Words, magical potions of unimaginable power. Words. We “spell” them. Yes, words can cast spells. They have for as long as man has walked the earths realm. There are no coincidences we use the word “spell” to describe what we do with letters, to form words, to form sentences, to give meaning, and when one is evil, to cast “spells” of unimaginable evil. Words, they can comfort, hypnotize, lift us up, and even drive us into psychosis. We are in just such living times, mass formation psychosis, because we trusted evil doers. We have just learned that we must wield our words like the sharpest of swords, as they have taken down kingdoms and many a good man. They must be chosen carefully, wisely, for when used carelessly souls can be irreparably damaged. Words last an eternity.
For those here reading my works particularly over the last 1-2 years, at some point in the future you will be able to look back and see that there was a undercurrent theme to my writings. They all had a common topic in mind, and heart, but until the time of the great reveal, one may not see this undercurrent so clearly. Time offers many answers.
What we say to others matters. Even an unspoken intent and emotions behind our words matter. We must be more cautious. And as well, what we say to ourselves matters. If you are kind and loving and speak only the affirmative to yourself, good things will blossom from those seeds of good will. However, if you are tough and rough on yourself over failure and mistakes, you may cast a negative spell on your spirit and soul, so to speak, and perpetuate a vicious cycle. Ask any anxious or depressed person these things, the truth is plain to grasp, though many do not see it until they have left a scar on our soul and spirit. Talking to ourselves ,and others, is a skill, it is a game. One must learn how to play if one wants to win and evolve. Choose to play by the alternate rules? Devolve, misery, anxiety, depression, anger. Spells on our own souls, our own self destruction. Words matter. Words remain. The brain, the mind, are a quantum device, they learns whatever is programed into them, so choose wisely.
My favorite actor is Robin Williams, he is still with us, as he knew the rules of the game and escaped before it was too late. There is a profound speech in one of the most fantastic movies of all time, “Dead Poets Society”. He knocked it out of the park in his part as a true teacher. In this scene, he tells the boys the magical spells words can have.
“words and language, words and ideas can change the world. I have a little secret for you boys, huddle up boys (as he kneels down in the classroom, the boys huddling around him as he whispers . . . ) Huddle up !! We do not read and write poetry because it is cute, we read and write poetry because we are members of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits, all necessary to sustain life, but poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitmann, “oh me, oh life, of the questions of these recurring, of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish. What good amid these, oh life. The answer ? That you are here, and life exists, that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. Boys, what will your verse be?” -Mr. Keating (Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society)
Mr. Keating asks the boys what verse they will contribute to humanity. I would argue that he was really saying, that words are the most powerful thing on earth, and to use them wisely, and for good. The human race is filled with passion. We are about to truly come alive into who we truly are, and it will be enlightening, transformative. And through that and with that awakening, again we must remember that “poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are the things we stay alive for. The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”
Words are magic, they weave spells. Writing, it weaves spells and give us a glimpse into who we truly are. Insightful writing reveals the monsters we wrestle with under the cover of the days distractions, or it exposes the vexations we consciously ignore, for finding our truth might be unbearable and crush our spirit. But, I propose that is exactly why we should all write, so we can summon the beasts within us, and command they sit across the table from us and uncover their spells and lies we have let them control us with. In doing just this, we gain command and confidence over our self-casted spells, or those which others have made us to believe.
Words, whether in our heads or departing the edge of our lips, they weave spells. They weave both good and bad, all at the expense of our own soul and spirit, and of course at the expense of others when we chose to let them part our lips without great consideration and care. Once into the ether, words, and their intent cannot be brought back. They live forever, so cast your spells wisely and with loving intent. Words matter, words remain.
He died. He died FROM Covid. He died WITH Covid …….. (but it was the car accident into a tree, from the tree limb that then impaled him, as he overdosed on bourbon)……. yet he died with Covid. Words, their spells are unbelievable. Humanity just lived through the most evil witch’s brew. The cauldron was deep and wide, concocted for years, to cast just the right intents upon us all. Humanity fell for it. Many got caught, others, the awake and arguably lucky ones, saw through it. Context is powerful. Will there ever be a more profound time in humanity’s existence where the power of words and their spells swung the broadest of swords? Just two little words, “from”, “with”, both spelled with 4 letters, they just might end the world next time, they came real close this time. Words are more powerful than anything. Words matter. Words remain.
Lies, white lies, purposeful deception, truths. They all begin with thoughts that transcribe to words, words with intent. The intent is the spell. We must come to understand that the intent is the catalyst in the witch’s brew. Words break hearts, lift spirits, crush souls, elevate kingdoms. There are few things more powerful than well chosen words.
After we are gone, other than memories of us, the only thing that will ring through the minds of the ages and our loved ones, are the Words that Remain. Did we leave fellow humans with love and longing for us, or did we leave them with gaping gushing wounds, or worse, death by a thousand paper-cuts.? Unsheath words with great caution and care.
Your Words will Remain. Even with forgiveness, your words will remain, for eternity. Words, spelling, think of them that way the next time your child asks you how to “spell” a word. Tell them, truth, tone, inflection and context, they all matter, perhaps even more than the word itself. Words matter. Words remain.
-Shawn, March 2022
enjoy the well chosen words in the song below.
Words Remain, by Josh Garrels. Simply brilliant, and beautiful.
