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 scored 68 on the Old Soul test, 71 on the Mature Soul test, and 66 on the Infant Soul test. The Young Soul test couldn’t take because it’s glitched. But I have a feeling I would have scored high in that one too… <.< So I am, like, what, Hybrid Soul?
Though looking at the other comments, it may be that I have this ‘polifaceted’ soul you speak of. I guess I would be either Mature Soul or Old Soul then, because I feel identified with the description of both, and I guess younger ages won’t have these descriptions yet.
Most likely Wut — or what I call a “transitioning soul.” The Young Soul test shouldn’t be glitched anymore. Sometimes our test system struggles to work in different browsers, so I recommend using chrome or firefox.
Thank you! Yeah, I was using Internet Explorer when I tried that. I scored 63 on the Young Soul, too. Now to the rest of the site to try to understand more :)
^_^ enjoy
I got a passing score on all 5. Highest was the mature soul and old soul.
Thank you for taking the tests Jonah. I hope they contributed to your self-understanding. :)
The Soul is eternal, it never ages. The memories however are compartmentalized in different regions of your Soul. They emanate with Wisdom of years before. To a time, when your Soul had no memory of existence. To which when it was in it’s base form pure and unadulterated and completely free of emotional and physical memories which are dormant in your Soul’s gradual progress of Mankind’s spiritual and physical evolution. By Old Soul I think you mean the memories attached to it.
The memories are possessions from the previous life’s. Your Soul has collected so many memories, in it’s latter stages it feels quite heavy and tiresome and full of abundant and rich memories with lessons from each area of Life we must experience, all these memories are imbibed inside the contemporary mind you are born with. That is why you are far more retrospective and tend to reflect and ruminate deeply for the memories are ingrained whenever you are reborn. It is a burden isn’t it? It is also encoded in your genetic structure. Certain memories activate in periods of your life which are set in motion strategically for you to experience your past and learn to improve for the future.
The Old Soul wishes to be purified and set free of such memories. But Life is a weary and prolonged battle. Life is a challenge of trials all spiritual in nature. To test your maturity and understanding you have gained in the past cycles.
Remember, true freedom is gained when you realize the limitations in your life.
I appreciate your thoughts and insights. ;)
From what I understand, true freedom is gained when we realize that there are no limitations — limitations are a construct of the mind. Life, innately, is limitless.
Interesting… I scored quite high on both adult and old soul. I kinda agree.
:) I’m glad you enjoyed the tests Bjorn!
I scored 63 on the mature soul test, but 85 on old soul. I have little in common with others, but live among others without issues. My family used to say I was born old :-) . Now I am and feel more comfortable in my skin than I ever have before. Namaste.
What a wonderful period in your life to be able to live in peace and harmony. Thank you for your interest in taking the tests Diane ;)
I scored a 98% on the old soul test and my current age is 14(turning 15 soon). I’ve always known I was… Let’s say different than kids my age. I am almost perfectly described in the test.
Thanks for taking the test Hayd’n :) Many old souls also share mature soul characteristics, so you might like to take that test as well.
Not sure if I’m cross with being as old of a soul as I was rated , but the description was fair if not accurate . But its good to know I’m not wholly alone or quiet as crazy as some would have me believe . I got a 96 my sister who is 10 years older got a 97 which explains a lot about why we see much of the world on a different field than most . For that matter I would say we complement each other nicely she is for intent and purpose a healer and homemaker , and there is not much I cant find away to build . Good to see its not all just being crazy .
We are all crazy in our own ways, but often times there is a method to that craziness, or some kind of pattern, or underlying cause. Thank you for reading and taking the tests. :)
I’m definitely a newly-old soul. I scored a 74% on the mature soul and 77% on the old soul… and I’m 13, but the old soul seemed to describe me better. Although, I am intensely passionate about learning about culture, language, I feel like I’m just about an old soul. My family’s joke based off of my intense passion for Chinese culture is that I must’ve been Chinese in a past life (I wouldn’t doubt it). I’m also very traditional, spiritual… but non-religious, and I’ve always felt mature for my age. I’m probably still transitioning because I want to learn but I’m starting to show signs as an old soul.
As you grow older, so does the refinement of your soul energy – usually. But it is wonderful to hear of your self-awareness at such an age – this will help you to keep aligned with your true needs in life.
Such an intruging spiritual concept, one which seems intuitively correct. Perhaps soul age is also a large constituant in degree of connection we have with various individuals. Although much like other prevelant traditions the reassuring element that our soul never expires or is at least returned to the essence of exsistence ie the dao really seems to speak volumes about our own fear and egos. By studying the commonalities within religions its fascinating how the principle of the afterlife is frequently the sustaining element within each. For example the second coming of christ, reincarnation in buddhism. In terms of soul age, is it fixed within one lifetime or is it possible to progress from an advanced stage in one level to the beginings of the subsequent soul age? :)
Thank you Claire. It is interesting how most spiritual traditions have the theme of some kind of life after death, which as you pointed out is very much soothing to the ego that never wishes to die or cease. Reincarnation to me, is not a very comforting idea (very few people at the end of their lives desire to return back to the earth), which is why the concept is so fascinating. All through nature we see the reincarnation of energy … a tree grows an apple, that apple dies, its seeds fall to the earth, they are reborn into another apple tree … and so forth. So to me as well, the concept of soul ages seems intuitively correct, although you can never say for certain. Within one lifetime it is possible to progress to different ‘stages’ depending on ones soulful intensity – or will to change, which is dependant on past experiences. So for instance, it is possible for a mature soul to progress to an old soul, or an infant soul to a child soul – and so forth.
Hi, Luna
Great, with the limited reasearch It seems there are conflicting opinions on this matter, but ardently hope it is true that one can progress!! It also seems obvious to assume that the more mature elements of your soul are revealed as we chronologically age and face adversities or experience personal revelations.
Appreciate your wisedom and insight. All the best xx
For some people progression is possible, for others, very minimally. Living a lot of my earlier life as a Baby Soul, I have been fortunate to progress, which I can only put down to soulful intensity. So I hope you will be able to experience a significant progression in your own life – but any amount of soulwork contributes towards the refinement of your soul.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, and I hope this is a topic that continues to inspire you. ;)
I took the Old Soul test before reading the articles and I scored a 91/100.
I’m only 16.
I was first told I was an OS at 10 years old. It works out fine, life I mean. Frankly, we’re valuable to all careers and groups. While feeling different never goes away exactly, wisdom is valued everywhere (except maybe schools, lol)