Linguistics, spirituality, and non-symbolic consciousness
By Joe Perez Continued from Part 1. III In valleys, what we have Constrains the absolute. That valve which opens wide, Sweeps, varies, and closes, That vaginal clamping Part whole and part not-whole. That clavicle linking, Vast not spacious, … [MORE...]
There is perhaps no better example of the difficulty of chasing one's own tail than the effort to become more aware of one's embeddedness in language. Open your mouth to speak about the nature of language and you find yourself using it. Think silently, … [MORE...]
Let us take a hands-on exercise today in language mysticism. What, from Spirit's point of view, is the F? WTF? Pronounce the sound of the letter F -- /f/, the voiceless labiodental fricative consonant -- and feel the position of your body. Feel into the … [MORE...]
A secret to the evolution of language may be found in the face of a monkey. A report on io9 explains: New World Monkeys are the strangest-looking primates on Earth and they all look nothing like each other, from the bald-headed, demon-like Uakari to the … [MORE...]
Sometimes I wonder why I (more than occasionally) read Language Log. In a lengthy post ostensibly on the word "draft," Mark Liberman offers a memorable simile for people who like etymology. He writes: [H]umans who love to explore etymology are like dogs … [MORE...]
What is the connection between music and the neurological aspects of aging? Researchers have studied the connection between musicians and beneficial aging, including the latest study reported on ScienceDaily: Measuring the automatic brain responses of younger … [MORE...]
Visit me at Awake, Alive, & Aware! In order to provide greater focus for my blogging, I am suspending Language Mystic (the blog) while continuing to blog almost every day at my main blog. Of course, I am passionate about language mysticism, and will … [MORE...]
Your name is probably connected to your life's occupation. Precisely why that is so is the subject of controversy and research. Jessica Love writes in The American Scholar: Cleverly designed experiments reveal a so-called baker-Baker paradox: we find it … [MORE...]
Even if a news story sounds negative, its "subtle energy" may be positive, if by that we are are talking about the energy of affect. A new article in ScienceDaily reports that English has a bias towards positivity: In the new study, Dodds and his colleagues … [MORE...]
By Joe Perez Continued from Part 1, Part 2 Part 3, and Part 4. IX The zig zag’s second turn Confirms its wavering Course, first zipping forward, Then zapping in reverse. It gets grand and grounded By repeating its way; It gets stopped up and … [MORE...]
In our post-Klingon era, Hollywood is increasingly discovering the importance of hiring top-notch linguists to create languages for sci-fi and fantasy films. From a recent New York Times article: There's been a sea change in Hollywood. They realize there's a … [MORE...]
Cultural differences, including language, may be a possible driver of biological evolution, research implies. An article in Discover Magazine reports on research involving the Xavánte, an Amazon aboriginal tribe, and concludes: Hostile neighbors still tend … [MORE...]
A short video on YouTube effectively preaches "the power of words to radically change your message and your effect upon the world." The short gives an illustration of how a "poetic" or indirect method of communication ("It's a Beautiful Day...") is more … [MORE...]
By Joe Perez Continued from Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. VII Dancing in dapper dress, 'Dorned with a dab of scent, Not leaving the meeting, It dashes in and out. Adjacent to water, Dammed sink or dampened cloth, Adhering to a blade Of dazzling … [MORE...]
By Joe Perez I Absolute absolute, Blade that stabs at the root, Blasts madly primal "Back!" That which does not abet, That much is not abject, That such is not about, Gets good when it abounds, Gets bad when it goes down. Abusive bat, knocked … [MORE...]
By Joe Perez Continued from Part 1 and Part 2. V In soft mud, a thallus Twig sans leaf, root, or stem. It grows, nevertheless, On a distinguished path. Injected catheter, A new Thalidomide, Potential pathogen, It gives no thanks for life, But … [MORE...]
Visit me at Awake, Alive, & Aware! In order to provide greater focus for my blogging, I am suspending Language Mystic (the blog) while continuing to blog almost every day at my main blog. Of course, I am passionate about language mysticism, and will continue to blog regularly about these subjects. If the need arises in the future, the blog will be ready to dust off. My integral world is … [Read more...]
Let us take a hands-on exercise today in language mysticism. What, from Spirit's point of view, is the F? WTF? Pronounce the sound of the letter F -- /f/, the voiceless labiodental fricative consonant -- and feel the position of your body. Feel into the rising jaw, the tightening front of the mouth, the friction of your upper teeth against your inner lower lip. Feel into the turbulence of … [Read more...]
Where is God? I repeat: Where is God? Here's one important way of answering the question, one anyone striving for an integral spiritual outlook ought to consider. According to an article by Corey de Vos published on Ken-Wilber.com, Wilber and Brother David Steindl-Rast engaged in a dialogue on Integral Christianity in 2008. A key part of their discussion was to address "The Three Faces of … [Read more...]
There is perhaps no better example of the difficulty of chasing one's own tail than the effort to become more aware of one's embeddedness in language. Open your mouth to speak about the nature of language and you find yourself using it. Think silently, pondering the nature of language, and your mind strings together concepts and words of a particular language. How do you succeed in catching your … [Read more...]
Imagine a World Spirituality in which language is not seen as merely an obstacle to enlightenment, but a vehicle to a non-dual relationship with our true nature. The sacred breath of God would emanate from our own lips, its energy infusing us with the potential for greater health, well-being, and right relationship with nature. Or maybe that's ridiculous and language is just a deadly, … [Read more...]
What is the connection between music and the neurological aspects of aging? Researchers have studied the connection between musicians and beneficial aging, including the latest study reported on ScienceDaily: Measuring the automatic brain responses of younger and older musicians and non-musicians to speech sounds, researchers in the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory discovered that older musicians … [Read more...]
A short video on YouTube effectively preaches "the power of words to radically change your message and your effect upon the world." The short gives an illustration of how a "poetic" or indirect method of communication ("It's a Beautiful Day...") is more powerful than simply stating the obvious in an unremarkable fashion. It's true. That's why wordsmiths have such valued roles in politics … [Read more...]
By Joe Perez Continued from Part 1, Part 2 Part 3, and Part 4. IX The zig zag’s second turn Confirms its wavering Course, first zipping forward, Then zapping in reverse. It gets grand and grounded By repeating its way; It gets stopped up and popped When it puts itself at A sort of Alcatraz. It riffs in blue jazz notes, A purplish azure hue Short in a light spectrum Of … [Read more...]
Cultural differences, including language, may be a possible driver of biological evolution, research implies. An article in Discover Magazine reports on research involving the Xavánte, an Amazon aboriginal tribe, and concludes: Hostile neighbors still tend to exchange genes (e.g., kidnapping of women for brides, or slaves which are eventually assimilated into the enslaving tribe). Only a small … [Read more...]
Just discovered a nifty online tool today: Wording by bab.la. The tool lets you type part of a sentence with something left out and get recommendations for words that might fit. For example: God is ? 21% God is not 21% God is the 19% God is a 9% God is in 8% God is love 5% God is good 5% God is with 4% God is my 4% God is doing 4% God is one holy ? 35% Holy Spirit 16% Holy … [Read more...]
There is perhaps no better example of the difficulty of chasing one's own tail than the effort to become more aware of one's embeddedness in language. Open your mouth to speak about the nature of language and you … [MORE...]
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