Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ve tasked myself with exploring the concepts of pronoia (the belief that the universe is conspiring to shower us with blessings), quiety (serenity) and peace – all through the lens of unusual, obscure, or simply delightful-to-me words.
J is for…
jargogle – to confuse, jumble, befuddle.
In a more mundane sense it would seem likely that one might which to avoid jargogle. That to confuse and jumble things is not something to be desired. But lets invite a broader view here.
One of the ways I tend to think of us all is as pulsating creatures – infinitely expansive and contractive; responsive, adaptive, creative beings. We are on a journey of evolution, of enlightenment, of moving into pure source clarity. There are endless opportunities to do that. In fact, I believe everything we experience in this life is precisely that opportunity.
But sometimes it feels like we’re making more progress journeying ahead and sometimes it feels like we’re mired in stuckness. There are all sorts of explanations for this, including the natural rhythm of things, but I think one thing we struggle against is the tendency as humans to want things to remain the same. To find a comfortable set point and order our lives around maintaining it. Change is hard and we’re all very good at resisting it.
But without change there isn’t the possibility of growth. Which is why I advocate finding ways to jargogle our thoughts, our patterns, our habits.
It seems to me these times call for nothing less than transformation and metamorphosis. It may seem we’re called to this as a response to things that are occurring collectively, or it may feel more personal, as though we’ve lost ourselves or forgotten who we are. But in any case, I think T. S. Eliot had a helpful observation:
“…last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.”
We can’t operate in today’s world the same way we did yesterday. We need to find new, better language; new, more compassionate responses; new, more inclusive ways to work together; new, clearer ways to express ourselves and our gifts. Let us not go back. Let us not fall asleep again. Let us jargogle our way into new ways of being and fresh ways of doing.
So tell me, what do you wish to change? How can you shake things up and shift them? What can you combine into an entirely new pattern? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Oh how I juggle with feelings of hope and despair with the way the world is at the moment Deborah and how I wish that change for the better would happen sooner rather than later. I feel pretty jargogled right now and I do NOT want things to remain the same. Change is forward movement –
I’m loving your posts, thanks you so much for them
Thanks for the kind words Susan.
I’m holding hope that the unsettled feeling – that point of undeniable discomfort – truly is the pivoting point for collective change that tumbles us into being the better versions that seem so hidden out of sight at the moment.
Language is a great example. New voices, new perspectives, new words. Words have power.
The Multicolored Diary: WTF – Weird Things in Folktales
Words are indeed powerful. I’m coming to understand that in more and more.
What can you combine into an entirely new pattern?
I like to have pots of flowers and herbs and vegetables around the outside of our house during the warmer months. Each year I use the same pots, but plant different plants in each one, and place the pots in different configurations around the house– on the front stoop or deck or driveway edges. It’s fun to see what grows where, and how it looks as it does so. Never heard of the word jargogle before, but that’s what I’m doing with my pots.
Indeed, and it sounds perfectly lovely!
Hi Deborah – fascinating word – and so old .. it seems it’s one of the obsolete words that are being encouraged to make a come-back … brilliant word … clever J. My mind is always a jargogled jumble … such is life … must be juggling blogging! Cheers Hilary
http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/j-is-for-jellicles.html
I having a conversation the other night about obsolete words and my friend suggested it was like fashion. It makes me smile thinking there is some huge word closet and every “retired” word is hanging in there waiting for another chance to be out on display.
April’s challenge is the perfect opportunity to jargogle our brains isn’t it?
Jargogling — as happy and welcoming as gyring and gimbling! I used to wrap myself in a comfortable old sweater of a life, and while my life isn’t an exciting series of fantasy/adventures, my mind now chooses jargogling to stagnation. 🙂
Love that Sue!
Jargogle – now that’s a word one can get one’s teeth into! 🙂
I do believe every thing, every encounter is a learning opportunity – we often grow without knowing it even. I also think that change is inevitable and it is easier to handle if initiated by ourselves rather than having it thrust upon us.
Thanks for the thought provoking post.
Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
Good point about it potentially being easier when we initiate change ourselves.
I have to jargogle my scrap room around because my printer won’t work where it is – strange wireless connection difficulties. I’m also trying to jargogle my income from typing to creating…wish me luck on both fronts please 🙂
Wishing you luck Janet – may it all unfold perfectly with ease and grace.
Hi Deborah.
Love this word jargogle. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it and plan to use it from now on (my new thing; my change). So, thank you and also love what T.S Eliot said about words. This moment in time is all there is to life, to living.
Jargogle looks like a jar full of googly eyes to me:) I often see words as pictures:)
K is for Khamir
Thanks for stopping by Arti. I laughed at your image of jargogle – now you’ve planted an eye worm for me. 🙂
Here’s to living each moment fully!
Oooo “Jargogle” is a fabulous word! 😀 I haven’t heard of that before but it has such a nice feel on the tongue.
Change can definitely be hard but it’s so worth it in the end. Stagnation is a terrible thing, in my opinion.
Here’s my “J” post 🙂 http://nataliewestgate.com/2017/04/johnny-secret-diary-of-a-serial-killer
It DOES have a great “mouth feel” doesn’t it?! I’m going to see if framing change in terms of jargogle helps ease some of the challenge I often experience. If nothing else, the word makes me smile, and that’s always a good thing.
Jargogle sounds pretty much like its meaning. 🙂 I struggle with change. It can be scary at times. The jargogle monster likes me in his lair. But it’s necessary for growth, as you say, and can lead to new, wonderful things. The times I’ve pushed myself towards change or doing something new have been among the most worthwhile in my life.