MOTHER — NOUN OR VERB?
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It is said, “No language can express the power, beauty, heroism and majesty of a mother’s love,” says Edwin Hubbell Chapin. This week, we shall explore the myriad meanings of the word ‘mother’. In the Tarot deck, Mother is symbolised by the Empress or the Goddess of Fertility. Through her, we get a glimpse of the power of love and creation. Mother creates life in all its variegated forms. She is the ultimate creator and provider of life. She represents an unconditional love. She makes no demands, keeps no conditions, but loves everything and everyone equally. But how many of us can identify with The Empress or mother? We can, if instead of viewing ‘mother’ as a noun, we view her as a verb. The dictionary defines mother as a female parent, but when the word ‘mother’ is used as a verb, it means ‘to care for or to protect’. Recently, I read a commentary written by Gloria Steinem, an American journalist and social activist, where she explains the difference between using ‘mother’ as a noun and a verb: “As a noun, mother not only excludes half the human race, but is also limited by fertility, age and intention. In some societies, motherhood is honoured only in marriage, or only in giving birth to sons.
As a noun, mother may be good or bad, willing or unwilling, on welfare or rich, worshipped or blamed, dominating or nurturing, accidental or chosen. Perhaps that’s why the noun mother is so easily taken over by profanity; or by war, as in “the Mother of all bombs;” or by war-makers who honour Hero Mothers for birthing soldiers.
But when mother is a verb — as in to mother, to be mothered — then the best of human possibilities come into our imaginations. To mother is to care about the welfare of another person as much as one’s own. To mother depends on empathy and thoughtfulness, noticing and caring.” (Mother as a Verb by Gloria Steinem)
My dear readers, I wish that you relate to ‘mother’ as a verb and not as a noun. ‘Mother’ typifies a feeling and not a person. In fact, men may express mothering as naturally as women. On this Mother’s Day, regardless of your gender, regardless of the fact that you are a parent or not, just exhibit the qualities of a mother by opening your heart to unconditional love. T his week shows the beginning of a situation, whose potentiality is as doubleedged as the blade of a sword. You might experience great power, even excessive power at times, but use it wisely for love or hatred. Achievement of goals suddenly becomes a lot easier. You can clear away the fog that has kept you from seeing the inner truth, and you can cut away all the shackles of the past that have held you back. The time to act is now, and if you set your mind to attaining your goals, you can achieve anything you desire. There is just one warning, be careful that you do not cut yourself with the sword’s two-edged blade.
Lucky number: 1 Lucky colour: Copper T his week, give five stars to your professional life. Judges, lawyers and defense personnel will see great success! You will get support from your superiors and might assume a leadership role. Remember to be stern but fair. The cards advise you to remain detached and objective in a specific situation, so that you can ascertain the truth and seek out the facts. You need to use your intellect to prove your point and succeed. Your education and experience are important but so are your day-to-day observations and thoughts. You can also solve problems by using history, rules, laws and diplomacy.
Lucky number: 3 Lucky colour: Orange