The Evocative Power of Words

A man recounts a 50-year-old psychedelic experience where he discovered that the phrase ‘I am’ seemed excessive, then ‘am’ insufficient, with ‘amness’ being the only thing that made sense in that altered state. Rupert confirms he wouldn’t distinguish between these terms, explaining they all attempt to describe the subjective experience of being. What matters isn’t the technical accuracy of words but their evocative power – their ability to take us to the reality they reference. Unlike most words that refer to things that aren’t real in themselves, words like ‘I,’ ‘am,’ ‘God,’ ‘beloved,’ and ‘consciousness’ have the special quality of referring directly to what is real, though which words are most evocative varies for each person.

From event 09 - 16 March, 2025 Seven-Day Retreat at Mercy Center, 9–16 March 2025

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