Is the observer aspect of ourselves the part which carries on after our physical body has dropped off? Is the part of us that is able to observe our own reactions to situations and emotional tendencies with distanced neutrality the part which is termed the soul? For instance, for the most part when one experiences a human emotion such as anger or happiness they are simultaneously aware of/observing this emotional reaction, yet at the same time, are experiencing and momentarily being this emotional reaction.

From my understanding, it is the neutral observer aspect of our individualized identity/personality which carries over after leaving the physical plane. However, from what I've gathered, if the observer aspect of ourselves unintentionally gains the inward tendencies of our outward actions/emotions, then these inward tendencies can carry over into the afterlife as well. If this is true, then I would imagine that it would take a great deal of habitual effort to have these outward tendencies reflect upon the innately neutral observer aspect.

PUL,
Cosmic_Ambitions

I don't know a whole lot about the observer in me as this observer is a bit fresh, say from around 2002 it began to be apparent I had one or was developing some kind of awareness that was "above" it all, something that was unemotional, but stable, like a center. it started to cease to react emotionally. then it would go away and I'd start reacting again emotionally to my particular belief systems which also were in flux, but slowly.
I did notice when the observer vacated the premises, but it was an involuntary process so I had no say about when it would show up, but it started to show up more often.

then I heard a voice message in dream "you are the seeker, the finder and the observer, each with a function.
I wrote that in the book but need to develop it further as the observer seems to be a product of the first two components, so I guess you can say when we put our bodies down, we could be this observer.

from studying emotions, I would say emotions are communications to self, or tools we utilize on ELS, but not that they are 100% our essence, although we can be ruled by our emotions and identify that is what we are. we are more than just that though.
I think the most important thing is to ask why we feel a certain way, or a certain depth of an emotion, to track it down to a belief system unconscious.

I look at the observer and notice this part of us is very calm and centered, but I wouldn't say thats an emotion-calmness but rewarding to be without peaks or lows of emotion, and seems to let in more of that PUL stuff, which is not an emotion at all, but a sense of well being perhaps. I've noticed especially the connection that emotions have to belief systems, so I think we are safe to explore and widen our beliefs to see from another's perspective to get to observer position more often.

in obe or dreams I floated above the scenes observing the set up as this observer. in these cases it was a choice to enter the set up or decline the presentation as participant. I always jumped in anyway just to see what would happen, but the body I jumped into I always knew was just a vehicle for expression. so I would say the observer, at least in these instances, was a form of conscious awareness without a form, like a body. or we could say I was an orb, for understanding to communicate being formless, not being a body, but a unit of awareness intact with my belief systems, and in charge of my emotional "pets."

I did see stage hands helping out, in body forms, however I translated them into guides and assistants, and friends, thanks to TMI helping me with that concept, we have help here.  love, alysia

I didn't answer anything CA, but it's a question on my mind also, so thought I'd ramble a bit.

Thank you Chuckles, that was great!

PUL,
Cosmic_Ambitions