Thoughts on the word

by Eva Knausenberger

The spoken word stands at the very beginning, is a beginning in itself. During the Holy Nights I had a dream. I saw word-seeds being scattered in great clouds. Each seed-word burst open and soon there was a firework of blossoms in all colours, an oceanic abundance of beauty, shapes, colours and possibilities as far as I could see; still visible when I close my eyes. A heightened sense of wonder and joy is my gift of the Holy Nights.
 And then there is the wedding in Cana (John 2: 1-11), which I -for the sake of my argument here- interpret as the beginning of a new social contract between bride and groom as much as between all who were invited. The word ‘Yes’ is spoken at every wedding. Imagine the word ‘Yes’ to be a living seed, ready to burst into bloom, or perhaps turning the water we drink daily into flavoursome newness rather than a chemical alteration. All things become possible afterwards and we are the witnesses, just like the disciples were.

The words spoken by Amanda Gorman in honour of Joe Biden’s inauguration are such examples of flowers in my dream; they seeded joy and wonder into human hearts all over the world. The Truth of her words lit hope -at least for moments- in human hearts and minds, spoke more clearly than the lies, these flowers of evil with their toxic seeds. Do we know the inherent power of the spoken word, or do we say ‘Yes, But’…too often?
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“The Word of God, in sense’s darkness resounds, transfiguring the world” (from a Soul Calendar verse by Rudolf Steiner)