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History is not a noun

deborah

deborah

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I came across a quote by my mentor Hung Liu - a Professor at Mills College that shows her art work all over the world. A fascinating woman. At the end of the article was a quote - that got my attention. Although her reference point is slightly different than my own - her premise is similar.

History is not a static image or frozen story. It is not a noun. Even if it's images and stories are very old, it is always flowing forward. History is a verb."
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Below is an excerpt from my journals which -- is forever in process. The highlighted area I wrote over three years ago. The implications - at least to me - staggering.

As the war continues, and images of violence and terrorism flash on the television screen, I am aware that the current war is acting like a trigger for my memories of WWI and WWII. I cannot help but wonder how much does history repeat itself, and how often do we as souls and co-creators of our reality repeat the same mistakes, continuing to create conflict and chaos? Perhaps as more and more people become aware of past life memories - and as people begin to remember, who they are - and why they are here today things will change for the better. But we must bring into full awareness how to create positive changes in our life and for our future.

Change is perhaps one of the most difficult things we face - individually and collectively. Every focused idea has the potential to become reality. But we need to be part of the positive and active process, and part of that process to being aware of our thoughts, feelings and emotions. This means being present in the moment as much as possible, which isn’t an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of attention, and a shift in awareness. We create an estimated 60,000 thoughts per day; some are good, some bad, some are even indifferent. What is important is that we think about, or dwell upon will manifest around us.

The newly released DVD and book The Secret describes how this works in detail. If you closely monitor your thoughts for one day, you may be shocked by the content. It’s an interesting exercise, within the thousands of thoughts per day that each of us have, lie the patterns that focus our intentions, desires, hopes and our future. Each thought counts and creates our reality, including those of guilt, shame, anger and fear. Karma then is a reflection based on the living history of humanity. A history that is based on emotion; and in constant motion.

Candace B. Pert, Ph.D. is a Research Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington D.C. Her research regarding neuropeptides, which are chemical substances made and released by brain cells, and other cells suggests that in the body network, these information receptors serve as a form of communication for the entire body. In her book Molecules of Emotions she speaks in depth about her research, her journey and scientific methods, as well as her conclusions:

“We can no longer think of emotions as having less validity than physical, material substance, but instead must see them as cellular signals that are involved in the process of translating information into physical reality, literally transforming mind into matter. Emotions are at the nexus between matter and mind, going back and forth between the two and influencing both.” Molecules of Emotion. pg. 187.
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Defining KARMA


Karma is a term that continues to surface around reincarnation and implies in new age circles, “what you sow so shall you reap.” But the original definition simply means cause and effect, cause and consequences.


Ailish made an excellent point earlier on the forum:

All of humankind is subject to the law of karma. Karma simply means “action.” Every action has a reaction. But, in my opinion, karma is not a “punishment”, only a requirement that you experience all that you create. Ailish
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Yes indeed. When you have this perspective of remembering many, many lives it is interesting to see oneself taking part in various historical situations. I have often mused on how my own actions may have contributed even in a small way in various ways - especially my contribution to numerous battles and such. I did not really think about politics or the rights and wrongs back then. It was mostly just a job to me - being a soldier.


Certainly in this life I do everything I can to make the world a better place, whether it is just being nice to people, helping people out in my own small way when I can and in my work I try to do my bit to save the world (I am working in climate change at the moment for instance). I hope to be able to contribute even more in the future and hope that I am building up skills now which will come in handy in the future.
 
Hung Lui's amazing- I love her work :D


What a phenomenal statement!


A noun is a word used to name a person, animal, place, thing, and abstract idea. In essence she is stating that history is not any one of those, or something that is caught in time, but is a culmination of all, and is ever-changing and flowing forward. The word "history" was used in earlier times as a sense of "systematic account (without reference to time) of a set of natural phenomena" (as you will see quoted below).


We learned in school that the verb is perhaps - the most important part of the sentence. It expresses actions, events, or states of being - with tenses for past, present and future.


Looking at that in terms of the word “history” is simply - quite fascinating. Etymology: Greek historein, "learning by inquiry, knowledge obtained by inquiry; account of one's inquiries; narrative, historical narrative; history" through Latin historia, "narrative story, narration, account" through Old French and Middle English histoire, "past events, past knowledge".


The online etymology dictionary states the following:

1390, "relation of incidents" (true or false), from O.Fr. historie, from L. historia "narrative, account, tale, story," from Gk. historia "a learning or knowing by inquiry, history, record, narrative," from historein "inquire," from histor "wise man, judge," from Proto-Indo-Eurpean (5500 years ago) *wid-tor-, from base *weid- "to know," lit. "to see" (see vision). Related to Gk. idein "to see," and to eidenai "to know." In Middle English, not differentiated from story; sense of "record of past events" probably first attested 1485. Sense of "systematic account (without reference to time) of a set of natural phenomena" (1567) is now obs. except in natural history. What is historic (1669) is noted or celebrated in history; what is historical (1561) deals with history. Historian "writer of history in the higher sense," distinguished from a mere annalist or chronicler, is from 1531. The Old English word was þeod-wita.
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I thought it was interesting to note that “history” derived from base and root words that include “to see” and “to know” ;)


It's fascinating how both Hung Lui and you said the same thing - in a different way. No wonder it caught your attention! I love the quote from your book -

Karma then is a reflection based on the living history of humanity. A history that is based on emotion; and in constant motion.
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It is true - we are a culmination of all of our thoughts, feelings and emotions, and those of others also affect us to some degree. We continue to create in the present moment - and will continue to create in the future - a living history. How we choose that - is extremely important.


Thank you for sharing ;)
 
Thank you for the research Aili! Fascinating.


HI Tanguerra,


Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Reincarnation definitely changes the perspective of what history is.
 
Read this earlier and wanted to say how much I love it! History is definitely a verb - and I wish more people (especially my daughter *grin*) would realize this. :thumbsup:


Smiles,


Julie
 
I like the idea of "history as a verb" and as a "process flowing forward". These are some personal thoughts about that:


As souls who repeatedly return to the physical plane, I have this scenario in mind about what our reality is like and I liken that reality to when I took scuba diving lessons. At the age of fourteen, I signed up to take scuba diving lessons and it was great fun. Although there were a lot of important things to learn like "dive tables" and equipment failures and how to deal with that emergency, the only thing that I wanted to do was swim around under the water and just enjoy that experience. I ignored my instructor's admonition that I should be practicing what I had been taught.


One of our final tests was to jump into a swimming pool and sink to the bottom with all of our diving gear grasped in our arms. Once at the bottom of the pool, we had to turn on our air tank valve so that we could breathe and then begin to put on the weight belt, mask, etc. I think the reason for this test was to prove that we had the presence of mind to understand what our goal was once we had "jumped in" and then to accomplish that goal.


The instructor repeatedly told me that I had better practice this exercise of jumping in and learning the self control that one needs to do this. I didn't listen, thinking that I could do anything and that I didn't need practice. Big mistake! When time came for me to jump in, I gathered everything into my arms, jumped into the water and immediately panicked. I sank to the bottom and slowly began to regain control of myself. I lost track of most everything I was holding and just turning on the air tank's valve and getting that first breath was a major accomplishment. It took me like twenty minutes to pass the test. The instructor said that he almost jerked me out of the water because I was so unprepared - but he didn't and he let me struggle until I got all of my gear on. I almost failed the test because I didn't practice what I had been taught.


I have since thought that the present life is practice for the next life. We will get a critique from our "instructor" after this life about what we could or should have done differently and we will get an opportunity to "jump back into the pool" and try it again. Perhaps the next time we will remember what we should be doing so that we will pass the test. I think the test is to see ourselves as spiritual beings who came from the Light and our goal is to bring the Light into the physical world by showing love and compassion to everyone we meet - as you know, that is exceptionally hard to actually do.


I think of "jumping into the pool" with the presence of mind to accomplish my goals as enlightenment. I realize why I am here. It is then most important to pass the test by putting into practice all that I have been taught in past life lessons. It is difficult to rise above human instincts and behaviors to a level where self is not most important, but ignoring self and seeing the Light in all Creation is critical to our success. I wonder if we all walked in the Light that there would be no more tests on this Earth.


The idea that "history is a verb" fits with the idea of having goals to accomplish. It seems like the story of our souls progression should be something like "what have you learned this time and what will you do differently the next time?" I would like to think of my own personal history as a process "flowing forward" from lifetime to lifetime - I haven't thought about it before in those terms and I like how it sounds.


I wonder if other people think about their own personal history as a process flowing forward?
 
Yesterday I was watching a documentary of the history of the visits to the Moon and the future plans and possibilities for those visits.


A scientist that studied moonstones, found out that there is a lot of Helium 3 on the Moon, a substance that is not found on Earth, but which would be a great source of 'green' energy, if it could be brought to Earth. So the first one/nation who would be able to bring the Helium 3 to Earth, would be the leader of the world in the 21st century.


I was very happy to hear that the scientist said that we should not make the same mistakes as we did with the resources of the Earth, and think very carefully, and study the Moon for many more years, before we should get our energy sources from the Moon. He said we don't have the right to get energy from the Moon before we are absolutely certain that this will not damage it. Maybe finally men is learning from history?


I thought this is also an example of history in motion.


Eevee
 
My father spent time with me talking of his and my mother's side of the family's history... a time I treasured as otherwise our converstions are usually on the opposite side of things. I have learned alot from looking at that history... a reflection of others I have met and will continue to meet.


Yes history is not a noun ... it definitely adds to our living and evolving.
 
side notes-----


There are no plain facts in history -- only degrees of plausibility. Every statement no matter how fully documented -- is subject to doubt, and remains a fact only as long as no one questions it.


Every condition that lays as a fact in history is temporary, and the field is too vast for anyone to encompass all of it with equal competence. ;)
 
This is a fascinating thread with some inspiring thoughts. Do other members have anything to add?
 
I think that many people get turned off by history when thay encounter all of the old dusty books so they get the impression that it is something old and forlorn. I always liked history, it was one of my best subjects. I think as we progress through time, the future looks promising for history. History will be brought to life with technology, the classroom will become transformed into a capsule that can move through time, children will be fascinated to meet their ancestors and see how we lived. No more boring books and lectures - just immersion in fully interactive history that is presented in a format where the student is surrounded by surreal integrated space. That's how I envision it, anyways. I must be dreaming again LOL :rolleyes:
 
I once listened to a lecture by someone who traveled often and had an opportunity to speak with Olympic Gold Medal winners, who explained how the thrill of winning was really a big let-down. It seems that they were kind of lost and depressed afterward, and they expressed great disappointment that all the strenuous training and practice had suddenly come to an abrupt end. Of course they would have to resume their practice at some point if they wished to keep competing. However, the act of winning at the Olympics was hugely anti-climactic, for the true intensity of their experience existed during all the months and years leading up to the final events.


This had great meaning for me, because as stated above, it is the process of history that holds greater meaning than just the static end results that we see in most history books. It is the process, not the reward!


Some people look upon the static events of their lives, such as accomplishments, and failures; while others look upon the process and the preparation as being the source of their joy. Someone might say to another, "I sacrificed the best years of my life for this!". While another might say, "You know? We didn't achieve our dream, but I enjoyed working with you as we tried to get there!".


History, indeed, is not a noun! Nor is life! Be there as it happens!
 
Never thought of history as a verb. But I've always thought that what is now is a really a mixture of the past with the present and all is carried to the future, so it does to be all moving. Interesting and very good thread here.
 
Maybe.....someone would like to add to this? At any rate, I thought some new members might enjoy reading it.
 
"History is not a static image or frozen story. It is not a noun. Even if it's images and stories are very old, it is always flowing forward. History is a verb."
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Couldn't agree more strongly with this. Acesss to memories - the good and the bad - whether personal or by studying history, has to be a good thing for our evolution as a species. The need to learn from our past mistakes is way past urgent. We need to reconnect with what's important in life. It's not money or fame or power or even safety. It's only love.


... and I wish the Queen would call home her armies...


As I roved out

Now at night when I go to my bed of slumber
The thoughts of my true love run in my mind


But when I turnd around to embrace my darling


Instead of gold 'tis brass I find


And I wish the Queen would call home her armies


From the West Indies, America and Spain


And every man to his homeland would run


And I in hope that we'd meet again..
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His story, her story.... our stories. The yin the yang, the 'good' the 'bad' - what happens, what fails to happen ... This is 'history'. It's life. The sooner we (humans) realise we are immortal, the better, as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps more people would grow some perspective and start conducting themselves in a manner more suitable.
 
"........the past has always been more important than the present. The present is like a coral island that sticks above the water, but is built upon millions of dead corals under the surface, that no one sees. In the same way, our everyday world is built upon millions and millions of events and decisions that occurred in the past. And what we add in the present is trivial."


This was written by Michael Crichton, in his book "Timeline". I think his thought applies not only to history, but to the way our souls are constructed. We build them layer by layer, through centuries of feeling and experience, and the only part of which we are usually aware is the pinnacle. We are as, Crichton said, "ruled by what we never see, never think about, don't know." In this case, our own past history.
 
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