The word “truth” has presented itself in several ways that have caused me to take notice in the last few days.
Seeing the word “truth” used in different contexts reminded me of something a history teacher in high school taught. I remember my teacher making a distinction between “little truth” and “absolute TRUTH”.
- Little truth is circumstantial. My version of truth and your version of truth won’t necessarily align, but we each believe a version of the truth (about any situation and life in general). Our version of the truth may change—typically due to new information about the topic or life experience.
- Absolute TRUTH, on the other hand, is universal. Absolute TRUTH cannot be debated because it just IS. Absolute TRUTH doesn’t change with new information or life experience. For example: My filing cabinet is black. I could poll a thousand people on the street and they would all agree that my filing cabinet is black. It doesn’t matter what new information I receive, or how I feel, or what life experiences I’m exposed to, my filing cabinet will still be black.
As I tried to remember the difference between truth and TRUTH, I thought about word definitions.
I really strive for clarity, so definitions are important to me. The definition of a word (in theory) should be an absolute TRUTH. Unfortunately, there are a lot of words that are contextually used in a way that does not agree with the word’s definition. Additionally, over time, and as social norms change, a word’s definition may change as well. Therefore, it becomes harder to figure out the difference between truth and TRUTH.
What IS truth?
What IS TRUTH?
This rumination of truth, TRUTH, and word definitions led me back to the truth about Spiritualism.
- My truth is everyone can communicate with dead people if they so choose. But this hasn’t always been my truth.
- My truth is that I can communicate with and I am protected by Angels. But again, this hasn’t always been my truth.
These truths aren’t shared by everyone (thus categorized as “little truths”). However, my version of the truth isn’t more or less valid based upon how many people agree with me. Of course it’s nice to be affirmed by people who agree with me, but I don’t need affirmation to retain my truth. I also value interacting with people whose truth is different than mine (if we can both do so in a respectful manner), because that is a way for me to test, validate, or change my truth.
I feel there is great value in discussing truth in relation to metaphysics. As colleagues and strangers share their truth I am able to consider whether or not I agree with their truth. I agree with some of the metaphysical truth that is shared in books, social media, blogs, and other sharing portals, but I also disagree with a lot of the truth that is shared, because although I respect the perspective of the person who has shared his/her truth, it may not be MY truth.
I chose to write this blog to point out (my perspective / truth) that life in general and metaphysics in particular, involves more “little truth” than “absolute TRUTH”. That is not a value statement or a statement of judgment but rather more of a PSA to consider that not everything you read or hear is going to be (and doesn’t need to be) truthful for you. Just because some well-known psychic states their truth, doesn’t mean you have to embrace it as your own.
I try to present material to you from my vantage point, my perspective, which of course is my truth. However, I encourage you to consider with your logical mind, psychic mind, and however else you discern truth, whether the material I (or anyone else) offers you.
As you read my posts or those of anyone else, I encourage you to question the “truth”.