Have you ever questioned the words we speak, the power they hold, and whether we are saying what we truly mean? The interesting thing about the digital age is that we have a technical opportunity (and the handy ‘delete’ button) to put a lot more thought into what we write. Texts, emails, web content – are all usually given the luxury of a little more time and thought. Consciously or unconsciously, we frequently craft our words to please others and to feel a sense of identity and power from belonging to a certain group. And yet, I wonder how much we’re actually mindful of whether the words we’re saying, match how we’re genuinely feeling within. The dynamics of our modern-day communication begs the question – what is in a word?

Put simply, and in energetic terms, words are powerful encrypted codes of information. They are like little clouds of energy that store information. They are powerful because we all contribute to their meaning. Initially, we may begin with a somewhat nebulous agreement on the meaning - the energy behind the word and then we add to it. We use the word, we add to the cloud. And we use it again, and we add to it again, and again, and again. Through repetition, and our collective investment in the meaning, it becomes a solid thought form that society continuously validates and keeps floating in our conscious awareness. We only need to look at the destructive language in racism and sexism to understand how our words, when repeated and agreed by many, take away from life. They divide us. They disconnect, and they reinforce fear in our society. For this reason, we need to be VERY mindful of the words we choose.

"There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Proverbs 12:18

Socrates, the Greek philosopher, was known to have his own filter on using words. He’d ask “Is it true; is it kind, or is it necessary?” And perhaps this is something important for us to consider when we exchange our words. Gossip about others, mindless chatter, unfounded opinions and negative cynicism do not contribute to a peaceful, or harmonious state of being. They ‘take away’ from us energetically (and karmically). Often, we use them to connect with others (about others), but I suggest you find a different point of connection – where words have sentiment of appreciation, of love, and of compassion for each other. Use words that hold the frequency of love, not fear. For isn’t this the world we want to create? Words of love add to life. They contribute to life, they connect us with our ‘higher self’ and each other, and they make way for expansion – more life!

To experience the effect of this, in your meditation and energy healing practise, you simply need to sit with your favourite prayer or mantra. The effect of this prayer isn’t caught up in the written or spoken text, it’s purely in the meaning – a meaning that, for many prayers and mantras, has been carried through for hundreds of years. These mantras and prayers make us feel connected to something ‘higher’. Something more ‘life giving’.

If we sat fully present with most ‘breaking’ newswires, we’d notice language created from fear and cleverly constructed to go beyond ‘informing’. Much of the language is designed to create more anxiety, more drama and feed the fear. We’d notice that some words invoke separation, authority and control. Perhaps we’d even sense the fear and the fight-or-flight response brewing in our bodies. These words ‘take’ energy and life from our bodies – adding to darkness, drama and disconnection. Words in this context are used to disconnect us from all that is true, good and beautiful in our hearts. It disconnects us from our Higher Self.

Just imagine if amidst the COVID-19 experience, we replaced the term ‘Social Distancing’ with ‘Social Consideration’, or even ‘Social spacing’. It’s a subtle shift, but the use of one word can entirely change how you feel.

Ultimately, words are vibration. They either add to life or take from it. And, as creators of these words, you too can choose to create life or take from it. I suggest you take the time to consider ‘is what I’m about to communicate true, kind or necessary? Is it coming from a space of love?’. Where there is love, in intent, in words, and in action, more life is created.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Psalm 119:105

Peace be with you,

Chiu Chi