Image by Okan Caliskan from Pixabay

Your soul is your innermost being, your higher self, who you really are. And according to the Michael teachings, your soul will have one of seven distinct ‘vibrations’ or ‘tones’.

When we cast light through a prism, it comes out in the form of a spectrum which we perceive as the seven colours of the rainbow. Similarly, when the Source of all being (God, the Tao, and the Absolute, whatever you like to call it) casts its consciousness into the relative world, it comes out in the form of individual souls of seven types:

The word “role” refers to the fact that we each serve a particular type of function in the great scheme of things. We are all parts of a greater whole—the evolving consciousness of all-that-is.

Think of how every cell in your body is designed to play a specific role or function. And, although there are trillions of cells in the human body, there are only a few different types of cell.

Or think about all the stars in the cosmos. Although their number is so high as to be virtually infinite, scientists classify them all into just seven types, from hottest (type O) to coolest (type M).

Similarly, there are only seven types of soul. Which is to say, there are seven primary ‘roles in essence’ — seven ways in which the One becomes the many.

The names given to the seven soul types are deliberately archetypal — hence somewhat old-fashioned sounding and not necessarily politically correct. The names are:

Servers are naturally accommodating, caring, nurturing, hospitable, charitable. Servers are drawn to roles in which they can attend to others’ needs — not because they are “less than” others in any way, but because they are directly in touch with our common humanity. This selfless capacity is something all souls aspire to, but Servers are already there by default. As such, however, the Server is often easily exploited and, historically, has been more vulnerable to enslavement.

Servers were once known by the unfortunate term “Slave”. This was not intended to be in any sense derogatory, but for obvious reasons the more neutral term Server is more commonly used. [Personally, my preference would be “Servant”, as in “servant of humanity”.]

Servers make up 25% of the global population — there are more Severs than any other soul type.

Artisans are naturally creative, inventive, imaginative, playful, decorative. Artisan souls represent the essence of creativity and invention. They have a fertile imagination that drives them to explore new perspectives and combinations. They also like to realise (to ‘make real’) their ideas in interesting, tangible forms which they can present to others.

As such, Artisans are often drawn to professions where they can work with the invention, design and construction of new products, new styles, new methods: engineering, fine art, crafts, graphics, fashion and other forms of novel expression, more subtle forms including poetry, dance, modelling and athletics. In society at large, Artisans drive progress in art, technology, entertainment, fashion, and so on. Traditionally, they have worked as society’s architects, builders, decorators, craftsmen, smiths – the skilled trades. In the modern world, they are also leading-edge creatives – vloggers, game designers, experimental artists, and so on.

Many great actors are Artisans. Acting provides a vehicle for exploring alternative ways of being. At the same time, many Artisans would prefer to disappear behind a dramatic image or role than to have nothing of themselves to express.

Warriors are naturally forceful, loyal, protective, determined, steadfast. Warriors are forceful souls; they embody qualities of strength, courage and determination. Warrior souls tend to see life in terms of confrontations and rising to the challenge. There are causes to serve, struggles to be overcome, battles to be won. They like to be on the front line with their trusted comrades, and strongly value both courage and loyalty.

The basic drive of any Warrior is to uphold something “right” and defeat something “wrong”, however those two are defined. A Baby Warrior, for example, might fight against law-breaking in the local community. A Young Warrior might fight for his or her country against foreign threats. A Mature Warrior might fight against social injustices such as starvation in Africa. Even in the entertainment industry, Warrior souls approach their work as a kind of personal battle or test.

Scholars are naturally curious, studious, academic, analytical, neutral. The Scholar essence represents the most neutral aspect of being — assimilation. In other words, Scholars are designed to absorb and integrate information from the world around them. Their role in life is to develop and maintain our collective learning and understanding.

Scholars shine when they are able to gather information and assemble knowledge on whatever topic takes their interest. The source of information can be anything and everything: books, the Internet, travel, scientific research, introspection, or simply watching the world go by. Scholar souls are born to study, think and learn, but not just in the academic sense — fundamentally they are students of life. Scholars are life’s observers, reporters, analysts, and archivists.

As such, Scholars tend to be thinkers rather than doers. They feel at home being surrounded by information. Their living spaces tend to be more like libraries, their drawers full of old note-books.

Sages are naturally engaging, articulate, charming, entertaining, expressive. The Sage soul type embodies the essence of expressive communication. The raison d’être of any Sage is to promote a sense of shared experience — sharing life’s dramas, lessons and absurdities in an appealing way with as many as possible. A Sage will always look for insights to share and audiences to share them with.

In effect, the Sage’s role is to cheerfully point out who we all are and what we all have in common. And to help us enjoy our shared journey. The word sage has come to mean something like “wise one.” Our mental image of a sage is that of a classical bearded thinker or philosopher, such as Plato and Aristotle. Ironically, however, those people did not see themselves as sages, but as sage-wannabes.

The Greek word Philosophia translates as wisdom-love or desire for wisdom. A philosopher is not someone who has wisdom but someone who wants wisdom. A philosopher aspires to become a sage.

So the archetypal Sage isn’t someone who spends their days stroking their beard, trying to figure out the meaning of life. A Sage is someone who already knows. That’s not to say that any Sage-type individual is a font of infinite wisdom. Rather, it is that these individuals act with the jollity of one who knows just enough to not take life seriously. To put it another way, while most people seek happiness, and while philosophers seek the understanding of life which they hope might lead to happiness, the Sage simply embodies and expresses happiness.

In effect, a Sage is one who listens to all of life and notices both surprising connections and amusing contrasts, and then takes pleasure in relaying these insights to others. Instead of a bearded thinker, the archetypal image of a Sage is more like a cheerful eccentric — a wise fool.

Priests are naturally inspirational, uplifting, motivating, energizing, visionary. More than any other soul type, Priests feel a sense of mission, a higher calling, a need to make the world a better place. They do so by igniting and galvanizing the same sense of purpose in others. Priest souls are both inspired and inspiring. But whereas Servers feel driven to help specific individuals in need, Priests feel driven to move everybody on to higher things. To give an analogy, if Servers like to dig others out of holes, Priests like to lead others up mountains. They stir, inspire and arouse change by openly proclaiming their vision of a better way.

The raison d’être of any Priest is to serve the higher good — that is, whatever the individual Priest envisions as the highest good for all. Different Priests will define the highest good in completely different ways, particularly as they evolve through the soul ages. The thrust, however, is always the same: to catalyze change in others, to promote a better way of being.

Kings are naturally commanding, assured, powerful, authoritative, decisive. Kings are action-oriented souls. But whereas Warriors are attracted to action on the front line, as it were, King souls prefer to be in a commanding position from which they can oversee and run the entire operation.

The name “King” reflects the fact that such souls have a commanding presence, an innate power and even a regal air about them. King souls are born leaders and others will tend to automatically look to them for leadership and direction. Their raison d’être is to assume command and take charge, not just being the ultimate decision-maker but also the one who takes ultimate responsibility. King souls tend to see the world around them as their personal chess-board — and others are pieces to be moved about. They have a knack for orchestration and tactical maneuvering, and are happy making far-reaching decisions that affect many people.

The Nature of the Roles

• Roles are not assigned to us or imposed on us. They are who we are.
• There is no hierarchy. All roles are equal in value, and all souls are equally free. A King is in no way “higher up” or “better off” than a Server. The roles are simply seven different ways of being, seven ways of playing the game of life.
• A person’s soul type has no bearing whatsoever on that person’s station in life. A King soul will live just as many ordinary, hard-working lives as a Server. A Server has just as much opportunity to become a world leader as any King. In fact, the present monarch in the UK is a Server, as is the Dalai Lama and former US President Jimmy Carter.
• The roles are certainly not be confused with the Hindu caste system. There are similarities in the names used, but this is simply because the caste system is a tragic misrepresentation of the nature of the roles. Ancestral lineage and class heritage are human affairs that have nothing to do with actual soul types.
• Despite the labels used, no gender is implied. Souls have no gender. They simply choose between one or the other for each life to come. There are preferences, however. Priests, Sages, Artisans and especially Servers generally enjoy being female and often prefer it. Kings, along with Scholars and Warriors, tend to favour being male. (That said, the challenge of being female and the fight for equal rights can be very attractive to a Warrior.)
• Our soul type is often evident in the first years of life but then becomes masked to some extent by false self or false personality. This consists of cultural programming, ego, persona and so on — the superficial identity we all develop which has nothing to do with who we really are.

Usually, it is not until mid-life that much of this false identity is broken   through and our true essence comes to express itself more clearly. For example, a female Warrior in her late 30s who has so far been a stay-at-home housewife might suddenly find her true calling as a political activist. A male Artisan who has followed in his father’s footsteps in the armed forces might have a mid-life crisis and decide to become a poet.

• Whereas our soul type is permanent, everything else can change from one life to the next: race, nationality, religion, gender, social standing, profession. But the essence and consciousness will be consistent. For example, a certain Artisan soul might incarnate as a woodworker in one life, a choirboy in the next, then a housewife, then a wealthy wine merchant, then a child prostitute, then a female shopkeeper … and so on. Throughout all these human lives, however, the Artisan will still be innately creative and inventive, seeking to bring their fresh and original perceptions into being.

https://personalityspirituality.net/articles/the-michael-teachings/the-seven-roles-in-essence/