Word of the Day: Currency
Our words for money are varied and interesting. Some currencies have words that mean “weight”, like pesos and pounds. I’m especially drawn to money words associated with water. There is healing wisdom in this association.
Here are some lyrics from the song “Currentsea” by Toni Jones that share my wonder at the words we use for money:
“Currency, streams of income, cash flow, liquid assets
Why is money associated with water terms?
Welp, I’m 80% water, am I the real money?
The true currency?”
Let’s explore the true meaning of currency and how this might be healing for our relationship with money
currency (noun) :
a system of money in general use in a particular country
the fact or quality of being generally accepted or in use
Currency originates from the Latin word currentia which means “a flowing.” Currentia comes from currere which means “to run” or “to flow.” The PIE root kers also means “to run.”
Originally the word currency meant flowing. A flow is a steady movement along a current or stream. Over time, we began to use the words currency and circulation, which also relates to fluid movement, to describe the flow of both money and ideas. The thinking is that money and ideas are in constant circulation between people.
I have worked extensively on overcoming scarcity consciousness, both in my own life and with others. It can be really helpful to remember that currency is a flow.
Oftentimes in scarcity there is a tendency to hoard money and resources out of fear. I think of this type of fear based saving like putting a dam in the river of my financial flow. Money is meant to move like water. Dams alter the timing of the flow, slowing down the flow of water.
There are certainly times to save and times to spend. This analogy is meant specifically to shift the mindset around fear and scarcity based hoarding.
A river has bends and breaks. Sometimes it flows quickly and sometimes it flows slowly, but it’s always in circulation. Money works this way as well. It can be helpful to remember this in times when it feels like money is not flowing as abundantly as we like. Who knows what the flow is like just around the river’s bend?
The words currency and circulation are also based on the way money flows between people. This is due to a constant cycle of giving and receiving. If we only experience one of those aspects of the exchange, only giving or only receiving, we aren’t living the full truth of the word.
We learn from etymology that currency is also used to describe ideas. Ideas also circulate due to giving and receiving. The circulation of ideas requires a balance between listening and speaking.
I trust that we can always have what we need. If the flow of money is slow, perhaps there’s not a need to spend at that moment. If ideas aren’t flowing at the moment, perhaps there’s a need for quiet reflection. The river will pick up when it needs to.
Likewise, if the flow of money and ideas feels out of balance, perhaps we must evaluate our own circulation. Are we balancing giving and receiving, listening and speaking?
There is a beautiful possibility for surrender in water - will you choose to float or swim upstream?
