Shalom
as a spiritual focus
Why choose and use shalom?
Why choose shalom for the title of a project dedicated to a spirituality supporting people in finding and following their own unique path, from nihilism to animism, plus anything in between, even possibly a way so personal that to name it would seem inappropriate?
Across the Semitic languages of Western Asia and North Africa (Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew), the Horn of Africa (Amharic, Tigrinya), and Malta (Maltese) in the Mediterranean, there is a tiny ‘root-word’ made up of three consonants: S-L-M (Shin-Lamedh-Mem). It forms the essence of their shared concept of ‘peace’, which in turn has become a greeting, a welcome, and a blessing; as in the Arabic (salaam), the Aramaic (shlama), the Hebrew (shalom), the Amharic (selam), the Tigrinya – (salam), and the Maltese (sliem).
European languages tend to reduce ‘peace’ to little more than ‘tranquillity’ (‘no disturbance’) or ‘truce’ (‘no war’). In total contrast, this small S-L-M root-word translates and expresses ‘peace’ as an integrated wholeness and harmony in all relationships (whether human or more-than-human). S-L-M is completeness, with everything flowing how they should. There is physical wellbeing, thriving in the fullest sense in terms of goodness, justice, freedom, truth, love, and every other life-giving value.
Yes of course, beyond the S-L-M root within Semitic languages, there are other cultures that also have understandings of ‘peace’ as the integrated wholeness and wellbeing of everything; from the Sanskrit word shanti from India to the multitude of words used by the different Indigenous cultures across the globe; such as the Cherokee eloheh, from among just the many different Native American words that are used for the ‘harmony way’.
Shalom as the source of all lifegiving values
However, the particular reason we have chosen to use the Hebrew form of the S-L-M root-word shalom (שׁלום) for our spiritual focus on Shalom Quest is because it uniquely presents ‘peace’ as an overarching value that holds within itself all other values; the source from which every other lifegiving value flows. This understanding is clearly illustrated in a beautiful legend that captures exactly what we hope you will find particularly helpful as you engage with shalom while following and exploring your own unique path. The story goes:
“Every value and blessing that would ever be created lay altogether in one huge pile. However, in spite of searching everywhere no one was able to find any bag, or box, or container that was actually capable of holding them all. This being so, the divine finally decided they would create shalom.”
Whatever you personally think the origin of a value like shalom might be – pure chance, an illusion, a consequence of evolution, human imagination and experience, culture and tradition, or perhaps a divine creation – it has value as a symbol of the widespread recognition (scientifically supported) that ‘lifegiving wellbeing’ is what enables people and environments to thrive. That is why we offer shalom as a focus to support you.
Shalom as an image to support your path
Shalom flows as a unique and radical peace supporting every spirituality that is lived with integrity :
- Shalom provides a source where each lifegiving value can be found and explored.
- Shalom creates a space where every spirituality has the freedom and opportunity to thrive.
- Shalom shapes a place where both contemplatives and activists meet together.
Within the context of Shalom Quest, we offer three images of shalom you might find helpful.
Shalom is like:
- A seed sown in your heart, part of who you are from birth; allow it to germinate, then nurture it by cultivating lifegiving responses to the challenges and opportunities of your everyday life.
- A star shining in your sky, it has guided travellers for millennia providing a focus whatever direction their journey; follow it by making wise choices with heartfelt actions within every relationship.
- A sphere surrounding you, that both shields and empowers, giving space to grow and skills to hone and so increase your impact; identify and embrace it by giving everything positive recognition.
We recognise you may already have your own value of focus that inspires and energises your own personal spirituality. If this is so, we would of course want to fully support your focus, because this is what Shalom Quest is all about.
find your path