WORD OF THE WEEK: Syzygy

Summary: Well, I've done it again, posting late. But that doesn't mean I've stopped my crusade to find new words each week from a variety of sources—like today's: syzygy.

Holy syzygy! You mean it isn't Monday? Where has the time gone?

Actually, I know where my time was spent: I returned to my hometown over the weekend for some family events, and wound up staying longer than I'd planned. It may have shifted my schedule a little, but it was a conscious decision. I was easily lured into staying by my love of learning.

Don't get me wrong: Love for my family played a huge part, as well. But I confess it was the combination of the two that won me over.

My father, long a role model to me in a number of ways, decided last year at the age of 59 to return to school—seminary school, to be exact, to get his Masters in Divinity. (I'm sure he won't mind my sharing his age in this context!) I'm incredibly proud and amazed at him, as usual. And even more so am I proud this week, after watching him humble himself to learn in a new way a couple of days ago.

You see, he's taking a theology course that's been throwing him for a loop: Dad entered seminary based on his heart-felt beliefs, and intellectualizing his spiritual connections has felt unnatural to him this semester. He asked me to coach him over this little bump in the road by using the tools of my trade to connect his heart and mind (and bypass his brain challenges). I may post more about this in the future, if I get his permission. But for now, let me share the following:

You know I'm always looking for fun words I can share with you here (typically on MONDAYS). One word jumped out at me from Dad's dictionary of theological terms that just seemed—well, fun.

Syzygy (SIS - zi - JEE) - (n.) the nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies in a gravitational system, such as the sun, moon and earth during a lunar eclipse, for example; also the combining of parts to make a spiritual whole, such as Carl Jung's concept of animus and anima as soul parts or such as the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity. From the original Greek words syn, or together, and zygon for yoke, this word is just plain fun to spell and say!

© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010

WEEKLY UPDATE: Taking the First Step

Summary: A year ago, I started a 12-step journey, based on the original 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. So many 12-step groups exist today; their premise is always the same: inner growth through intense self-honesty. Taking the first step is the most important part of this and any personal journey.

This week, I dusted off some old journals and workbooks and re-read them to get some perspective on my life. What a difference a year makes! One year ago this month, I started working with a 12-step program—based on the original 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous—in order to gain a deeper sense of personal responsibility and inner peace. (These two ideas may seem antithetical, but they can coexist!)

A number of different groups have co-opted the 12 steps for a variety of different reasons—from staying sober to breaking abusive cycles in any number of areas. (See Wikipedia's list of just some of the growing number of programs available today.) My own first introduction to working the 12-step concept was through a prosperity consciousness class.

Gaining intense personal insight is the ultimate goal of any 12-step-based course or program. And the first step—with any personal journey—is always the most important, for it's with that first footfall that you make your commitment to your course. And none of us can move forward without serious honesty, both with ourselves and others.

Here is a generic version of the 12 steps:

(1) Admit I am powerless over (my problem); that my life has become unmanageable (because of my futile efforts to control the problem)

(2) Come to believe that a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity (this often varies based on religious/spiritual beliefs)

(3) Make a decision to turn my will & my life over to the care of this power as I understand it

(4) Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself

(5) Admit to this power, myself, & another human being the exact nature of my wrongs

(6) Am entirely ready to have this higher power remove all these defects of my character

(7) Humbly ask this higher power to remove my shortcomings

(8) Make a list of all the people I've harmed, & become willing to make amends to them all

(9) Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so injures them or others

(10) Continue to take personal inventory, & when I am wrong, promptly admit it

(11) Seek through prayer & meditation to improve my conscious contact with the power greater than myself as I understand this power, praying only for knowledge of (my power's) will for me and the ability to carry that out

(12) Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, try to carry this message to others (who face my problem), & to practice these principles in all my affairs


© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009