you’re very much in the transitional stage between the two (I would predict that you’re perhaps a level 1 or 2 Old Soul, if you believe in levels). Many thanks for leaving a comment! -L