Soul’s Code

Born again . . . and again, and again

We asked everyone in the world to send Soul's Code an example of a person, place or thing that inspires or "enlightens" them. (And offered a $250 Grand Prize :)

What we got is the opposite-day of obvious. A yuppie in indulgent trance at Bliss Spa in Manhattan? A Boomer in Conde Naste Traveler bliss at the sacred ruins of Machu Piccu in Peru?

Nah, Soul's Coders are not caricatures of advertorial. We present our 7 favorite finalists, including a cigar-smokin' granny in Havana, Cuba who imbued a young Viet-American seeker from Texas with an inescapable moment of memory and bliss.

We've organized this slideshow by riffing on the medieval notion of  7 Heavenly Virtues: Purity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness and Humility.

The Soul's Code re-labeling of those noble ideals?  Click through to see how we match our readers' submissions and personal stories with a post-modern schema of 7 virtuous values.

Let's begin with Re-Cycling, in the form of Carol Ruth, a mysterious woman who created the incredible image above, and never replied to our requests about where she is from and what she does. We actually like that! But Carol did reveal this deeply personal detail:

This is a photo montage of some of my past lives! I have known about several past lives since I was nine years old, and presently, I am sixty-five. Therefore, my "thoughts" are my inspiration. I hope you like it.

Carole called her contribution, "Soul Traveler."

NEXT: Les Enfants du Cali, Colombia