Pointed Ponderings: T

Writing my way through the A-to-Z blogging challenge, I’ll be using manicules (those pointing finger symbols) to direct your attention to something I’m pondering that delights or interests me. Each entry is somehow related to an unusual, obscure, or simply charming to me word.

T is for…

Truepenny – a trustworthy, honest, or reliable person (likened to a coin of pure, not alloyed metal)

I delight, probably inordinately, in this mid-16^th century word.  It feels packed with all kinds of goodness; It makes me smile; I value the qualities it describes; and it also slips me into deeper consideration – all good things in my book.

First the smile…

The other day I was searching through some journals, which always promises a trip down rabbit holes. I am a prolific journaler, both written and visual, and have really found no way to organize things that suits me. I explore what intrigues me, make what likely seem random connections between things, so finding exactly where something is often involves guesswork and luck. But I never rue that, as the searching process always, always, always leads me to something else that re-delights me in the moment.  Bonus unexpected treasure.  And in this case, it was this…

The background paper on this page is a bit of Italian wrapping paper from a gift I received. What’s not to love about Pinocchio paper?  I attached to the page an iteration of paper-cut-out people I was working with at the time, and as true of all my “people” and actually most of the add-ins in my journals, there is something written on the back. There are always hidden messages and secrets to discover.  What I found I had written on the back of this person was a quote from Don Miguel Ruiz:

“Be Impeccable with Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.”

It amused me at the time to stick her amongst a crowd of long-nosed Pinocchio’s, and it amused me to find her there the other day.  Bonus points because I had the quote written in copper ink, and the person’s face outlined in a circle of copper.  I couldn’t help but laugh and think I know a truepenny when I see one.

I like the word secondly because I think being trustworthy, honest, and reliable are admirable traits, and I’m delighted my world is filled with people I consider to be Truepennies.

When I think about honesty, the plant Lunaria, often comes to mind. It’s commonly know as the Money Plant because of its silvery coin-like discs. It’s third common name though is Honesty, and this name seems to be have been applied to the plant in the 16^th century, the same era of Truepenny’s origin.  The name has everything to do with how transparent it is. You can see to the inner core of the dried seed pods. I can’t help but hope we’re headed in the direction of more transparency on a collective level. Clearly there’s a whole lot of shadow stuff to clean up first, lies still to uncover, coverups to unravel, and all that, but still I want to believe we’ll get there.

That sense of transparency is really the third thing that Truepenny has me thinking about. The idea of being pure unadulterated metal, calls to mind for me what I believe our core work here is – to let drop everything that is not purely, clearly, truly your essential self, so you can shine your unique divine energy signature clearly, brilliantly, without distortion or dissonance. When I look at Lunaria/Honesty I feel like I understand this in a very tangible way. It kind of delights me to think that state of pure I AM-ness might be the even more accurate definition of Truepenny.

I love this quote attributed to S. Holland, although I’ve never been able to discover who S. Holland is (or was). But it is an admonishment I take to heart on my path as a Truepenny:

“No one else but you can make your marks. Listen to your bones. Speak with your spirit. Edit with your head. Live with your heart.” 

What about you?   Does the word Truepenny delight you?  Familiar with the Lunaria/Honesy plant?  Know who S. Holland is so I can do a better job with the attribution?  Do tell – you know I like to hear.