In the early 1900s, Edward Titchener, a British psychologist, described words’ losing their meaning as puzzling and a bit frightening. It was also the first report of semantic saturation in academic literature. When a word is repeated, reactive inhibition can occur. Rapid firing of the word causes brain neurons to misfire. The result is stretching one’s faculties in vain (tee hee).
After repeated stimulation, the brain stops responding to the word. That’s our brain (according to researchers who performed controlled studies), but what does that say about consciousness? The reason for my inquiry comes from one of my experiences. A friend was bold enough to state the word love had lost all meaning due to its overuse. Do what you love! Love yourself! Fall in love with your life! You see what I mean? Offering prayers to those affected by tragedy is another word or phrase now being rejected by the victims. The meaning loses continuity when overused or casually repeated, blocking the impact, a process called semantic saturation. How many words or phrases do you experience in a closed loop?
In Jonathan Trooper’s The Book of Joe, he describes using the word orphan. After his father died, he repeated the word out loud, over and over, until its meaning made no sense. He wondered why he felt so alone, despite his father not being in his life. His self-examination led to his observation: “Loneliness is the theme, and I play it like a symphony, in endless variations.” Let’s play a symphony in the whispers from spirit on this current phenomenon:
Humans are habitual creatures. Constant stimuli have become a way of life for many. Absence of external stimulation can be uncomfortable for those who are overly dependent on technology. Searching for the meaning of life can lead to saturation of the same key words and phrases. Religions and spiritual leaders repeat similar messages. Words can lose meaning when not connected to a direct experience.
One can be conditioned to a habitual pattern of stimulation. Empty promises, a repetitive cry for help, political rhetoric, or any repeating message can lose meaning. A significant energetic shift occurring in conjunction with the use of a word can alter the semantic experience. The feeling of the word penetrates deep levels of consciousness. The human subconscious has the ability to hold an energy of excitement around a word or phrase, a phenomenon called semantic saturation. This can keep the meaning relevant in a way that invites the continued use of the word.
When language is used with conscious discernment around the meaning, there is no need for repetitive assertion. If you struggle to find meaning in a word, perhaps that signals the need for balance in your consumption. Self-awareness brings the curiosity that leads to a deeper understanding. How did the word lose meaning? Is there something you are rejecting? Have you consumed too much information in your quest? What does the heart have to say about the word?
Great discoveries can be found in silence, for that is the space where whispers from the heart are heard and felt. Energy can travel beyond any words to create a meaningful experience. In that moment, a synthesis of ideas, theories, and language has occurred. Instead of negative stimulation, you have a positive balance from which to experience the true meaning.
Bring joy, ease suffering and create beauty, then dance like you mean it!
Blessings, Russell
“When words lose their meaning, people lose their freedom.”
― Confucius
Meditation PLAYLISTs added to monthly member library! An example is how to reduce anxiety or improve your intuitive skills. Specific meditations from the entire library are recommended and put into a playlist.
Become a member of the IEL Institute for the Spiritual Arts and get access to these meditations and more.
An entire world of intuitive training and interacting with others is at your fingertips.
