Hag. Crone. Genius. Just three of the many words consigned a distorted meaning on the ash heap of modern culture. There is ancient knowing that echoes in these words. Wisdom for these times. Of course I’ve written about the roots of hag and crone. Hag originally signifying holy and crone signifying crown, especially that aura of wisdom light that surrounded ancient wise women. 

I’ve also written about genius as the spirit that dwells in a landscape. The soul of a place that was present in the animals, plants, trees, wells, and rivers. Our ancestors knew the natural world to be alive with a profound spiritual essence that was both omnipotent and omnipresent. And they lived in deep spiritual connection with it. They were woven with it. And so there is this genius in us as well. Michael Meade writes about this…

The basic meaning of genius is the spirit that’s already there. The second oldest meaning is that which is just born. So when each of us is born, we’re born with a spirit that’s already there. That was in us before we came. And the strongest word in the Western world for that is genius. In India you might hear someone say Dharma. The oldest meaning of Dharma is the law written in your soul. So genius is our Dharma and the law written in us, the way we’re intended to be. …

Everyone is a genius by virtue of being born. Everyone brings a genius into the world with them. Or looked at mythologically, the genius brings each of us into the world because the genius knows why we’re here. Certainly our families don’t. Most educational institutions don’t. Most churches don’t. Most partners don’t. The genius does.

Genius. Growing up in this culture, especially within a university community, I learned that genius was all about the mind and thinking and knowledge. A revered status and power afforded to only a few people. Information is not knowledge and knowledge is not wisdom. In these times, we need all the wisdom available to us.

Genius. Wisdom of the soul. They way we are intended to be. Your genius. A gift beyond imagining. And yet … imagine what might be possible.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com