Most, if not all, of us have at one time felt the power of spoken language. The old childhood chant, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me." for those who have experienced the power of language, know the chant is ineffectual. Indeed at times one would rather be struck by sticks or stones then endure the power of language.

Language is simply a combination of sounds which symbolicly represent something. The word Cat in the English language is simply a representation of an animal. In Spanish El Gato makes reference to the same animal but the sounds representing it are different then the English version. Monks in a Tibetan holy temple combine only the vowels of language to express the totality of the universe.

Certainly this is magick in it's basic forms, the act of bringing inner reality/thought into being through the use of vocal sounds. The simply act of naming a creature or human being would touch upon deeper concepts of the sacred names, which if someone else other than the owner knew would have power. To combine the sounds in select combinations must have been a fearful feat in itself, for once said they can not be taken back. They can not be erased from a cave wall, or buried in the soil. Once spoken, only the effects can be seen, the sound itself is invisible but the effect often is not.

There is a branch of Jewish mysticism called, "The Path of Words" where one will combine the written symbols to bring about spiritual presence in the world. Not only do the verbal words have meaning, but written in select ways there may be a different meaning all together. In the oriental language, several words are written together to make up new words.

This branch of our world we take for granted. When we write we are manipulating symbols and the power they hold to bring about desired effects. When the written is then verbalized, an extra dimension is added. We have both the impact of the words as well as the visual, concrete aspects of the magick we bring about. In psychological terms, one reinforces the other and in our mind we begin to make associations with sounds, words and letter combinations.

What of communities who have no verbal communication, who for whatever reason can not verbalize? The evidence of the power of creating symbols perhaps become more apparent in alot of respects, but often times is unappreciated by those who can verbalize and hear. Sign language has an energy about it which is unique and just as powerful in it's own right. As verbal language has it's variations, so does sign language. Communication by the hands is an ancient form of communication which is alive and well and very effective. Here we have a third dimension, for with verbalizing written language there is gesture, another outward manifestation of inner reality, an inner reality which operates independently of being verbalized. One gesture can speak paragraphs and touch us deeply to the core of our beings, hearkening back to a more ancient life.

At the root of this is the need for us, as human beings, to bring our inner life into the visible world. Not only the manifestation of the inner life but the actual power of the inner soul as well. There are several spiritual concepts which place a high importance upon the silent realms of spirituality, calling us to forsake the distractions and destructive nature of spoken words. These aspects stress the experience of moment by moment living, a living daily meditation.

Perhaps our ideas of language and the uses of it are still in the barbaric stages. We have yet to find and fully realize the power of our words. These invisible sounds which stay with us in the world, why else would they strike so deeply in us, and shape our very growth. We have yet as human beings come to appreciate the power which is at our finger tips simply through language, both written and verbal. The words don't vanish, they are remembered and repeated such as in oral traditions. They are written down as records, as ways of knowing, as instructions for living.