I recently learned that the word philosophy comes from the Greek philo- to love and sophia- knowledge and wisdom – the love of knowledge and wisdom.
Everywhere we look these days and in the days that have passed, we witness many philosophies – some spoken loudly by those on soapboxes, some that are deeply clutched and some that are our own.
The etymology surprised me, because philosophy to me has never had anything to do with love, of any kind. I understood and experienced philosophy as a cerebral exploration of a topic and when you encountered someone of opposing philosophy, you’d have a ‘debate of the minds’, if you were in elevated company or an argument if you were not.
There are many who state their philosophies on how the world should be and of how others should be. I too am one of those people.
When I realized that the root of philosophy is actually love, it commanded a layer of inner truth to rise.
I saw within me how, speaking about a philosophy – big or small – is empty if it isn’t actually lived, metabolized in my bones and blood.
I suddenly didn’t see the point in cerebral exploration of how the world should be.
Rather, I was shown in beautiful ways through prayer and meditation and surrender, that true philosophy rises from accepting the world and the Self, exactly as it shows up in the moment.
This very active acceptance, through the swamps, rough edges and dark caves of our Selves and our World, allows a kind of composting of experiences. This is the compost from which we are nourished, and from this rises a new layer of love, wisdom and knowledge that serves All.
I’m still exploring this is ways, because breathing, evolving, organic philosophies that live and grow with us, and perhaps ones we outgrow is quite new for me. I’m more practiced in having attachments and an identity from a philosophy I read in a great book.
Personally, I love coming across a different meaning of a word, or knowing a little about its origins and context. It invokes a realization and allows me to renew my relationship with language, which is a tremendous gift.
Maybe it isn’t this word – philosophy – for you.
Maybe for you it is a different word or phrase or meaning, memory or feeling attributed.
Below is a list of words and phrases that have rocked my constructs over the years.
Enjoy!
/ Note: Words and language evolve and maybe there is debate on the exact accurate etymology or meaning. I am concerned more with the feeling and vibration that is evoked within me, rather than accuracy (but that’s just me).
List of words:
Meek
Previously held relationship to the word: Weak, small, pushover.
New relationship to the word: Powerful without assertion
Truth
Previously held relationship: Opposite of lying
Comes from the Mercian word treow, which means tree, solid or firm.
New relationship: Like a tree, truth within and around me is living, active choice that I get to make.
Shit
This is an acronym: S.H.I.T. It spells out ‘Store High in Transit’. It was painted on barrels containing the same (often manure for farming) as an instruction to dock workers. If it was stored low, water that got into the lower compartments of the ship would caught an unimaginable stench.
It is hilarious and I love the word even more now!
Go to Hell
I do not actually know the details of origin of this phrase, but I imagine, ‘hell and horned devil who lives here’ were part of the propaganda used extensively to discourage Pagan practices and Goddess worship through the ages.
It is funny, because as we reclaim some of their ancient practice that connect us to the Earth, we actually descend into the pits of our consciousness and the womb of the Earth Mother. I wonder if this descent was interpreted as ‘hell’ in some way. And so, recently I’m rather tickled if I hear someone say this phrase and I use it to remind myself that I can always go deeper into consciousness and Spirit.
Apocalypse
Previously held relationship: Chaos and destruction
Comes from the Greek word meaning uncover, disclose or reveal. Sort-of gives a different meaning to the phrase – zombie apocalypse, doesn’t it?
New relationship: The rise of truth, strength and love and the fall of what was in the way.
If you have words that evoked a truth or changed your relationship to language, I’d love to hear them! Do share if you are called to!