Renee, ready to comment on wonder/wound and the open heart, then I come across Veronika’s comment above. I am stunned with wonder in this moment. Just yesterday I discovered her work and became introduced to her chapters on Synchronosophy. It was as if I have a framework to hold my journey through grief these last years. So many synchronicities that led me to mystery and meaning, that became a conduit to reinterpreting my whole life including my relationship with my beloved since her passing. And here, another synchrony— from you to Veronika to ‘the Way’ (whom I ventured remotely with my Spanish Co-angel not to long ago). Veronika noted that “synchrony is everywhere”. It can only be that the vulnerable, the broken open heart, is by nature the perceptive organ that seeds wonder inside us. These seeds germinate meaning into the many dark and tangled plots of our life. In THIS moment I am astonished how solid the ground feels beneath my feet, my legs, my heart.
Mark, how deliciously synchronous that you and Veronika have connected at this threshold of wound/wonder and the everywhere, endless syncronies of 'the Way' that appear to the heart broken open to its nascent perceptivity!
. . . the dark and tangled and astonishing plots of our life.
»It can only be that the vulnerable, the broken open heart, is by nature the perceptive organ that seeds wonder inside us. These seeds germinate meaning into the many dark and tangled plots of our life.« Beautifully said, Mark 🙏 💕
So lovely Renée. Your wisdom never only enters my mind, but like a million-tentacled creature, reaches into my viscera, mirroring its capacity to hold and harmonize seemingly opposing energies.
“Bearing pain and sorrow and being struck with wonder both breach the membrane of ordinary awareness and seize us from the taken-for-granted.”
Maybe you’re aware of the poet Maya C Popa? Her latest collection is titled Wound is the Origin of Wonder. 🙏
Kimberly, your kind words never cease to touch me. Thank you, always, for your depths of presence when you read and your many kindnesses. I did not know about Maya C Popa's latest collection until you (here) and Megan (comment below) emailed me to say she sent a copy, which is awaiting me upon my return home. Synchronicities are at play. 🙏
Ahh, you are up to Alchemy! The transfiguration of words and body…..and our world. Renee your written offerings each Sunday often lead me into a depth of Self. I am stilled by them, my self is quieted, I pause, I wonder. Your writing(transmissions) have a way of shifting consciousness towards Revery and wonder. This essay today evoked this wondering/wandering:
I have always been intrigued by images and stories of the Stigmata……..
We seem to make the mistake serially, repeatedly. All evidence to the contrary, we think we will "move through life with ease." Then comes a "breach in the membrane of ordinary awareness." A door opens and we let the suffering in. "Wonder chooses us." I feel chosen but it's not at all like being asked to dance.
Renée, as we are wandering our parallel tracks of inner journeys, I am excited to see you pick up on the link between Wunde* (wound) and Wunder* (wonder) this week. Extraordinarily timely for me, since my next chapter is circling in on this very topic. Interesting also that you hint at the difference between curiosity and wonder. I agree.
Very much looking forward to wandering a few steps together on the coast of Portugal soon. Boa viagem xx
*Although Wunde and Wunder are very similar in German, I cannot find any evidence that they are linked to the same etymological root. There is, however, an intriguing and undeniable link between the two words on some other level. Perhaps we could call it 'experiential'?
Veronika, I am glad you asked. I should have provided a fn. Honestly, until you asked, I had forgotten that I came across this connection not in an etymological dictionary but in a philosophy article. I dug up some notes from a course I taught on wonder. You might be interested. . . .
Howard Parson's 1969 piece, "A Philosophy of Wonder."
Parson writes:
"Our English wonder, lying relatively close to its primitive roots, retains
the more powerful force of miracle; and although it is liberally used in
English translations of Biblical terms that carry supernatural connotations,
it is by no means an equivalent. Wonder, from the Old English wundor,
might be cognate with the German Wunde or wound. It would thus
suggest a breach in the membrane of awareness, a sudden opening in a
man's system of established and expected meanings, a blow as if one were
struck or stunned. To be wonderstruck is to be wounded by the sword of
the strange event, to be stabbed awake by the striking."
Renee, ready to comment on wonder/wound and the open heart, then I come across Veronika’s comment above. I am stunned with wonder in this moment. Just yesterday I discovered her work and became introduced to her chapters on Synchronosophy. It was as if I have a framework to hold my journey through grief these last years. So many synchronicities that led me to mystery and meaning, that became a conduit to reinterpreting my whole life including my relationship with my beloved since her passing. And here, another synchrony— from you to Veronika to ‘the Way’ (whom I ventured remotely with my Spanish Co-angel not to long ago). Veronika noted that “synchrony is everywhere”. It can only be that the vulnerable, the broken open heart, is by nature the perceptive organ that seeds wonder inside us. These seeds germinate meaning into the many dark and tangled plots of our life. In THIS moment I am astonished how solid the ground feels beneath my feet, my legs, my heart.
Mark, how deliciously synchronous that you and Veronika have connected at this threshold of wound/wonder and the everywhere, endless syncronies of 'the Way' that appear to the heart broken open to its nascent perceptivity!
. . . the dark and tangled and astonishing plots of our life.
»It can only be that the vulnerable, the broken open heart, is by nature the perceptive organ that seeds wonder inside us. These seeds germinate meaning into the many dark and tangled plots of our life.« Beautifully said, Mark 🙏 💕
So lovely Renée. Your wisdom never only enters my mind, but like a million-tentacled creature, reaches into my viscera, mirroring its capacity to hold and harmonize seemingly opposing energies.
“Bearing pain and sorrow and being struck with wonder both breach the membrane of ordinary awareness and seize us from the taken-for-granted.”
Maybe you’re aware of the poet Maya C Popa? Her latest collection is titled Wound is the Origin of Wonder. 🙏
Kimberly, your kind words never cease to touch me. Thank you, always, for your depths of presence when you read and your many kindnesses. I did not know about Maya C Popa's latest collection until you (here) and Megan (comment below) emailed me to say she sent a copy, which is awaiting me upon my return home. Synchronicities are at play. 🙏
Ahh, you are up to Alchemy! The transfiguration of words and body…..and our world. Renee your written offerings each Sunday often lead me into a depth of Self. I am stilled by them, my self is quieted, I pause, I wonder. Your writing(transmissions) have a way of shifting consciousness towards Revery and wonder. This essay today evoked this wondering/wandering:
I have always been intrigued by images and stories of the Stigmata……..
Thankyou🙏🏻❤️🔥🌀
Megan, your words have ushered me to the depths of stillness, and here there are no words but thank you most humbly, dear friend.
May your winds be fair, your steps light, and your heart be joyous.
Thank you, Michael. I so appreciate your prayerful presence and wishes.
We seem to make the mistake serially, repeatedly. All evidence to the contrary, we think we will "move through life with ease." Then comes a "breach in the membrane of ordinary awareness." A door opens and we let the suffering in. "Wonder chooses us." I feel chosen but it's not at all like being asked to dance.
"I feel chosen but it's not at all like being asked to dance."
Exquisite. Thank you, Susie.
Renée, as we are wandering our parallel tracks of inner journeys, I am excited to see you pick up on the link between Wunde* (wound) and Wunder* (wonder) this week. Extraordinarily timely for me, since my next chapter is circling in on this very topic. Interesting also that you hint at the difference between curiosity and wonder. I agree.
Very much looking forward to wandering a few steps together on the coast of Portugal soon. Boa viagem xx
*Although Wunde and Wunder are very similar in German, I cannot find any evidence that they are linked to the same etymological root. There is, however, an intriguing and undeniable link between the two words on some other level. Perhaps we could call it 'experiential'?
Veronika, I am glad you asked. I should have provided a fn. Honestly, until you asked, I had forgotten that I came across this connection not in an etymological dictionary but in a philosophy article. I dug up some notes from a course I taught on wonder. You might be interested. . . .
Howard Parson's 1969 piece, "A Philosophy of Wonder."
Parson writes:
"Our English wonder, lying relatively close to its primitive roots, retains
the more powerful force of miracle; and although it is liberally used in
English translations of Biblical terms that carry supernatural connotations,
it is by no means an equivalent. Wonder, from the Old English wundor,
might be cognate with the German Wunde or wound. It would thus
suggest a breach in the membrane of awareness, a sudden opening in a
man's system of established and expected meanings, a blow as if one were
struck or stunned. To be wonderstruck is to be wounded by the sword of
the strange event, to be stabbed awake by the striking."
in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, Vol. 39, No. 1 (Sep. 1969) pp. 84–101. https://doi.org/10.2307/21055923
Here is the stable jstor link for full access to the article if you have a jstor account:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2105923
thank you for the link. Yes, I can see how the association between Wunde and Wunder is made. How the moment of wounding leads to wondering...
It certainly made Parson wonder in relatable ways.
indeed