The language of a spell

[Emaleth]

Hey:)

I was wandering about the language of a spell. My being Polish creates a small problem of what language I should use during a spell or ritual. There're not many spells available in Polish, most of the ones I know are in English. I could translate them, but I'm so used to "English" spells that those written in my own language sound funny to me.

Do you think it matters if I use my native language? Or maybe it doesn't matter as long as I understand what I'm saying?

Blessed Be

[Mithrea]

I want to say that your intent is most important but if you are unsure of the words you are using, that affects your confidence level and thus your power and results. I say do what you think is best. I mix all sorts of languages into spells mostly for sound and rhythm though. You don't have to stick to one or the other :) I know that doesn't really answer your questions though. That's just my thoughts I guess. . .

[Myst]

What matters most is how you feel. If the words seem funny and you don't feel right saying them that will detract from your focus.

[Tammy Sullivan]

Are you very sentimental about polish? Do you feel that you SHOULD be using it? Since you speak both, either way it should be okay. Some spells you may want to do in polish others in english. Just use what FEELS right for that spell and don't worry about it. The Goddess speaks them all. Some times (alot of the time actually) I do silent spells. They still work.

[Ganga]

I do some of my spells in English and some in Finnish. Whatever suits my mood at the moment. Also, it depends on whom I call. If I call my ancestors or meditate on some hero/heroine of Kalevala, then I definitely use Finnish. Otherwise, I'm more comfortable with English. I sometimes use Sanskrit (the language of the
god(desse)s ), but only if I understand the meaning. I really believe that one must understand what one is saying. That is why I would never use, say, Enochian or Japanese.

[Rick]

There are some words/phrases/ideas that don't precisely translate from one language to another... the only time I can see where it might matter is if you're using a word or phrase or idea that is difficult to translate, & possibly give you results other than tose you intended... hope that made sense...

[blindsight]

Why worry about the lanuage it's in? as long as your intent is clear and your focus is sharp as Myst and Mythrea so graciously put it, ur fine. Ive done rituals made completely of gestures, so just know your intent and do what feels right to you...

[Emaleth]

Thanks everyone :) What you said is more or less what I was thinking, but I wanted to know what others feel. The thing with the languages is that no matter how well you know a foreign language, the native language will always be your first one, so maybe the words you speak in it are more genuine, coming from the heart :huh: ? I think I'll try to do a bit of translation and see how it will sound, cause the spells that are already available in Polish don't sound too great. Apart from that English some spells are really beautiful, rhyming, and you really need to have talent to to the job right, not to spoil everything. If I turn out to be a lousy translator, then I'll stick to English.

Blessed Be

[Lavender]

Yup! The way I see it is that the Gods and Goddess don't speak just one language. The words themselves are not as important as the meanings behind the words.

[Ganga]

But I would have to differ with the following one:
"The thing with the languages is that no matter how well you know a foreign language, the native language will always be your first one, so maybe the words you speak in it are more genuine, coming from the heart ?"

Maybe, but not necessarily. I do a lot of writing and spells in English which is not my first language. The words still come from my heart.

But as Wildchild pointed out, Gods and Goddesses don't speak just one language.

[Rick]

Originally posted by Wildchild
Yup! The way I see it is that the Gods and Goddess don't speak just one language.
I know a lot of Asatru folk that would take you to task on that one... :D

A point to ponder... I've been told that to be truly proficient in a language that isn't your 'mother tongue', you have to be able to think in that language... by thinking in it, you're not constantly translating in your mind...

'Course, I barely speak English... my 'mother tongue' is Olde High Okie-ese...

[Mithrea]

Originally posted by Rick

I know a lot of Asatru folk that would take you to task on that one... :D

A point to ponder... I've been told that to be truly proficient in a language that isn't your 'mother tongue', you have to be able to think in that language... by thinking in it, you're not constantly translating in your mind...

'Course, I barely speak English... my 'mother tongue' is Olde High Okie-ese...

:lol:

I know when I am getting a language fully assimilated when people speak it to me or I speak it in my dreams :)

[Ganga]

That's true. I always dream in English, but when we visit Finland, I start dreaming in Finnish again. It's queer.

[Emaleth]

I also dream in English, though not that often. But I know when I know a language well enough is when I can't remember some word in Polish, but I remember the English or French equivalent. And when talking with my friends we switch from one language to the other, saying one half of the sentence in English and one in Polish. This usually happens when we are too lazy to concentrate and speak what first comes to our minds:)

Blessed Be

[jelly.belly]

Well, I'm French (French Canadian) and I do my spell work in English, I'm just used to that, coz, it's weird, even if I speak French, every day, I think and dream in English... I really mean that i think in English, but when i talk to someone who talks French, it comes out in French, it's really weird!

I think you should do it in watever language you choose, the one you're most comfortable using for watever spell you are doing, and like someone said before, you can use many languages in the same spell, for the sound, rythm, etc... Just, be sure of the meaning of the word if you're not completly comfortable with the language! :)

[Grey]

The gods speak the language of the heart. thats part of why there gods.

[Flar's Freyja]

Bump