Thursday, 18 February 2010

Getting to the root of things...

Hi Sara!

I looked up the etymology of "wait" and it comes from the Indo-European root weg-2, which means "to be strong, be lively". This root also gives us awake, watch, and witch, and (in an extended form) vigil. So perhaps "wait" is not so passive as it might seem at first sight - more an awake, aware state of being.

Personally, I feel invited by "Ice and Fire" into "contemplation" rather than "waiting". I like the implications of "being with" ("con") and "temple" - which in its original form meant a space marked out for observation or augury. I feel invited into active participation in sacred space and time - with its rhythm of stillness, silence, meditation and attention on the one hand, and activity on the other.

I was wondering about "attending" as a tagline word, and I like the fact that an extended form of the tem- root gives us "tend".

This is exactly how I view your role in bringing the work to fruition, and the participants' too, in bringing the work to a new level.

However, I'd like to suggest "contemplation" for the tagline…..

It seems to me also that "Ice and Fire" is creating a true Alchemist's Laboratory - the dynamic balance of labor: labour, and oratory: reverence.

The Indo-European root or- means to pronounce a ritual formula. It gives oracle, oration etc, but also adore and inexorable. I also like the fact that in Italian ora means hour, time, and now.

And there it is in the middle of "transf-or-mation" - I've only just seen that! And transformation (both inner and outer), as we know, was the central focus of alchemy.

Best of luck DW

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