spirits, soul
霊 centers on the non-physical essence of a being: the spirit or soul. It refers to the animating, intangible part of a person or entity.
霊 is the modern simplified form of 靈. The older form combines 雨 (rain) with 巫 (shaman) and 霝, suggesting a shamanic ritual to call down spirits or rain. The modern form retains 雨 on top and simplifies the lower part to 亚.
Rain 雨 falls from the sky onto a sacred altar 亚, and from the mist a spirit or soul emerges. The rain connects heaven and earth, just as a spirit bridges the physical and non-physical.
For レイ, imagine a ray of light piercing the rain clouds and illuminating the spirit below: ray -> レイ, and the spirit glows in the light.
soul; spirit; departed soul; ghost
ghost; specter; spectre; apparition; phantom
spirit of the deceased
spirit (e.g. human spirit); soul
departed spirit; soul of the dead
evil spirit
consoling the spirits of the dead
the Holy Ghost; the Holy Spirit
spirit of the dead (esp. of those killed in war); soul of a fallen soldier
inspiration; afflatus
crown (of creation); apex; the best
spirit medium
spirit of a dead person; ghost; departed soul
soul; spirit
sacred ground
(garden) cemetery; park-style cemetery; memorial park
mystical power inherent in words; spirit of language
complete devotion; body and soul; one's best
the spiritual world
spirit of a deceased person