Playing with Words

Linda Heron Wind, Ph.D.

I love to play with words! It brings up my curiosity when I find interesting and surprising relationships among words. When I was meditating last week and contemplating the healing process, I was given the following words to ponder: trauma, drama, and Rama. Now trauma and drama I know about but Rama I am not as familiar with. I know that in Hindu traditions Rama incarnated as avatars or enlightened beings, so Rama could represent higher consciousness.

If we look at the stages of healing related to levels of consciousness, in the physical dimension we interpret certain experiences that threaten our sense of safety as trauma. In such situations the nervous system of the body goes into fight, flight, or immobilization in an effort to be safe. So the first stage of healing is the recognition that such a reaction has taken place in response to an experience in the physical realm.

With awareness beyond the physical, we can begin to see how our trauma experiences relate to a particular theme. We could categorize trauma as falling into certain archetypal themes such as victim, perpetrator, martyr, and so forth. Seeing the theme allows us to become more of an observer of the drama, like we are watching our life experience in a play or a movie. We become the main character and the others in our play are playing the supporting roles.

Identifying when you are in the drama (clue: it usually has emotions attached) is helpful because you can step back and become an observer of yourself and ask how you want to play the role you are in. This is the second stage of healing.

The third stage is when you begin to see how the situation has served you in some way. Perhaps it has allowed you to become more aware of the roles you play and develop the ability to choose something different. Or it may have motivated you to question the role you were assigned and play it with greater awareness and consciousness. This is the gift of Rama. When enlightenment arrives we can see that the physical character that we are playing is not who we are any more than an actor is the character they are playing in the play. When we become aware of our true identity, trauma and drama both become irrelevant. What is simply is and we do not need to play any role at all. This final stage of healing is the transformation that frees us from our physical world. Even though we are still in the world, we are not of it.

So in healing we proceed from trauma to drama to Rama.

Another word that is interesting to me is "awful." Generally we use the word to describe something we don't like very well, yet it seems as if the word could mean "full of awe." At the same time "awesome" is something we usually like. I guess that means that "some awe" is ok but "full of awe" is too over the top for us to appreciate.

One word that I have been using lately in response to many things is "amused." It is not the same as laughing at something but more like a quiet smile that comes over me when I look at the play going on in my life and those around me. Parts of the play are quite absurd and being amused helps me not to go into drama. I just stay in my seat and smile. Of course if we look at "amused" closely it could mean being "a Muse." Muse is one of the Greek Goddesses that presides over the arts. Being amused then just might bring out my creativity.

"Amused" could also refer to the verb "muse" that means to meditate, wonder, or think in silence. That too could serve me well in observing the chaos of the physical world. Playing with words can be a great way to raise your consciousness and find new ways to be with what is - and it is great amusement!

To heal the trauma
One must see through the drama
The play of Rama

Releasing Darkness
Amused now by the drama
I smile at this life

If you have comments on this newsletter or ideas for future topics,
call Linda Heron Wind at (585) 924-5620 or send e-mail to LHWind@aol.com.

Page last modified November 2007 by RMC