Word Reflection

“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” — Rudyard Kipling

The world would tell us that words are imbued with tremendous power – mightier than the sword – and capable of affecting great change in our lives and in the world. In actuality, words are merely symbols we use to attempt to communicate the thoughts and ideas that swirl around in the mind. It’s those thoughts and ideas swirling around in the mind that have all the power in this world – by them our perceptions of reality are projected, formed and reflected back to us. Still, words can certainly be used to stimulate this magnificent power of thought, so we ought to attempt to use them wisely, with great care and most definitely for the benefit of all.

For this section then, I thought it would be interesting, fun and hopefully helpful to contemplate different words we often hear related to our human belief system(s) and offer up some interesting, thought-provoking diversions from how Webster might define them. I’ll add to this list as inspired, and these will also appear on my Facebook page.

I hope you enjoy them, and invite you to comment as you’re moved to do so.

1. ac·cep·tance [ak-ˈsep-tən(t)s] n.: being at peace with what is as it is in the present moment without nurturing the thoughts that demand for something different
2. ar·ro·gance [ˈer-ə-gən(t)s] n.: when the mind is deceived into believing it actually has the ability to diminish the light of the spirit (see delusion)
3. de⋅lu⋅sion [di-ˈlü-zhən] n.: when the mind is deceived into believing it actually has the ability to diminish the light of the spirit (see arrogance)
4. e·go [ˈē-gō] n.: a deeply rooted, rogue thought system that hijacks the mind and keeps it distracted from remembering its source in order to deceive us into believing it is us; a relentless wish or dream to be or have something ‘else’ outside of all that presently is
5. e·piph·a·ny [i-ˈpi-fə-nē] n.: the enlightening discovery that you are what you seek (or in modern terms: “You are your search results” ~ Julia Angwin)
6. free·dom [ˈfrē-dəm] n.: when the mind no longer perceives itself as limited, sheltered or imprisoned within a body nor bound by space and time; when the mind is no longer deceived by the ego
7. hu·mil·i·ty [hyü-ˈmi-lə-tē] n.: a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere willingness to follow the guidance of the still, small voice within; the absence of ego
8. light (spirit, pure innocence) [ˈlīt] n.: the luminous core of our being which the ego vainly attempts to keep hidden from our awareness under dark, cloudy layers of guilt, fear and endless distraction – layers which dissolve away by following the intimate guidance of a gentle inner teacher
9. light·work·er [ˈlīt-wər-kər] n.: one whose function and purpose is to help light the way for others to seek and find their inner guide so they too can remember and perceive the light within themselves and in each other
10. mind (neutral) [ˈmīnd] n.: the energy and activating agent of spirit through which all creation occurs; the “law of gravity” that holds everything in this universe, from micro to macro, together
11. mind (deceived) [ˈmīnd] n.: the same energy and activating agent hijacked by ego through which all make believe occurs; the part of mind that has been deceived into forgetting its rightful function in creation
12. mind (healed) [ˈmīnd] n.: the mind that has been returned and restored to its true source; the mind that no longer plans on its own without seeking inner guidance and no longer attaches to specific predesigned outcomes
13. mir·a·cle [ˈmir-i-kəl] n.: the correction and translation of an ego-distorted misperception into another illuminating light along our path (requires translator/inner teacher)
14. open–mind·ed [ˌō-pən-ˈmīn-dəd] adj.: one who looks upon the world as a blank canvas without having to be the one with all the paint brushes; one who is willing to loose the world from all he/she thinks it is (see humility)
15. peace (of mind) [ˈpēs ] n.: complete freedom from the past coupled with the total absence of anxiety over the future (see acceptance); the absence of ego
16. per·spec·tive (right-minded) [pər-ˈspek-tiv] n: seeing that “the world is not done to us, the world is done by us” ~ Gary Renard
17. self–aware·ness [ˈself-ə-ˈwer-nes] : the experience of the fundamental truth that “I remain as God created me, not as I have made myself believe me to be”
18. self–help [ˈself-ˈhelp] n: the process of opening the mind, becoming wholly teachable and then accepting the realization that “I am already healed” regardess of what the body or world would say to the contrary
19. spir·it [ˈspir-ət] n: a thought and reflection of God in the Mind of God; the Love of God; the source and inspiration by which all creation occurs (see light)
20. suf·fer·ing [ˈsə-fər-riŋ] n.: “the fire in which the ego is eventually burned up” ~ Eckhart Tolle
21. sur·ren·der [sə-ˈren-dər] v.: to willingly give up the compulsion to choose or identify with the ego thought system in order to become free of the suffering that inherently results in following its choices and decisions
22. teach·er (within) [ˈtē-chər] n: the soft, inner voice that gently and continuously reminds the mind of its true source and function regardless of how deceived or hidden from itself it appears to be; the ever-illuminated bridge between spiritual truth and ego make believe; the translator of error into correction, darkness and discontent into light and peace
23. uni·ty [ˈyü-nə-tē] n.: one truth, one destination, countless highly individualized paths to it
24. will·ing·ness[ˈwi-liŋ-nes] n.: the desire, without reservation, to be open to and follow guidance beyond the limitation of one’s own thinking and limited perspective

That’s it for now. If there is a tinge of conflict with any of these definitions, perhaps mere variation in symantics is at the root – a seemingly common cause of conflict in our world. Words are just words, to be looked beyond for the underlying message… that’s the whole point. We could break down a whole lot of our ‘separation’ walls if we could learn to let go of our attachment to the meaning of words – like everything else in this world, they have only the meaning we give them based on our individual experiences along the path. Always allow room for inner translation.

In the end there is only one Word that is truly powerful, one that unites us in spite of all our beliefs of separation and judgments of our preceived differences. It continually reminds us from where we came like a beacon of light shining the way home. This Word is beyond definition, beyond the religions of men,  beyond human voice or ear and beyond all symbols. This is a Word that can only be spoken by the still, small voice within… a Word that can only be experienced. Be willing then to learn to find that safe, tranquil place inside where it’s quiet enough to experience it. Make this a priority in life above the distractions and shiney trinkets of the world and all else will fall gently into place. 

Love and Light Friends,

Patrick