In The Hidden Souls of Words, author Mary Cox Garner delves into the origins and histories of everyday words to expose the meanings and implications hidden in their souls. In the process, she not only illustrates the fascinating hidden histories behind each word, but also shows us how people everywhere can have more peaceful and purposeful communication, more harmonious and meaningful relationships by truly knowing the meanings of the words we use.After reading The Hidden Souls of Words, you will never again be able to speak without a measure of attention and feeling. You will have a better understanding of how our words are powerful symbols that assist us in connecting with God and one another. This, in turn, will help us all to be more responsible in the way we use our words - transforming human relations in the process.
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About the Author
Mary Garner has pursued many avenues of study, including theological studies, clinical psychology, and international law. Diverse interests and the desire to be of service have led, among other pursuits, to human rights advocacy, counseling, disarmament negotiating, and global efforts of interfaith cooperation. In 1995, Mary established HOPE, INC., which addresses both the material and spiritual needs of children.
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Are you truly aware of the deeper meanings of the words that control your life? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Are you truly aware of the deeper meanings of the words that control your life? Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes, "This is a beautiful book....a gem." Neal Donald Walsch's description: "an A-Z collection of words, the origin, the meaning and the impact of which author Garner explains with just the right touch, allowing us to 'see inside' these sounds and plumb from their depths the most effective use that we can make of them." Other notables that have conferred a thumbs up recommendation for this book are Barbara Marx Hubbard, Deepak Chopra, Sir John Templeton and Marianne Williamson. I am far from a notable but agree with their enthusiastic recommendations.
Garner has collected numerous time-honored words in our language and through sleuthlike diligence has ferret out the original intent or soul of each word. Garner explains, "The words we use everyday....are the symbols or links that convey our thoughts, feelings and intentions, and contain layers of meaning and nuance that comprise each word's 'soul'. These words spring from languages and circumstances now often lost to us. Poor translation and common, human misuse have blurred the meaning and spirit of so many words and caused hurt, conflict, war and misery for scores of individuals, communities and nations."
"Competition" is one surprising example of the misuse or misunderstanding of the soul of a word. The traditional use engenders a "them" and "us" comparison--a striving to win at all cost. From this distorted view comes fear there is not enough in life to go around. Garner discloses, "Competition is derived from the Latin competere, meaning to meet the requirements, also, to seek together....[and] conveys both a need to meet standards and to do so along with others." Garner informs us, "the person that we are meant to compete against, according to the soul of the word competition, is ourselves. There is no need for 'winners' or 'lossers' when everyone is seeking together. Then everyone wins, even at so-called competitive events." The original derivation of competition not only meant to meet requirements, but to do so along with others, not to dominate, but to bring out one another's gifts. Garner offers explanation on why, as she discovered, the distorted view of competition is fostered by a desperate desire for love and approval.
Garner's unordinary background (that includes law, clinical psychology, theology, also disarmament negotiation, along with a near death experience) allows her to offer inspirational insight on each soul of word and how it impacts on us. At the end of each word's discussion/examination, Garner transposes the soul of a word into stimulating questions. Her questions gently guide readers to observe/contemplate/assess significant aspects or areas of our lives, community and world. This allows a light of understanding to enter--and the transformation/healing to begin.
Garner accomplishes her mission. She not only reveals the hidden wisdom found in the ancient souls of words, but also, through this process, "shows us how words are symbols of Divine wisdom, gifts given to assist us in recognizing our inextricable, universal connection with God and one another, transcending all ideologies."
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.7 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Book for Our Own Soul's Growth
July 10 2004
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes, "This is a beautiful book....a gem." Neal Donald Walsch's description: "an A-Z collection of words, the origin, the meaning and the impact of which author Garner explains with just the right touch, allowing us to 'see inside' these sounds and plumb from their depths the most effective use that we can make of them." Other notables that have conferred a thumbs up recommendation for this book are Barbara Marx Hubbard, Deepak Chopra, Sir John Templeton and Marianne Williamson. I am far from a notable but agree with their enthusiastic recommendations.
Garner has collected numerous time-honored words in our language and through sleuthlike diligence has ferret out the original intent or soul of each word. Garner explains, "The words we use everyday....are the symbols or links that convey our thoughts, feelings and intentions, and contain layers of meaning and nuance that comprise each word's 'soul'. These words spring from languages and circumstances now often lost to us. Poor translation and common, human misuse have blurred the meaning and spirit of so many words and caused hurt, conflict, war and misery for scores of individuals, communities and nations."
"Competition" is one surprising example of the misuse or misunderstanding of the soul of a word. The traditional use engenders a "them" and "us" comparison--a striving to win at all cost. From this distorted view comes fear there is not enough in life to go around. Garner discloses, "Competition is derived from the Latin competere, meaning to meet the requirements, also, to seek together....[and] conveys both a need to meet standards and to do so along with others." Garner informs us, "the person that we are meant to compete against, according to the soul of the word competition, is ourselves. There is no need for 'winners' or 'lossers' when everyone is seeking together. Then everyone wins, even at so-called competitive events." The original derivation of competition not only meant to meet requirements, but to do so along with others, not to dominate, but to bring out one another's gifts. Garner offers explanation on why, as she discovered, the distorted view of competition is fostered by a desperate desire for love and approval.
Garner's unordinary background (that includes law, clinical psychology, theology, also disarmament negotiation, along with a near death experience) allows her to offer inspirational insight on each soul of word and how it impacts on us. At the end of each word's discussion/examination, Garner transposes the soul of a word into stimulating questions. Her questions gently guide readers to observe/contemplate/assess significant aspects or areas of our lives, community and world. This allows a light of understanding to enter--and the transformation/healing to begin.
Garner accomplishes her mission. She not only reveals the hidden wisdom found in the ancient souls of words, but also, through this process, "shows us how words are symbols of Divine wisdom, gifts given to assist us in recognizing our inextricable, universal connection with God and one another, transcending all ideologies."
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Author is stretching it.
Mar 28 2006
By Bette
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
With friends in high places (such as Chopra, Williamson and Neale Donald Walsch), I have a feeling the author decided she wanted her own new age book and came up with this very stretched idea.
Everday words which lack spiritual meanings on their own are grouped into chapters such as COMMUNICATION (with words like Television, Friend and Joy), ENLIGHTENMENT (Competition, Priest, Education), HEALING, TRANSFORMATION...you get the point.
If you're going to use the word "transformation" in the title of a book, then the words themselves should be transformative. There are plenty of other words we MIS-use everyday which could have made for an actually satisfying, life-altering book. I personally will not think twice when I use the word "television." Will you??? Just because it is wrapped in a chapter titled COMMUNICATION does not make its etymology, or how we use the word, spiritual in nature.
Everday words which lack spiritual meanings on their own are grouped into chapters such as COMMUNICATION (with words like Television, Friend and Joy), ENLIGHTENMENT (Competition, Priest, Education), HEALING, TRANSFORMATION...you get the point.
If you're going to use the word "transformation" in the title of a book, then the words themselves should be transformative. There are plenty of other words we MIS-use everyday which could have made for an actually satisfying, life-altering book. I personally will not think twice when I use the word "television." Will you??? Just because it is wrapped in a chapter titled COMMUNICATION does not make its etymology, or how we use the word, spiritual in nature.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Useful Tool
Jun 24 2005
By Paul Potts
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
One thing this book does is illustrate how carelessly we speak these days. We toss around terms like 'fascist' and 'liberal' without appreciation for their true meaning (as opposed to what we want them to mean in our specific conversation). Every impulse we have suddenly becomes a 'right' to be defended or decried, and everything that ever happens anywhere qualifies as 'news' (So Tom Cruise has a girlfriend...big deal).
OK, maybe this book doesn't tackle topics as heavy as these. But it is a great starting point to teach us all how to mind what we say. When we forget the meaning of words, we forget their power. And if we all are more aware of what we say to each other and how we say it, even the simplest of things, it can only bring us closer together. This is a worthwhile read for that alone.
OK, maybe this book doesn't tackle topics as heavy as these. But it is a great starting point to teach us all how to mind what we say. When we forget the meaning of words, we forget their power. And if we all are more aware of what we say to each other and how we say it, even the simplest of things, it can only bring us closer together. This is a worthwhile read for that alone.
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3.7 out of 5 stars
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