Man is a creature of reaction. We respond to stimuli that is outside of our control on an autonomic level with reactins as simple as a shiver, to as great as leaping out of the way of a thrown snowball. These reactions don't end on the physical level, but we react to words with as much difference in action as a tempreture change or a perceived threat. A simple question or statement can put us on guard, or force us into a mental state of fear, or panic, indecision, it can spur laughter, or joy, or fear, or anger. In amny ways words are more powerful than any other stimuli for they are fast to be said, long to be taken back, and forever to be forgotten. An inappropreate utterance, no matter what the intentions behind them if heard wrong, or interpreted from a wrong standpoint can cause pain, anger, fear, it can even start wars.
For those who embrace the concept of balance in the world, and the tenants of wicca reating to what is said is probably the hardest thing not to do. The path we choose is that of moderation, of balance, ever eager to fix, or help we must also judge both our actions and intent against what would be accomplished by involving ourselves both for gain or for ill.
Learning to listen objectively is not an impossible task. One can learn to do this quite easily, but keeping it applied to our lives is perhaps the hardest thing. Emotions in many ways are our enemy when it comes to being rational, and keeping to that path of balance. Our hopes and fears come into play as filters, shaping the eveidence, and tainting it's color and flavor. Ego and Id try their hardest to shape what we think to be what they conceive is the truth, and play the results in our minds wheile we try and react... all in the space between one breath and the next.
So how do we do it? How do we not react to our minds projection of the worst when hearing things that are said that make us cringe, or boil our blood? Patience, and objectivity, pausing between what was heard and what we say in response, not long, pehaps half a beat of a heart, but long enough to apply our thoughts to what was said and balance our response or even what we feel with the facts we know, and not just suspect or from a nagging feeling, or an inner fear. Listen to all of it before letting it run with you mind, or heart. See behind the words, at what is being said on a deeper level rather than the level that you react to in that space between this breath and the next.
Are you listening?
