The Lexicon of Existence: Experiencing the World Through Language and Balance

In our pursuits of meaning and connection, we often turn to language - the verbal framework we use to engage and experience the world around us. In the words of the Yoruba philosopher Orunmila, "we are water, earth, air, and fire; we inhabit an affective ecosystem". This powerful view echoes the ancient wisdom of the Dagara tradition, as taught by Sobonfu Somé and her husband, Malidoma Somé, and offers a path to understand how language, life energy (or axé), homeostasis, and capoeira interweave in the tapestry of our human experiences.

The Yoruba language houses a conception of language that goes beyond mere communication. Each word carries with it axé, the life energy that permeates the entire universe. In speaking, we not only express thoughts and feelings, but we also channel this life energy, affecting the world around us and ourselves. It's a dynamic process that connects the individual to the cosmos, and through which, as Sobonfu Somé points out, intimacy and spiritual values find expression.

This perspective on language can be elucidated by modern neuroscience. Neurons in our brains, when processing language, form a bridge between our internal experiences and the external world. This suggests that our language and thoughts are not merely passive reflections of our reality but actively shape our perception and life experience.

The notion of homeostasis – the need to maintain a balanced state of functioning within the organism – is a central concept in neuroscience and biology. Such balance is crucial for our survival and wellbeing. This need for balance is also reflected in the Yoruba concept of axé. Just as our physical body seeks homeostasis, our spiritual and emotional self seeks balance in the flow of axé. Language, being a vehicle of axé, is an essential tool in maintaining this balance.

This is exemplified in capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines dance, music, and fight. In capoeira (In honor of capoeirista day celebrated on August 3th), communication transcends spoken words and is expressed through movement, rhythm, and interaction. Practicing capoeira requires a constant flow of axé to maintain the dynamic balance between the capoeiristas. Capoeira, like language, is a form of expression that helps maintain the homeostasis of axé within us and in our community.

Orunmila Arixá's philosophy proposes that we inhabit an ecosystem of affections. We are water, earth, air, and fire – elements that constitute the natural world. We are nourished and, in turn, nourish others with affection, creating a continuous cycle of giving and receiving. This "affective ecosystem" reflects our interconnectedness and interdependence, not just with each other, but with the entire universe.

In our life journey, we should seek to maintain contact with our internal axé, remaining conscious of how our words and actions affect the world around us. As the Dagara tradition teaches us, intimacy and spiritual values are not just important, but vital to our wellbeing and survival.

In conclusion, language is not just a tool for communication, but a powerful way to experience and shape the world. In every word we speak, in every capoeira move we perform, we are engaging with axé - the life energy that permeates everything. By cultivating awareness of how language and action affect our affective ecosystem, we can contribute to creating a more balanced and harmonious world.