Visionary Troubadour

It occurs to me more and more as I travel on this path that there are ways of communicating that facilitate the world opening up to you, facilitate mutual trust, facilitate compassion and understanding, facilitate walking the path.

And I’m finding different words and different phrases from different languages and cultures, which I can use in other languages.  And people may ask what I mean, when I use them, which further helps to invite people into a world of trust, heart connection, generosity, etc.

For example, when I was in Kuwait I heard the phrase “Insha’Ahllah” quite often, which translates as “God willing.”  The way it seemed people would use it was to communicate a respect and trust that life has it’s own rhythms, that things happen, and we don’t need to try to manipulate a future outcome.  An American in Kuwait relayed to me that often when someone in Kuwait said “Insha’Allah” as a response to an invitation, it usually meant “No,” and was a polite way of avoiding confrontation or turning someone down.  However, I see a certain beauty in it when compared to what happens in many other cultures, such as, saying “Yes” and then feeling socially obligated to a future commitment and then either showing up with resentment, changing plans later, or just now showing up.

One’s use of Insha Allāh indicates not one’s desire to succeed in an endeavor, but rather that the endeavor one embarks on will be within God’s will, which might be interpreted as that which is best for Humanity, the Earth, and all of Allah’s creation. It indicates one’s desire for being in tune with God’s plan for the Kosmos. For example, if one’s submission to God’s will might be accomplished with great difficulty, one invokes God’s blessing, and even more the fact it is in tune with God’s will as the primary focus before one attempts to achieve it, otherwise one wishes their endeavor to fail. It is commonly used by Muslims, but is also common in Christian groups in the Middle East, like the Coptic Orthodox Church. Insha Allāh is said when speaking about plans and events expected to occur in the future. The phrase also acknowledges submission to God, with the speaker putting him or herself into God’s hands, and accepting the fact that God sometimes works in unexpected ways. – Wikipedia

And as I travel there is the challenge of meeting so many people and connecting with them deeply, and maintaining these connections over time.  There can be a temptation to tell people that I will come back to visit them, or that I will contact them, etc., and “Insh’Allah” is a way of stating that it will happen if it is meant to happen, and respecting that people change and circumstances change, and who knows what will happen.  For me, it’s also a way of facing that I may never see someone again, rather than trying to lesson the sorrow of leaving people I care about by saying something like, “I will see you again soon.”

Avoiding giving my word that I will see someone again is a subtle distinction, yet I find it can increase the sense of appreciation and connection I feel to my heart and to the people and places around me, while offering respect to the ways of Life and while also maintaining my personal power / energy.

Maintaining my integrity/personal power/energy is a key value of mine as I travel on this path, and being conscious to avoid creating expectations of others or of myself helps to do this.

And if someone is wanting to get a commitment out of me for a future meeting or communication, and I am not feeling a desire from within my body to make this commitment, I will not make it even if it means upsetting the other person or risking them liking me.  And when I feel pressed for such commitments, I usually become an instant “No.”  This for me is a big distinction, and reflects my heightened awareness to respect and not violate my own will or the will of another.  A good friend of mine and fellow “Visionary Troubadour” has often shared with me that this is the way of the American Natives: to not dare to even come close to manipulating or violating the will of another.

He relates stories of his Cheyenne friends not even asking direct questions of him, because to do so might violate his will.  For example, they would not ask, “Would you like to come to the store with us?”  Rather, they might simply say, “We’re going to the store,” and it’s understood that you are welcome.  You’ll either go or you won’t, but they’re not going get you to come or even ask you to think about coming with them.  Very, very interesting.

The Language of the Visionary Troubadour–this is all something that is just emerging for me.  I am interested on hearing your insights.