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Notes On Human Form as Incarnated Dreaming | Mala Kline | March 2025

Morphology teaches us how to read the form of the body, whether it be that of your own body or someone else’s. It teaches us to look at the the other – without opinion and prejudice and instead with loving kindness. In this way, we can see through another’s form into the mystery of their being.

Morphology teaches us to look through the layers of form until we stand in front of someone and ‘just know’ them. We feel and know their form, how they think, move, and what their energy is like.

As human beings, we are energy manifested into forms. So, first, we train to look at the forms, and with practice we start seeing the energy field that is contained by a particular form. We see how different forms hold different energies… how each particular shape brings a unique experience of life, and how each one of us inhabits a unique space in the world.

Penetrating deeper into the mystery of the embodied forms, we discover that every shape is not only a container of a particular energy but also an incarnated dream, a manifestation of a particular life story and its unfolding. We are able to look at the shape of someone and know their story, how they function in the world, and the complexes and challenges they tend to have, as well as their potential.

Morphology is In-Form-ation

Morphology comes from the Greek word morphos, meaning “form” and the Latin word morphosis, meaning “process of forming.” Taken together, it indicates change within shape. Morphology is not a set book of formulas that instill judgment or categorization. Rather, it is a study of an embodied shape and the change within a particular shape. Thus, morphology is fluid and can only be practiced ‘in response’ to a living, changing, evolving human being. For we all are changing, though we stay in the same form. Our bone structure is fixed, but it’s surrounded by the multiple possibilities of our growth and development. To understand our morphology, is to understand whether we are making the choices in life that support our growth.

Someone’s morphological reading shows us what flows well and what is not aligned in their shape. We can use this in-form-ation to help a person break from their habitual sense of self, so that a new realization and inner transformation can take place. They can realign with their blue-print – the soul pattern that fits their genealogical pattern, embodies their qualities, and fulfills their soul’s purpose in the world.

 

Are you interested in being able to better connect with and relate to others by understanding the relationships between energy, body forms, life potential and inner transformation? Join SOI Senior Teacher Mala Kline on April 4-6, 2025 to dive more deeply into the mystery of embodied forms, and how we can use the art of morphology to transform ourselves, our lives and our relationships.

You can learn more and register here!

 

A Case Study: Morphology of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi was the primary leader of India’s independence movement and the architect of a form of non-violent civil disobedience that would greatly influence the world. He showed that social and political changes can be achieved not only through terror and violence, but also through love and compassion. From an insecure, anxious, shy and nervous young man that grew up following Jainism – a morally rigorous ancient Indian religion that espoused non-violence, fasting, meditation and vegetarianism (reducing harm to all living beings) – and then studying world Hinduism, this unassuming man, often mocked and forcibly removed, grew to become a giant force for civil rights. He devoted his life to fight through non-violent acts of civil disobedience against racial prejudice and inequality of the oppressed and marginalized, while living a simple life devoted to prayer, fasting and meditation. This earned him the name “Mahatma,” meaning ‘great soul.’ Yet, he would be assassinated by a Hindu extremist.

Opening Gandhi’s Morphology

Looking at Gandhi’s morphology, he had a tall long and bony body, indicative of a nervous type. The form of the nervous type indicates reflection, intelligence, thinking, independence, and one who is self-taught. Also referencing the nervous type is the profile of his head, which shows an amplified intellectual activity. The structure of his face is Saturnian, with an enveloping Saturn forehead and thick dark Saturn hair, indicating he held high moral ideals and preferred a simple life devoted to bringing these ideals into practice.

Gandhi’s chin is round, and his mouth fits the form of what we consider a sun mouth, showing his capacity to express the possibilities of alignment, beauty, harmony, and equality. The angle of his face is sharp, and his whole face points forward, echoing fast, piercing, and dynamic movement within the world. According to his biography, this is exactly what his life was, a series of active attempts to bring social and economic justice into the world.

Gandhi’s nose is big, marking his generosity. It is also a bilious nose, dipping towards the chin; this shows he was decisive, diligent in purpose, and capable of leading others. The proportions of the face are well balanced, showing his equal engagement with life intellectually, emotionally and practically. Yet, his nose and ears are exaggerated in shape, and both set in the emotional and practical zone of his face, showing that he listened well to the emotional and practical needs of his people. His ears stick out: this demonstrates great curiosity for the world and what it needs.

The right side of his face is present, alive, and direct. Yet the left side of his face is lifted, and looking up to the ideal, perhaps in a way that was too rigid and dogmatic. According to morphological archetypes, this juxtaposition creates a vulnerability of presence. We know from his history that vulnerability came along with his idealism, as his ways of thinking carried many risks, and would eventually lead to his assassination.

– Mala Kline, Senior Teacher

Join Mala Kline on April 4-6 for Morphology | 4 Grids, the foundational workshop that will give you the insight to better understand yourself, support your growth and help you find your true purpose in the world. After attending 4 Grids, you are eligible to enroll in SOI Advanced Morphology full course in the coming School year! Learn more and register here!