For the 28th Untranslatable Word we're not moving from where we are now but maybe traveling back in time. This week's word is another one that will make us reflect on us, humans as a species or civilization, but also on everything that exists!
This week's word is the old english: dustsceawung.
Gif by Wordstuck
dustsceawung
I was not only suprised by the writing and pronounciation of this word but also by such concept it represents, a concept that somehow has been coming to me recurrently these days but still feel comfortable about it, a point I think we all should reach.
dustsceawung means viewing or contemplation of dust, from dūst (“dust”) + sċēawung (“inspection, contemplation”). The reflection of former civilizations and peoples, and on the knowledge that all things return to dust. * *
If you're familiar with Catolicism you've probably heard the commonly quoted Bible's Genesis 3:19 "You are dust and onto dust you shall return", a kind of frightening quote sometimes, at least not perceived positively by a little kid, in my opinion, and as someone who assisted to a catholic school I can confirm; but also it might be perceived negatively even by some grown ups perhaps. However, I agree with some of them that there's an actual positive view on this quote and that the misunderstanding might come from not looking at the context.
The difference now is that I don't share the reasons on why; while for catholics the quote is a reminder that we owe everything to Him and should do our best to give ourselves in every way possible, I think the reason for us as humans and as individuals to take this as an uplifting message is the very impermanence or transience of all things. Isn't the fact that everything will pass at some point the reason we all should live to the fullest? *
Though, saying it is easier than practicing it, as it's something that depending on each person we might be slow to accept. Due to the fact we live in a world where we're constantly bombarded with positivity and therefore oblied to be happy, it's difficult to accept negative emotions or thoughts, to allow us to feel sadness; it happens the opposite, we're taught to feel repulsion towards this negativity. But, negativity actually helps us to overcome difficulties and, more so, to accept reality and evolve from it. Isn't necessary to cry in order to later feel better about a misfortune?
Solar System 10 Things: Dust in the Wind, on Mars & Well Beyond
Also, it's been proved that we are literally made of dust, more exactly stardust. There's this famous quote from American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in his book Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, he was the one who hosted the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a series I was very fan of; the quote says: "We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out"; what it implies is not only so big and awesome but also makes us analyze the many analogies (even religious ones) that might be born out of this. Maybe this was what they were trying to say in the Bible? lol. *
It's actually true, we're indeed made of stardust. According to planetary scientist and stardust expert Dr Ashley King "It is totally 100% true: nearly all the elements in the human body were made in a star and many have come through several supernovas." Most of the elements of our bodies were formed in stars over the course of billions of years and multiple star lifetimes. *
Now, taking into consideration all of this makes the word meaning even more meaningful and important. This word reminds us what are we made of in a beautiful way, it calls us to contemplate the remains of the past that everything is and we as well are, making us aware of all things eventual withdrawal. A word that teaches us is good to accept the transcience of things and even our lives, that reminds us our origin and therefore invites us to live fully and above all withour fear. As some of the 10th century Blickling Homilies says: "He then, so sad and sorrowful, departed from the ‘dust-spectacle’ (contemplation of the dust), and turned himself away from all the affairs of this world."*
What do you think? Does dustsceawung really help us to accept the ephemeralism of life without fear? Please feel free to let me know what you think in the comments!
Thank you very much for passing by! And if you have an Untranslatable Word you'd like to suggest, please don't hesitate to do so! :)
Previous Untranslatable Words:
#1: Torschlusspanik
#2: Mono no aware
#3: Rasāsvāda
#4: Cavoli riscaldati
#5: Nefelibata
#6: Sturmfrei
#7: Jootha
#8: bilita mpash
#9: resfeber
#10: Vāde mēcum
#11: sankofa
#12: annus mirabilis
#13: voorpret
#14: pikit mata
#15: ranorànilac
#16: gagung
#17: gumusservi
#18: yaourter
#19: nunchi
#20: flâneur - the aesthetic experience of wandering through the city
#21: xibipíío - how the Pirahã deconverted a Christian man
#22: aduantas - rambling between two nuances
#23: Eh - Canada's proud politeness
#24: Janteloven - the egalitarian nature of Nordic countries
#25: Dadirri - finding the answers by contemplating ourselves
#26: catalepsy - doubting my senses
#27: kiasu - Singaporeans's survival instinct
