![]() ![]() The Latin pax is akin to pact, a truce or accord. Peaceful – This word is so common, we could almost skip over it.Interesting that the Latin word it comes from, placidus (calm quiet) is akin to placere, which has evolved into pleasure and please. Like tranquil, placid means pleasantly calm, peaceful, and unruffled. What’s going on in that quiet space is nourishing hearts and minds for returning to the noisier outside world. In fact, the settled quiet of a library holds dynamic potential. Quiet – A quiet spirit is “at rest free from disturbance.” I think of a library, which may be quiet, but it’s also full of energy. ![]() A tranquil soul is unruffled, free from agitated emotions. Tranquil – Similar to serene, the Latin tranquillus means “quiet, calm, still.” I always think of a mirror lake reflecting trees, blue sky, and clouds.When we contemplate, we “consider thoroughly, view with continued attention.” Contemplative – In Latin, contemplari means “to survey, observe.” It’s related to temple, a space marked off to watch for divine guidance or signs and omens, which is why we call some religious thinkers contemplatives.When we’re training ourselves to relax, it helps to still our bodies and then try to coax our minds to be still, to stop pinging toward past and present concerns. Still – The dictionary definition is “free from turbulence or commotion” and is related to stall from the Greek stellan, to put or place.It comes from the Latin serenus, meaning “clear, cloudless, untroubled.” In ancient times, it was used to describe sky and weather that was undisturbed, so it’s a perfect description for the untroubled, composed spirit. Serene – This is another of my favorites.That may be more a personality style for some than for others, but it’s for our best – our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual best – to learn to relax, to make it a habit. Relaxed – We used to call it being “laid back.” Unhurried, carefree, stress free, easygoing.Grounded – This comes from Middle English grundien or grownden, meaning “to set on a foundation.” Established.Most people would not commit violence or retribution within the sacred space. It’s a sanctuary, which comes from sanctus, meaning “sacred.” Sacred spaces were often places people could go to be safe, because the space represented a place of mercy, a place indwelt by the divine. A refuge is a safe space to flee to, a shelter from trouble or danger. Refuge – Refugere in Latin means “to flee” and is, of course, related to refugee.Or feathers shaken from a pillow, floating lightly through the air to a gentle landing. Or falling leaves, easing into a drift on the ground. It comes from the Old English setlan, which means “to place.” In the kaleidoscope of calm, settle means “to be satisfied with.” I picture swirling flakes in a shaken snow globe as they come to rest. The center is the fulcrum point on which our life is balanced. Centered indicates something stable that our life rotates around. Balance is a good word for being centered. Otherwise the piece is so unbalanced, it soon becomes unworkable. Centered – In pottery class, we learned to always center the lump clay on the turning wheel before forming it into a vase or bowl or cup.May each shine a fragment of color and light into your spirit. Not only do we personally need it, but the world, too, needs our calm. In this frantic world, we need to nurture our own inner calm. It was quite calming and led me to think that calm itself can be described in a kaleidoscope of words, each tinted with its own hue of peace. I had forgotten how mesmerizing a kaleidoscope can be. “The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” I reminded myself that Bertrand Russell said: Recently – and for the first time in years – I peeked into a kaleidoscope and spent the next few minutes turning the barrel, watching chinks of color and light split and fall from one design into another.
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